Sunday's Hope by Janette Slack

Sunday's Hope

16" X 20"; Pastel on Board

A little over a year ago, Sunday was rescued from the slaughterhouse, along with her young foal. Upon arriving at Papa's Ranch Equine Rescue, it was discovered that Sunday was not only nursing; she was pregnant with a second foal, and was due to give birth just a few months later!

This beautiful mare, in poor condition when she arrived at the rescue, was eventually separated from her first offspring so that she could carry her fetus to term. We worried about her condition throughout the cold winter months, but with a little TLC and good nutrition, she pulled through.

On a warm spring night in April 2010, Sunday gave birth to a lovely foal, named Bonnie Lou. Bonnie has since grown into a healthy, affectionate, and happy horse. Mother and daughter will continue to live the good life at Papa's Ranch.

The Entertainer by Janette Slack

The Entertainer

16" X 20"; Watercolor

Often throughout the year, my husband and I treat ourselves to breakfast at Pineridge Hollow, located near Birds Hill Park, Manitoba. One morning, the restaurant was booked up, and we had to wait outside in the garden along with a large group of other guests. Moments later, a bird began to sing, regaling us with his wonderful, sweet voice.

At first, we were unable to find where this beautiful music was coming from, though we knew the wren was somewhere close-by. And then we found him, perched on a lattice and hidden by blooms - he was only an arms-length away!

The wren continued to sing, undaunted by our close proximity. In a nearby garden, a wedding was underway, and as the bride arrived by the groom's side, the little songbird warbled louder than ever!

Eventually, we sat down to breakfast on the patio, and were treated to the wren's lovely song all throughout the meal.

Cozied Up by Janette Slack

Cozied Up

16" X 20"; Watercolor

Three months after our niece's first child was born, we acquired a three-week old foster kitten. We fell head over heels for this little tyke, and just didn't have the heart to let him go. After losing our previous cat, Peach, to cancer, we soon found that Spud Murphy III filled a deep void in our animal-deprived household. It was a time for new beginnings for all of us!

The Cleanup Crew by Janette Slack

16" X 20"; Watercolor & Pastel

As part of Earth Day, I ventured outside this morning to clean up the street litter and garbage that often collects around a nearby retention pond over the winter. The crows, as usual, were there to help!

The crow's ebony coloring, aggressive loud cawing, and propensity to steal young fledglings have made these birds rather unpopular with many people. But, there is a flipside to this remarkable avian.

Crows are equipped with discerning intelligence, and can recognize humans individually. Their amazing problem solving skills allow them to break open food items (i.e. small containers) by dropping them to the ground from a 20' height. They possess incredible communication skills, and, as some scientific studies show, even know how to count.

Some people are terrified of contracting West Nile Virus from crows, but while a substantial number of these birds have died from the disease, scientists do not believe they spread the virus to humans.

As omnivores, crows will eat pretty much anything, including discarded fast food and roadkill. While many people feel that crows make a mess of the environment, these birds will actually help clean up the litter that we ourselves create!

Patio Visitor by Janette Slack

Patio Visitor (Chipping Sparrow)

16" X 20"; Watercolor

This past week, most of the snow has finally melted in Winnipeg! It feels wonderful to throw the windows wide open each morning, and listen to the magical trilling of songbirds. Our yard has now come alive with robins and juncos, and the chipping sparrows will soon be arriving.

Common throughout North America, chipping sparrows are one of the smallest sparrows. As ground feeders, they feast on seeds (sunflower, niger, and millet), and nest in conifers.

If you own a horse and spend a lot of time grooming it, don't discard the hair! Chipping sparrows, once called "hairbirds", love to weave horse hair into their nests. You can leave horse hair on twigs and bushes or near bird feeders - the sparrows will appreciate the effort!

Monarch by Janette Slack

Butterflies pollinate many of our flowering plants

Monarch, 12" X 16"; Watercolor

Normally, we tend to think of insects as pests. But in truth, we can't survive without them! Mother Nature has created these lilliputian creatures to pollinate many of our food sources. Only 10% of flowering plants do not require pollination.

Too much rain, wind, or the use of pesticides can intefere with the job that insects do. Among the plants they pollinate are: herbs, spices, seeds and grains, as well as peas, beans, tomatoes, cucumbers, apples, melons, peaches, pears, peppers, lemons, limes, carrots, onions, cashews, celery, figs, sunflowers, blueberries, clover, and squash - not to mention coffee and chocolate!

Habitat loss, fragmentation, manicured lawns, non-native gardens, and the cultivation of modified corn (monarchs) are the greatest threats to pollinators.

The Sopranos by Janette Slack

The Sopranos

by Janette Slack

16" X 20"; Watercolor and Pastel

White-throated sparrows are one of my favorite birds - their springtime song is magical!

Unfortunately, the number of these talented, musical songsters is quickly declining in many states and provinces. These sparrows require small, cleared tracts of land surrounded by wilderness forest where they raise their young. Because of extensive logging and development, they are now left with fewer choice nesting areas.

Sunbathing by Janette Slack

Sunbathing

by Janette Slack

16" X 20"; Watercolor

In Manitoba where I live, Western Painted Turtles are an abundant species. Not so in other areas of the country, such as southwestern B.C., where these turtles are listed as endangered by COSEWIC (The Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada).

The Painted Turtles' flagging numbers are a result of disturbed nesting activities (i.e. shoreline development), wetland drainage, and road building near wetland areas.

Other turtles of North America, such as the Leatherback Sea Turtle, the Kemp's Ridley Sea Turtle, and the Hawksbill Sea Turtle are currently facing extinction. This is particularly sad because turtles have been around for 215 million years, and are older than lizards, snakes, and crocodiles.

