Tampa artist John Gutcher took less than a week to complete the second city mural.  This four panel mural included the city flower, the Punta Gorda Hibiscus; the city bird, the yellow crown night heron; a roseate spoonbill, and the famous tarpon sporting fish.   

Original Mural: This mural was originally located at the town’s busiest intersection of West Marion Avenue and Tamiami Trail (US 41 North) and was dedicated on March 13, 1996.  Its funding was a joint venture between the Kiwanis Club of Punta Gorda and the Punta Gorda Rotary Club.  The original mural was destroyed by Hurricane “Charley” on August 13, 2004.  

Recreation: Since the original artist had passed away, local artist Michael Vires was hired to recreate the original mural. The original rendering of the Hibiscus showed the flower with only 4 petals, so the re-painting was modified to show the correct number of petals (5) in the flower. The new mural was painted on the north wall of the FPL sub-station on East Virginia Avenue and Nesbit Street . The recreation was supported by a generous contribution from Florida Power and Light and rededicated on January 17, 2008.

A The city flower and bird panels were sponsored by the Kiwanis Club, the other two by Rotary Club.  Recreation: Florida Power and Light

FPL E. Virginia Avenue and Nesbit Street

Dedication 1/17/08