Keiko Sono: Observation (hideouts)

Tue, 25 May 2004 05:54:40 GMT

Transparent Abyss Forgive me for the self-glorifying tone of the above title, but my annual SUNY summer course on the Hudson River School painters and the 19th century thinkers is starting on Thursday, so I'm trying to make a shift into the transcendentalism amid my present moving fiasco. I've always had only a borderline number of students signed up for my course so I was going to cancel it this year, but of course, I have twice as many as usual... I will just have to allocate more time for discussion and less for lecture! Last year, I had a student in her 60s whose dream was to go to college and was now realizing that dream, two in their 50s, a single mother who had her son fighting in the war, the other a Christian spiritual leader, a thirty-something who came from Russia several years ago, and a twenty-something Woodstock native whose family are artists/hippies. All were women. Boy, was that an interesting dynamic! Each class started on a topic like the use of light in the HRS's paintings, effect of booming economy on art, or nature as religion in the 19th century, but somehow we always ended up talking, if not arguing, about the Iraq war. But it was not until the last class which was held on top of a hill looking at the sunset with bottles of wine, that everyone agreed Bush had to go. Once we all knew where we stood, there was a sense of relief. The Christian leader said she was afraid to speak up against him. The poor mother was worried sick during the whole time, but she had just heard the news that he was coming home... One thing I'm sure we didn't predict back then is that things were to be worse, much worse, a year later. I look forward to even livelier discussions this year (I may not have to do any preparation after all). * * * * * I am much obliged to Sam at Thistle and Hemlock for mentioning my blog. I always feel I'm not doing enough (now especially), no one cares about a trillium or hemlock or skunk cabbage any way, or too hedonistic to be intoxicated by a peony during a war time. She is my source of hope and inspiration, and words of encouragement coming from her is a sweet nectar for my soul. Of course there are several others I am more than grateful to for their kind support(you know who you are). Thank you, from my heart. The more descriptive title for the above photo would be Shagbark Hickory (Carya ovata), by the way.

Tue, 18 May 2004 15:42:07 GMT

The second growth of Hemlocks (Tsuga canadensis). Hemlock was an important resource for tanning leather. They were cut down almost to extinction, but have come back since the decline of the industry. This property was once a rough cow pasture. The hemlock woods allow the light to filter through their fine textured needles, creating a smokey golden haze that is just the right backdrop for fairy or monster tales, depending on the behavior of your children.
We have many erratics (boulders carried and left behind by glacier). They serve as magnificent visual focal points, nesting grounds for wild turkeys, perfect spots to create Haiku, and needless to say, castles and forts for little knights and princesses.
Hemlock woods punctuated by mighty white oaks, sugar maples and white pines afford little light on the forest floor. Only along the edges and where a big tree fell, you find these little gems. Pictured here are Jack-in-the-Pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum) and Rue Anemone (Thalictrum thalictroides).

And a little something in my indulgent category Suika...

Sat, 15 May 2004 00:48:29 GMT

Oh YES!
This is it...
Almost there...

Fri, 14 May 2004 00:58:34 GMT

Patience, my love...!

Thu, 13 May 2004 18:45:14 GMT

It's coming...

Thu, 13 May 2004 15:54:05 GMT

Could it be...?

Tue, 11 May 2004 15:07:04 GMT

Anticipation

I planted this tree peony two years ago. For the first time it has buds. It is certainly the queen of all flowering small shrubs. Everything about is so noble--from the deeply lobed leaves with edges etched in red, the open and round shape, and the perfectly shaped pointed buds, to (hopefully) the voluptious flowers packed with traslucent crepe-paper petals. It has such a presence in the garden, arresting everyone in thrilling expectation.

Oh the Humanity...

Mon, 10 May 2004 03:57:23 GMT

Behold the Torture Chamber

This morning a house member found a dead snake behind this closed door. It was tangled in a roll of deer fence, unable to free itself, and died either of starvation, dehydration, or strangulation. There were signs of suffering such as scrapes and cuts in the skin, its mouth wide open as if gasping for air. This is not the first time such cruelty has been found inside this innocent looking building. A few years ago a mouse was found dead, completely desiccated inside an unused clay pot. It had apparently climbed inside it in search of stray bird seeds, but was unable to get a grip on the smooth wall of the pot. There were tiny scratch marks on the interior wall of the pot. The owner of this building was completely dismayed. She claims she had no knowledge of such cruelties happening right in front of her nose. She has since then made a point of storing pots and buckets upside down, but admits there are many unknown traps hidden behind every shelf. She has discarded the fence, but plans to purchase more in the future without knowing exactly how she will be able to store it safely. A further investigation has found that there have been many more murders on this premise--in fact, a massacre. Every year since the house was built, innocent birds crash into the glass windows and break their necks. A number of frogs that are only celebrating the rainy nights are smashed under wheels. Countless earth worms are sliced by the sharp edge of a spade. Furthermore, this killing machine is not confined to its premise. The killing takes place on the road, in a form of four wheels, or rather, eight wheels between the two house members. In the last six years, they have injured three deer, killed three chipmunks, two squirrels, one bird, and who knows how many insects. All the victims just happened to be in a wrong place at a wrong time. The owners point out that they have stopped their vehicles to remove turtles, even a snapping one, off the road to safety, but also admit that they have committed deliberate murders of mice inside the house. No charges have been filed against them. How much longer will this go on? The answer is grim. The house member who was in charge of the clay pots and deer fence contends she was so disturbed and disgusted by the suffering she had caused the innocent victims, she even considered condemning the said building. But knowing the impossibility of barring the little creatures from entering(and more likely due to inconvenience), she abandoned the idea. The chamber still stands, in its full function.

