#abstractrealism — Public Fediverse posts

Night Moves on the Tallgrass Prairie: The Intimate Bond of the Western Prairie Fringed Orchid and the Sphinx Moth

Whether you live right next to a remnant prairie or thousand miles away, you can take meaningful, hands-on action to protect these critical ecosystems and the wildlife that depend on them.

Here is how you can directly help:

Hands-On Volunteering (Be a “Steward”)

If you are anywhere near the Midwest or the Great Plains, regional organizations are constantly looking for volunteers. No prior experience is required, and they provide all the training

NATIVE SEED COLLECTING:

In the late summer and autumn, organizations like The Nature Conservancy (at sites like the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve in Kansas or Nachusa Grasslands in Illinois) host community seed-harvesting days. Hand-collecting native seeds is the only way to get genetically resilient material to restore plowed agricultural fields back into native habitat.

JOINING A “WEED PULL” TEAM:

Invasive species like leafy spurge and sweet clover choke out delicate orchids. Groups like the Grassland Heritage Foundation (their “Groundhogs” team) or the North Branch Restoration Project in Illinois run regular weekend workdays to manually clear invasives.

THE FIRE CREW (ADVANCED):

If you want to get deeply involved, many local land trusts and non-profits offer training to help manage controlled, prescribed prairie burns in the spring and fall.

Practice “Homegrown Conservation”

You can transform your yard, apartment balcony, or local community garden into a sanctuary for wide-ranging prairie insects like the sphinx moth

PLANT NATIVE HOSTS:

Plant native wild bergamot (Monarda fistulosa), evening primrose, native sages, and native mints. These act as vital nurseries for sphinx moth caterpillars.

Opt for Light-Colored, Dusk-Blooming Florals:

Moths navigate by fragrance and moonlight. Pale pink or white native flowers that release their scent at twilight give adult moths the heavy dose of sugar fuel they need to fly long distances.

TURN DOWN THE LIGHTS:

Light pollution disorients and exhausts nocturnal pollinators, pulling them away from mating and pollen routes. Use motion sensors for outdoor security lights, flip off porch lights when not in use, or switch to warm-toned outdoor LED bulbs.

Become a Citizen Scientist:

You don’t need an ecology degree to contribute to real scientific research. Technology lets everyday people map the health of the prairie.

USE INATURALIST OR SEEK:

Download these free apps and document the plants, caterpillars, and moths you see in your area. Scientists use this exact crowdsourced data to track insect population declines, map shifting ranges due to climate change, and identify locations that need urgent legal protection.

PARTICIPATE IN MOTH WEEK:

Every July, global community science initiatives encourage people to document nocturnal biodiversity. Mapping where sphinx moths are thriving helps researchers understand where endangered plants like the Western Prairie Fringed Orchid have the best chance of survival.

Advocate for Land and Watershed:

Protection Prairies rely entirely on clean, undisturbed water tables and wide-open spaces.

SUPPORT FARM BILL CONSERVATION:

If you are in the US, advocate for and support policies that fund the NRCS (Natural Resources Conservation Service). They provide crucial financial incentives to farmers and ranchers to leave low-lying wetlands and prairie potholes unplowed.

SUPPORT LOCAL LAND TRUSTS:

Vote for local and state measures that allocate funds to purchasing conservation easements—agreements that permanently protect private prairie land from being developed or turned into monoculture croplands.

Non-Profits Research Institutes & Ecological Businesses Dedicated to Protecting Restoring & Advocating for North American Prairie Ecosystems

​National & Regional Non-Profits

• ​The Nature Conservancy: Manages the largest protected pieces of tallgrass prairie left on Earth, including the Joseph H. Williams Tallgrass Prairie Preserve in Oklahoma and the Northern Tallgrass Prairie National Wildlife Refuge across Minnesota and Iowa.
• ​American Prairie: An ambitious conservation project working to connect millions of acres of Montana’s Great Plains into a seamless, massive wildlife reserve for biodiversity and native species like bison.
• ​The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation: While focused on pollinators, their extensive grassland conservation work directly impacts prairie health by protecting the native insects (like the sphinx moth) required to keep native prairie flora alive.
• ​Grassland Heritage Foundation: A Kansas-based non-profit focused on preserving and restoring tallgrass prairie through environmental education, research funding, and direct land protection.
• ​Prairie Plains Resource Institute: Based in Nebraska, this institute has pioneered high-diversity, local-ecotype grassland management and restoration across its network of native prairie preserves since 1980.
• ​Prairie Rivers Network: The Illinois affiliate of the National Wildlife Federation, focusing heavily on the intersection of river protection, wetland health, and prairie restoration to defend the landscape against industrial degradation.

