Saturday, December 31, 2005

ACLU Advt from NYT 12/31/2005



Nominated for Good Nature's best designed advertising of the year 2005. Simple, well thought out design making the clear connection without clutter or color. Elegant design, message and engages citizens to act.

What you gonna do when they come for you? Go to

ACLU for details.

Basta.

TSC

Friday, December 30, 2005

National Priorities: Cost of Iraq War

National Priorities keeps tabs on the cost of the Iraq war.

I don't know why you would want to see the billions of dollars spent on this invasion by President Diebold-- maybe it will help put our country's stolen treasure in perspective?

Does it for you?

But there it is -- read and weep. I am a vote for Out Now! Civil war over there is going to be more blood on GWB's hands -- but that is going to happen sooner or later.
The Kurds are already gearing up for war as the Bush propaganda machine paves the way for a withdrawl with enough troops leaving to effect change in the 2006 Congressional elections.

Basta.

Timothy

Tilden: California's Gem of a Park

Tilden Regional Park is East Bay's outdoors gem
PETER OTTESEN
Outdoors Columnist
Published Friday, Dec 30, 2005

Nestled in the East Bay hills east of Berkeley is Tilden Regional Park, a 2,750-acre oasis that is the best family outdoors destination anyone could image. The park, with no entrance fee, simply has something for everyone - grand vistas, easy hiking trails, an abundance of wildlife and the world's most complete collection of California native plants.

There are oodles of things for kids, too, such as carousel and steam locomotive rides, but the solace of nature on a crisp winter's day is something that captivates everybody. To enjoy this park, located just far away from a densely-populated urban area, requires little more than layers of clothing to ward off the cool weather and a picnic lunch to be enjoyed at one of 13 sites, all outfitted with tables, fire pits and restrooms.

On the northwest edge lies the Tilden Nature Area, where the only man-made items are trail signs and where wildlife and vistas take center stage. This 740-acre preserve contains a blend of native stream, woodland and chaparral communities, contrasted with introduced pine and eucalyptus forests, all set around Jewel Lake.

My favorite jaunt in the nature area is the 31/2-mile round-trip Wildcat Peak and Laurel Canyon Loop, an easy circuit with an elevation change of only 500 feet. It starts at the back of the visitor center and is marked with a symbol - a narrow bay laurel leaf and a berry. Simply follow these unusual markers and you won't become lost.

The path goes along bubbly Laurel Creek, through groves of canyon oaks and bay laurels and ultimately to Wildcat Peak, a 1,250-foot-high summit that gives exquisite views of San Pablo Reservoir, Mount Diablo and the entirety of San Francisco Bay. You'll receive such an intimate feeling that it seems you can literally reach out and touch these distant sites. Close at hand you'll also discover a living memorial of giant Sequoias, dedicated to folks who have worked for world peace.

From this lofty vantage point descend on Wildcat Peak Trail through grassy, open slopes and eventually through a grove of eucalyptus, before reaching the visitor center. Plan a visit to the nearby Little Farm, as well, and greet some domestic animals. During this time of year the entire nature area is very quiet. In spring many more walkers take this path to observe masses of wildflowers. Whether winter or spring, however, you'll not be bound by the dense valley fog. The sky here is crystal clear.

The more populated regional park has many more people, black-tailed deer and a variety of diversions, including an 18-hole public golf course. For outdoors enthusiasts, the botanic garden is a "must see." The visitor center offers tours and lectures that complement a unique collection of the state's native plants, including numerous rare and endangered species. The facility is handcapped accessible, with drinking water and restrooms provided.

Another curiosity, though indoors, is the Brazil Building constructed by the Works Progress Administration. It contains the interior from the Brazilian exhibit from the 1939 World's Fair. Don't pass up a ride on the Herschell Spillman merry-go-round - a splendid antique carousel, complete with hand-carved, beautifully-painted animals. An accompanying calliope will take you back to another era in Americana.

From Stockton, the simplest way to reach Tilden Park is to take Highway 24 west from Walnut Creek and after passing by Lafayette and Orinda, turn off on Fish Ranch Road. Turn right at Grizzly Peak Boulevard to the Lomas Cantadas entrance. Once inside the park you can take Wildcat Canyon Road from the Botanic Garden to the Tilden Nature Area.

Park hours are 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. Dogs and bikes are not allowed. A free map is available to the Visitor Center. For information call (510) 562-7275 or online at East Bay Parks.

