DOWN CENTRAL

This area is what our botanical garden calls its central axis. The whole place has irregular, meandering areas but this is, so to speak, the backbone. There are two reflecting pools of equal length, the second not visible here due to foreshortening. They hold works by the Swedish sculptor Carl Milles, who also has a large group of figures in a major fountain downtown. At the rear is the Climatron, designed by Buckminster Fuller. It contains four distinct climate zones, separated by a complex system of barriers and air controls.                      

SQUARING THE CIRCLE

We have a lot of brick construction in this area because of extensive clay deposits. This wall surrounds an area in our botanical garden called the boxwood garden. It looks like low hedgerows, trimmed to reveal spiraling paths and flower beds. The peek-a-boo effect makes you want to go inside to see it all.             

NEW NEIGHBOR

There has been a bird nest wedged for some years between a downspout and the eaves of our porch. It has survived winter after winter and each spring a pair of birds freshen it up and reuse it. They are often different species and this year I think it's robins (but what do I know). The mother (I assume) sat on the eggs with breaks to get food. Now there are three hatchlings, growing with amazing speed, poking themselves out while waiting for dinner.

I took this through a less-than-clean window with bad lighting. Still, we enjoy seeing their progress day to day. The nest is somewhat hidden, protecting the chicks from the neighborhood hawks.             

MEMORIES OF KYOTO

I love the Japanese section of our botanical garden. Here and there we find areas of geometrically raked white pebbles, reminiscent of zen gardens, particularly in Kyoto. I have had the privilege of visiting that city during cherry blossom season. Although those blossoms were all gone by the time of this visit, the memories were strong.         

ASSEMBLING CHIHULY

Our botanical garden has a number of events throughout the year to generate interest and revenue. This weekend they have Chinese cultural days, which, unfortunately, I won't get to because of schedule conflicts. But in a couple of weeks a show of the glass works of Dale Chihuly will open. Installation work was beginning during my recent visit. His art is enormously popular. On the other hand, when I once asked an artist I admire about Chihuly's work, his response was "too easy." I get it.