Taupata leaves in the Summer
I painted these taupata leaves showing Autumn colours during the Summer. They had fallen from the small tree and were carpeting the ground around the trunk, the tree itself was sporting bright green shiny leaves so I could only imagine that these had been lost because of a dry spell.
The taupata is a shiny leaved coprosma which grows in coastal areas around the North Island of New Zealand and in the north of the South Island too. It is very hardy and withstands salt winds and drought conditions for long periods, I have an affection for these tough stragglers, their fallen leaves vary in colour from brilliant yellow to deep purple. After flowering they produce bright orange berries for the birds.
This is part of a much larger work.
All images copyright Frances Jill Studd 2015
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