Contact outdoors columnist Peter Ottesen at pottesen@recordnet.com

Wednesday, December 21, 2005

Stop killing trees for catalogs

Think about this scene the next time your REI, LL Bean, Sahalie, Columbia and other "green" type retail outfit asks you to flip through their product line on paper.

Sunday, December 18, 2005

From the Field: Oaxaca Mexico's forests, mushroom hunting, and self governance



Inspired story in From the Field online journal about Seattle anthropologist Melissa Poe's work in Oaxaca Mexico's outback.

Can you identify those mushrooms that Ms. Poe is holding?

Her story appeals to me because of the convergence of three problems faced locally in Oaxaca and throughout the world: economic development, social justice, and natural resource conservation.

Read my Dad's story and learn about fungus among us, and how an indigenous Mexican community responds to state sponsored clear cutting of their forest.

Tim

Friday, December 16, 2005

Sugan by Seamus Heaney -- new poem

Sugan -- (from current issue of Poetry London Subscribe!)

Ferns and foxgloves in a forged iron grate
They ditched last year: hedge-hobbed now, green-sleeved
In undergrowth where a knapsack-sprayer corrodes —
The cast-off ‘mankiller’ — and a rusted wire
Hook for twisting hay.

The fluster of that soft supply
And feed, handfuls coaxed from a ruck
Paid out to be taken in, in furl and swivel
Turning, tightening, rickety-rick,
To rope —
though just as often at the other end
I’d manipulate the hook,
Walking backwards, winding for all I was worth
By snag and by sag the long and the short of it
To make ends mesh,
in my left hand
The cored and threaded elderberry haft,
In my right the fashioned wire,
breeze on my back,
Sun in my face, a power to bind and loose
Eked out and into each last tug and lap.



Seamus Heaney was born in Co. Derry in 1939. His next collection, District and Circle, will be published by Faber in Autumn 2006. He received the Nobel Prize for
Literature in 1995.


©Copyright of this poem remains with the poet: please do not download or republish without permission.

top ^

Wednesday, December 14, 2005

World Changing organizations in 2005 -- Fast Co. Awards

Good organizations fighting for social justice, peace, health care, housing, dignity and hope. See Fast Company list with snapshots of their top picks.

Groups like PATH, Grameen Bank are all but invisible in their daily work.

Of course there are many world changing groups around, but I like the fact that the slick, go go business magazine editors at Fast Co. took time out to recognize there is more to business than money, and more to life than profit.

Peace.

Tim

Thursday, December 08, 2005

W.S. Merwin poem "Utterance"

I like this outfit's work:

Copper Canyon Press

Copper Canyon Press garnered its third National Book Award in poetry for the seminal new collection by W.S. Merwin, Migration: New and Selected Poems. It was the first National Book Award for the 78-year-old poet who lives in Hawaii.

"Utterance"

Sitting over words
Very late I have heard a kind of whispered sighing
Not far
Like a night wind in pines or like the sea in the dark
The echo of everything that has ever
Been spoken
Still spinning its one syllable
Between the earth and silence
- W.S. Merwin

In related news, Ted Kooser, US Poet Laureate, won the 2005 Pulitzer Prize for poetry for his book Delights & Shadows, published by Copper Canyon Press of Port Townsend. The award of $10,000 was for "a distinguished volume of original verse by an American author." The book was one of 196 entries for the prize and won Copper Canyon's first Pulitzer Prize.

Additionally, Copper Canyon's founding director Sam Hamill won the 2005 Lifetime Achievement Award from the Washington Poets Association.

Copper Canyon Press receives ongoing funding from WSAC's Institutional Support Program. Visit their website at www.coppercanyonpress.org.

Wednesday, December 07, 2005

Call to Stop Forest Destruction -- Forest Stewardship Council

José Saramago urges FSC General Assembly to stop forest destruction

Manaus, Brazil -- José Saramago, winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1998, has called upon the participants of the FSC General Assembly 2005 to decide concrete steps that contribute to stopping the planet’s destruction.

In an address by video to a meeting of more than 300 members and observers of FSC in Manaus, Brazil, José Saramago stressed, “I hope Brazil, Latin America and everybody in the world will become aware of the gravity of the situation which I think can be translated in this very simple phrase: “The planet is in danger,” in reference to forest destruction.

The Nobel Prize winner called upon the FSC Assembly to help save the planet. “We are destroying the planet and we have the obligation to save it, because there is no one else that can do it.”

