Showing posts with label dry prairies. Show all posts
Showing posts with label dry prairies. Show all posts

Monday, December 19, 2011

Happy Holidays from the Six Artists Six Prairies Project!


It's the time of year when so many of us are preoccupied with preparations for those special days we share with family and friends.  The past couple of years I've taken time out to walk in the prairies with those close to my heart.  We enjoy the quiet togetherness, sharing thoughts or none, exclaiming when a bird suddenly jumps out of the bushes and smiling at their calls and song.  This year the prairies seem particularly beautiful and the Sandhill Cranes are still flying overhead, calling as they circle.  It's a great time to be in nature, appreciating that we still have these pristine places to enjoy in peace.  We are so grateful for our conservation partners! The artists of the Six Artists Six Pairies Project wish each of you the happiest of holidays and the joy of wonder and wander! 

Mary Jane Volkmann for SASP



Sunday, November 20, 2011

Socked In


"Socked In"

At last my favorite time of year! There is nothing I enjoy more than sitting in a thick fog while painting. The colors are muted and soft and the landscape just becomes flat patterns. Its amazing the calm that fog can provide.

Scott Hiestand


Friday, September 30, 2011

From the Alachua Conservation Trust Newsletter




Six Artists – Six Prairies
It can be said that inspiration is the life’s blood of our species; without it, we would not have evolved to our current state nor grown together into the varied and unique societies that exist today.
Many things inspire us as individuals – our relationships with one another, our connection to the earth, the balance of nature and the beauty that is all around us. We at Alachua Conservation Trust are always seeking ways to inspire those within our community to a higher love of nature, and are equally pleased to join with others who endeavor to do the same. That is why we are partnering with Six Artists – Six Prairies in 2011-2012 in its efforts to inspire the community both to appreciate all things artistic, as well as the unparalleled natural beauty and diversity of our local prairies.
Six Artists – Six Prairies itself is a consortium of six professional artists who, over a twelve-month period, have commenced to paint and educate about Fish Prairie, Hopkins Prairie, Kanapaha Prairie, Ledwith Prairie, Paynes Prairie and Tuscawilla Prairie. In addition, they are using their blogspot, http://sixartistssixprairies.blogspot.com/, to promote the mission of ACT, and are planning to hold a paint-out event at ACT’s Prairie Creek Lodge on February 25, 2012 (details forthcoming). While the artists themselves – Linda Blondheim, Steve Andrews, Charles Dickinson, Scott Hiestand, Jackie Schindehette and Mary Jane Volkmann – will be selling their works at this event and throughout the year-long program, they are also donating 30% of their proceeds from painting sales to ACT and two other recipient conservation organizations.
Please support ACT and Six Artists – Six Prairies by visiting their blogspot, viewing their incredible prairie-inspired works/writings, and by attending their paint-out events at Prairie Creek Lodge and throughout the area.

Friday, September 9, 2011

Why Care About Prairies?

Tuscawilla Prairie

Why Care About Prairies?
  1. The prairie ecosystem, unique to North America, is an important part of our natural heritage
  2. Only 1% of the original prairie land remains -- 99% of prairies are gone
  3. Because so little of their native habitat remains, many prairie plants and animal are very rare, endangered or extinct
  4. There is still lots to learn about the prairie ecosystem and how it is impacted by natural processes
  5. The prairie is home to many kinds of beautiful flowers and hardy grasses; some prairie species may have important uses for science
  6. Millions and millions of bison used to roam the prairie; they are America's largest land mammal
Linda Blondheim

Susie,
Thanks for following along on the journey with us.
Love,
Linda

Friday, July 22, 2011

Prairie Sky

Prairie Sky

Prairies offer us the vistas that are hard to find in Florida. Florida, thank goodness is a tree state. Lots of green canopies everywhere. The dry prairies offer us a different view and a chance to study clouds. I like to think that clouds are our version of mountains in Florida. We have spectacular clouds!!

Linda Blondheim