Sunday, April 19, 2009

Queen Of The Night


Queen of the night or Night-blooming cereus are the names of several genera & species of nightblooming cactus. It was nice to learn the various names like San Pedro (sounds very revered), Dutchman's Pipe(with a grave face), Red Pitaya (some nomadic tribe), Arizona Queen of the Night (Beauty Pageant) & Vanilla Cactus (reminds me of Ice-cream!!)
The nightblooming cereus is also known as the lunar flower, moon flower and luna flower. As the name suggests it blooms at night. This is the info that I could collect about it. Rest needs to be explored.
This is my humble attempt to capture its beauty... I always seem to be attracted towards the cacti blooms!
Hope you have a wonderful & blooming Cactus Monday:)

26 comments:

Kriti said...

Nice sketches!!

I have thing for cacti bloooms too.. maybe the rarity has got something to do with it.. or perhaps my rajasthan connection..
Dunno..

I can't tell you how glad i was to see a post on Cactus!!
Thank you!!

Keep up the good work!
:-)

Cathy S. said...

Great Art work, Thanks for visiting my Cactus Monday! I use to do pen and ink artwork and had to quit that hobby because of carpal tunnel on my hands. If you like to see what I have done in the past, I have posts
of my art on my blog.

I really like your blog's design!

Lisa at Greenbow said...

A great sketch. Happy Cactus Monday.

Deepa Gopal said...

Kriti, Thanks..we share the same 'thing' for cacti blooms. If you like cactus...you can surely join us on Mondays for more cactus pics:)

Outside,Thanks for your lovely words & for liking my blog's design. WIll surely visit you:)

Lisa, Thank you so much. HCM too!

Diane AZ said...

Lovely drawing, I like the close-up the best. I feel attracted to cacti blooms too. Good thing your artwork will last longer than the actual flowers. Happy Cactus Monday!

yoon see said...

Great attempt to a night blooming cactus that I only know now.
It's such beauty added with joy and passion bringing out the most delicated details with attention. Hope to see it in colour:)
Happy Cactus Monday dear deepazartz:)

Lynn Cohen said...

Lovely drawings of cacti Deepa, and I love your new banner as well!
Nice shade under those trees.

Deepa Gopal said...

Diane, Thanks. Even I like the close-up the best! True that my blooms will not wilt:)

Yoon See, Hope to put it in color...as you said.

Lynn, Thanks dear:)

Teri said...

These are wonderful!! I am never in AZ when these bloom so have only seen photos of their beauty. I am looking forward to the color ones.

studio lolo said...

I love the movement of this! Very nice!

HCM!!!

Susan English Mason said...

I'm on the lookout for a night blooming cactus. HCM!

Margaret Ann said...

This is my favorite cactus of all-the blooms simply magnificent...we have on in our front yard...no blooms yet though...HCM!

Nice series here! :)

Julie said...

I LOVE LOVE LOVE your pencil drawings! I enjoy doing them also! And the night blooming cereus are so alluring!!! HCM!!!

Lisa Rivas said...

Oh I love the Night-blooming Cereus, I did one the "Apple Cactus" A beauty indeed... these blooms a re something else! Love how you did all this research on the names... Great reference!

I really like your drawing... keep it going! HCM!!!

Me said...

Wow! there are so good... especially the zoomed one... u r a beautiful artist I must say.

keep sharing ur wonderful work.

Deepa Gopal said...

Teri, Thank you so much..will surely try the color.

Lolo & PL, Thanks & HCM to you too:)

M.Ann,Thanks. You are so lucky...to have one in your front yard & enjoy its beauty is fab.

Julie, Thanks,thanks & thanks. Hope to see your sketch soon. They are alluring,aren't they?

Lisa, Thanks for liking it. I surely come for the Apple Cactus:)

Harshita, Thanks dear:)

Aniket Thakkar said...

Damn... I am late again! :-D

'San Pedro' reminded me of the son 'La Isla Bonita' which goes like... 'Last night I dreamt of San Pedro....' lovely song.

And lovely sketches for that matter. :-D


I love Acanthus a lot too... but dunno for sure if it falls under the cactus family. :D

Deepa Gopal said...

Aniket, Better late than Ne'er!!!
I haven't heard the song...I would love to:)
Acanthus, I think has spiny flowers & leaves but not sure about it's connection with cactus. Should check that out.

Amritorupa Kanjilal said...

deepa,
DELICIOUS sketches :)

marianne said...

HBCM!!!
Nice sketches
And i love your header! Was is there already? Or is it new?

Have a nice day!

Deepa Gopal said...

L'girl, Thanks:)

Marianne, Thanks. The header is new...one of my ol watercolors. You too have a nice day!

david mcmahon said...

I've seen some amazing flowering cactii.

Mahesh Sindbandge said...

Wish you the same deepa....:)
Happy cactus Monday...:)
sketches were fine...paint them sometime who knows cactus could be more beautiful when colored... :)

Keep writing.... :)

Deepa Gopal said...

David, Welcome!

Mahesh,I am planning to color...few have said the same:)
Thanks!

Bella Sinclair said...

Oh! So beautiful! I love the composition, too, and the curvy cactus. I am moving to Arizona and will have to seek this one out. But I'm a little scared to go out in the desert at night....

Thank you for that great, great comment you left me! I LOVE your little girl. She has my heart in the palm of her hand. :)

Deepa Gopal said...

Bella, Its so sweet of you:) I think if u r moving to Arizona you'll have a wonderful time exploring all the cacti...& don't forget to chk out Teri who is an adept at it.