Wednesday, January 18, 2012
A few words about Internet censorship
I support efforts to stop copyright infringement and online piracy. Unfortunately, the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) and the Protect IP Act (PIPA) will not accomplish their stated goals, at least not as they are now written. Even worse, they open the door to Internet censorship. Visit the Electronic Frontier Foundation to find out more.
Monday, January 16, 2012
Foliage Follow-Up: January 2012
On the 16th of each month, Pam Penick at Digging hosts Foliage Follow-Up, to highlight the importance of foliage in the garden. This month she posted a photo of Moby, her Whale's Tongue agave, partially lit by the morning sun, shadows playing along its grooved and studded leaves. A beam of sunlight shining through her bottle tree adorned Moby with a swath of cobalt blue. The effect was that of an armed warrior in war paint. When Pam asked if her readers had any equally moody photos of foliage to share, I knew exactly which ones to use.
Last Thursday, a light freeze was forecasted, so I went outside just before bedtime to zip up the greenhouse over the lime tree and turn on the heater. As I walked back toward the house, the motion-controlled security light clicked on, bathing everything in incandescent yellow hues.
The first thing that caught my eye was this patch of wild grasses, which surrounds my herb garden, illuminated in the light. I didn't cultivate these grasses in any way and I don't know what variety they are, but they look natural and pretty, so I left them be.
Then I noticed the red oak and how pretty it looked with the light shining through its leaves.
I was enchanted by the play of shadow and light,
the multitude of glowing colors,
and the way the light outlined the edges of the leaves.
I love this red oak and would hate to lose it. Though its lower branches jut out into a walking path, it's never been pruned, reducing its risk of oak wilt. At summer's end, I coiled a large soaker hose under its canopy, and Jack buried the hose in 3 inches of quality mulch. I have my fingers crossed it makes it through the drought.
Thanks to Pam Penick at Digging for hosting Foliage Follow-Up. Visit her website to fill your eyes with foliage!
Words and photos © 2009-2011 Caroline Homer for "The Shovel-Ready Garden". Unauthorized reproduction is prohibited.
Last Thursday, a light freeze was forecasted, so I went outside just before bedtime to zip up the greenhouse over the lime tree and turn on the heater. As I walked back toward the house, the motion-controlled security light clicked on, bathing everything in incandescent yellow hues.
The first thing that caught my eye was this patch of wild grasses, which surrounds my herb garden, illuminated in the light. I didn't cultivate these grasses in any way and I don't know what variety they are, but they look natural and pretty, so I left them be.
Then I noticed the red oak and how pretty it looked with the light shining through its leaves.
I was enchanted by the play of shadow and light,
the multitude of glowing colors,
and the way the light outlined the edges of the leaves.
I love this red oak and would hate to lose it. Though its lower branches jut out into a walking path, it's never been pruned, reducing its risk of oak wilt. At summer's end, I coiled a large soaker hose under its canopy, and Jack buried the hose in 3 inches of quality mulch. I have my fingers crossed it makes it through the drought.
Thanks to Pam Penick at Digging for hosting Foliage Follow-Up. Visit her website to fill your eyes with foliage!
Words and photos © 2009-2011 Caroline Homer for "The Shovel-Ready Garden". Unauthorized reproduction is prohibited.
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