Studiology

The In Betweens

It's a crazy busy time between Thanksgiving and Christmas. I can add that I am working full time, making art and managing an art gallery, so my busy may match yours or may not, we all have different levels of time maintenance or lack of. Despite that I have been so happy and time with family has actually been better than usual. Thanksgiving was wonderful and today was grandson Quinn's 5th birthday party, so we visited him to participate in a Nerf gun themed party. 

Allow me to share photographs from both Thanksgiving and today's party as I show off my adorable grandchildren. The energy is high and conversations can be hilarious. Felicity is the queen of knock knock jokes, Quinn is all about guns, although he was restricted from using a Nerf gun until he turned 5 because he shot a Nerf dart at his sister, and little Juniper is just precious.

I hope you find time for family and friends during the holiday season and take lots of pictures. These guys are growing up so fast.

Turkey Day

The Tule Tree

The famous tule tree of Oaxaca is located 6 miles outside of the city, and the fee to enter the gates and visit this enormous tree is ten pesos or about fifty cents. Listed as the stoutest tree in the world or the tree with the largest trunk diameter of any tree on the planet, it is extraordinarily beautiful and awe-inspiring. The actual age is unknown but it is estimated to be two to three thousand years old. 

Botanically known at Taxodium mucronatum, it is a tropical species of bald cypress. As a water lover, it can become very large when conditions are right, but none have surpassed this specimen.

A beautiful church stands beside it as well as gorgeous gardens.

I feel blessed to have stood in its shade, the full impact of its size is almost indescribable. 

As is the case in many parts of the world, trees that attain this size and age are considered holy. Time shared with these senior citizens is far too fleeting in the context of the time they have been alive on this planet.

Lunar Cycles

My grandmother always gardened by the cycles of the moon. A very serious gardener, she was adamant about her gardening pursuits as they coincided with each cycle of the moon. The practice of planting in harmony with earth's natural rhythms is practiced by lots of folks and I don't doubt that this ancient earth science benefits all gardeners in their day to day activities.

It is understood that earth's ocean currents and water levels are highest during the new and full moon, lowest in a moon's 3rd and 4th quarter. This influence on water dictates how seed will absorb moisture or a seedling will grow upwards, just as it helps root crops burrow deeper in the soil, helped by lower water levels and the moon's lowered gravitational pull. These reoccurring cycles run from 29 to 30 days and also aid with pruning, fertilizing, and harvesting. 

 

One of the easiest ways to remember the moon cycles is to familiarize yourself with the letters D-O-C. With a new moon, the moon is a crescent that is shaped like the curve of the letter D, also explained as the light reflected back to us looks like the shape of the curve in the letter D. The shape of the curve will fill as moon phases pass until you have the shape of the filled letter D, which is a new moon or the first quarter. The second quarter is the filling out of the moon as it becomes full or shaped like the letter O, this is also referred to as a waxing moon. This second quarter continues until the full moon is passing or waning. In the moon's fullest, most filled out shape, the moon's gravitational pull becomes stronger as it becomes round, waning as it passes. It is said that the best time for planting seed is two days before a full moon which lets seed absorb moisture and then sprout with strong upward growth. The 3rd and 4th quarter is occurring when the moon's bright outline looks like the letter C. This is the best time for root growth and transplanting seedlings as root growth is encouraged, gravity is lowered. Also a good time for pruning since a plants sap or water levels are at their lowest. 

 

The moon also moves through the sky around astrological signs and these also affect plants as these signs are earth, water, air and fire, which favor particular types of crops. This is where an almanac comes in handy, isolating the best times to garden within these favorable time slots as the occur with lunar activity. To make things a little simpler, I have listed the activities for each lunar quarter. 

 

First Quarter, new to half full;

Lunar gravitational pull is increasing, sow seeds of plants that produce their seeds on the outside, such as lettuce, broccoli, annuals and herbs. This is also a good time to transplant.

