Farewell to Spring

Last Day of Spring - June 20, 2020

National Apple Pie Day – May 13

NATIONAL APPLE PIE DAY

The powers that be have proclaimed May 13 to be National Apple Pie Day, here in the USA.

Apple Pie: photo by Cliff Hutson

It is a well established fact that the apple pie did not originate in this country, but we seem to have a special affection for it. Notably the phrase “as American as apple pie” has been around for more than 100 years.

So, have a slice or two - in these days no one will fault you.  As Fabienne says, “Any time of day is a good time for pie.”  (Although I recall that her favorite flavor is blueberry.)

California Native Plant Week #7

Ninebark

Ninebark: photo by Cliff Hutson

Pacific ninebark or western ninebark (Physocarpus capitatus) is a shrub that is native to California and confined to western North America—from southern Alaska east to Montana and Utah, and south to southern California—in the redwood forest, chaparral, yellow pine forest, red fir forest and wetland-riparian communities. The plant gets its common name from its bark, which may peel showing several layers

It is a deciduous bush up to 8 feet tall, with round 3-to-5-inch clusters of white flowers having five petals and numerous red-tipped stamens, flowering May through July. The blossoms have been noted as being attractive to a large number of native bees. Also, small animals and birds find shelter in its branches. The leaves are lobed, about 1.2–5.5 inches long and broad, alternate, generally serrate, and remind me of small grape or currant leaves, though some say they are maple-like. They turn intense red to orange in the fall. The fruit is an inflated glossy red pod, which turns dry and brown and then splits open to release seeds.

Many nurseries recommend the plant not only for its delightful display of flowers and its showiness in fall, but also for the sculptural attractiveness the rest of the year. It grows best in moist environments, but it is drought-tolerant to a degree.

Save the date(s)

Earth Day is April 22, but at least one organization is proposing a week's worth of activities. 

California Native Plant Week #6

Joshua Tree

Joshua Tree Forest: photo by Cliff Hutson

While I am hesitant to once again write about a plant and perhaps draw too much attention to one of our over-pressured national parks, this tree is one of California's most iconic species.  

The park is named for the Joshua trees (Yucca brevifolia) native to the Mojave Desert, but it does occur outside those boundaries. And, sadly, some say that in the not too distant future it may no longer grow there.  

California Native Plant Week Takes a Different Turn This Year

A thoughtful essay from CNPS:  Native plants can offer hope, fun, and healthy distraction during stay-at-home orders.

Another way to connect with nature:  Birds

"Millions of people who aren’t frontline workers in the COVID-19 pandemic are adjusting to a new routine that means staying home — or close to it. Many are seeking solace outside."

But, wait, there's more!

There are plenty of other fun activities easy to enjoy while maintaining safe social distancing.

California Native Plant Week #5

Gilia tricolor (Bird's-eye gilia)

Bird's-eye gilia: photo by Cliff Hutson

Gilia tricolor, a dicot, is an annual herb that is native to California, and is endemic (limited) to California.  Blue stamens encircle the yellow throat of the flower, which is set off by a dark purple ring. All this color provides a vibrant signal to the bees that pollinate this plant.

Citizen Science Month: April 2020

Life in the time of Corona has placed many, if not most, of us under quarantine, lockdown, or "safer at home". Keeping occupied is said to be good for our mental health. One way to that is to participate in citizen science programs. Check out this site  or Science Friday to see if that might be a fit for you.

California Native Plant Week #4

Dogwood

Dogwood: photo by Cliff Hutson

Our native Dogwood (Cornus sericea, syn. C. stolonifera, Swida sericea) is a shrub found throughout northern and western North America; and beyond. Common  names include Redtwig Dogwood, Red-rood, American Dogwood, and (subsp. occidentalis) Western Dogwood.

Cornus sericea Berries: photo by Cliff Hutson

California Native Plant Week #3

 Common Monkey Flower

Common Monkey Flower: photo by Cliff Hutson

Yellow flowers that are popular with bumble bees.