Representatives from more than 60 countries, including organizations such as Greenpeace and WWF; the Brazilian governments; international companies such as IKEA and The Home Depot; and academic institutions are meeting through Friday, December 9th to debate strategic initiatives to improve forest management worldwide over the coming years.

“This is a unique opportunity for FSC members to decide what policies and standards can be implemented to make a difference in preserving forest around the world,” said Heiko Liedeker, FSC Executive Director. “FSC is proving once again that participation, balanced representation and equal power to vote are a powerful strategy to bring people together, find solutions and promote responsible stewardship of the forests.”

Around 67 million hectares of forest are currently FSC certified in over 65 countries; and more than 10 thousand forest products carry the FSC labels in global market. Progressive companies, respected non-governmental environmental and social organizations, as well individual support FSC, the most credible organization promoting responsible forest stewardship.


Background:

The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is an independent, not for profit, non-government organisation based in Bonn, Germany. It provides standard setting, trademark assurance and accreditation services for companies and organizations committed to responsible forest stewardship. Founded in 1993, FSC’s mission is to promote environmentally appropriate, socially beneficial and economically viable management of the world’s forests. Its governance structure ensures that FSC is independent of any one interest group by requiring an equal balance in power between its environmental, social and economic chambers as well as a balance between interests from the economic north and south.

The FSC forest management standards are based on 10 Principles and Criteria for responsible forest management. FSC also provides Chain of Custody standards for manufacturers and processors of forest products. The Chain of Custody standards allow credible tracking of certified wood and wood products from certified forests through trade and manufacturing to committed retailers and consumers.

Over the past 12 years, 67 million hectares in 65 countries have been certified according to FSC standards while several thousand products are produced using FSC certified wood and carrying the FSC trademark. About 4,200 producers of forest products participate in the FSC system. Major retailers in Europe, North America, South America and Asia ask for FSC certification when ordering forest products so they can assure their customers that products they are buying support responsible forestry. FSC operates through a network of National Initiatives in more than 36 countries. Further information is available on www.fsc.org


For further information, please contact Zandra Martinez
z.martinez@fsc.org
__________________

Thursday, December 01, 2005

Rise up: Protect Orcas of Puget Sound


Version 4 "Rise up" is a final draft for the proposed orcas postcard Good Nature Publishing Co. has designed as a public service ad to be used by groups like People For Puget Sound. Let me know what you think of this style. Thank you.

Timothy

Wednesday, November 30, 2005

Orcas of Puget Sound



Protect Orcas of Puget Sound

I thought it would be fun to make a postcard showing two orcas rising up out of the water with some Bruce Springsteen "Never Surrender" type of title.

I designed this postcard with Katherine Zecca's artwork to serve as a Public Service Announcement for People for Puget Sound following the Endangered Species Act listing of orcas in Puget Sound in November 2005.

Comments/reviews are welcome.



TSC

Thanks GW Bush! National Debt now $8 trillion for the first time

Data Point: Outrageous Debt


As the USA national debt surpassed $8 trillion for the first time...

"[President Bush] has borrowed more money - $1.05 trillion - from foreign governments and banks since taking office than all other presidents combined. From 1776 to 2000, the nation's 42 presidents borrowed a combined $1.01 trillion from foreign interests."

*Source: San Francisco Chronicle, 11/27/05

Monday, November 28, 2005

Good Nature Publishing tree posters for plant identification

Good Nature Publishing Co catalog here

Good Nature specializes in high quality color pencil and watercolor realist illustrations of native trees, wildflowers, herbs, Pacific salmon, and more. We have plant identification posters for every region of the country.

