"Hebe." 
 
Drawing: 6 in x 6 in [15.24 cm x 15.24 cm]
Size When Matted: 8 in x 8 in [20.32 cm x 20.32 cm]
 
Pastel pencil.  
 
About the work: 
 
I came across this stunning purple flower on a trip to Cañar, another province in the Sierra region of Ecuador.  Surprisingly, it is not native to Ecuador.  It is from New Zealand, and “Hebe,” is its common name.  Oddly enough, it seems to be thriving in the climate of Cañar which hits just a few degrees below the 10 degrees Celsius (50 degrees fahrenheit)  minimum that it needs to thrive.