​Academic & Research Centers

• ​Tallgrass Prairie Center: Rooted at the University of Northern Iowa, this center empowers people to value and restore resilient tallgrass prairies by providing seed-provider infrastructure, researching restoration methods, and integrating native plantings onto farms and public roadsides.

​Federal & Public Initiatives

• ​Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie: Managed by the USDA Forest Service in Illinois, this massive public infrastructure project partners with major environmental groups to monitor and recover rare, native prairie plants and wetlands.
• ​Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS): A branch of the USDA that provides science-based technical assistance and funding to help private landowners, farmers, and ranchers implement voluntary oak woodland and prairie restoration practices.

​Ecological Restoration Businesses & Private Services

• ​Prairie Restorations, Inc.: A long-standing Minnesota-based business specializing in the design, installation, and management of native plant landscapes. They offer large-scale ecological restoration services to establish diverse, high-quality prairie plant communities.

Here are direct links to reputable non-profit organizations where your financial contributions directly fund prairie acquisition, land management and pollinator protection.

NATIONAL & REGIONAL LAND PROTECTION

Donate to American Prairie:

Directly supports their mission to build the largest wildlife reserve in the continental United States by purchasing and stitching together millions of acres of Montana’s native grasslands.

INVERTEBRATE & POLLINATOR CONSERVATION

Donate to The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation:

Directly funds habitat restoration kits, pesticide reduction campaigns, and defensive advocacy for the native insects—like the night-flying sphinx moth—that keep prairie flora alive.

WATERSHED & WATER QUALITY ADVOCACY

Donate to the Prairie Rivers Network:

Supports legal advocacy and grassroots organizing to protect the rivers, wetlands, and low-lying wet prairies from industrial and chemical degradation.

Night Moves on the Tallgrass Prairie: The Intimate Bond of the Western Prairie Fringed Orchid and the Sphinx Moth

Whether you live right next to a remnant prairie or thousand miles away, you can take meaningful, hands-on action to protect these critical ecosystems and the wildlife that depend on them.

Here is how you can directly help:

Hands-On Volunteering (Be a “Steward”)

If you are anywhere near the Midwest or the Great Plains, regional organizations are constantly looking for volunteers. No prior experience is required, and they provide all the training

NATIVE SEED COLLECTING:

In the late summer and autumn, organizations like The Nature Conservancy (at sites like the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve in Kansas or Nachusa Grasslands in Illinois) host community seed-harvesting days. Hand-collecting native seeds is the only way to get genetically resilient material to restore plowed agricultural fields back into native habitat.

JOINING A “WEED PULL” TEAM:

Invasive species like leafy spurge and sweet clover choke out delicate orchids. Groups like the Grassland Heritage Foundation (their “Groundhogs” team) or the North Branch Restoration Project in Illinois run regular weekend workdays to manually clear invasives.

THE FIRE CREW (ADVANCED):

If you want to get deeply involved, many local land trusts and non-profits offer training to help manage controlled, prescribed prairie burns in the spring and fall.

Practice “Homegrown Conservation”

You can transform your yard, apartment balcony, or local community garden into a sanctuary for wide-ranging prairie insects like the sphinx moth

PLANT NATIVE HOSTS:

Plant native wild bergamot (Monarda fistulosa), evening primrose, native sages, and native mints. These act as vital nurseries for sphinx moth caterpillars.

Opt for Light-Colored, Dusk-Blooming Florals:

Moths navigate by fragrance and moonlight. Pale pink or white native flowers that release their scent at twilight give adult moths the heavy dose of sugar fuel they need to fly long distances.

TURN DOWN THE LIGHTS:

Light pollution disorients and exhausts nocturnal pollinators, pulling them away from mating and pollen routes. Use motion sensors for outdoor security lights, flip off porch lights when not in use, or switch to warm-toned outdoor LED bulbs.

Become a Citizen Scientist:

You don’t need an ecology degree to contribute to real scientific research. Technology lets everyday people map the health of the prairie.

USE INATURALIST OR SEEK:

Download these free apps and document the plants, caterpillars, and moths you see in your area. Scientists use this exact crowdsourced data to track insect population declines, map shifting ranges due to climate change, and identify locations that need urgent legal protection.

PARTICIPATE IN MOTH WEEK:

Every July, global community science initiatives encourage people to document nocturnal biodiversity. Mapping where sphinx moths are thriving helps researchers understand where endangered plants like the Western Prairie Fringed Orchid have the best chance of survival.

Advocate for Land and Watershed:

Protection Prairies rely entirely on clean, undisturbed water tables and wide-open spaces.