California Native Plant Week #2

California Bay

California Bay: photo by Cliff Hutson

Native Plant Week: April 11- 19, 2020

Umbellularia californica: photo by Cliff Hutson

California Native Plant Week #1

Apache Plume

Apache Plume: photo by Cliff Hutson

Reading Log: June 2019

The books that I finished reading in June 2019

June 2019 Books: photo by Cliff Hutson

“Odessa Sea,” Clive Cussler and Dirk Cussler

“Robert B. Parker’s Old Black Magic,” Ace Atkins

“Robert B. Parker’s Lullaby,” Ace Atkins

“Robert B. Parker’s Wonderland,” Ace Atkins

“Robert B. Parker’s Cheap Shot,” Ace Atkins

“Robert B. Parker’s Kickback,” Ace Atkins

“Robert B. Parker’s Slow Burn,” Ace Atkins

“Robert B. Parker’s Little White Lies,” Ace Atkins

Reading Log: May 2019

The books that I finished reading in May 2019

May 2019 Books: photo by Cliff Hutson

“Celtic Empire,” Clive Cussler and Dirk Cussler

“Nighthogs,” Stephan Pastis

“The Lost Art of Walking,” Geoff Nicholson 

Mad About Hats

“A man buys something for two reasons: 

a good reason and the real reason.”

Old Man in a Stetson: photo by Cliff Hutson

Possibly Obsessed 

While I do not think of myself as mad in the sense the Mad Hatter was mad, I probably own more hats than any one person needs. Often buying one for no other reason than it seemed like a good idea at the time.

A Sampling

Cat Herding: photo by Cliff Hutson

Stetson Weekender: photo by Cliff Hutson

On Safari: photo by Cliff Hutson

St. Paddy's Day Bowler: photo by Cliff Hutson

The JJ Rich Wool Newsboy: photo by Cliff Hutson

Stetson Wool and Chasmere Cap: photo by Cliff Hutson

Stetson Open Road (Straw): photo by Cliff Hutson

Stetson Stratoliner: photo by Cliff Hutson

Down Time

Sick Leave

I have been dealing with a spot of illness, so rather than try to deal with a new topic I am running a post from five years ago this week. And, now back to that bowl of chicken noodle soup.

"The Cover of 'Rolling Stone''

Doctor Hook and the Medicine Show sang:

“But the thrill we've never known

Is the thrill that'll getcha

When you get your picture

On the cover of the Rolling Stone.”

That is a thrill that will not likely ever be mine as well. But, a photograph I shot has made the cover of a magazine.

The Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden chose my Tidy Tips photo for the cover of their magazine, 'Exploring the Arboretum'.

Wildflowering LA

It illustrates the article "Wildflowering LA". I have to say I think that is pretty cool. 

The kicker is that there is also an article on Julius Shulman. This is an added plus for me. He was a photographer whose work I have admired for decades. Little could I have dreamed when I was in my teens that something I shot would ever appear in such close proximity to his photographs.

I am not in his league, but, I too, have made forays into architectural photography. This is my latest attempt:

A Bar at Walter's

Earlier work about the Schindler House can be found on PBase.

Reading Log: February 2019

The books I finished reading in February 2019

February 2019 Books; photo by Cliff Hutson

“The Fifth Season,” N.K. Jemisin

I read this book because it was assigned (as it were) by the SciFri Book Club.  

“Metzger’s Dog,” Thomas Perry

“Spider Woman’s Daughter,” Anne Hillerman

“Rock with Wings,” Anne Hillerman

“Tony Hillerman’s Landscape,” Anne Hillerman (photographs by Don Strel)

Where's Cliff?

The Mall: by Cliff Hutson

Lost

No post again this week. This time, I got lost at the mall.

Stuck

Or, was I stuck on the MTA?

The Shoe Designer

“Hey, I put some new shoes on

And suddenly everything is right”

 - Songwriters: Jim Duguid / Mathew William Benbrook / Matt Benbrook / Paolo Giovanni Nutini

New Shoes

"Outdoor Chill" Laces: photo by Cliff Hutson

Who amongst us does not enjoy a pair of new shoes?  I know that I do and I recently got to design them as well, basically from scratch. 

Chuck Taylor All-Stars

Inner Body: photo by Cliff Hutson

Chuck Taylor All-Stars were one of the most iconic shoes of my youth. Times were simpler then, so we had a choice of two - black or white; as I recall. However, as with most other things, that palette has significantly expanded.  Now, I even have a pair with wool uppers in black and white plaid that Converse created in a partnership with Woolrich.   

Feeling the need for another pair of shoes to wear at work, I was going to buy a plain classic model when I discovered that one could actually create a customized version of their very own. Thus I was launched into the world of shoe design.

Blank Canvas

Blank Canvas: photo by Cliff Hutson

The driving force behind my design is that my go to work "uniform"is a green shirt, and that I wear a walnut colored Stetson in cool weather. Rightly or wrongly, I decided that it would be fun to have the shoes reflect this. 

