Inside The Museum

 From a distance, the National Museum of African American History and Culture looks like three stacked metal baskets. Inspired by art created by Nigerian artist Olowe of Ise, using traditional Yoruban motifs, the bronze-colored frieze has an elegant, slightly somber feeling. Once inside the museum, that frieze becomes a lace-like scrim that floats just beyond the tall floor-to-ceiling windows, providing light and creating complex shadows. Viewers can see the colors and patterns of the trees and buildings nearby but there is a sheltering or protective aspect to it that compels us to turn around and explore the complex history that is this museum’s reason for existing.

Poppy and Iris

 The late afternoon sun filters through the trees and acts like a spotlight in our front garden. Poppies and irises are the stars of this late spring show, petals transformed into glowing shards of stained glass. The poppies stand tall, with graceful curved stems that give them even more allure. I am happy to see a few more buds, perfect spheres that are ready to burst open and unfurl their crepe paper petals. The show will continue.  

Dianthus

 Cheerful and colorful from late spring well into the summer, dianthus are perfect examples of radial symmetry. Petals spread outward from each center. Colors form in symmetrical rings. And yet, on this one little plant, there are so many variations within the finely-drawn lines of the petals: short dashes on some, long arterial veins on others and nearly filled-in tracings on the brightest blooms. Each flower sports a zigzaggy white edge, some forming only the thinnest most delicate line of white. How marvelous to see symmetry and variety working in harmony. 

Flax In Bloom

 Petals the color of a clear sky swayed in the breeze on a mild spring day. This very same plant has been essential to life since ancient times. Processing the fibers into linen threads involves many laborious, mysterious-sounding stages: rippling, retting, scutching and heckling. Fine linen fabric was wound around the remains of Egyptian pharaohs.  The seeds were an important part of ancient diets. Without linseed oil, many of the great paintings in the world would not exist. Quite a resume for a delicate plant nestled among the peonies.