SUPPORT FARM BILL CONSERVATION:

If you are in the US, advocate for and support policies that fund the NRCS (Natural Resources Conservation Service). They provide crucial financial incentives to farmers and ranchers to leave low-lying wetlands and prairie potholes unplowed.

SUPPORT LOCAL LAND TRUSTS:

Vote for local and state measures that allocate funds to purchasing conservation easements—agreements that permanently protect private prairie land from being developed or turned into monoculture croplands.

Non-Profits Research Institutes & Ecological Businesses Dedicated to Protecting Restoring & Advocating for North American Prairie Ecosystems

​National & Regional Non-Profits

• ​The Nature Conservancy: Manages the largest protected pieces of tallgrass prairie left on Earth, including the Joseph H. Williams Tallgrass Prairie Preserve in Oklahoma and the Northern Tallgrass Prairie National Wildlife Refuge across Minnesota and Iowa.
• ​American Prairie: An ambitious conservation project working to connect millions of acres of Montana’s Great Plains into a seamless, massive wildlife reserve for biodiversity and native species like bison.
• ​The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation: While focused on pollinators, their extensive grassland conservation work directly impacts prairie health by protecting the native insects (like the sphinx moth) required to keep native prairie flora alive.
• ​Grassland Heritage Foundation: A Kansas-based non-profit focused on preserving and restoring tallgrass prairie through environmental education, research funding, and direct land protection.
• ​Prairie Plains Resource Institute: Based in Nebraska, this institute has pioneered high-diversity, local-ecotype grassland management and restoration across its network of native prairie preserves since 1980.
• ​Prairie Rivers Network: The Illinois affiliate of the National Wildlife Federation, focusing heavily on the intersection of river protection, wetland health, and prairie restoration to defend the landscape against industrial degradation.

​Academic & Research Centers

• ​Tallgrass Prairie Center: Rooted at the University of Northern Iowa, this center empowers people to value and restore resilient tallgrass prairies by providing seed-provider infrastructure, researching restoration methods, and integrating native plantings onto farms and public roadsides.

​Federal & Public Initiatives

• ​Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie: Managed by the USDA Forest Service in Illinois, this massive public infrastructure project partners with major environmental groups to monitor and recover rare, native prairie plants and wetlands.
• ​Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS): A branch of the USDA that provides science-based technical assistance and funding to help private landowners, farmers, and ranchers implement voluntary oak woodland and prairie restoration practices.

​Ecological Restoration Businesses & Private Services

• ​Prairie Restorations, Inc.: A long-standing Minnesota-based business specializing in the design, installation, and management of native plant landscapes. They offer large-scale ecological restoration services to establish diverse, high-quality prairie plant communities.

Here are direct links to reputable non-profit organizations where your financial contributions directly fund prairie acquisition, land management and pollinator protection.

NATIONAL & REGIONAL LAND PROTECTION

Donate to American Prairie:

Directly supports their mission to build the largest wildlife reserve in the continental United States by purchasing and stitching together millions of acres of Montana’s native grasslands.

INVERTEBRATE & POLLINATOR CONSERVATION

Donate to The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation:

Directly funds habitat restoration kits, pesticide reduction campaigns, and defensive advocacy for the native insects—like the night-flying sphinx moth—that keep prairie flora alive.

WATERSHED & WATER QUALITY ADVOCACY

Donate to the Prairie Rivers Network:

Supports legal advocacy and grassroots organizing to protect the rivers, wetlands, and low-lying wet prairies from industrial and chemical degradation.

Neisha Landers Ecological Art : The Fight for the Texas Ocelot

Key Organizations Fighting for the Texas Ocelot

1. Friends of Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge What they do: This 501(c)(3) non-profit organization exists to protect, support, and enhance the refuge, which is home to one of the last remaining breeding populations of U.S. ocelots. They raise funds, administer grants, and sponsor educational outreach activities.

Website: flanwr.org

2. Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute (CKWRI) What they do: Located at Texas A&M University-Kingsville, CKWRI has been a leading force in ocelot research for four decades. They are currently building a $20 million state-of-the-art Ocelot Conservation Facility dedicated to ocelot reproduction, behavioral research, and rewilding.

Website: ckwri.tamuk.edu

3. East Foundation & Recover Texas Ocelots What they do: The East Foundation partners with CKWRI and the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) SAFE Ocelot program. Their primary goal is to propagate, rewild, and reintroduce ocelots onto historic natural habitats on Texas ranchlands.

• ​Website: recovertexasocelots.org

​4. Texas Conservation Alliance (TCA)

• ​What they do: Founded in 1971, TCA advocates for the protection of Texas wildlife and wild habitats through grassroots outreach, policy advocacy, and on-the-ground conservation.

