Wildflowers Paintings: Exploring the Beauty & Symbolism of Spring

Welcome to my blog: a journey into my thoughts.

When Spring arrived this year, I was utterly surprised to witness spring wildflowers blooming in the park behind our home. You see, I have lived here for 15 years, and this has been the first time the wildflowers had anything to say.

Spring Wildflowers in the public park in North Texas.

The Journey of Spring Wildflower Paintings

Day by day, I would check if they were still there, and to my surprise, they were spreading in glory, and with them came other forms of life.

I was filled with joy witnessing the soft colors of Spring and the presence of busy bees, graceful butterflies, elegant dragonflies, and other creatures. Despite my concern about the homeowner’s association (HOA) possibly ordering the field to be mowed at any moment, I raced to revel in the beauty of their blooms, hoping they would fade naturally before being cut.

Buttery pinks and lime green grass splashed my canvases as I created these spring wildflowers paintings with exhilaration and leery at the sudden appearance of the mowing machines. Here, my thoughts started to wander about these spring wildflowers' value in our ecosystem and how, for 15 years, they had not once had a chance to bloom. It made me wonder about our knowledge, or the lack thereof, to let them be—a micro contribution to help our pollinators, mitigate erosion, restore the soil, and not to mention their medicinal properties.

Then, of course, my mind wandered to places and people...

Authority vs. Victims: Machines vs. Wildflowers

I've been drawing a comparison between machines and wildflowers as a metaphor for the relationship between authority and vulnerability. The powerful mowing machines operated by authority figures cut down wildflowers without considering their benefits to our environment. Has the HOA ever stopped to appreciate their beauty and the living organisms thriving on them? What about the decline in bee pollination?

Researchers at the Penn State Center have reported significant declines in honey bee populations in the United States and Europe. Factors such as exposure to parasites and pesticides, climate change, reduced natural flora abundance due to increased land use, and habitat destruction contribute to this decline. Studies indicate that beekeepers in the United States have been losing approximately 30 percent of their colonies annually since 2006, with total losses peaking at 40 percent.

The decrease in honey bee and other pollinator populations is a significant concern for the agricultural sector and consumers. Approximately 75 percent of essential food crops like fruits, vegetables, and nuts rely on these pollinators, which means that approximately one out of every three bites of food we consume is affected.

According to Christina Grozinger, "People can, on a very local scale, do positive things to address this decline, as opposed to larger scale environmental issues. People can think creatively about how they manage their own land—whether it’s their yard, a field, or a solar farm—they can ask themselves, ‘how can I help bees and other pollinators?’”

Unnecessary forces often oppress and manipulate the vulnerable even when it comes to nature. To me, these machines began to symbolize a structured power that enforces conformity and control, while wildflowers represent resistance against these pressures.

This depiction illuminates broader societal issues, illustrating how the pursuit of power and control can diminish individuality, diversity, and compassion. The resilient yet fragile wildflowers symbolize strength and beauty, prompting us to appreciate and safeguard diversity and the environment.

As wildflowers bravely stand tall and colorful despite the threat of destruction, individuals and communities also assert their right to thrive. This struggle showcases the resilience of the human spirit and the enduring beauty of diversity, encouraging us to protect and respect the various forms of life that enrich our world.

Detail of a Spring Wildflowers painting

Technique

In this series, I used house paint as the base layer. When I poured the paint of different colors on the canvas, I experimented with adding coarse salt to absorb and keep the colors in certain places; however, to my surprise, the paint reacted by shriveling and clustering, creating a stunning 3D effect. This allowed me to highlight the wildflowers and the field with oil sticks once the base was cured.

What can we do to support our biodiversity?

According to Grozinger, everyone can take steps to make positive impacts on honey bees and other pollinators. If an entire community made small-scale changes in land management, the payoff would be widely felt. “Sustainability and conservation aren’t just things that happen in a nature reserve; they happen in our backyards,” said Grozinger. “We really want to shift perceptions into new ways of thinking. People are really excited about that, and we are giving them the tools to tackle the pollinator crisis themselves.”

No Mow in March, April and May (depending on where you are)

1) To support pollinators, you may want to reduce the frequency of lawn mowing during the growing season. Allowing clover and other "yard weeds" to bloom by mowing periodically can be beneficial, as long as you cut off the flower heads before they produce seeds. This approach can provide more support to pollinators compared to completely avoiding mowing for a month.

2) Grow blooming plants in your garden. Although some individuals might already have a variety of indigenous wildflowers flourishing naturally in their gardens, many of us may have to plant native flowers to draw in pollinators. Dandelions, clover, and other typical "backyard weed" flowers, even if they are not native, can still offer valuable resources for native pollinators and are more advantageous than just having grass.

I appreciate you taking the time to read this, and I always look forward to hearing your thoughts.

To view the Fleeting Blooms Collection, please visit: https://www.weeda.art/fleetingblooms