Musings

So many lovely patterns in fern-world. Even the spines of the fronds have complexities.

I focused on the insect, and the whole photo looks mis-composed. My ID app says it’s a carpet beetle, Anthrenus species. On what I would call a potentilla, but apparently it’s not classified as a potentilla anymore, and is now a Dasiphora species and commonly called cinquefoil, a term previously used when it was a Potentilla species.

I know that taxonomists are turning to genetics for classification information, and finding groupings not recognized based on morphology and geography. Plus the Linnaean taxonomic system doesn’t have room for the hybrids and variations, etc., they can now distinguish. As I understand it.

For now, I’ll stick to looking for visual interest, as in the fern-patterns above, and avoid taxonomic mysteries.

Posted at 6:54 PM | Comments Off on Self-defense

Not for me, mind you, but for the younger nephew.

I’m going with the best part of the institutional event was the band, other than the awarding of diplomas. And, of course, the principal’s hat (not shown; use your imagination), a new one for each class…this one with a bonsai on top…a symbol of the resilience and adaptability and long life predominating in the energy of the Class of 2022, she said.

Here’s a pink palate cleanser: a peony processed with Waterlogue. Enjoy, as the servers say.

Posted at 10:13 PM | Comments Off on THE day

This morning’s walk became a walk to the sea…which was really this fine overlook, and not an actual walk to the water. And perfect, actually.

Then there was prolonged party prep, well, truly only a regular amount, and not taxing at all.

The most golden decorations were brought by dear friends of the guest of honor. We figure Seattle shops are out of 2s at this point, there are so many graduations this weekend.

Posted at 11:30 PM | Comments Off on Busy day, in a good way

We attended a HS version of Caen Laida, which the school maintains is a traditional moving-on ceremony of the Scottish highlands. This isn’t the graduation, but the fun stuff of celebrating individual accomplishments. Those are the seniors seated on the floor of the gym. The other three classes of upperclasspersons were in three sections of the risers. Parents and loved ones got to sit in the fourth section, soon to be occupied by the incoming freshmen.

For me, however, I experienced a bit more backless hard seating than I could easily tolerate. I’m still stretching after two hours of sitting. Now I’m resting up for graduation on Sunday.

Posted at 11:53 PM | Comments Off on Party tomorrow!

We had to leave this beautiful place today. Had to be done. Travel was fine, with minimal delays and bad drivers (around us, not us).

Posted at 8:27 PM | Comments Off on In transit

The morning sun center-targets this window, which is mostly terrific and sometimes situationally over-bright.

I am surprised these trilliums are still lovely, although they are showing a bit of age. In partial sun.

Posted at 7:09 PM | Comments Off on Light vignettes

The rain you see on this barberry was yesterday; the hummingbirds were today. No snap; they are busy creatures, zip zip gone.

Mesclun appears! Germination success! Only one of the seven advertized species/varieties, however, I’m hypothesizing based on that the plantlets all look like this.

Leaf miners in…I thought it was moss from standing above it…now, a close-up, hmm…dunno; I am not a botanist.

And, for grins, “way too much coffee.” It happens.

Posted at 6:26 PM | Comments Off on Two hummingbirds in a barberry

We did outdoor chores through mid-morning, then de-ticked (one, on me, walking) and bathed. Fuddled around, then decided to head out for A Better Grocery Shopping Experience. We have three choices for that, each about 90 miles away: Escanaba to the WSW, Marquette to the WNW, and Sault Sainte Marie to the ENE. We chose Escanaba.

That means we saw the M of HOMES. Here is Manistique bay, and its stubby lighthouse marking the west side of the river mouth /outflow /channel.

Rain off and on during most of our trek, but the predicted precip didn’t materialize at the cottage until after we returned, perhaps 5pm. Plenty of wind, too, so not pleasant outside at all. Now we’re hunkered down with cupboards full of fine grocs, and even a new small-medium sized fan (for summer heat, although 80s are forecast for next week).

Posted at 7:35 PM | Comments Off on Roaming consumers

I’ve been waiting for this: my first quiet, clear morning artistically generating ground fog.

Yeah, I know eclipses are show-stoppers, but ground fog comes more often, although not frequently enough that it’s not special when it happens. Shown here with this year’s ringfort (aka small, elevated garden), planted with mixed greens (center), amidst a ring of basil seeds. Stand by to see what germinates and survives; give me/it time.

Posted at 5:23 PM | Comments Off on Simple pleasure

I read the prediction yesterday—a 24-hour rain—and wondered if it would materialize, as the last rain prediction we had yielded no precip whatsoever. Rain is what came (and what makes the odd haziness in this image from this morning), and what is still falling hours later. Along with major branches from this ancient apple tree, but that happened last winter/spring when there came a big load of heavy, wet snow. The winter-white is all gone now, leaving downed floral proxy evidence scattered about. [The pile on the right is our accumulated discarded Shrubberies, getting bigger everyday as we do spring yard cleanup.]

Posted at 4:44 PM | Comments Off on Never-ending (slight exaggeration)