This beautiful gladiolus, deep red, was a pleasure to draw. The one flower yet out swirls like a matador’s cape. I’m always intrigued by the repetition of patterns in nature, and the shape of the buds on the stem reminds me of an ear of barley. I will enjoy watching them open over the next few days.

The word ‘Gladiolus’, I learn, is a diminutive of the Latin ‘gladius’ which means sword. The plant is apparently part of the iris family.