michigan tree leaf identification,tree nut identification,norway maple tree identification, tree identification in northeast,cottonwood tree identification,fall tree identification worksheet,indiana tree bark identification,tree identification of mississippi,tree identification germany,tree and seed and identification,tree leaf identification for kids,northern catalpa tree identification,new york state tree identification,tree identifications for holly, rubber tree plant identification, winter tree identification washington, tree identification by dichotomous key, dichotomous key tree identification curriculum, tree leaf identification with scientific names, tree identification silver bark, oak tree identification by acorn, pennsylvania tree identification guide, oak tree leaf identification, tree identification for kids worksheet, kids tree identification worksheet, italian tree identification,tree identification in northwest indiana, tree identification with pictures, pine tree identification + georgia, tree identification guide and free and online, tree maple identification, redbud tree identification, tree silhouette identification, live oak tree identification photo, oak tree identification, tree identification in nc, wisconsin tree identification, aspen tree identification, gooseberry tree identification, tree identification mountain, illinois tree identification, nut tree identification, pine tree identification, dichotomous key tree identification, help with tree leaf identification, tree leaf identification, online guide to tree identification, minnesota tree identification, tree bark identification, cherry tree identification, maple tree identification, walnut tree identification, tree identification photos, indiana tree identification, tree seed identification, michigan tree identification, tree identification by leaf, tree identification by leaves, wild cherry tree identification, hawthorn tree identification, american tree identification, willow tree identification, tree leaves identification, tree identification online guides, north american tree identification, tropical tree identification, tree identification texas, shade tree identification, maine tree identification, ohio tree identification, tree identification white ash, leaf tree identification, palm tree identification, bark tree identification, tree identification for kids, pennsylvania tree identification, new jersey tree identification, hardwood tree identification, tree identification florida, apple tree identification, tree identification books, tree identification pictures, arkansas tree identification, texas tree identification, tree identification ash, elm tree identification, hackberry tree identification, tree identification key, tree identification leaf, winter tree identification,free + tree + identificationoaks, conifer poster , pine tree field guide, native wildflower poster, tree,art, poster, print, nature, fish, salmon, Pacific Northwest, watersheds,original, Jean Emmons watercolor, Carol Woodin watercolor, Kate Nessler painting, Katie Nessler, Mike Lee, color pencil, native, plant, hummingbird, flora,fauna, illustration,North, East, subtropic, palm,maple, extinct, herb, garden, master gardener, herb garden poster, herb poster, botanical tours to italyvy botanical prints, botanical latin pronunciation software,missouri botanical gardens+bioms,archipelago botanicals key west, memphis botanical garden, yampa valley botanical, antique botanical prints framed, botanical artwork drawing pen and ink, botanical drawings prints, botanical gardens of the southeast, botanical medication, botanical artwork drawing, horus botanicals,botanical garden gift shop, pacific botanicals, purple prairie botanicals,botanical garden designs, botanical encyclopedia

Saturday, November 26, 2005

It's Not a Race

Cartoon in 11/26/05 New Yorker by Danny Shanahan (See more cartoons at New Yorker here)

Enjoy...

Monday, November 14, 2005

Ecosystems in Peril: Invasive Plants of Interior Northwest Forests

Ecosystems in Peril: Invasive Plants of the Interior Northwest. Copyright Good Nature Publishing Co. 2005 Illustrated by Mike Lee.

Ecosystems in Peril is a new poster by Good Nature Publishing artist Mike Lee. The focus of this art is to introduce urbanistas, campers, naturalists and biology teachers about the serious problems we face in the Northwest forests due to invasive plants.

First in a series of poster size field guides to educate and activate citizens in the Northwest about plant problems we can solve today before they get out of hand.

For ordering info please contact Good Nature Publishing http:/www.goodnaturepublishing.com or call 800-631 3086.

Treemendously, Timothy Colman, publisher

Tuesday, November 08, 2005

Invasive Species story in Seattle Post Intelligencer

Volunteers Meghan Welch and Peter Richardson yank out some stubborn English ivy during an EarthCorps event at Cheasty Greenspace in Rainier Valley. The invasive ivy chokes trees. (November 07, 2005)

Credit: Dan DeLong/Seattle Post-Intelligencer
The good people at Seattle PI wrote a great story on invasive species and the destruction than create in our urban forests.

Reporter Lisa Stiffler gets Good Nature Publishing's Citizen Science Award for her skillful reporting.

PS: My client in the Forest Service in Oregon emailed me by end of day this story was published to make sure I saw it. Of course we had picked it already -- but interesting to note the range of Google News on work life.

Hats off to the artists and writers at Seattle Post Intelligencer.

Treemendously, Timothy

Saturday, November 05, 2005

Rosa




Never surrender.

Friday, November 04, 2005

Hedgerows of Puget Sound with Northwest Native Biodiversity

Copyright Good Nature Publishing Co. 2006. Illustrated by Suzanne Duranceau. (Click on image to enlarge.)

Hedgerows of Puget Sound


Hedgerows of Puget Sound illustrates the rich biodviersity farms can encourage by growing native shrubs and trees together into living fences.