• ​Website: tcatexas.org

​5. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) – Laguna Atascosa

​​What they do: This federal agency manages the Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge. They work closely with landowners, non-profits, and volunteers to restore habitats, manage the wild populations, and increase public education.

• ​Website: fws.gov/refuge/laguna-atascosa

​Actionable Ways You Can Help

​Make a Donation or Fund Land Acquisition

• ​The Friends of Laguna Atascosa have a fund specifically set up to help grow the refuge by purchasing key land to create a wildlife corridor in Cameron County. Donations ensure an ever-growing capacity to connect fragmented habitats. Donate to the Friends Here.

• ​You can also donate directly to CKWRI to support their new Ocelot Conservation Facility and their ongoing genetic, behavioral, and habitat research. Support CKWRI Here.

​Volunteer Your Time

​The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service at Laguna Atascosa relies heavily on manpower from volunteers to keep operations running.

• ​Open positions range from general and trail maintenance to visitor services, gardening, and digital communications.

• ​Opportunities are flexible and available for both local residents and RV volunteers. Find Volunteer Opportunities Here.

​Buy the “Save Texas Ocelots” License Plate (Texas Residents)

• ​If you live in Texas, you can spread the word and fund conservation by purchasing a specialty license plate for an additional fee of $30.

The Friends of Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge receives $22 from the sale of each plate, 100% of which goes directly to ocelot conservation.

Neisha Landers Ecological Art : The Fight for the Texas Ocelot

Key Organizations Fighting for the Texas Ocelot

1. Friends of Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge What they do: This 501(c)(3) non-profit organization exists to protect, support, and enhance the refuge, which is home to one of the last remaining breeding populations of U.S. ocelots. They raise funds, administer grants, and sponsor educational outreach activities.

Website: flanwr.org

2. Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute (CKWRI) What they do: Located at Texas A&M University-Kingsville, CKWRI has been a leading force in ocelot research for four decades. They are currently building a $20 million state-of-the-art Ocelot Conservation Facility dedicated to ocelot reproduction, behavioral research, and rewilding.

Website: ckwri.tamuk.edu

3. East Foundation & Recover Texas Ocelots What they do: The East Foundation partners with CKWRI and the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) SAFE Ocelot program. Their primary goal is to propagate, rewild, and reintroduce ocelots onto historic natural habitats on Texas ranchlands.

• ​Website: recovertexasocelots.org

​4. Texas Conservation Alliance (TCA)

• ​What they do: Founded in 1971, TCA advocates for the protection of Texas wildlife and wild habitats through grassroots outreach, policy advocacy, and on-the-ground conservation.

• ​Website: tcatexas.org

​5. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) – Laguna Atascosa

​​What they do: This federal agency manages the Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge. They work closely with landowners, non-profits, and volunteers to restore habitats, manage the wild populations, and increase public education.

• ​Website: fws.gov/refuge/laguna-atascosa

​Actionable Ways You Can Help

​Make a Donation or Fund Land Acquisition

• ​The Friends of Laguna Atascosa have a fund specifically set up to help grow the refuge by purchasing key land to create a wildlife corridor in Cameron County. Donations ensure an ever-growing capacity to connect fragmented habitats. Donate to the Friends Here.

• ​You can also donate directly to CKWRI to support their new Ocelot Conservation Facility and their ongoing genetic, behavioral, and habitat research. Support CKWRI Here.

​Volunteer Your Time

​The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service at Laguna Atascosa relies heavily on manpower from volunteers to keep operations running.

• ​Open positions range from general and trail maintenance to visitor services, gardening, and digital communications.

• ​Opportunities are flexible and available for both local residents and RV volunteers. Find Volunteer Opportunities Here.

​Buy the “Save Texas Ocelots” License Plate (Texas Residents)

• ​If you live in Texas, you can spread the word and fund conservation by purchasing a specialty license plate for an additional fee of $30.

The Friends of Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge receives $22 from the sale of each plate, 100% of which goes directly to ocelot conservation.

