a spring preview of autumn brilliance

our maples are blossoming. though individually small, the effect of an entire tree in flower is striking. these flowers, once pollinated by bees, will soon turn into the more readily recognizable whirligig maple seeds. i’ve photographed a lot of maple seeds (samaras) over the years, but these short-lived blossoms are a little more elusive. take a close look at the branches supporting the blossoms. they look as though wound by fine black wire.

maple blossoms

we’ve got take-off

the sun came out today. it feels like spring. smells like spring. and it starting to look like spring. hallelujah

lilac buds

is it art?

there is a bias in the art world against what is primarily decorative or beautiful. it isn’t considered important art, or fine art, unless it is conceptual, intellectual, political, social. i could pretend that by documenting nature one day at a time for over ten years, i have been building toward a statement about global warning. would that make this project more like art? i don’t know. i do know that it would make the project feel less like itself. i have a very strong sense of what still blog is and where, for lack of a better word, its soul lies. that place may not be in the world of art. but it isn’t either in the world of “statements,” political or otherwise. it is a quiet and idiosyncratic corner of the world where seasons unfold and are paid attention to, out of earshot, as much as possible, of those voices that define, and categorize, and exclude.

birch catkins 

p.s. i had a mother-in-law who described her shape as a wading bird–tall skinny legs and a big round belly. i love that description. it doesn’t quite work for me. well, the round belly works, but my legs are short and muscular. more mallard than ibis.

internal combustion

the intrepid day lilies are doing their thing right now, even though the sun refuses to shine, and all the rest of the natural world is tapping its watch, waiting on spring to make its fashionably late appearance. wherever they are getting their willpower, i am grateful for the day lilies. early spring green is one of my favorite colors and it’s been a long time since i’ve seen it.

daylily sprouts (Hemerocallis)

pretty in pink

happy may day all. my dad was a first generation romanian immigrant. his mom never knew the exact day he was born. but she remembered there was a village may day celebration around the time she gave birth. so, they picked May 1st as his birthday. he was always a little embarrassed by that story of his beginnings. i always thought it was fabulous. Happy Birthday Papa!

my neighbor has a stand of red pines in his yard. coming down the driveway from walking the dog today, this large (about 18 inches long) piece of bark was in my path. the mottled orangey-pinks and grays  were a perfect complement to the drippy gray day.

red pine bark (pinus resinosa)