Gordon Beningfield (British, 1936 - 1998) "Blue Flag" Signed lower right. Original Watercolor painting on Cold Press Illustration Board. Provenance: Collection of James A. Helzer (1946-2008), Founder of Unicover Corporation. This painting is the original painting which was published on the Fleetwood First Day Cover of the U.S. 29c Blue Flag stamp issued July 24, 1992. Found in wetlands, moist meadows, and ditches in northeastern North America, blue flag blooms from May to August. The large, downward-curving "petals" actually are colored sepals, alternating with the upright petals. The purple veins on the sepals guide bees to nectar tubes at the base of the flowers. As the bees crawl toward the nectar, they collect pollen on their backs and cross-pollinate the flowers. After flowering, the fruit forms a three-lobed seed capsule that splits along the side as it dries, revealing stacks of flattened seeds. In Europe, the regal flowers of Iris species often were carved on the scepters of rulers as symbols of power. Louis VII of France chose the iris as the emblem of his royal house, which gave rise to the common name fleur-del-lis or flower of Louis. Blue flags spread by rhizomes or underground stems. Both the roots and rhizomes contain iridin, which can be poisonous to livestock and humans if ingested. Image Size: 7 x 6 in. Overall Size: 11 x 10 in. Unframed. (B12873)