drawing lines in the sand

 January 22, 2012

January 22, 2013

tropical Hibiscus

I imagine it stems from that inherent want to grow things that don't live in our natural habitat, our love and fascination with different tropical plants.  At the end of the summer season "tropicals" go on sale at the local nurseries and every time I wish I had enough space and light to over-winter these fabulous makers of showy, colorful flowers like this Hibiscus.  Such a testament to summer...

Ocean City, MD (summer vacation 2012)

It was my first time out of New York in months and months, not to mention our first vacation since March, so we were thrilled to hit the open road.

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The sign on this truck advertised Young and Fresh Chickens. We chose to disagree.

My wife grew up going to Ocean City, Maryland with her family for summer vacations as a kid but it was my first time.  Thanks to my sister-in-law masterminding a great house rental in Ocean Pines we got to spend three days with the whole fam living it up.

Even in Ocean City, MD ...clowns are creepy.

My wife and our (not so little anymore) niece on one of the many rides.

Krissy and I would ourselves seek some thrills, like the Tidal Wave!  A little late in the game we realized we really haven't been on a rollercoaster in a long, LONG time, but we still had a blast.

The newest niece, Kiera, with papa Jerome while momma Kate and sister Janaya enjoyed another ride.

Our house rental was right on the water, so serene and comfortable.

We got to the beach a bunch of times and perhaps most psyched of all was our little Janaya, quickly becoming the cutest little surfer girl.

So great to spend time with family.  Above is Krissy and Kiera and Jerome and 'Naya below.

We weren't expecting such good surf while down there so we were loving the body surfing.

The crowds were out but everyone seemed to be down-to-earth and having the right attitude which was a relief.

On day #2 the vacation gods made fresh fruit cocktails that rocked our world.

Beach fun with the boardwalk right at our fingertips provided no lack of things to do and trouble to get into.

 

A napping Kiera, with the most precious eyelashes...

We walked the boardwalk a lot and enjoyed great adventures and people watching every time, but at night it took on a whole new persona.  ...so fun. Whatever age you feel like a kid again, mesmerized by the sights and sounds and awe-some-ness of it all.

 

We had to have a drink at the Purple Moose Saloon because what are you going to do?  NOT have a drink at a place called the Purple Moose??  

Back at the house we eventually had to have a traditional Maryland crab feast.  This is the lead-up.

Then we got down to business.  Half a bushel thanks to my father-in-law.

They were pros, and taught me quick, and we all had a ball!

The days went fast and before we knew it we had to say goodbye and head back to New York, but it really made all the difference to get out of our routine for a few days and see the rest of our loved ones.

A final killer meal, in this case courtesy of another OC MD staple, the dough roller.  Holy cow was that an amazing breakfast.  Fortified us for the 7 hour trek home.

Thanks Ocean City, MD, you're a fab town!!

koi series

 Today I went and planted a young 'Bloodgood' Japanese maple at an amazing property.  The two men had over three acres and had put in a large beautiful pond in the back yard.  If you stood at the edge for more than a minute the koi would appear.  They were good-sized fish, and obviously very used to people.  I shot these quickly before wrapping up and heading back to the ranch.

 

 Their movement was fantastic, roiling the water with wonderful energy.

 They just kept coming out of hiding, slowly, each one showing off their unique coloration.

 koi koreography?

The botanical name of koi is Cyprinus carpio which I never knew before.  Cool name, at least to this nature geek.  And though I have never met them a big congratulations and best wishes to J&M, the two men, today celebrating their marriage.  Hope they like their surprise wedding tree.  

twilight tour at LongHouse

LongHouse Reserve is the 16-acre residence of designer Jack Lenor Larson which over the years has been converted into a most amazing public garden right here in East Hampton.  Loaded with fabulous plantings and thought provoking artwork, LongHouse is tucked away in a nearby residential part of town and is such a treat for me given my love of horticulture and art.  The other evening we went and joined LH staff for an exquisite Twilight Tour which they are now offering on Mondays from 6-8pm.  As advertised it is a perfect time of day to see the gardens and grounds and various pieces and collections in a beautiful light.  Check out these sheered hornbeams (Carpinus) and sculpture by Izumi Masatoshi.

Fuyu, 2008
Swedish granite
H. 59, L. 59, W. 33", 6,600 lbs.
courtesy of Koichi Hara, Gallery Japonesque, San Francisco 

Tree ID: Prunus serrulata 'Mt. Fuji'

 This is a Mount Fuji flowering cherry tree.  The sturdy white flowers hold up so well and give this tree a great look in spring.  In summer it makes for a perfect shade tree.  Definitely a cultivar you want to know about. 

found art

I found this the other day and was instantly intrigued. Since I don't want to get myself in trouble I am not going to say where I was within the five boroughs but stumbling through woods and sand and stone all of a sudden this huge slab of (I presume) marble was under foot. So I did a little research, and by that I totally over exaggerate, it was just a Google search, but I learned about an American conceptual artist named Jenny Holzer. In 1977 Holzer began a project entitled Truisms. She would take her complications of statements and aphorisms (vocab word of the day, aphorism: an original thought, spoken or written in a concise and memorable form) and display them in a number of different visual installations throughout the city over the following number of years. Where this stone was originally and how it came to where it is now I have no idea, another part of my vagueness, but I had to share it. As we head into this year of making changes and doing our best to live on our terms, a much longer post I have been intending to write, I couldn't help but find it interesting that I would come across these found truisms that date back to my birth year of '77. You have to love the subjective nature of art, mixed with that little taste of exploration and discovery, for that is the stuff that makes me smile.