Yellow Lenten Rose

 With Easter approaching, Lenten roses are blooming in protected spots under trees that have not yet leafed out. All hellebores are somewhat toxic to people and animals, so perhaps it’s a good thing that most varieties don’t call attention to themselves. They hang their heads, partly hiding their fringy stamens and the colorful sides of the petals. Lenten roses in white, rose and burgundy are common but this is the first yellow one I’ve seen. Its lemony hue is a reminder that they are members of the buttercup family.

Daffodils In A Late Snow

 This past Wednesday it was eighty degrees, Nearly every daffodil in the side yard bloomed, trumpets raised to the sun. The next day, just before lunchtime, I looked out the window to see snowflakes flying by at a very insistent angle. They were the big, wet kind, so large I could almost see their hexagonal shape as they flew by. I ventured out to check on the daffodils. They were already prostrate under a sugar-crystal crust that was beautiful in its own harsh way, but also a reminder that both winter and spring can reign during this liminal season.

Half-Hidden Graffiti

 Last week, I walked along a paved trail that goes under a busy street. Graffiti artists have left their tags on the more sheltered part of an overpass. Crisp, regimented black and white letters contrast with ballooning nicknames and alien-like figures in bright colors. I saw just a sliver as I walked past. In a world of sand and concrete, this fleeting outburst of color and creativity was a welcome surprise. 

Winter Bench

 It’s a nearly black and white world after a snow. Only the brittle oak leaves add a subtle touch of color. No one waited for the school bus. By midmorning the snow in the trees has formed soft ice balls the size of gumdrops. They dropped on my head in a noisy shower as I contemplated the converging lines of the bench and the fence. 

Autumn Colors In the Winter

 We have reached the stage when most of us are tired of winter. The nandina shrubs in my neighborhood have now changed from Christmasy red and green to the faded slightly gold-tinted shades that remind me of autumn. Although the berries remain, most wildlife avoid them,  knowing that they can be toxic. As they shrivel and turn more of an orange-red they serve only as bright decorations till the spring bulbs begin to flower.

Valentine Chocolates

 You could say that prime Chocolate Season runs from Halloween through Easter. Halloween is just a warm-up, with basic snack sized candy bars. Christmas gets us into the better stuff, but it’s Valentine’s Day when chocolate really shines. This is a good excuse to indulge in rich, beautifully formed bonbons nestled in fluted papers. A heart shaped box makes them even more of a treat. Admire the artistry but go ahead and enjoy them!

One Year, George Maciunas

 George Maciunas became a part of the New York City avant garde movement known as Fluxus. He worked as an artist and graphic designer, among many other pursuits. Plagued by poor health for most of his life, something compelled him to save most of the packaging that came into his home during one year in the 1970s. Perhaps it was the graphic appeal of the sugar bags, milk cartons and plastic lids.  His longtime interest in compiling and organizing charts reveals itself the stacks of boxes and cans. Can the detritus of everyday life become art if we declare it to be so? Mr Maciunas believed this to be true. Go to the Museum of Modern Art and decide for yourself whether or not you agree.