Original watercolor professionally matted and framed with archival materials and non-glare UV protective glass. 26 x 33" total size with frame.
 
About the painting:
Brazilian Pepper is a cat 1 invasive species in Florida and some other US states, covering over 700,000 acres in central and south Florida in monoculture, blocking out the light for herbaceous plants and secreting toxins into the soil to prevent trees and shrubs from growing around it. in 1850 it was brought to Florida, as many other invasives often are, as an ornamental plant.

It has some interesting relationships with the local species, as a nesting site for wading birds, a source of pollen for Florida beekeepers, and a source of food for migratory birds like the Cedar Waxwing and American Robin (who consequently end up spreading BP seeds across the state, allowing the plant to pop up in protected parks and otherwise pristine land) However, it's not known whether animals use this species because they like it, or because it covers so many thousands of acres that they have little choice. 
 
Why did I paint an invasive speices? 
I was interested in illustrating plants that have a big impact on Florida. I wanted to help educate people about this common plant and it's invasive status. My family had a beautiful Brazilian Pepper tree in our yard while I was growing up, and it's a plant that I see in yards and roadsides all over the state to this day. Despite their ability to choak out local vegitation and create mono-cultures, it's a beautiful plant and many people keep them around because they aren't aware of how destructive it is. 
 
I wrote information about the invasive status of the plant directly into the painting, but decided later that it wasn't enough to convey the message, and that the painting looked like a celebration of the species overall rather than a rebuke. I decided not to paint any more invasive plants after this piece, but it is ironically still one of my favorite paintings!