stuck together

it’s hard to describe just how tightly these small stones are welded to these strips of seaweed. it’s not just as if the seaweed sort of warped around the stones as it dried and gripped them. it’s more like the seaweed melted a little bit and the stones melted a little bit and they fused into something that was no longer two things but one. iceland is a primeval looking place. and apparently strangely primeval things happen on its beaches. i half expected to see a fish, panting at the waters edge, testing out its newly evolved lungs.

north atlantic red alga with icelandic beach rocks

blushing

i have photographed staghorn sumac many times, but always in its deep red autumn colors. never in this early summer blush pink phase. i’m not even sure i’ve ever noticed it before. i’m smitten. i might even be blushing a little myself.

staghorn sumac in june (Rhus typhina)

they don’t give away much

despite seeing crows almost everywhere in our woods, and nearly every day, i almost never come across a dead crow (despite not infrequently coming across dead owls and hawks and songbirds). i have quite a feather collection in which crow feathers are sorely underrepresented. i assume this is one manifestation of their extreme intelligence. they don’t get caught very often. so it is always a particular thrill to find a crow feather.  and even more so when one is gifted to you in the middle of your back yard, as this one was. thanks for the gesture, mr. crow. here’s mine in return.

crow feather

chorus line

this row of yarrow decided that today was a day to celebrate. they didn’t know why. they just had a chlorophyllic urge to throw their arms skyward, maybe twirl back and forth a little, and engage in a bit of sun worship. when you’re truly a part of nature, you don’t need a calendar to recognize the solstice.

wild yarrow stems (Achillea millefolium)

too busy to style

my husband and i are hosting a little party for 340 people on june 25. steve is a food writer, who wrote a long, beautiful article last january called “what is northern food?” next monday he will be moderating a discussion on the topic with a sort of all-star panel of chefs and food journalists, including the beloved and legendary radio host lynne rossetto kasper. in order to do justice to the event, we have spent a week working on little else, trying to plan and cater, and also trying to fill an auditorium with 340 people who will all add something to the atmosphere, and maybe, if we do everything right, create a memorable event that furthers an important conversation on a topic we love. oh and i am still the general contractor on a rehab project. and i have this little blog where i post a photo every day. every single day. no exceptions. and so today you get a fistful of late spring greenery, that, even tossed offhandedly onto a white sheet of paper, still looks fresh and beautiful. thanks spring for helping me out today.

by the way tickets are still available for the northern food event. they are only $9 and can be bought here.

handful of summer weeds