Miniature Daffodils

 The Smithsonian's Ripley Garden has been cleared out and tidied up in anticipation of the late spring blooming season. Tiny daffodils have opened in the sunnier spots. Backlit in the sunshine, with bright petals as thin as a fine porcelain teacup, they show every ridge and vein. In this early spring garden these daffodils are the equivalent of puppies or kittens; five out of six groups of tourists who wandered through the garden declared them to be "cute."

Detail, Louis Majorelle Settee

 In 1900, the city of Nancy, France was one of the major centers of Art Nouveau design. The framework of Louis Majorelle's carefully carved settee highlights the curves and botanical themes that are hallmarks of this style. The marbled pattern of the jacquard upholstery echoes those curves. That settee actually looks pretty comfy to me. But no sitting allowed! It is truly a museum piece, a restrained and elegant example of a style that is often seen as too florid and overdone for real life.

Columbus Circle Subway Station

 I love the NYC subway in all it’s grunginess. It can be noisy, crowded, stuffy and sometimes erratic. But mostly it is relatively fast and reliable. Stations are embellished with bits of unexpected art, old and new. The tiles are my favorites. Some are damaged or in need of a good scrub. The colors, patterns and three-dimensional textures always bring a moment of joy (and sometimes a flash of inspiration) as I look out the window or  stand waiting for the Uptown-bound Local to arrive.

Montepulciano Window

 Climb the hilly streets of Montepulciano and you will see a mix of homes and shops built from stone and brick. If there is a bright blue sky, the windows become mirrors reflecting everything around them. On such a day, a window can trap a building across the street and bits of the sky above it. Grids of protective iron bars multiply. Stare at it too long and you will begin to wonder what is real and what is a brilliant illusion.

Pastel Balloons

 Balloons are a symbol of festivity and of special occasions. They can entertain small children at a carnival or mark the location of a party. The more talented among us are able to twist and stretch them into dogs, dinosaurs, flowers or fantastical hats. Helium keeps them aloft and also fuels their escape. They eventually end up snagged in the branches of a tree. It’s a non-renewable resource that really should not be wasted on balloons. We may have to go back to the Victorian tradition of balloons on sticks. A warning to men everywhere: A gift of balloons will not win over your intended love interest. Go to the florist and select flowers! 

Snow Cone

 The snow started late in the afternoon, so those who were safely at home had only a short time to enjoy watching the big flakes drift past the window. The next morning, everything was white, black or gray. In this monochromatic world, the colors of a traffic cone and a painted trailer seemed almost too bright, like someone turning on the lights at night. I squinted at the colors and listened as the snow melted and trickled down the middle of the street. Here today, pretty much gone tomorrow.

Carrots

 In the cold dull days of winter the offerings at the local farmers market have shrunk. Now the tables are piled with fruits and vegetables that are the basis of soups and stews meant to sustain people in cold northern climates---onions and parsnips, sweet potatoes and winter squash. Apples huddle in wooden bins. Someone was in an artistic mood, arranging the carrots into a bright orange fan, where we can marvel at their cheerful hue and quirky irregularities. A little color goes a long way on a gray day.