This week the Supreme Court began reviewing laws that ban same-sex marriage. Beautiful video by Macklemore and Ryan Lewis, inspired by Macklemore’s two uncles.
Same Love Marriage
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Happy Women’s History Month! Brought to You By Hannah Kimberley
On Sunday, March 3rd, thousands of women attended the Centennial Women’s Suffrage March, and walked from the Capitol to the Washington Monument in celebration of the 100th anniversary of the 1913 Women’s Suffrage March in which Alice Paul and many other suffragists demanded the right to vote the day before President Wilson’s inauguration in Washington D.C. Read More About Annie Smith Peck and Hannah Kimberley on Hannah’s Blog.
Hannah Scialdone-Kimberley is a professor of English and author currently creating a biography on Annie Smith Peck (she is also married to GMG’s own Craig Kimberley). I had the pleasure to meet Hannah when she and Craig came to dinner, and very much enjoyed learning a bit about her biography-in-progress about Annie Smith Peck. About her interest in Peck, Hannah writes, “I first learned about Peck in 2007 via a poster that my father purchased for me in an antique shop that displays an image of her in her climbing costume and reads, “A Woman’s Place Is at the Top.” I had never before heard of Peck, but the image of her in her climbing costume was so striking that I set out to see who she was and what she had accomplished. After a bit of research, I became completely enthralled with Peck’s accomplishments, including her scholarship, her climbing career, her role in politics, and her longstanding commitment to the advancement of women’s rights.” Annie Smith Peck Blo
Lecture: The Fragrant Garden Tuesday at the Andover Garden Club
Thank you Frances Wheeler for the flyer for my upcoming lecture at the Andover Garden Club
The Fragrant Garden
10:00 AM-Noon, April 2, 2013
South Church, 41 Central Street, Andover MA
$10 for guests (includes refreshments); free to members
Refreshments and Brief Business Meeting Precede Presentation
The air impregnated with the scents of flowers and foliage imbues a memorable atmosphere in the garden, playing the subtle, and sometimes not-so-subtle, role of strengthening the ambiance we wish to create. Through photographs, examination of historical precedent, and discussion of specific plant varieties, landscape and interior designer, author, illustrator, and photo and film journalist Kim Smith will provide the key elements for creating a fragrant garden. Her discussion will include a list of the most highly scented plants.
Smith, proprietor of Kim Smith Designs (www.kimsmithdesigns.com), is the author of Oh Garden of Fresh Possibilities! (published by David R. Godine), a Boston Globe “Best of 2009” pick. She specializes in connecting the home to the outside and in creating gardens for people and pollinators, with a focus on native trees and shrubs, wildflowers, and fragrant plants.
For more information, contact Betty Chapman, Phone: 978-470-2627, bettychapman@verizon.net.
Founded in 1927, the Andover Garden Club is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization that encourages the study and practice of horticulture, landscape design, and floral design; aids in the beautification of the town of Andover; and helps protect and conserve natural resources. A member of the Garden Club Federation of Massachusetts, Inc., and National Garden Clubs, Inc., the club provides both financial and hands-on support to a variety of municipal, educational, and environmental organizations throughout the region. Information about joining the Andover Garden Club is available from AGC membership chairs Yvonne Glendon (978-247-8960, yglendon@comcast.net) and Dana MacKay (978-475-4451, dmmm51@yahoo.com).
Lecture Tonight ~ The Pollinator Garden
Tired of the monochromatic New England landscape? Tonight, Thursday, I am giving my lecture program The Pollinator Garden from 7 to 9 at the Andover Public Library Memorial Hall. The public is welcome.
North American Native Pink-flowering Dogwood ~ Cornus florida rubra
Vibrant Wingbeats
Several weeks ago in one of my posts about Niles Pond at Risk, I wrote about the beautiful Mute Swans at Niles. A reader wrote requesting a description of a phrase that I used, the “vibrant throbbing wingbeats” of the Mute Swan. I have shot hours of B-roll for both my Black Swallowtail and Monarch films at Niles Pond and at Brace Cove, so much so that I am making a mini film about Niles Pond. In organizing the Niles footage, I discovered some good audio of the swans throbbing wigbeats, filmed at sunrise.
