Wisteria On A Brick Wall
On a breezy spring day, a blur of lavender caught my eye further down the block. The spicy scent of a wisteria in full bloom drifted my way. I stood under it, marveling at the crowd of panicles swaying in the breeze. Vines of this age and sturdiness have been known to collapse fences or pull down drain pipes. This wall is the perfect companion for such a twining, twisting plant.
Bench At High Tide
There are times when a walk along Haines Point will NOT include an opportunity to sit and look across the Potomac River. This spit of land has always been barely above the level of the river, which is affected by the tides. A short walk away is the Tidal Basin, ringed in early spring by blooming cherry trees. This spring, many tourists were surprised to find that large sections of the sidewalk were closed. The land has sunk so much that a major rebuilding is finally in progress. The benches on Haines Point remain, knowing that the water will continue to come and go with the tides.
Cherry Blossom Time
In Washington DC, the anticipation of the cherry blossoms begins sometime in February. Professional prognosticators adjust the peak bloom date every few days. Then, for about a week, we all try to participate in the American version of the ritual known in Japan as Hanami, Flower Viewing. This is taken very seriously in Japan. It’s a time to celebrate and also to contemplate the fleeting nature of the blossoms and of life. Some wander slowly while others zoom on bicycles under clouds of pink. We all know that those blossoms will be gone in a few days.
Insect Condo
At the Denver Botanic Gardens there is a curving wall that looks like an art assemblage. It's the largest of many such homes in the gardens meant for insects and birds. They can be used all year round as shelter and as a safe breeding area. Most of the materials are leftover garden detritus such as twigs or large sections of fallen trees. Sheep’s wool insulates some areas. Humans also created bird houses and soft felted abodes, furnished with a variety of nesting or burrowing materials. It's a beautiful example of how we can help the smaller critters that inhabit our gardens.
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.