Downy Trio by Janette Slack

Downy Trio

by Janette Slack

Watercolor

Unlike many people, we always welcome wildlife into our yard. Gardeners sometimes become angry when cottontails munch on their prized tulips and black-eyed susans, but the rabbits would actually prefer a more natural menu of clover, dandelion, and wild grasses. These "weeds" are often eradicated in favor of more manicured landscapes.

After their mother was killed by a car, I raised these three juvenile bunnies until they were ready for release.

The Beachcombers

The Beachcombers

by Janette Slack

7 1/2" X 18"; Watercolor

Taking leisurely walks along the beach can be a relaxing pastime. I've spent many hours watching tiny sandpipers as they race back and forth, pecking at the sand while escaping the incoming waves.

I wonder how they will fare during this latest oil spill?

Fisherman's Roost by Janette Slack

Fisherman's Roost

by Janette Slack

20" X 24"; Watercolor

Victims of hunting and DDT, Brown Pelicans were nearly wiped out until they were added to the endangered species list in 1970. Populations recovered quickly along the Atlantic coast, and hopefully, this species will soon be removed from the endangered list in all areas, including along the Pacific and Gulf coasts.

Unlike White Pelicans, who dip below the water’s surface for fish as they swim, Brown Pelicans dive-bomb the water from a great height to catch their prey.

This painting was created from several photographs of Brown Pelicans along the Florida coast. Each afternoon, they would roost along the piers, waiting for fishermen to return with their day’s catch. Waiting for a hand-out is far easier than fishing on your own!

Regal by Janette Slack

Regal

by Janette Slack

16" X 20"; Pastel on Board

$125

To Purchase Contact: JanetteArt@mts.net

Snow leopards are currently hunted for their bones, skin, and organs, which are used in Traditional Chinese medicine. Human livestock practices have also pushed leopard numbers out of their natural habitat, at the same time damaging vital grassland that the leopards' wild prey needs to survive. With the disappearance of wild prey, snow leopards are forced to hunt livestock. As a result, they are often persecuted and killed.

Because snow leopards are so elusive, it is hard to know just exactly how many of these majestic animals still exist in the world today.

For more information, please contact: www.snowleopardconservancy.com

Ladybug Parade by Janette Slack

Ladybug Parade

by Janette Slack

Watercolor, 3 1/4" X 9 1/4"

Ladybugs are a welcome visitor to any garden. In fall, they will bury themselves under leaf litter, and emerge again in spring. They have a voracious appetite for aphids and scale insects. In the Mall of America, thousands of these small beetles are released into the indoor park as a means of pest control.

Petal Burst by Janette Slack

Petal Burst

by Janette Slack

Watercolor

For many of us, winter usually outstays its welcome. A muddy thaw always follows, turning the landscape wet and drab. Finally, the first few blossoms begin to emerge, soon to explode into a burst of color.

Rain Caper (Weather) by Janette Slack

Rain Caper

by Janette Slack

16" X 20"; Watercolor

As a bonafide horse fanatic, I love watching these animals as they run, cavort, roll, play, and interact with each other. Sometimes, there's nothing quite like seeing a horse's free spirit emerge, away from the trappings of stalls, halters, ropes, and saddles.

Wildlflower Wings (Wilderness) by Janette Slack

Wildflower Wings

by Janette Slack

8" X 10"; Watercolor on Masa Paper

$65

10% will be donated to: Prairie Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre

(www.pwildlife.ca)

To Purchase, Contact: JanetteArt@mts.net

Often, when visiting my family in east Toronto, I walk down to the bluffs bordering Lake Ontario. Much of this area is kept as natural parkland, providing wonderful wildflower habitat for songbirds and butterflies. You never know what you might see!

Sentinel (Tree) by Janette Slack

Sentinel

by Janette Slack

10 1/2" X 13 1/2" (Comes matted to 16" X 20"); Watercolor

$155

To Purchase Contact: JanetteArt@mts.net

One day in early fall, I hiked to a deserted campground near Cavendish Beach, P.E.I. After wandering the grounds for a while, I sat down at a picnic table by this lonely camp site and sketched.

Exploring new places on my own always gives me a sense of wonder and inspiration.

A Day's Catch by Janette Slack

A Day's Catch

by Janette Slack

Matted to 8" X 10"; Watercolor

$65

This quick watercolor was made from a photo I took in Honduras several years ago. In visiting other countries, my husband and I often find that people live a far simpler life than we do. They may not have all the modern conveniences and material contraptions that we do, yet they still experience happiness and contentment.

Autumn Splendor by Janette Slack

Autumn Splendor

by Janette Slack

20" X 24"; Watercolor

I painted this picture from my favorite area in King's Park, Winnipeg. Autumn is one of my favorite times to stroll among the oaks and aspens, enjoying their lively color before the snow comes - which often happens much too soon!

The Sun Prince by Janette Slack

The Sun Prince

by Janette Slack

11 X 14" Matted; Watercolor

$75

20% will be donated to: Save the Frogs

To Purchase Contact: JanetteArt@mts.net

During our lifetime, we face the very real threat of losing half of our frog and toad populations to extinction . Of particular concern is the chytrid fungus, which has already wiped out many of these amphibians. To date, this deadly fungus cannot be eradicated, and is spreading across the planet. Zoos, aquariums, and other institutions are working frantically to find a way to eliminate it.

The greatest threat of all, however, is habitat loss. There are many things we can do as individuals to help, such as avoiding pesticide and herbicide use, becoming involved in local frog count studies, and working together to protect valuable habitat.