Hedgerows provide us with many benefits: they prevent soil erosion, improve fertility, and create riparian buffers that protect precious wetlands from pollution.

King Co. Conservation District commissioned this art to educate farmers and urbanistas about the value of hedgerows to our rural landscape.

Available for now by asking for it. We'll update the website soon. $16.99/$30 laminated.

Get yours today by calling 1-800 631-3086 or go to Good Nature's website and add this new poster to your order. (Just write in Hedgerows poster in your order page "Comments" box.

Thanks for your review.

Treemendously,

Timothy

Thursday, November 03, 2005

Jean Emmons Won RHS Gold Medals for Western Iris Paintings -- Jean rocks!




Watercolor paintings of the the rich brown Iris 'Ununhum,' above, and the near-black Iris 'Night Gown' (previous image) were gold-medal winners for Jean Emmons.


Seattle Times Pacific Northwest's Valerie Easton wrote:

There's gold in these paintings

Vashon botanical artist Jean Emmons was honored with a gold medal at the 2005 Royal Horticultural Society Exhibit in Birmingham, England, this past June. Emmons describes the big international show as "the Olympics of botanical art." In preparation, Emmons grew an assortment of Pacific Coast hybrid iris for four years, painting them as they came into bloom. Eight of her life-size paintings were exhibited along with the work of 80 other selected artists from around the globe. The British judges questioned the near-turquoise blue of our native 'Magic Sea' iris, wondering if perhaps Jean had exaggerated its unique coloration. An expert was called in from the BBC's "Gardeners' World" television show, who confirmed the iris' vivid blue as an accurate depiction of the real thing.

"It was the best morning of my life," says Emmons, who brought home not only the gold but a deal for the RHS Lindley Library to buy four of her paintings for its permanent collection.

End.


See an example of Jean's work
NW Woodland Wildflowers and Hummingbird Garden

Jean is one of the best contemporary botanical illustrators in the world. Look for her at the next Northwest Flower & Garden Show

Congratulations Jean.

Key Words: Top Ten Words Used to Search for Good Nature

I am playing/paying for online advertising to build more business and awareness for Good Nature Publishing Co. If you run a small business -- what I call a microdot niche business -- you know the number one challenge is invisibility.

Invisibility means people who are natural customers never find out about Good Nature's poster size field guides or meet the great artists I work with here.

One of the biggest fans of Google adwords is also a natural customer of mine-- American Meadows

Ray Allen, CEO, finds thousands of people coming to American Meadows through Google Adwords.

Ray has been in business a lot longer than I have-- and he has built a business on quality and integrity. I admire his success. Mimickry being the highest praise, I went off to our website stats log to see what people type in their browser when they find Good Nature.

Here are the top ten key words for 2005:

1. good nature publishing

2. baseball slider

3. knuckleball

4. deciduous trees

5. pacific northwest map

6. tree posters

7. trees of california

8. www.goodnaturepublishing.com

9. paphiopedilum rothschildianum

10. indian canoes

Isn't that an interesting mix?

What makes me laugh is I feel like Good Nature is mostly about teaching trees -- educational flora and fauna art that is also beautiful. But baseball is a passion as well as plants. (Well- it used to be before corporations got hold of it.)

And philosophically -- I see Good Nature's work as a small part of a counterculture to the technological imperative: Newer, faster, digital world meets slow and careful artists who take months to carefully consider and draw us back to our roots in the natural world. Watercolor and color pencil v Boing Boing Cool! Cool!

Anyway -- last week I went to Yahoo Key Word Search

and typed in key word "sex". Then I typed in "native trees". I invite you to discover what people are really doing on the web with that one search. Let me tell you: they aren't looking for distinctions between conifer and deciduous trees.

I was stunned by the gap -- something like 8,000,000 searchs for all kinds of "sex" and almost 400 for anything to do with "native trees".

So I guess I am in the wrong business?

Oh well. Maybe more people would see Good Nature if I advertise tree sex?

Basta.

A personal pleasure of mine was seeing artist names come up in searches for the first time: Jean Emmons, Kate Nessler and Carol Woodin all got a lot of hits as part of my top 100 key words.

These bright angels are three of the best contemporary botanical artists.

They deserve to be found everywhere we are -- for their art nourishes our souls and informs us of the gifts life has given us --eyes to start with, and humbler skills with brush and paint.