 

Second Quarter, full to half full - waxing;

An idea time to sow seed as the seed's coat will readily soften as surface water is available from the moon's strongest gravitational pull. This is the best time to sow seeds that produce seed inside a pod or skin, such as beans, tomatoes, squash, and pumpkin.

 

Third Quarter, full to half full - waning;

The gravitational pull has subsided. This is the best time to plant root crops such as potatoes, onions, radishes, and beets. Also plant perennials, flower bulbs, shrubs and trees to encourage strong roots. A good quarter to also transplant seedlings. 

 

Fourth Quarter, half full to new;

The moon's gravitational pull is at its lowest. This is considered a resting time, best to prune, pull weeds, and apply mulch or compost.

 

Oaxaca

The colorful city of Oaxaca is tropical and the beautiful floral surrounds must have influenced the use of colors in the buildings and garments. This city of 3.8 million people are a confluence of various indigenous people, predominantly Zapotec and Miztec. Most are devout Catholics and hard workers. The fields that surround the city are planted in rows of agave (for tequila, mescal, and pulque), marigolds, celosia and various crops like corn with rows that appear to be dug by hand as they are often irregular and not sharply linear. Marigolds, celosia, and a few other flowers are a fall crop, seemingly bought by every household and business to decorate for Day of the Dead. Large shrines or ofrendas are created and filled with items that a lost relative or friend would have enjoyed. November 2nd is a national holiday to commemorate the Day of the Dead and a large percentage of the population can be found in local cemeteries on the the 1st,  passing the night together and talking about those that have passed. I observed some knee slapping, imagining that each year tall tales get taller, and more humor is added as time passes. 

Day trips included the ancient ruins of Monte Alban and Mitla and we had excellent guides that accompanied us with each trip. 

Stone carvings at Monte Alban have been deciphered by archeologists and the conclusion is that most carvings are of sacrificed humans, the reason for their odd poses. It was also believed that all were men, but this carving is that of a female and a breach birth. 

The beautiful ruins at Mitla were a religious center for the Zapotec, with Monte Alban built as the political center or hub. Of course I was intrigued by the local flora. 

Fences made of cactus were common and I'm sure they are very effective.

Parades or comparsas continued in the city, so everyday held the potential for colorful celebrations.

I was repeatedly told that I would love Oaxaca and indeed I did!

 

Home

What seemed like a month was compressed into 11 days in Mexico. Each day was organized with field trips, demonstrations and 4 days of art making. I have way too many photographs to share but will begin at the end with the small city of Oaxaca, the final destination. The Day of the Dead festivities had already begun with thunderous booms (like canons going off) over the town to waken the dead and remind them that it's time to come home and celebrate with the family. 

For a camera I tried a little experiment and primarily used a 50 mm lens (f-stop 1.4). This fantastic little lens was a film camera lens, so I had to manually focus and adjust my aperture. Even though I was using my new Nikon Z6, the latest in full frame, mirrorless Nikon digital cameras, I was adding a lens that predated digital. It was a challenge and I see that the shallow depth of field didn't always work, but I had a lot of fun with this easy to carry light lens.

The street art was unbelievable, beyond what I had imagined. The use of flowers was the biggest highlight for me. I even bought a small bouquet of tuberoses to have on hand and enjoy the fragrance. Primary flowers for Day of the Dead are marigolds, red celosia or cockscomb, calla lilies, and tuberose. The cemeteries are filled with people, visiting their lost relatives and celebrating with them. The grave sites are decorated and candles are lit for the night. Special candles can be bought that are three feet tall. 

Ofrendas are set up in every home and business, these are shrines that hold photographs of lost friends and relatives and the food, drinks or other items they liked. Sugar skulls, pan dulce (a local bread), citrus, mescal or tequila, were common items you might find on ofrendas. The ritual dates back to Aztec culture where they believe there are three levels with the deceased existing on the top tier and their spirit on the lower tier. Items such as candles, a mirror and soap and towel are left for the spirit. Incense is burned, a resin from a the Copal tree or Protium copal to ward off evil spirits.