Dynamic Depth: How I Apply Hans Hofmann’s Color Theory in My Studio

Lee Krasner Art:

Dynamic Depth: How I Apply Hans Hofmann’s Color Theory in My Studio

Lee Krasner Art:

Make Waves: The Story Behind My Sockeye Salmon Painting and the Species It Champions

Conservation:

In Idaho, thousands of sockeye once swam up the Columbia, Snake, and Salmon rivers — migrating more than 900 miles from the Pacific Ocean to Redfish Lake every year. Between 1991 and 1998, only 16 sockeye returned to Redfish Lake. (NOAA Fisheries) In 1991, the Snake River sockeye became the first salmon in the Pacific Northwest declared endangered under the ESA. Within a few years, 16 more species were listed as either threatened or endangered. By 1999, wild salmon had disappeared from about 40% of their historic breeding ranges in Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and California. (RCO)The Pacific Salmon Foundation’s most recent State of Salmon report confirms the pattern holds: with two-thirds of salmon populations below their long-term averages, the data underscores persistent declines over many decades. “Recent gains for some salmon species show that salmon can rebound when conditions are right,” the report notes, but “a few good runs in recent years don’t outweigh decades of decline.” (Pacific Salmon Foundation)

The central battleground is the four lower Snake River dams. In 2022, NOAA published a landmark report concluding that removing the four lower Snake River dams as soon as possible is “essential” to avoiding extinction. In December 2023, the Biden Administration announced a historic agreement with six sovereign nations — Washington, Oregon, the Nez Perce Tribe, and other Columbia Basin Treaty Tribes — committing to advance salmon recovery and pause Snake River litigation. (Conservationalliance)That agreement is now in jeopardy. In June 2025, President Trump signed a Presidential Memorandum directing federal agencies to withdraw from the Resilient Columbia Basin Agreement. The White House also revoked a Biden-era memorandum supporting native fish restoration across the basin. Conservation, fishing, and clean energy groups represented by Earthjustice subsequently filed a motion in response to the withdrawal. (Earthjustice) What conservation hatcheries can and can’t do

The captive broodstock program helped save the Redfish Lake sockeye by protecting remaining genetic diversity in conservation hatcheries — and by 2000, 252 adults made it back. But NOAA acknowledges that over dependence on hatcheries could undermine the population’s genetic heritage and fitness. (NOAA Fisheries)Without removing the lower Snake dams, hatchery efforts and tributary restoration work risk being futile — spending enormous sums on actions whose benefits are negated by the gauntlet of dams and reservoirs the fish must survive.

After salmon spawn and die, their carcasses are a valuable source of energy and nutrients to the entire river ecosystem — contributing nitrogen and phosphorous that improve the growth and survival of the next generation of salmon. (NOAA Fisheries) The forest, the river, the next run — all of it depends on the body of the one that came before.

Government / Science

NOAA — Sockeye Salmon (Protected)

NOAA — Conservation Management

NOAA — Lake Ozette Sockeye

NOAA — Saving Pacific Salmon & Steelhead

Advocacy

Save Our Wild Salmon

Earthjustice — Snake River Timeline

The Conservation Alliance — Dam Removal

Wild Steelheaders United

Idaho Rivers United

Rogue Riverkeeper

Data / Reports

Pacific Salmon Foundation — State of Salmon 2025

WA Recreation & Conservation — Salmon Problems

Take Action

American Rivers

Trout Unlimited

Make Waves: The Story Behind My Sockeye Salmon Painting and the Species It Champions

Conservation:

In Idaho, thousands of sockeye once swam up the Columbia, Snake, and Salmon rivers — migrating more than 900 miles from the Pacific Ocean to Redfish Lake every year. Between 1991 and 1998, only 16 sockeye returned to Redfish Lake. (NOAA Fisheries) In 1991, the Snake River sockeye became the first salmon in the Pacific Northwest declared endangered under the ESA. Within a few years, 16 more species were listed as either threatened or endangered. By 1999, wild salmon had disappeared from about 40% of their historic breeding ranges in Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and California. (RCO)The Pacific Salmon Foundation’s most recent State of Salmon report confirms the pattern holds: with two-thirds of salmon populations below their long-term averages, the data underscores persistent declines over many decades. “Recent gains for some salmon species show that salmon can rebound when conditions are right,” the report notes, but “a few good runs in recent years don’t outweigh decades of decline.” (Pacific Salmon Foundation)

The central battleground is the four lower Snake River dams. In 2022, NOAA published a landmark report concluding that removing the four lower Snake River dams as soon as possible is “essential” to avoiding extinction. In December 2023, the Biden Administration announced a historic agreement with six sovereign nations — Washington, Oregon, the Nez Perce Tribe, and other Columbia Basin Treaty Tribes — committing to advance salmon recovery and pause Snake River litigation. (Conservationalliance)That agreement is now in jeopardy. In June 2025, President Trump signed a Presidential Memorandum directing federal agencies to withdraw from the Resilient Columbia Basin Agreement. The White House also revoked a Biden-era memorandum supporting native fish restoration across the basin. Conservation, fishing, and clean energy groups represented by Earthjustice subsequently filed a motion in response to the withdrawal. (Earthjustice) What conservation hatcheries can and can’t do

The captive broodstock program helped save the Redfish Lake sockeye by protecting remaining genetic diversity in conservation hatcheries — and by 2000, 252 adults made it back. But NOAA acknowledges that over dependence on hatcheries could undermine the population’s genetic heritage and fitness. (NOAA Fisheries)Without removing the lower Snake dams, hatchery efforts and tributary restoration work risk being futile — spending enormous sums on actions whose benefits are negated by the gauntlet of dams and reservoirs the fish must survive.

