In the Labyrinth

Desert Spring

Spring in the desert is amazing. So too are the variety of blooming plants. Not just pretty wild flowers, delicate and brightly colored, but also the rugged flowers, like the leathery blossom of the palm above. Sometimes they are sticky sweet and filled with bees, like the tall beautiful sprays of the aloe below. (Click on the images to see them much larger.)

Or else dramatic last acts -- like the asparagus spire of the century plant that blooms when the plant is about 50--75 years old. The spire will reach about six feet in height, bloom with incredibly dense clusters of sweet flowers that will feed humming birds and bats, and then the entire plant will expire, leaving only the tall spire like a stiff dried tree.

But these little hedgehog cactus are among my favorite -- brilliant reds, organges, and sometimes candy-stripped pink and white.

The Illuminated Origin Of The Species: Kelly Houle

Here's another project from Kickstarter that deserves some attention (and perhaps a well deserved donation) -- especially from calligraphers, artists, naturalists, and anyone who can marvel at what a beauty this project will be when it is finished. Phoenix artist Kelly Houle will be creating -- page by page -- "The Illuminated Origin of the Species," a fully illuminated manuscript version of Darwin's The Origin of the Species. Each page will feature handwritten text, a stunning array of images painted in iridescent water colors, and gold leaf. This project is so utterly unique and promises to be "a masterful congress of word and image, science and art." You can follow updates on the project on "News from The Illuminated Origin of the Species," blog.

The Mountains and The Gardens: Part III

It was hard not to be constantly astonished by the beauty of nature all around us throughout the trip. We traveled from northern Italy through the Valle D'Aosta, with its terraced vineyards, crossing the border of the Italian Alps into the French Alps, where Mont Blanc rises out of the mist. The wind pulls snow off the high peaks and the light catches the mist turning it into swirling rainbows. We stayed for a few days in the small town of Chamonix -- noted for its skiing -- especially on the glaciers which present an incredible challenge for the skier. Chamonix is completely surrounded by mountains, as is its more wealthy resort cousin, Megeve a handful of miles away, My brother once lived in Megeve many years ago and it is the birth place of the stirrup ski pants.The houses are all wooden and decorated with shuttered windows, carved rooftops, some brightly painted and always a flower garden. Settled in the woods of Chamonix, they look like something from a fairy tale.

But traveling south again, from Como to Corbetta, to Rome, the gardens are everywhere, bursting with blooms even in the late fall due to the warm temperatures. In Rome, a Villa has become a public park and the light -- that famous golden Italian light -- streamed through the Maritime Pines.

An APP For The Invisible Universe

A while back I posted a short film of Vatican astronomer, Father George V. Coyne, S.J. talking about his work as an astronomer. He told a wonderful story about "the long eyes," a Tohono O'odham phrase for the huge telescopes the astronomers use to look out at the heavens. I was thrilled today to find this fascinating film on a new way of looking at the stars through our cell phones and an app that helps us to see below the surface of the night's sky. Awesomeness abounds, especially for Droid users who can download the app. (Via Bioephemera)

The Garden Spiral

It seems every time I put a garden in my novels it has a spiral path. I think I like the shape because it is evocative of so many different ideas -- the snail (which I feel I am sometimes carrying everything, family, memory, work, bills all on my back), the ambiguous journey both inward and outward, the pleasing vertigo of going almost in a circle, but arriving somewhere new.

So I decided it was time to put one in the garden of the house where we live, so I can see it everyday as I come and go. It's pretty, especially in the morning when the stones are a bit damp and full of color. But it's also nice in the mid day when the sun bleaches everything and it looks like a fragment of an ancient ruin. In the fall, I will plant Mexican poppies -- buttery-orange blossoms-- in the spiral's path, along with purple verbena for contrast. My own yellow brick road.

Desert Heat Invites Color

Lately I have been following Terri Windling's beautiful posts of the spring awakening in the English countryside. Every where amid the lush green grass there are lovely flowers opening in cool colors of pale white, deep blue and delicate yellow. A place to sit and soak up sun and moisture. But here in the desert the spring explodes in vibrant neon colors, huge blooms among the spines, burning orange and vermilion. These are a few of the trichocereus cactus in my garden -- the fat almost fur-covered blossoms that open up into these fabulous blossoms worthy of any Vegas show girl costume.

And here is the blazing glory of the Mexican Hat Bush -- which will bloom all summer and in promiscuous fashion throw it seeds out all over the gravel and dirt yard.

And among my favorites, these orange daisies that will also bloom most of the year if I cut them back and let them rest during the intense heat of the summer.

The People With Long Eyes

I am very fortunate to be neighbors with a house brimming with Jesuit Vatican Astronomers who do work in both Italy and in Tucson (at the Graham Observatory). They are amazing scientists, priests, educators, and great talkers! As part of a project my husband and I are doing for the Jesuit Virtual Learning Academy, we are filming short interviews with these remarkable scientists discussing their work. The first one is from Rev. George V. Coyne, S. J. who spoke to us about the relationship of faith and science in his work.

Rev. George V. Coyne, S.J., on Views of the Universe

Top photo is "Rosette Nebula" from the divine Astronomy Picture of the Day

Milagrosa Canyon

 

Over Christmas we discovered Milagrosa canyon -- a beautiful and steep-walled canyon out to the east of Tucson (right in the curve where the Santa Catalinas slope down to the softer Rincons). It has quickly become a favorite for one can hike either up the ridge line and have a spectacular view of the canyon floor before, or hike the floor and spend some serious time clambering over boulders, maybe even a little rock climbing up water-washed cliffs, or leaping from boulder to boulder trying not to look down at the icy water pooled below. Me --I like walking the sandy parts of the floor, then hiking almost vertically up the rocky narrow path to the ridge and then continuing along the spine (with drop offs on both sides) to the back of the canyon. Breathless....in all sense of the word!

Year of the Rabbit : Indulging in A Bit of Awesome Japanese Bunny Art

Here's a quick shout out to Pink Tentacles which posted a lovely collection of vintage Japanese Rabbit New Years Cards in recognition that 2011 is The Year of the Rabbit. The image of "Rabbit in Bed" is for my dear friend Terri -- who has her own special fascination with rabbits and who spent the holiday battling a wicked flu. Below are a couple more from the PT post that I found particularly wonderful. ("Rabbit and Waves" and "Rabbit Carrying Vegetables.")

And what better way to celebrate the year of the Rabbit than to read Terri's excellent article The Symbolism of Rabbits and Hares that takes a global look at the mythology of the Rabbit. And come to think of it, I have my own past posts on Bunnies here and here.

The Jeweled Trichocereus Beneath the Mesquite Tree

 
I know..I know...here's another version of the cereus cactus in my garden This gorgeous flame-red bloom burst open on a little trichocereus that is growing along the ground under the huge mesquite tree in the backyard. For most of the year it is a most modest plant -- it doesn't stand up but lies on the ground, seemingly without any ambition at all. And then it pops up this beautiful red bud like a cherry lollipop that opens into this. For one day only. Happily, there are more buds coming and maybe in a few weeks there will be another one of these pretty flowers.