Well-- we'll see what my intermittent work with Google, Yahoo, Adbrite and others lead to. Enough for now.

I am testing interest in a Yellowstone Wolf Biodiversity poster this week. Hope to find some partners to fund design, art work and publishing a painting that tells the amazing story of wolves reintroduction to our world's first park.

Basta .

Timothy

Wednesday, November 02, 2005

Cooler planet car



Interesting story in BBC on a great idea: public transit with cars and satellites coordinating service. Way past time we have this in Seattle.

Timothy

Tuesday, November 01, 2005

Give Bees a Chance by Matissimo



I told my friend Leslie Newman (graphic designer who makes Good Nature's posters look so good.) about my Give Bees a Chance idea, and she liked it well enough to make a beautiful and eye catching design with her own illustration.

Want to see more? Check out Matissimo's Give Bees a Chance page

She has applied this cool art to t shirts, bumperstickers, coffee mugs and more.

Something for everyone!

Best fishes,

Timothy

Sunday, October 23, 2005

Visions of Science Awards -- photos from UK


This tiny shrimp fearlessly enters the mouth of a fish to clean its teeth. Fish value this service as the shrimp removes and eats harmful parasites. The shrimp lives in the sea anemone in the background. Fish recognize the anemone as a cleaning station, and when they need a clean they approach it and open their mouths, encouraging the shrimp in. This is mutualism - a form of symbiosis in which both partners benefit.

Photographed at a depth of 10 metres off Curacao, Netherlands Antilles, in 2003.
Nikon F90x, 105mm macro lens, two flashguns

Interesting detailed photographs collected here in Winners of Vision of Science Awards

I had to read the text next to the photos to really appreciate the image.

Enjoy...

Timothy

Thursday, October 20, 2005

Wrens of North America sketch

Wrens of North America by Tammy Irvine (contact Good Nature Publishing for information on ordering this new print 1-800 631 3086

Tammy Irvine sent me this sketch with these birds illustrated in an attractive horizontal format. I feel as though the little ones have come to visit. How many have you seen?

Wrens of North America

Cactus Wren, Canyon Wren, Rock Wren, Bewicks Wren, House Wren, Winter Wren, Sedge Wren, Carolina Wren and Marsh Wren.

Do you love wrens like I do? I like the little wrens as much as I love raptors. When I was growing up, wrens, cedar waxwings, robins, and grackles made our back yard alive --

Wrens peck, creep and flit along, enchanting us in their careful search for food. They blend in with the dead leaves on the ground or bark of a tree, so seeing through their camouflage makes observing their little bodies in constant motion a visual treat.

I enjoy their subtle coloring, their silent approach to life, and the graceful way they ponder and fly through bush and bramble. Where robin can sit like a sentry on the ground-- buddha like trance state feeling the ground for movement and dinner below their feet, brother and sister wren keep a steady eye out for prey and predators.

Good Nature is making a poster, and maybe a long post card that folds out.

Retail $9.99/$20 laminated
20 or mroe for $5 ea/ $10 laminated
$2.50 ea per 100
99 cents ea per 1000 with your name and logo added for a small fee.

What do you think? Order in October to get these pre press discounts. First edition planned for the holidays.

Treemendously,

Timothy Colman, publisher
Good Nature Publishing Co




Tuesday, October 18, 2005

New Southeast Invasive Species poster premiers


Copyright 2005 Good Nature Publishing Co. Call Tim Colman 800 631 3086 or Good Nature Publishing Co.

New poster of Invasive Species of Southeastern US. Beautiful and educational poster perfect for agency outreach and education.

Price per poster $9.99 (18" x 24")
20 or more for $5 ea
100 in Octover for $2.99 ea
1000 or more for .99 cents ea
5000 or more for .79 cents ea

"Nonnative plants...What you plant
today may invade our forests tomorrow."