Outer Body: photo by Cliff Hutson

Thus the outer body is green and the inner body is brown.

Both Sides Now: photo by Cliff Hutson

Was very conservative with the remaining twelve (12!) options, leaning to what I felt was traditional. That is except for the laces.

Finished Product

New Shoes: photo by Cliff Hutson

The laces are described as "Outdoor Chill". When I saw that name I just kind of automatically clicked on that choice. They are wilder than I thought they would be; and I am not sure where the "chill" enters in to it. However, they, of course, can be easily switched out if I grow tired of them.

Other than that I am very pleased with my creation.

Drawing a Blank

This Page

Blank Pages: photo by Cliff Hutson

One of the things that I have long found to be mildly annoying is coming upon a page in a publication that bears the imprint, "This page intentionally left blank." Because, of course it isn't. 

Aunt Dagmar

Then again, I have always taken to heart Aunt Dagmar's admonition, "If you don't have something to say, there is no need to open your mouth and prove it."

Tonight finds me up against my self-imposed deadline for publishing this blog and I am  pretty much clueless as to any vaguely interesting (even to just me) topic. So, I should stop right here with my own version of a page intentionally left blank.

Shakespeare 

"The rest is silence."  -  The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, Act V

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Privacy Policy, with Photos

Privacy Policy

It was brought to my attention that the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) may actually apply to this humble little blog. I am not so sure of that, but why take chances? Therefore, in order to avoid creating my own policy I just going to borrow the following from XKCD:

 

I don't think that anybody does it better.

Photos

It would be hard to justify the title "Pictures and Words, a Blog" without some pictures. So, here is a random selection of photographs that I have recently taken:

National Buttermilk Biscuit Day is observed each year in the United States on May 14. Which led to this post on Facebook:

Buttermilk Biscuits: photo by Cliff Hutson

National Apple Pie Day was May 13 -

Apple Crumble Pie: photo by Cliff Hutson

Finally, I have decided that I need to do more beard maintenance. This led to a spate of new products.

Beardbrand Scissors: photo by Cliff Hutson

Utility Balm: photo by Cliff Hutson

Beard Wash: photo by Cliff Hutson

a·nal·o·gy

Analogy

A comparison between two things, typically for the purpose of explanation or clarification.

A Danish

Blueberry Danish: photo by Cliff Hutson

"A flute without holes is not a flute.
A donut without a hole is a danish."

- Ty Webb

Another Danish

Apricot Pinwheel: photo by Cliff Hutson

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Shaw's Agave

One of my favorite books from my younger days has a poem with the line, “All that is gold does not glitter”. I would turn that around for Coastal, or Shaw’s, Agave and say, all that is drab is not as dull as it seems. Sometimes one just has to wander around until they see things in the proper light.

Coastal agave, i.e., Agave shawii is a succulent with closely spaced, overlapping sword-shaped leaves that measure up to 8 inches wide and about 18 inches long. They diverge from the center of the plant in a spiral making for a rounded shape. The deep green leaves are edged with spines.

These spines nominally appear as brown or gray and don't offer much in the way of a visual display. However, in early morning or late afternoon, when the the sunlight comes in from behind the plant, they light up and glow red and/or orange, rivaling any neon sign on the Las Vegas Strip. 

Shaw's Agave by Cliff Hutson

The leaves are also notable for bearing the imprint of the spines of the leaves that were in front and back of them when they were clasped together. I find this to be a charming visual element to the plant.

The flowering plant is also attractive. It may take 20 to 40 years before it flowers. But, then yellow blooms, looking much like  a hand of very small bananas, burst out on the top of an 8 to 12 foot stalk resembling an asparagus spear. The flowers attract hummingbirds, bats and bees. When a single plant flowers it dies, but its “pups” or clones will live on.

Bats are a key pollinator of this agave and probably the primary reason for the tallness of the flowering stalk. Bats, save for the few species of vampire bats, can not launch into flight by flapping their wings. they, instead, take off by dropping from a height be it the roof of a cave, bridge, or tall plant with sturdy flowers.

Coastal Agave is found in Baja California. Also native to California, it occurs naturally only in San Diego County, near Border Field State Park. Most of the plants that were there were bulldozed into oblivion by your government while building the boundary wall between the USA and Mexico. However, a few seem to have survived. Other populations exist elsewhere in Southern California, but they were probably planted out in an effort to preserve the plant. I, for one, certainly hope it stays with us.