The swans often take flight in unison, circling round and round the pond before returning. I patiently wait and wait and sometimes they don’t return, and as has happened more times than I care to say, while I am packing up my gear, they return and then I miss the shot for not being patient enough! Other times they will take flight and head over to feed at Brace Cove. A wedge of swans flying overhead is beautiful to observe, although a challenge to hold in my camera’s lens. Reviewing the footage I heard myself frequently cussing at the mosquitoes because their bite causes me to jag the camera sharply and then I lose sight of the swans. But one especially lucky dawn in September, I did manage to capture several flights.
Isn’t the music so swan-like? The composition is called “The Swan,” written by Camille Saint Saint-Saëns, and is the 13th Movement in a suite of 14 of the humorously themed Carnival of the Animals, Zoological Fantasy for 2 Pianos and Ensemble. See below for more about Carnival of the Animals from allmusic.
Watch on Vimeo if you prefer:
Snapshots from Chelsea and the High Line
Chelsea Market
Liv and I had lots of fun shopping the flea market and shops at Chelsea Market the afternoon that I left.
Adjacent to the market is an entrance to the High Line. Don’t you love the chaise idea? They are really comfy and relaxing.
The architects of the High Line intentionally left little patches somewhat wild to show what the elevated rail looked like after years of disuse. The rail had reverted to a a native wildflower garden, which then became the inspiration for much of the park’s plantings!
Enough!
We met leopard-wearing fashionista Kira at the Blue Bottle Coffee shop on her way upstairs to a photo shoot at MILK Studios. She was showing us her ballet moves, which she does with her eyes closed. When we asked why, she said it is because she has not yet studied ballet, but dreams about someday becoming a ballerina, and that is why she has to dance with her eyes closed as she is only “dreaming.”
Here’s My Dreamer
There is nothing like spending time with your daughter and I am so looking forward to our next visit. I hope it’s not too long a wait!
Willowdale Estate Wins TV Show TLC Four Weddings!!!
Four Brides Judge Each Other’s Weddings. Even with Superstorm Sandy threatening to dampen Enza and John Procopio’s special day, Willowdale takes the cake!
“In Italian tradition, rain is supposed to be good luck. We have the hurricane, so that means we are going to have life-long happiness.” said groom John Procopio.
Willowdale Estate pulled out all the stops to make the event a success. The competing brides loved the catering “My sea bass was fantastic!” said one competing bride. Willowdale received a perfect score for the catering and also achieved the highest score for guest experience. The couple walked away with a luxury vacation in the Caribbean Islands and a wedding story that will be in the family for many years.
http://tlc.howstuffworks.com/tv/four-weddings/and-the-winner-isenza.htm
Watch the full episode:
http://tlc.howstuffworks.com/tv/four-weddings/videos/and-a-super-storm.htm
Willowdale Estate is a special events venue in Topsfield Massachusetts that provides celebrated restaurant style catering for all events, as well as complementary planning services. Willowdale’s fieldstone mansion is surrounded by over 700 acres of forest, the Ipswich River, and beautiful flowering gardens (designed by me!), with sweeping views, privacy, and endless possibilities for any event. Willowdale Estate is a full service venue with many amenities including a pristine Sperry Tent, equipment, and guidance from our experienced event planners. For more information about planning your wedding, corporate event, or fundraiser contact Info@WillowdaleEstate.com or call 978-887-8211
Garden Design Lecture Thursday Night in West Newbury
Think Spring!
Lilac ‘Maiden’s Blush’ (Syringa vulgaris) and the Friendly Red Admiral
Tomorrow night I am presenting one of my garden design lectures in West Newbury. For a complete list of programs that I offer, see the Programs page on my blog. For a list of upcoming lectures and programs, see the Events page on my blog.