After salmon spawn and die, their carcasses are a valuable source of energy and nutrients to the entire river ecosystem — contributing nitrogen and phosphorous that improve the growth and survival of the next generation of salmon. (NOAA Fisheries) The forest, the river, the next run — all of it depends on the body of the one that came before.

Government / Science

NOAA — Sockeye Salmon (Protected)

NOAA — Conservation Management

NOAA — Lake Ozette Sockeye

NOAA — Saving Pacific Salmon & Steelhead

Advocacy

Save Our Wild Salmon

Earthjustice — Snake River Timeline

The Conservation Alliance — Dam Removal

Wild Steelheaders United

Idaho Rivers United

Rogue Riverkeeper

Data / Reports

Pacific Salmon Foundation — State of Salmon 2025

WA Recreation & Conservation — Salmon Problems

Take Action

American Rivers

Trout Unlimited

Wildlife Art for Conservation | Florida Panther Mixed Media by Neisha Landers

I used my signature “Ecological Fusion” style to literally paint the panther’s habitat inside its form. Within the silhouette of this majestic cat, you see the humid, vibrant life of the Florida wetlands—the swaying palms, the life-giving waterways, and the burst of native wildflowers.The background is washed in dreamlike, sunset hues of coral and violet, utilizing loose, impasto brushwork to create a sense of movement.

– Neisha Landers

Conservation & Stewardship

Protecting the Florida panther requires a multi-agency approach involving government programs, non-profits, and private land initiatives. Given the panther’s status as a keystone species, these organizations focus heavily on habitat connectivity and wildlife corridors.

​Government Agencies & Programs

• ​Florida Panther Program (FWC) The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission manages the state’s panther research, tracking (the “Panther Pulse”), and public sighting reports.
  • ​URL: https://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/wildlife/panther/
  /
  • ​Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge (USFWS) Managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, this refuge provides 26,400 acres of core habitat in the Big Cypress Basin.
    • ​URL: https://www.fws.gov/refuge/florida-panther
    r
    • ​Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) Wildlife Crossings While a state agency, FDOT is critical for panther conservation through the construction of underpasses and fencing to reduce vehicle-related mortality.
      • ​URL: https://www.fws.gov/story/2022-04/florida-panther (Case study via USFWS)
      ) ​Non-Profit Conservation Organizations
      • ​The Nature Conservancy (TNC) – Florida TNC focuses on land acquisition and conservation easements, particularly along the Caloosahatchee River, to allow panthers to expand their range northward.
        • ​URL: https://www.nature.org/en-us/about-us/where-we-work/united-states/florida/stories-in-florida/save-the-florida-panther/
        /
        • ​Friends of the Florida Panther Refuge     A non-profit “Friends” group that supports the National Wildlife Refuge through education, volunteer work, and fundraising for specific biological studies.
          • ​URL: https://www.floridapanther.org/
          /
          • ​Defenders of Wildlife This organization works on policy, advocating for the Florida Wildlife Corridor and collaborating on “panther hotspots” mapping to guide infrastructure decisions.
            • ​URL: https://defenders.org/wildlife/florida-panther
          • ​The Conservation Fund They specialize in high-stakes land protection, having secured thousands of acres of prime habitat near Naples that would otherwise have been lost to development.
            • ​URL: https://www.conservationfund.org/our-impact/projects/habitat-protection-for-the-florida-panther/
          ​Technical & Research Groups
          • ​Center for Biological Diversity Focuses on the legal and scientific protection of the panther, often utilizing the Endangered Species Act to ensure habitat remains undisturbed by major highway projects.
            • ​URL: https://www.biologicaldiversity.org/
          • ​Conservancy of Southwest Florida Provides local grassroots advocacy and has specific programs like “Pen Building Assistance” to help rural residents coexist with panthers safely.
            • ​URL: https://conservancy.org/our-work/policy/florida-panther/

Wildlife Art for Conservation | Florida Panther Mixed Media by Neisha Landers

I used my signature “Ecological Fusion” style to literally paint the panther’s habitat inside its form. Within the silhouette of this majestic cat, you see the humid, vibrant life of the Florida wetlands—the swaying palms, the life-giving waterways, and the burst of native wildflowers.The background is washed in dreamlike, sunset hues of coral and violet, utilizing loose, impasto brushwork to create a sense of movement.