Parades are short but all day events with some beginning early in the morning. The architecture was incredible, the buildings are painted with bright colors and the churches are magnificent and reverent, which makes an incredible backdrop for the daily activities. 

These photographs are in random order, but all from Oaxaca. 

When the children take part in parades, the adults surround them on all sides. I was able to catch a few of these adorable children in costume.

This street performer was incredible. He waved his hand to change the music which played from speakers under the cloth (which was clever) and he handed out fortunes. The costume and theatrics were well practiced and there was a always a line to give him money. A few street performers from New Orleans could learn a lesson from the gold man.

I will continue with a post about the great Tule tree, a Taxodium that is over 2,000 years old and more adventures in Mexico City and Oaxaca. 

Traveling

Today I leave for a most excellent adventure. Traveling with my middle sister and my traveling buddy Sharon Ross, we are off to Mexico City and then Oaxaca for Day of the Dead celebrations. Our days are full as we join others and also create art. So follow me on Instagram or wait for my return for some exciting tales. Sadly there will be no pumpkin carving this year, but plenty of excitement.

Fall is a Time to Sow

Maybe contrary to your notion of a timeline for seed sowing, fall is the best and perfect time to sow seeds of winter annuals and biennials. This exercise is for the outdoor garden where shortening days, cool rains, and falling temperatures will invigorate them. 

Even if the seed fell in early summer, the tiny seed brain waits for an alignment of conditions, the trifecta of circumstances to begin growth. No amount of cajoling will alter their internal clock and when one seed sprouts, other quickly follow. 

In my garden this became evident with Orlaya grandiflora, a member of the carrot/parsley family. The flowers and plant passed in the heat of summer and no amount of water or sunlight would convince the seed to sprout. An October day changed everything and now I have more seedlings than I can count. 

Larkspur is another that is best sown in fall. At first they are little more than green dots. It will be early spring before they build bulk and begin their upward trajectory. Flowers arrive in May and early June, extending ornament beyond the flouncy mid-May bloomers, blending with early lilies.

Mullien, clary sage, and hollyhock are a few others that are best tossed out as seed in fall rather than spring. Literally throwing them on bare soil is recommended, these are seeds that prefer sunlight to germinate, any open space in the garden will do. All three are biennials,  growing foliage the first year and flowering the second only to die in a shower of seed that populates the soil and waits for the cool of fall to sprout.

Winter provides the chilling hours for perennial seed to sprout as well. Left over packets or collections of seeds that include perennials should be planted in fall. A simple way to remember the depth to plant any seed is three times their size deep. Smallest seeds are surface sown. 

Moisture aided by freezing temperatures activate the seed, this entire design evolved to keep seeds from sprouting at the wrong time of year. A ticking of the clock or counting days of 35 degrees comes standard with most perennial seed. Spring sowing will often result in little to no germination as essential requirements have not been met. It may take another year before you see any  activity. 

As the gardens decline in fall and growing seasons come to a close, a cycle of renewal is just beginning. The gardener may be done with the chores of garden upkeep, but a little seed tossing requires the smallest amount of physical exertion. Come spring you will be grateful that full advantage was taken of a chilly winter. 

The Reception

I wanted to thank everyone that came to my reception, I was truly humbled. The masks were a big hit and they were literally finished the morning of the big day. Such wonderful friends I have and so many positive comments, this was a show that will always be remembered fondly!

As October continues the show will remain, and I have some special plans for the holiday season, so consider a visit to Art A La Carte Gallery.

Here are some photographs of the masks, they are not just fully functional but were made with custom wall mounts so they could be hung like a piece of art. 

 

 

She Sells Sea Snails

The show is up, a huge sigh of relief, another year down. There will be a reception on Saturday, October the 12th with wine tastings and finger food.  I hope to see some of you at Art A La Carte, 310 Mill Street, Occoquan, Va. from 2 to 5. Here are some photographs of the show which is shared with Kathleen Kendall and you can meet both of us on reception day.