Note: Program Rescheduled for June 6th.
Oyama Magnolia Bud (Magnolia sieboldii)
The Oyama Magnolia is often planted adjacent to tea gardens in Japan because the blossom of the small tree nods downward, allowing the seated person to look up into the face of the flower. The first time I saw (or should say smelled) Magnolia sieboldii was in a wholesale nursery close to the Rhode Island border, where a single large specimen was tucked in with other more common species of magnolia. The divine fragrance emanating from the tree had drawn me towards it. The tree was unmarked, but since I so strongly value fragrance in plants, I had read about it and knew exactly what it was. Spring had not yet sprung in Gloucester and the honeysuckle sweet and citrus fragrance was intoxicating to my winter weary brain. I tied my tag around to claim it and have adored this tree since the day our Oyama Magnolia arrived to our garden.
Snapshots from Brooklyn and NYC
Snapshots from visit with my darling daughter Liv
We walked and took the L everywhere and Liv showed me some of her favorite spots in Williamsburg and surrounding neighborhoods.
184 Kent Avenue, Brooklyn–gorgeous waterfront residential building and one of the few adaptions of Egyptian Revival Style to modern commercialism in the United States.
We saw the fabulously fun and playful Gutai group at the Guggenheim, which is an exhibit about the Japanese avant-garde Postwar artistic movement led by Jiro Yoshihara.
Liv snuck this photo of Atsuko Tanaka’s famous Electric Dress at the Guggenheim (read more about the Electric Dress at the bottom of this post).
Juliette Restaurant Williamsburg
Liv’s record producer friend always recommends the best restuarants. Next door to the utterly charming Juliette Restaurant is the hipster restaurant “egg,” and with an hour long wait for brunch, we decided to take Dave’s advice and go with Juliette. We were more than delighted–French cooking at its most delicious, from Brittany owner Thierry Rochard. I’d love to go there on a warm spring night and enjoy starlight dining on their roof garden.
Dutch Pancake with lemon zest, blueberries, and creme fraiche
Jeff, the manager, at Juliette Restaurant
More photos of my trip to Brooklyn to follow.
Atsuko Tanaka wearing her Electric Dress
To Read More About Atsuko Tanaka Electric Dress
Niles Pond or Brace Cove
An embarrassment of riches ~ Whether dawn or dusk, when standing on the footpath between Niles Pond and Brace Cove, sometimes I can’t decide which direction to point my camera. When that happens I focus the video camera in one direction and turn and face the opposite direction with the still camera.
This batch of photos was taken on a chilly afternoon in early January, looking first toward the pond, and then heading down to the beach at Brace Cove after a wedge of eight Mute Swans flew overhead and landed in the cove.
The bevy was comprised of six cygnets and parents. The bill of the adult Mute Swan is vivid red-orange whereas the cygnet’s bill ranges in shades from dark gray through muted browns. A black knob at the base of the cob’s (male) bill bulges prominently during mating season; the rest of the year it is often difficult to distinguish pen from cob. Anyone who has ever encountered a hissing, snarling, gnarling, and whistling Mute Swan wonders why they are called mute. Mute Swans lack the vocal trumpeting when compared to other members of the genus. The most beautiful sound the Mute Swan makes is the vibrant throbbing of their wingbeats in flight. I believe this sound is unique to Mute Swans. Click photos to view larger.
Eight Mute Swans (Cygnus olor) at Brace Cove, Gloucester
Niles Pond at Risk
The narrow strip of land that separates freshwater Niles Pond from the Atlantic Ocean was severely damaged during Blizzicane Nemo.
In several places along the footpath, there are cuts clear through the granite dune and a sandy beach is forming on the Niles Pond side. Shrubs, wildflowers, and ground covers that help retain the sides of the causeway have been uprooted and washed away.
