Following a deep tradition of women and botanical paintings, this painting references the historical gender bias of limiting women to certain acceptable subjects, just as women today are rarely allowed to be fully who they are. They turn to subterfuge to illustrate their meaning. One would assume that the glorious amaryllis is the star of this painting, but no less important are reminders of loss and wintering, the emptied seed pods and yellowing ferns. This painting is meant to be beautiful, but look closer and another reality emerges.