Don Balke (North Carolina, B. 1933) "American Goldfinch and Violet" Signed lower right. Original Watercolor painting on Illustration Board. Provenance: Collection of James A. Helzer (1946-2008), Founder of Unicover Corporation. This painting is the original painting which was published on the Fleetwood commemorative cover for Balke's Birds and Flowers of the 50 States, cancelled December 18, 1985. Widely known and well loved, the Goldfinch ranges from coast to coast and from southern Canada southward through most of the United States. As a joyous symbol of summer, this Finch flashes against the green of the field and grass on a wave-like course, climbing and dipping. At the crest of the wave he pipes his sweet call note: per-chic-o-ree per-chic-o-ree! Some people fancy that he is saying, "Just look at me, just look at me." Thoreau appropriately called the Goldfinch's song "the tinkling of ripened grain in Nature's basket." The brilliance of his yellow body provides sharp contrast to his jet-black tail and wings. In spring and summer, this colorful friend sports through the scattered trees of the farmland. New Jersey's tiny state flower, the Violet, is a sparkling and welcome adornment of early spring. Although small, its beauty is immediate and unforgettable. This is one of the most common of the many species of Violets with flowers and leaves on separate stalks. A white variety with purple veins is common in the South and is called the Confederate Violet. The flowers are high in vitamin C and make a nutritious garnish on a salad, in addition to being used for medicinal purposes. The leaves and seeds were made into poultices for swelling and inflamed eyes by early settlers. Another pioneer remedy was a mild, sweet syrup of Violets and honey, given to many children for indigestion problems and other common ailments. Image Size: 10.75 x 12.25 in. Overall Size: 19.25 x 21 in. Unframed. (B09908)