To read more about what makes this narrowest strip of land dividing Niles Pond and Brace Cove so unique, see JoeAnn Hart’s beautiful story about Niles Pond.
Niles Pond and Brace Cove Footpath Storm Damage
My Book “Oh Garden of Fresh Possibilities” at the Rhode Island Flower Show!
My friend JoeAnn sends this pic from the Rhode Island Flower Show. Thanks JoeAnn!
Oh Garden of Fresh Possibilities! Notes from a Gloucester Garden
Hello from Brooklyn
Visiting my daughter Liv in Bushwick-love her and love NYC!
Good Harbor Beach Footbridge
The footbridge is still out of commission. Although inconvenient, I think city officials wise to wait out the storm season before repairing the bridge.
Good Harbor Beach Footbridge Gloucester
Three Fragrant Beauties
Last night I gave a talk on Fragrant Gardening at a sportmen’s club in Plymouth. In looking through images to update my presentation, I found two photos that had previously been overlooked. The first photo is of a Painted Lady nectaring at the sweetly scented butterfly bush ‘Nanho Purple,’ which blooms continuously throughout the summer. You can see she is a Painted Lady because of the four concentric circles, or “eyespots,” on the underside of her hindwing.
The second photo is of a Monarch nectaring at New England Aster ‘Alma Potchke,’ taken at a friend’s garden on Eastern Point. Our native New England asters have a wonderful spicy sweet earthy fragrance and are one the most potently fragrant asters found. New England asters bloom typically from late August through September.
The third photo I’ve posted before and it is of an American Lady nectaring at Korean Daisies. You can tell she is an American Lady by her two comparatively larger eyespots. Unlike hybridized chrysanthemums, which are usually bred for color, Korean Daisies are the straight species and are fabulously fragrant. Their period of florescence is from September through October, oftentimes into early November; only a hard frost stops their bloom power.
With just these three beauties, one could have a staggered and continuously fragrant garden in bloom from July through November–and create Mecca for butterflies on the wing.
World’s Greatest Mitten-Glove Design for Photographers
I am just crazy about this mitten design because of the handy flap, which when flipped back, reveals a fingerless glove. If you want to wear it flipped back all the time, the button and loop closure keeps the flap securely in place. The mitten-glove even has a convenient separate thumb flap.
The only tweaking this design needs is a slightly bigger button and loop because when your hands are freezing, the small loop and ball button are a challenge to negotiate. For all the knitters who read GMG–these would be wonderful in a cashmere or alpaca blend and perhaps a pretty cable knit pattern.
The mitten-glove is a great design for photographers especially. When wearing gloves, I find it easy to accidentally press the wrong button or get myself into an unwanted mode.
Even with mitten-glove configuration, my pooch and I only lasted about ten minutes in the howling wind when we went for our daily afternoon walk yesterday—straight to the bottom of our hill (Pirates Lane at Smith’s Cove) and straightaway home. Sorry Rosie the Rocket, you’ll have to get your crazy energy out on our next walk!
North Shore Art Association
Pirates Lane at Smith’s Cove
Gloucester’s First Wind Turbine Photo Licensed for a Textbook
I thought everyone would like to know that a photo of mine, Gloucester’s First Wind Turbine, has been licensed for a million-run children’s textbook on wind farming. I think its pretty exciting that our turbine and Gloucester Harbor will be featured not only in one million textbooks, but in the electronic version of the book as well. Upon publication, the publisher is sending a copy of the book and I plan to donate it to the Sawyer Free Library. This photo was shot at daybreak last October while filming the barge transporting the wind turbine through Gloucester Harbor.
Thanks to a google search, I found this very handy Stock Photo License Pricing for Editorial Use chart and it really helped to negotiate a fair price: Photographers Index
Happy Valentine’s Day!
Happy Valentine’s Day!
