The · Affected · Provincial’s · Almanack

Went orchid ogling Sunday, then visited our friend's niece's blueberry farm. They haven't yet opened to the public, so we were allowed to pick as many berries as we liked (we returned home with enough to fill our kitchen sink). The heavily wooded ditches were full of catfish. Very strange. By midday the heat was too much, so we all returned home and took a siesta. Insufferably Arcadian.

The deer ticks were pretty lively, though. Despite our precautions, all of us found one in us. Just waiting for symptoms now. Et in Arcadia ego, babies.

~W

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Visited my old hometown recently to see old friends, and took photos of some of the old neon signs that have become local landmarks. Can't imagine the place without neon lobsters.

What sort of textures did you grow up with?

~W

Our good friend Deb sent a link to photos taken of me at the Fourth of July parade. I like how this one came out.

(I don't know who shot it, otherwise I'd give credit.)

Can you see the difference between this stand of pinesap and indian pipe?

Pinesap lacks chlorophyll and is parasitic (myco-heterotrophs to you geeks), but is a bit more rare than indian pipe. The summer growth is yellowish, but the autumn growth tends to be pink. There are also multiple blooms on pinesap, unlike the single-bloom indian pipe. Pine sap can be found in leafy oak and beech forests near stands of indian pipe, but is also found in pine forests.

If you see either indian pipe or pinesap, you are in very healthy climax forest and should keep an eye out for other rare plants like orchids and unusual mushrooms. They are quite small, so do tread lightly when you walk around them, as there are usually more just under the leaf litter.

A parasitic plant that relies on fungus which in turn relies on the root systems of beech and oak trees. Indian Pipe (its common name) has no green chlorophyll of its own. I will post photos of its pale yellow cousin pinesap (Monotropa hypopithys) soon.

Jewelweed, or Touch-Me-Not.

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Whenever friends visit the Barnes, I can all but predict that within a week I will get a postcard of this Modigliani painting in the mail.

Interesting to see how the idea of glamor and luxury has changed over the decades. I think most modern people would agree that a relaxed, intimate garden party with friends is more civilized than the savage social jockeying seen at an "elegant" gala event. This is why I don't own a tuxedo.

Link to slideshow

Adam's show (wish NY Mag would have spelled his name correctly) is now up at Jonathan LeVine Gallery (Hi, Jonathan!). The piece featured above is named "Lady Pinkwater". For those of you unable to have seen the show, here are some shots sent to me by Adam...

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