In 1906 Nolde made the first garden pictures, still in impressionist manner, on the island of Alsen where he was staying with his wife Ada. At around the same time he made his first flower pictures. The impression of nature inspired the artist to ever new interpretations of the expressive values of the color. This watercolor is a document of the artist's intensive occupation with the coloring, the blossoms are in strong contrast with the luscious green leaves, surrounded by India ink contours that define the foliage. Henceforth his fascination for the blossoms' and flowers' rich play of colors led him to ever new compositions: "I loved the flowers, fatalistically sprouting, blooming, bright, glowing, bringing joy, bowing, withering, refused, tilting over into the dump. In most cases man's fate is so consequent and beautiful“ (Emil Nolde, Jahre der Kämpfe, Cologne 2002, p. 100).