Karolina and I had a deal, an eco-deal if you please. In return for her painting my portrait, I would plant one thousand trees on her behalf.

Both ends of the bargain have now been met!

Karolina’s one thousand trees have been planted on the hills of Flowerdale by Steve Joblin and his local landcare team. This year, this area was a major focus of the group. All up they planted 4,000 trees courtesy of Fifteen Trees’ supporters. Of the 4,000, a quarter were planted just for Karolina. [fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”yes” overflow=”visible”][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”]

“Dear Colleen, The terrain was steep and although the weather started out bright and still, by lunch it was raining. The bonus of rain on planting day? It will give the seedlings a great start. The hills we focused on this year had some remnant trees (mostly Red Stringy-bark, Yellow Box, Victorian Blue Gum and Long Leafed Box) but sections were pretty bare. We are aiming for an open woodland effect to encourage wallabies into the area. This Landcare planting project included the planting of local species which will further develop the biodiversity of this site. Thank you Colleen for all your support over the years”. Steve Joblin | Landcare Facilitator | Flowerdale

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The gorgeous Karolina Artist works out of her studio in Clunes. I’ve written about Karolina previously. She is a force to be beheld. Check out her website to get an idea of the amazing work she produces (as well as a glimpse of her Monet garden). [/fusion_builder_column][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”]

Thank you Karolina for my beautiful painting, it has been delivered and is awaiting hanging. Michelle Dunn from MDP kindly took some photos of the painting when it was unveiled to me for the first time last month. I will be showing the painting next year during an exhibition I am organising called ‘Imaging Trees‘. Aiming for June 2016 at Back Space Gallery (City of Ballarat). Stay tuned. [/fusion_builder_column][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”]

Slainte – Colleen[/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]