Early Birds is an exhibit of small paintings done on location around the Center for Urban Horticulture by three local landscape artists, who, over many years, have often walked the trails and stopped to paint and sketch: Anni Leedy, Beth Means and Catherine Gill. Over time they have learned about the area, gained a depth of appreciation and observation of the wildlife, the marshes, the ponds, the trees, and the skies.  They tried to find the shapes, colors and textures that communicate the feeling of this beautiful and changing place.

Beth Means lives nearby and loves the early morning light at the Center. She has been an avid outdoor painter for 15 years and has her studio in Wallingford.

Anni Leedy was born and raised on Puget Sound, and has been a lifelong artist working in oil, pastel and watercolor. "Painting in the open air near home carries an intimacy and sparkle rarely captured in the studio."

Catherine Gill finds it exciting, inspiring and fun to set up her paints and easel on the trails at the Center for Urban Horticulture, next to the trees, the water, and amidst the critters. Feeling the wind, the heat, the cold, the sprinkles, seeing the changing colors, hearing the birds: all makes for some interesting stories and paintings.