He had planned to stay inside on this afternoon to escape the heat, but after a sudden surge in energy, and a need to be outside and active, he was walking around the local botanical garden.

Lately the weather had been dry and still, letting dust and pollen settle on plants. Without strong winds, many leaves and twigs had been caught in branches and were suspended, waiting for a gust to shake them free. 

At his eye level there was a group of wattleseed pods. They had already given their seeds to the soil and were now hanging open wide. Most were umber and burgundy, but one pod cut through with a fiery slash of burnt orange.  

Oil on canvas. 30cm x 40cm.