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Grandfather, Tanawha.
Grandfather Mountain (known by the Cherokee as Tanawha (The Eagle) is located in northwestern North Carolina. It is one of the oldest mountains in the Blue Ridge, created over 1 billion years ago. Grandfather Mountain is internationally recognized as the home of many rare and endangered species of plants, trees, amphibians, birds, and mammals. Twenty-seven examples of the many tree and plant species found there are arranged around the border of the painting. Extending around the border up from the bottom left to the bottom right are the Chestnut, Black Cherry, Sourwood, Birch, Mountain Ash, Red Maple, Chestnut Oak, White Pine, Red Spruce, Balsam, Frazier Fir, Hemlock, Hickory, Buckeye, Sassafras, Black Walnut, Serviceberry, Beech, Poplar, and Sycamore.
Also shown near the bottom of the painting are Flame Azalea and Mountain Laurel together with flowering plants which include Grey's Lilly (bottom left corner), Bluet, Heller's Blazing Star, and Micheaux's Saxifrage (all in center mix), and Wood Sorrel (lower right corner).
Seven of the many bird species found on Grandfather are shown from left to right including the Wood Thrush, Magnolia Warbler, Veery, Rosebreasted Grosbeak, Scarlet Tanager, Black Capped Chickadee, and the Indigo Bunting.
The Grey Wolf and Mountain Lion are shown near the bottom of the painting representing the many mammals the still roam Grandfather. Also shown within the borders are tracks of Deer, Bear, Fox, Bobcat, Beaver, and Otter. The Yonahlossee Salamander (pictured at bottom center) is thought to be endemic only to Grandfather Mountain.
Cherokee and Celtic designed borders frame the painting to represent the Cherokee who were some of the first human inhabitants of Grandfather Mountain and the Scots and Irish settlers that later called Grandfather Mountain home.
More information about Grandfather Mountain can be found at www.grandfather.com and also in the book Grandfather Mountain, A Profile, by Miles Tager, Parkway Publishers, Boone, NC.

Limited Edition prints are also available for sale by contacting the artist, Lelia Canter.