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Fujifilm multiple exposure created from the Big Rose Heart window display at Common Crow. I wonder who made all the beautiful paper roses?
orange, brought to you by amaryllis
a change of pace from snow banks and snow drifts
spanish poppies*carmine colored pencil*hot embers*sunrise*sunset* sherbet*apricots*pumpkins*saffron*coral*tangerines*orioles*monarch* butterflies*california poppies*amaryllis*marigolds*butterfly weed* dahlias*mexico*mariachi band*flamenco*flamingoes*koi*tigers*curry* mangoes*melons*passion*love*light*life*autumn leaves*lobster* paella*carrots*salmon*south of france*paul gauguin*van gogh sunflowers*Warhol*
and SUMMER
Amaryllis Hippeastrum
Blizzicane Nemo Photos
During
Morning After
I have posted many more photos on my friend Joey’s blog, Good Morning Gloucester, where you will also find tons more photos and videos of local storm coverage by GMG contributors.
Love Shack
What do you give your lover for Valentine’s Day?
Why, a Shaque D’Amour, of course!
Where can you purchase your Love Shack?
Gloucester’s Nichols Candy House, naturally!
FUN.
The 55th Annual Grammy Awards airs Sunday night at 8:00–a perfect end to a snow-bound weekend. My hoped-for winner is FUN., with the always fabulous featured artist Janelle Monáe. Good Luck FUN.!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I hope you win all six categories for which you are nominated, including Best New Artist, Record, Album, and Song of the Year. Although Fun. has been together for a few years, to be nominated for Best New Artist I believe the criteria is to have released at least one album, but not more than three (please correct me if incorrect). FUN. is performing Sunday night. I hope we don’t lose power!
We are Young (acoustic version).
Kyla Hair Salon
Thank you Melissa Cox for recommending the fabulous Heather at Kyla Hair Salon. I Love her!!!
I had such a disagreeable experience the last time I visited a salon that it has been nearly an entire year since my last foray. Heather is prompt, lovely, fun, funny, really good at listening to what you would like, and extremely adept–at one time while she was styling my hair, I counted four hair brushes simultaneously in use! It won’t be a year between visits now that I’ve met Heather!
Kyla Hair Salon, Heather Murray, Owner.
33 Pleasant Street
978.281.1100
Cape Ann TV’s Andrew Love is a Genius
This past week Andrew Love, Cape Ann TV producer, has been helping to organize, copy, and transfer to various external hard drives my film projects in progress, and to also locate a plethora of render files that were on a variety of hard drives–terabytes of information and footage! He’s a gifted editor and organizer and I am grateful to him for lending his considerable talents.
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Do you have a project that you would like develop to air on Cape Ann TV? Membership is open to any citizen of Cape Ann 16 years of age or older. (Ed. Note: membership is a only $20.00 per year!). Training classes are included in the membership fee. Learn more about television production and what makes Cape Ann TV so unique.
Cape Ann Television has wonderful after school programs for students. Gloucester students can attend the after school program held by Cape Ann TV at Art Haven. For more information call Lisa Smith at 978-281-2443. For Rockport students, there is a new after school video club led by Cape Ann TV producer Andrew Love. For more information call Andrew at 978-281-2443.
My sincerest thanks Andrew for all you help this past week!
Unfortunately, I don’t have a great photo of Andrew so this will have to do. Barry O’Brien (left) and Andrew Love teaching a class at Cape Ann TV studio.
Lisa Smith and Andrew Love ~ above photo courtesy Google Image Search from the Gloucester Daily Times
Homeward Bound
From Monday night’s snowstorm, Smiths Cove, Gloucester
Homeward bound,
I wish I was,
Homeward bound,
Home where my thought’s escaping,
Home where my music’s playing,
Home where my love lies waiting
Silently for me. ~ Simon and Garfunkel
I wish I was,
Homeward bound,
Home where my thought’s escaping,
Home where my music’s playing,
Home where my love lies waiting
Silently for me. ~ Simon and Garfunkel