About this Species
Much artistic license was taken with the Forest Floor series, and composition often won out over biological correctness, However, here are a few of the species Kathryn chose to honour in this painting:
Salmon
Salmon are adapted to live in both freshwater and saltwater at different phases of their life cycle. After hatching in a stream, they journey to the ocean and spend several years as ocean fish before returning to their natal stream to spawn. Salmon are incredibly important to the health of both ocean and forest ecosystems, and provide food for orcas and other marine mammals. Nutrients from salmon at the end of their life cycle are transferred back to coastal forests with the help of large predators such as bears and eagles.
Western Redcedar
This large evergreen tree has huge cultural and ecological importance in the Pacific Northwest. It has distinctive overlapping scale-like needles and soft bark in vertical strips. These trees grow in moist, shaded areas and can live for thousands of years.
All images remain copyright © Kathryn Beals.