– Neisha Landers

Conservation & Stewardship

Protecting the Florida panther requires a multi-agency approach involving government programs, non-profits, and private land initiatives. Given the panther’s status as a keystone species, these organizations focus heavily on habitat connectivity and wildlife corridors.

​Government Agencies & Programs

• ​Florida Panther Program (FWC) The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission manages the state’s panther research, tracking (the “Panther Pulse”), and public sighting reports.
  • ​URL: https://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/wildlife/panther/
  /
  • ​Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge (USFWS) Managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, this refuge provides 26,400 acres of core habitat in the Big Cypress Basin.
    • ​URL: https://www.fws.gov/refuge/florida-panther
    r
    • ​Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) Wildlife Crossings While a state agency, FDOT is critical for panther conservation through the construction of underpasses and fencing to reduce vehicle-related mortality.
      • ​URL: https://www.fws.gov/story/2022-04/florida-panther (Case study via USFWS)
      ) ​Non-Profit Conservation Organizations
      • ​The Nature Conservancy (TNC) – Florida TNC focuses on land acquisition and conservation easements, particularly along the Caloosahatchee River, to allow panthers to expand their range northward.
        • ​URL: https://www.nature.org/en-us/about-us/where-we-work/united-states/florida/stories-in-florida/save-the-florida-panther/
        /
        • ​Friends of the Florida Panther Refuge     A non-profit “Friends” group that supports the National Wildlife Refuge through education, volunteer work, and fundraising for specific biological studies.
          • ​URL: https://www.floridapanther.org/
          /
          • ​Defenders of Wildlife This organization works on policy, advocating for the Florida Wildlife Corridor and collaborating on “panther hotspots” mapping to guide infrastructure decisions.
            • ​URL: https://defenders.org/wildlife/florida-panther
          • ​The Conservation Fund They specialize in high-stakes land protection, having secured thousands of acres of prime habitat near Naples that would otherwise have been lost to development.
            • ​URL: https://www.conservationfund.org/our-impact/projects/habitat-protection-for-the-florida-panther/
          ​Technical & Research Groups
          • ​Center for Biological Diversity Focuses on the legal and scientific protection of the panther, often utilizing the Endangered Species Act to ensure habitat remains undisturbed by major highway projects.
            • ​URL: https://www.biologicaldiversity.org/
          • ​Conservancy of Southwest Florida Provides local grassroots advocacy and has specific programs like “Pen Building Assistance” to help rural residents coexist with panthers safely.
            • ​URL: https://conservancy.org/our-work/policy/florida-panther/

The Forest That Walks: El lobo / Mexican Wolf Painted from the Inside Out “Eco-Fusion” Wildlife Art by Neisha Landers

Through a signature “Ecological Fusion,” my mixed-media paintings blend abstract realism, rich thick textures, expressive brushstrokes, emotive colors, and a dreamlike double exposures technique to serves as a somatic healing tool and revealing the universal truth of divine oneness.

– Neisha Landers

WOLF CONSERVATION CENTER:

https://nywolf.org/?hl=en-US

https://mexicanwolves.org/?hl=en-US

REWILDING INSTITUTE:

https://rewilding.org/the-saga-of-the-mexican-gray-wolf-el-lobo/?hl=en-US

MEXICAN WOLF CONSERVATION:

https://www.cabq.gov/artsculture/biopark/conservation/mexican-wolf-conservation-facility?hl=en-US

MEXICAN WOLF MANAGEMENT:

https://www.azgfd.com/wildlife-conservation/conservation-and-endangered-species-programs/mexican-wolf-management/?hl=en-US

CALIFORNIA WOLF CENTER:

https://www.californiawolfcenter.org/conservation?hl=en-US

#AlphabetChallenge | #WeekKForKaraoke -"What It Sounds Like" from K-Pop Demon Hunters. This song speaks deeply to me! #ArtOfSelfPortraiture #SelfPortrait #ArtChallenges #ArtPrompts #AbstractArtist #AbstractRealism #Photography 📸 #WestCoastKin #Art #BlueskyPhotography #ArtistsOfBluesky #BlueskyArt

this piece is about being neurodivergent and specifically scatterbrained. In my youth they used to say "shes has a head full of clouds" created with ohuhu brush markers #art #traditionalart #watercolor #markers #abstractart #surrealart #ohuhu #abstractrealism

This photograph falls early in the series. Hoping to keep this approach as we move into 3D art.
https://www.patreon.com/posts/120036264?utm_campaign=postshare_creator

