N is for Nectarine

 Today is brought to you by the letter "N".

http://photographicdictionary.com/n/nectarine

Nectarines: photo by Cliff Hutson

Nectarine, (Prunus persica), is smooth-skinned peach of the rose family (Rosaceae. A genetic variant of common peaches. The expression of a recessive allele is thought to be responsible for the smooth skin of nectarine fruits, which lack the fuzzy trichomes (plant hairs) characteristic of peach fruits. Nectarines are a source of vitamins A and C and are commonly eaten fresh or cooked in conserves, jams, and pies.

Bird of Paradise

and A Bee

Bird of Paradise: photo by Cliff Hutson

Strelitzia reginae has been adopted as the official flower of the City of Los Angeles.  However, the plant, like so many of the people that live out here, is not native to Southern California. 

Bird of Paradise is from South Africa, but it is hard to imagine our landscape without it. I guess that the same goes for the honey bee. Its predecessors came from Europe, after a long, strange trip to California. The first of them did not appear in Los Angeles County until 1854 or 1855 (depending on your source). 

I think that it would be safe to say that most people are happy that both of these entities are well established and live amongst us.

National Spicy Guacamole Day

Spicy Guacamole

Guacamole Picante: photo by Cliff Hutson

As a go with for tortilla chips or a side for tamales, there’s always a reason for picante guacamole. Grab yourself some avocados and mash them with some serrano or jalapeño peppers.

Plato de Tamal: photo by Cliff Hutson

¡Buen provecho!

Reading Log: October 2022

 The books that I finished reading in the month of October 2022

October 2022 Books: photo by Cliff Hutson

"Four Fifths a Grizzly," Douglas Chadwick

"How Photography Became Contemporary Art," Andy Grundberg 

"The Sentinel," Lee Child and Andrew Child

"Caribbean Rim," Randy Wayne White

"Salt River," Randy Wayne White

"Breathless:  The Scientific Race to Defeat a Deadly Virus,"  David Quammen 

Cliff's Notes

"Grizzly"

I have long felt that all life on Earth is interconnected, this collection of essays makes a compelling argument for that belief. 

"Photography"

Spoiler alert: The author helped make it happen.

It was a good follow up to last month's book by Susan Sontag. And, to echo a comment about her book, if I had a better understanding of postmodern art I might have appreciated this one more than I did.

As the Belgian art critic and theorist Thierry de Duve said, " When a urinal is art, anything can be art; and when anything can be art, anybody can be an artist."

"Sentinel"

I have, over many years, enjoyed most of the Jack Reacher stories. This one not so much. Lee Child seems to be getting bored and his son may not be up to receiving the mantle.

"Caribbean" 

Another entry in the Doc Ford series that I once enjoyed. Ford is a marine biologist, so forgive me when I make the pun that he jumped the shark several books ago. 

"Salt"

Yet, another Doc Ford story. It, among other plots, builds upon "Caribbean Rim" and is even more implausible. It seems as though White had three plot lines in mind, but none of them were enough for a book by theirselves, so he mashed them in to one. I doubt that I will ever purchase another book by this author.

However, I am very glad that he made it through hurricane Ian. 

"Breathless"

David Quammen is another author of whom  I have long been a fan. His work frequently informed my work as a "nature interpreter". This book was not a disappointment. 

Quammen, to steal from the back of the book jacket, once predicted a pandemic - in this book he describes the one that we are now living through, how it might have come to pass, and what may lie ahead. It is well worth reading.

Day of the Dead

Día de los Muertos

Skull: photo by Cliff Hutson

October 31is the eve of Día de los Muertos also known as "Day of the Dead". I did a post on the multi-day festival a couple of years ago. I humbly refer you to it here.

I would also like to bring to your attention nice spread done on this year's Day of the Dead Parade and celebration in downtown Austin by Kirk Tuck, a professional photographer.

Halloween

Halloween (2006): photo by Cliff Hutson

Today of course is also Halloween, which is my least favorite holiday.  Perhaps that is due to my late wife insisting that everybody in the house wear a costume to greet the children (and some adults) who came to our door for treats.

See photo above.