NATIVES IN PARADISE - AN EXHIBITION OF WATERCOLOR PAINTINGS OF FLORIDA NATIVE PLANTS

J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge, Visitor & Education Center, Sanibel, Florida

Hours: 9 am – 4 pm daily. Free with entry 

January 2nd – February 27th, 2018      

Artists will be in the gallery to greet the public from 3-4 p.m. on January 2

Pauline Goldsmith and Cynthia Rice are both South Florida botanical artists of longstanding, who have a passion for native plants and conservation. In their daily lives they reside on the doorsteps of J.N. ‘Ding’ Darling National Wildlife Refuge and the Everglades and Biscayne National Parks, from which they never fail to gain their inspiration.

The exhibition features portraits of Florida native plants, birds and butterflies. They have, artistically and scientifically, depicted a variety of plants, many of which you can see every day, but some are becoming rare or endangered, or their predominant locations are shifting, due to a change in water flow or competition from exotic species.

The interaction between flora and fauna can be extremely sensitive. If the flora’s habitat changes in any way, such as declining, increasing or moving, it will impact all associated fauna, including the resident and migratory birds of J.N. ‘Ding’ Darling National Wildlife Refuge.

Many of these native plants make beautiful, low maintenance additions to residential yards, at the same time feeding and sheltering the local songbirds and butterflies.

The exhibition is the result of collaboration with Ranger Jeff Combs, J.N ‘Ding’ Darling National Wildlife Refuge.