#2403 "Singleton Black Eyed Susans"

 

The name black-eyed Susan is an epithet of the flower's signature dark brown center. I had to look "epithet" up to discover that it was "an adjective or descriptive phrase expressing a quality characteristic of the person or thing mentioned". I should have known that. The legend says that the name black-eyed Susan originated from an Old English Poem written by John Gay entitled 'Sweet William's Farewell To Black-Eyed Susan'. Black Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) is a resilient wildflower that grows well in disturbed or unfavorable environments. The flowers blooms every other year but since it reseeds quickly, the black eyed susans seem to be blooming every year and everywhere. As a result the flowers are seen every year. Black eyed susans are heat and drought tolerant so should do well with climate change. I enjoy painting these happy looking flowers. 

The black eyed Susan flower (Rudbeckia hirta) belongs to the sunflower family and is the state flower of Maryland. It’s also a medicinal herb believed to treat colds, flu and even snakebites. Black Eyed Susans are indigenous to many sections of North America. They were introduced into Europe from North America soon after Columbus's visits and were named by Linnaeus in 1753. Linnaeus gave them the Latin name Rudbeckia Hirta after his mentor Olaf Rudbeck and hirta meaning rough, hairy. The plant was known and used by many Native American tribes. 

Oils on black oil tinted commercial canvas panel - 5 X 7 (inches) by a quarter inch in depth. Started 10:30 am Friday August 7th, 2020 standing on the large boulders just to the south of the Singleton home. It was a beautiful day with no biting insects.

I picked up a bit of a shed from a grey rat snake - my friend. It was very sunny and that was the only thing stopping me from going for a long paddle. 

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