Species list illustrated:

1.Silktree, Mimosa (Albizia julibrissin)
2 Princesstree, Paulownia (Paulownia tomentosa)
3 Tallowtree, Popcorntree (Triadica sebifera)
4 Tree-of-Heaven (Ailanthus altissima)
5 Chinese Privet (Ligustrum sinense)
6 Sacred Bamboo, Nandina (Nandina domestica)
7 Winged Burning Bush (Euonymus alata)
8 Oriental Bittersweet (Celastrus orbibulatus)
9 English Ivy (Hedera helix)
10 Nonnative Wisteria (Wisteria sinensis, W. floribunda)
11 Common Periwinkle (Vinca minor)
12 Tall Fescue (Lolium arundinaceum)
13 Chinese Silvergrass (Miscanthus sinensis)
14 Golden Bamboo (Phyllostachys aurea)

Shown above are a few of the many nonnative invasive plants that threaten the forests of the South. These trees, shrubs, vines, grasses, and flowers invade an estimated 4,600 acres of U.S. land every day, with about half of those acres on public land. With their rapid growth and dense infestations, nonnative invasive plants alter the ecology of forests, affecting water and soil quality and leading to declines in both the numbers and diversity of native plants.

USDA Forest Service, Southern Research Station, Asheville, NC

Artist: Jeff Gundlach

Available for sale 10/22/05

Saturday, October 15, 2005

Give Bees a Chance poster/greeting card


Copyright 2005 Good Nature Publishing Co. Seattle WA Good Nature Publishing Co. with artist Tammy Irvine Rear View Studio
Final art willl be watercolor. Sketch is black & white.

Give Bees A Chance

Here's a preview of a beautiful new greeting card and poster from Good Nature Publishing for your exclusive preview. It is due out mid November in time for the holidays.

Order yours today! Beautifully illustrated with colorful wildflowers, a sign that makes everyone smile and a hope for peace on earth. And good for beesness!

Give Peace a Chance 4 color greeting card (5" x 7" folded blank inside)
Retail for $2.25 ea/ $2.00 ea per dz/ $.95 cents ea per 100/ .79 cents ea per 1000

Give Peace a Chance poster 11"x 14" color poster $7.99 ea/ $5 ea for 20/ $2.50 ea per 100/.95 cents ea per 1000

Satisfaction guaranteed.

You can order by emailing me @ tim@goodnaturepublishing.com or call 800 631 3086

Thanks for checking it out.

Treemendously,

Timothy Colman, poster sherpa & publisher
Good Nature Publishing Co.
Seattle WA
206 622 9522

Monday, October 03, 2005

New Puget Sound Hedgerows: Biodiversity on the Farm

(Click on image to enlarge view)

Hedgerows of Puget Sound poster field guide preview

Good Nature's newest poster makes biodiversity easy to appreciate.

Suzanne Duranceau has almost finished a beautiful portrait of Pacific Northwest Hedgerows -- showing native plants farmers in Western Washington and Oregon can grow to create "living fences" -- buffers between farm animals and nearby wetlands.

Farmers growing natives that make hedgerows create benefits all around -- improving farm fertility, creating natural windbreaks, cutting down erosion from floods and improving biodiversity.

Hedgerows of Puget Sound final poster field guide complete with running border of 24 close ups of key species will be published by Thanksgiving 2005. Finished size is 36" x 24" printed on high quality recycled papers.

Price per poster is $16.99/$30 lam 20 or more for $5 ea non laminated.

Order yours today -- and check out Good Nature Publishing Co

You can see the rest of Good Nature's art at Good Nature, order the new poster, or add it to other ones you like.

Satisfaction guaranteed.


best fishes,

Timothy Colman, Publisher and poster sherpa


Sunday, June 19, 2005

GO WILD! Eastern Native WIldflowers by John Pitcher



John Pitcher-- naturalist and watercolor acryllic artist from Dorset, Vermont painted the best Native Wildflowers poster for Eastern US flora and Good Nature Publishing Co.

Here are 28 natives that range from Canada to Florida panhandle and west to the big river.

Ten of the little seed flickers live out west past the Palouse and into BC, and another ten have established residence here thanks to you know who.

( I have that second hand by Arthur Jacobson, noted author and plant genius that lives in Seattle. )

Good Nature design steps:

We start every poster with a species list. Usually twice as many species as we end up with in the final art.

Then I call up my clients who want to go in on a poster with me and ask them what they think.

At that point I am usually meditating with the artist-- working out timelines for getting a draft sketch put together. Meanwhile my clients has radioed via email their wishes, for color, season and artist's whim.

Most of the time we get the design right.

The new Native Wildflowers got the design right with this poster-- in terms of numbers of posters sold-- it has become a Good Nature bestseller. It will be the first poster we sell a million of-- a function of design meeting geography. There are lots of green thumbs in northeastern US, and teachers love them.

Of course it helped to have The New York Conservationist
and Boston Globe's Garden writer Carol Stocker
praise the art in their respective publications.