Old Roses

One of the things about the 'parks' in Phoenix is that they have no flowers. Pretty much standardized with regard to layout and landscaping, they seem to present the minimum of what's termed civitas, the dedication of space for the public good. I suppose anything so delicate as a flower would be destroyed and aesthetics are not exactly on the municipal agenda. I compare to those in Vancouver, Seattle, Portland and San Francisco. (LA parks are human habitats - and I don't mean visitors.) The terrain doesn't lend itself to any dimensional variation, they're flat and quadrilinear. In the cities mentioned, you'd see daily users. I'm ever amused by the older folk doing their Tai-chi... you don't see that here. During the day, they're not used at all. Over the weekend, there are parties and picnics for groups of people but surmise the malls are the premium destinations locally. Kids don't play baseball anymore. Not to be the curmudgeon! One just notices.

This an old shot from the little rose garden near Encanto Park. Not a city endeavor, but a private society of aficionados. I had a Biology professor who was one. After the publication of "Silent Spring" there came heightened awareness about pesticide use. I think Rachel Carson was, along with Barry Commoner, a seer with regard to the so-called environmental movement. Ecology and such. My professor responded to those concerns with regard to aphid infestations of roses. He bred wasps!

Dusting off the cobwebs, the wasps would, as I recall, inject their fertilized eggs into said aphids, the resulting larvae a parasite feasting on it's innards until but a deceased and dessicated ectoderm was all that remained, the wasp's next generation emerging. Biological control. That was 1970 and I see it's pretty much a standard method today. 

Workin' Trucks

Quite the scene at the QT in the early morning. Have mentioned before the busyness of fellows off to work. A sight to behold and an indication of boom time - at least locally. The markets have been good for the vested too but I don't know how it is in other parts of the nation, especially back East and in the Midwest. I do know there's a lot of real investment occurring in Phoenix with regard to 'infill' and redevelopment in the core area. Further development on the expanding perimeter going strong too. Concurrently, the traffic is horrible. Conflicted feelings, as ever. 

As I watch the demographic of guys (mostly) coming and going, in my neighborhood they're preponderantly, and I do mean approaching 75%, Latino. Construction workers, tradesmen. Great to see them working. How ironic; after all the immigration controversies, their wages have increased in the demand. Were there competition from further undocumented workers, well, go figure. The nation has always absorbed working people but there comes a point of exploitation of immigrants toward profit motives on the part of developers and industry.

Well, looks like good news to me as I scope that proffered on the Internet. Ridiculous fabrications that used to be pabulum for the National Enquirer. Perversion rampant. The people deserve better but, as always, the market for this idiocy are women. I saw the other day that the publisher of the local rag, which is all booster fluff with nary a insight into reality (website homepage headlining artisan pizza and postmodern booze concoctions) was the travel editor of several newspapers before she commenced her corporate schmooze. Affirmative fakes replicating themselves while essentially exploiting a business made in years past by serious journalists, they're the Donald assassins. Just like checking out at the grocery, scoping who's getting it on with whom in Hollywood, they're to be ignored. 

Technique

This is the self-same solitary bougainvillea gussied up pretty good.
The previous shot was with phone camera; not always the best view.

However, there are exceptions insofar as resolution goes. Here a simple snap.
As is; just sized down. Ubiquity cubed, I know, but a keeper nonetheless.

Drive By Inconspicuously

Rode around a bit looking for shots. Figured if my blooms are going off, there'll be others. Always dicey taking street shots at people's houses but, today, didn't see a thing that struck me as any different. Did pass by this fire station on 27th Avenue south of Northern. I'd taken a shot of this installation before but not any sort of a study. So I got out of the vehicle, waved at the crew (they shouldn't think me terrorizing the neighborhood) and did so for a Facebook album. It's not any sort of a memorial.

I've thought to do a similar sort of thing in my front yard, foregoing watering trees. (I've had two expire on account of frost and hail.) Copper strips crimped or riveted over a rebar frame... instant saguaro. All in tooling. You could do line drawings of cacti in heavy gauge wire too - I've done that small scale. Ha. When I get around to it.

The setting sun exquisitely back lights. Took several along Sweetwater alike.

Never been there! Just south of Thunderbird. No idea it existed.
Did they get it wrong? Should it be l'amour? I think so. Fight City Hall?
We wouldn't dream of it. And, as stated, taking these shots problematic.
I'm lining it up against the sun... guy steps out of garage; stares ominously.

Bored?

It's never watered. I suppose its roots have extended to the area occasionally dampened by the outside faucet a couple of feet away. Just a thought. One of those delightful surprises. Another survival story, eh?

Glad I didn't watch the Cardinals git thumped. Much better going to church, if a bit of bore. I'd really like to get into something completely different in that regard. As always, some chagrin in going alone. Somewhat ironic that one chooses to go there rather than the games, then they look down their noses cause you go to the bars for that otherwise. But today, not.

It's an old issue with the Christians. From the beginning advised to refrain from the blood lust of the games and the irreverance of the theater; I mean, of course, the bread and circus milieu. (No, life cannot be a cabaret, old friend!) Old Augustus' RCs called it 'the occasion of sin' to be avoided - oh, my. So much for la joie de vivre! Indeed.

Ah, Sir John... a very bad influence upon Prince Hal? Bit of an issue upon another there. With whom am I to discuss it? I don't know anyone who's read Shakespeare's Histories let alone a clue as to who Henry V was. Crispan's Day? We're talking cultural wasteland here. Not a joyful circumstance. Once more into the breach? Don't bother.

So, of a Sunday afternoon - what's to do? What does it matter?
Hey... having a reminisce! Such is mine dotage. I suppose.

Along about 1976, we'd go of said Sunday afternoons to the Masonic Temple near downtown Portland where Carl Smith and his Natural Gas Company with it's Big Band sound would hold forth, musicians from the area sitting in. But it was the dancers, the swingers, the jitter-buggers, who were the draw. Their music; their moves. We didn't dance. Just listened and watched enthralled.

Well, a saxophone player was married to a woman we remember as Umpqua Lady. She showed up one afternoon quite out of sorts. Fit to be tied, she was. She said her husband was cheating on her. That, because he knew Native women were loyal to a fault, he thought he could get away with it. Uh-uh.

She stood by and waited... he stood to do a solo. "Bullshit!" she hollered. "Buuulllllshit!" He played right through without skipping a beat, then sat down, non-plussed. She turned on her heels and vamoosed. 

So, like, everyone in the ballroom is looking at us. "Friend of yours?" Absolutely; the show must go on. Side of grief with the joy... way it is.

Thinkful Wishing

Exceptionally starry night. Multitude presenting.
Here, another by Van Gogh, not usually seen.
Over the Rhone. Hmm. Someday, maybe...
a river cruise. Lyon. Valence. Avignon. Arles.

Turn

This from a cutting years ago. Turned it around for to balance. Could use a trim... plant some more cuttings.

Always a pleasure to come home, however much I abhor the locality. At least it's finally cooling off. Now that there's no need for A/C on frugal budget, can spend more time home. It's mostly I've got to bear the wear and tear on old unit I don't wish to replace. I'll sell the house as is and be glad to get out of damned Phoenix. 

My skin and my disposition will be glad.

So much more and varigated foliage in OR.