Description

Memorable Day, Scarlet Monkey Flower, Tapeats Creek, Grand Canyon
Bloomed May 31, 2022

20×20 Oil on Canvas

A rugged eleven-mile hike from the North Rim of the Grand Canyon, or 134 miles on a raft from Lee’s Ferry, is the confluence of Tapeats Creek and the Colorado River. Water from Thunder River begins as a gush out of the Redwall Limestone and cascades 1,200 feet, where it meets the spring-fed Tapeats Creek. The creek flows year-round and supports canyon tree frogs, ferns, and fish; and on day five of our 2022 river rafting trip, it was the perfect picnic lunch site.

As our crew secured the boats and began setting up for lunch, I got busy exploring the creek. It was lush with vegetation, and the water was a clear window to the polished stones and polliwogs below. Pops of scarlet red began to appear along the banks, and I sloshed through the water to get a closer look. Scarlet Monkey flowers are not rare; in fact, they grow along the miners’ canals in my home town of Auburn, California. But here in the middle of nowhere they seemed pretty special, their color vibrating against the canyon walls and foaming water. I stored the moments away in my memories, and two years later I painted the scene.

It was Memorial Day weekend on the Colorado River. We were far from crowds, and there was no parade, but it was definitely a red, white and blue memorable day.