#photography #art #abstractrealism #artistsonmastodon #clouds #sky #mastoart #fediart

#Photography #Art #AbstractRealism #ArtistsOnMastodon #Plants #Nature #Garden #MastoArt

#photography #art #abstractrealism #artistsonmastodon #clouds #sky #mastoart #fediart

#photography #art #abstractrealism #artistsonmastodon #plants #nature #garden #mastoart #fediart

#photography #art #abstractrealism #artistsonmastodon #clouds #sky #mastoart #fediart

These studies have really helped me to push the limits of focal softness and depth of contrast. I think the two are pretty well balanced here. It’s my full resolution release for Patreon this month
https://www.patreon.com/posts/117483240?utm_campaign=postshare_creator

#photography #art #abstractrealism #artistsonmastodon #plants #nature #garden #mastoart #fediart

#photography #art #abstractrealism #artistsonmastodon #mastoart #fediart
#landscape #sky #digitalart

Hit a major milestone here in the progression of my cloud series. I said when I started I’d be happy to add to it for as long as I’m making art. It’s going to be so worth it to give these pieces the development they deserve and push past photography solely. Really excited for this - more details coming up on Patreon!

#photography #art #abstractrealism #artistsonmastodon #mastoart #fediart
#landscape #sky #digitalart

I don't think I've found a combination of colors that makes me happier. It’s the Patreon release for this month - Patrons get full resolution and uncompressed images which can be printed or otherwise utilized for personal use!
https://www.patreon.com/posts/110791845?utm_campaign=postshare_creator

#photography #art #abstractrealism #artistsonmastodon #clouds #sky #mastoart #fediart

Aimed to keep this one soft and dark while still remaining colorful. This month's uncompressed full resolution release on Patreon.
https://www.patreon.com/posts/109309156?utm_campaign=postshare_creator

#photography #art #abstractrealism #artistsonmastodon #plants #nature #garden #mastoart #fediart

Deep red for this month’s full resolution Patreon release. More available at my Patreon page!
https://www.patreon.com/attension

#photography #art #abstractrealism #artistsonmastodon #plants #nature #garden #mastoart #fediart

The full resolution release for this month’s Patreon. Managed to catch the last 20 seconds of sunlight this day.
#photography #art #abstractrealism #artistsonmastodon #mastoart #fediart
#beach #ocean
https://pgh.social/@attension/112333012323289959

This one was hard to color control while shooting but it worked out.
#photography #art #abstractrealism #artistsonmastodon #plants #nature #garden #mastoart #fediart

Pieces of pieces. Working on the next in this young series.

#Photography #Art #AbstractRealism #ArtistsOnMastodon #MastoArt

Digital piece for this month’s Patreon release. This one goes a while back, still one of my favorites.
#photography #art #abstractrealism #artistsonmastodon #plants #nature #garden #mastoart #fediart

Here we go!! It's been a long time coming and I am truly thrilled to announce that my Patreon page is now live. For so many reasons this will be the best place to see and keep up to date with the work I'm producing. You'll be able to access physical prints and full resolution versions of my work.

But most importantly, as a Patron you will directly enable the creation of more art!

https://www.patreon.com/attension

#photography #art #abstractrealism #artistsonmastodon #mastoart #fediart
#landscape #sky

Here we go!! It's been a long time coming and I am truly thrilled to announce that my Patreon page is now live. For so many reasons this will be the best place to see and keep up to date with the work I'm producing. You'll be able to access physical prints and full resolution versions of my work.

But most importantly, as a Patron you will directly enable the creation of more art!

https://www.patreon.com/attension

#photography #art #abstractrealism #artistsonmastodon #mastoart #fediart
#landscape #sky

#photography #art #abstractrealism #artistsonmastodon #mastoart #fediart
#beach #ocean
Untitled I (2021)

The first in the series and it’s probably still my favorite.
#photography #art #abstractrealism #artistsonmastodon #plants #nature #garden #mastoart #fediart

Plants at night. Beginning to think this might be a theme with me.
#photography #art #abstractrealism #artistsonmastodon #plants #nature #garden #mastoart #fediart

Always liked the movement here. Hoping for more like this in the future.
#photography #art #abstractrealism #artistsonmastodon #landscape #sky #fediart #mastoart

BUBBLE UNIVERSE
Okay, soap bubbles in a bottle. With a little enhancement, it's a universe of its own.
#Photography
#PhotographyIsArt
#AbstractRealism
#Digitalphotography
https://ko-fi.com/i/IF1F3JLR2O

Whimsical Foothills near Longview, AB - my original home on the ranch - Spring landscape. Acrylic in sketchbook. #ArtAdventCalendar #mastoart #acrylic #abstractrealism