Sat, 08 May 2004 00:30:42 GMT

Bring Out the Cigar, Baby!

I am very pleased to inform you that my report on 5/2 about my dwarf nectarine was a misdiagnosis. She's pregnant! It's kind of a miracle considering the plant is only 2 feet high and had only 2 flowers.

Constable's Ivy 5

Fri, 07 May 2004 01:16:40 GMT

AAAGH! What is this repulsive, goose-bump-producing, nausea-inducing, alien looking growth on my Constable's Ivy!? Is it telling me something? (Yes, I know it's time to repot) Is John telling me I've been spending too much time blogging and not enough painting? Is this the beginning of a powerful disease that will wipe out all the ivies off the face of the earth? Wait. Oh sorry. I think it's just the aerial rootlets that cling to walls. Never mind.

Mon, 03 May 2004 16:36:01 GMT

The Sun Tapestry

Fri, 23 Apr 2004 07:20:53 GMT

If you have not yet smelled Muscari, or Grape Hyacinth, you owe it to yourself. It is such a titillating smell, that of the sweetest grape, or rather, grape-flavored bubble gum. What a happy genetic coincidence that this little flower looks AND smells like grapes - or is it? Maybe the purple pigment has something to do with the smell?

cherry blossoms 1

Tue, 20 Apr 2004 15:49:10 GMT

The unseasonably warm weather of yesterday plied open most of the cherry blossoms in my front yard. Followed by gusting winds, petals have loosened and are now falling in silence without a hint of breeze. I cannot help thinking of a poem by Ono no Komachi, a Japanese poet from the 800s (translation is by Clay MacCauley).

Color of the flower
Has already faded away,
While in idle thoughts
My life passes vainly by,
As I watch the long rains fall.

Komachi is a legendary figure who set the standard for feminine beauty for the following 1100 years in Japan (the word Komachi is still used to describe regional delicacies and products, sometimes local celebrities). Cherry is a national flower/tree in Japan, and you would know it if you visited there in spring. The whole country, even the urban centers, are transformed for a week or so. All the ugly gray is enveloped in clouds of pale pink, softening the tired souls of hard working corporate soldiers. We anticipate this magical period eagerly; untimely rain and wind spoil our pleasure and force us to wait another year. The sight of falling petals is both exhilarating and agitating. In a few days, they will come down like a warm, soft pink blizzard. It is visually breathtaking, but makes me feel helpless against the tide of time. Will I ever be wise enough to just focus on the moment and appreciate it? Perhaps growing up in Japan has instilled in me a deep rooted fatalism which is the flip side of being connected to nature. If Westerners use Christmas as an opportunity to reflect on the passing year, it is the cherry blossom season for the Japanese to ask, not "what have I done?" but "what has the year done to/for me?"

Constable's Ivy 4

Sun, 18 Apr 2004 19:40:52 GMT

This is the ivy cutting I took from John Constable's grave in Hampstead in January. You can find the history about it here. Before it started showing new growth, I could not help feeling superstitious - if it dies, so will my painting career. Well, it looks quite healthy and robust now. Whether that will translate into my painting or not, I'm glad I didn't kill it.

Constable's Ivy 3

Sun, 18 Apr 2004 19:19:15 GMT

March 27, 2004.

Constable's Ivy 2

Sun, 18 Apr 2004 19:12:55 GMT

3.9.2004 Why didn't I think of documenting this earlier? After coming back from London, I stuck this cutting in the growing medium, and waited for a long time. It took about 6 weeks before I could see the new growth, I think. This picture, taken in March, already shows a few new leaves.

Constable's Ivy 1

Sat, 17 Apr 2004 20:57:20 GMT

January 3, 2004 Visited Constable's grave after a day of exploring Hampstead and the Heath - one of the agendas of this trip. Loved Hampstead. It's very beautiful. I understand it is one of the most expensive and luxurious areas in England, but it still feels very quaint. Stepping into the Heath, I felt like a pilgrimage finally reaching Jerusalem. John Constable to me is Ozzy to Garth (I know, my pop culture clock stopped in the early '90s). I'm not worthy! I am very thankful to the town board (or its equivalent) of the area for preserving the town and heath the way it is. It was very easy for me to imagine that I was tracing Constable's footsteps from his house to the Heath. My dream project is to stay in Hampstead for several weeks and find all the spots he painted in the Heath, and paint the same scenes. Maybe someday... I took a small cutting of ivy from his grave. I will try to nurture it when I get back to another quaint town, New Paltz.

Fri, 16 Apr 2004 17:09:47 GMT

My dwarf nectarine flowered! It is a rather sorry looking thing, but how such a tiny fragile flower can have the power to lift me out of the ocean of pessimism is a mystery, however ephemeral the escape may be. I wonder if I'll get fruits out of just these two flowers...

Tue, 13 Apr 2004 18:12:45 GMT

Wow. I'm already getting positive feedback to this infantile weblog. Thank you all to those who have given me input. Every word is a nourishment. It is cold and gray, but here is one reason rain is good.

Mon, 12 Apr 2004 08:46:45 GMT

Does anyone know what this incredibly beautiful green moth is? It looks like lichen and blended exquisitely with my mother's Chinese garden ornament. Suika's friend Ruby found it and reminded me I should take a picture of it!