Journal

I keep a journal every day that I am in the field. Have done so since the first trip to Myanmar in 2005 (see Hukaung Valley Rattan Survey). Was actually Elysa's idea (thx, Elysa) to keep a record on this trip and she gave me my first journal. I am currently on journal number five. Given time and motivation, the idea is to turn all of these observations into a book at some point. We'll see. [NOTE: As shown above, my journal of choice is the classic 5 X 8.25 inch Moleskine Ruled Notebook. The vintage Cleveland Indians cap is also a classic. Oh, and the Pilot G-2, extra fine point, retractable gel pen is a real jewel].

Collecting in Danau Sentarum

Image above was taken by dear friend, Wim Giesen (thx, Wim). It's 1994, and I am in Denau Sentarum (see Danau Sentarum) in a large, and somewhat tipsy, wooden boat collecting a specimen of Calamus schistoacanthus (see Enrichment Planting). Looks like I was having a good time. [NOTE: Maybe the boat was tipsy because Wim was standing up in front taking a picture].

Flowers In The Front Yard

You walk out the front door and there are day lilies (Hemerocallis spp.) and black-eyed Susans (Rudbeckia hirta) and bee balm (Monarda didyma) and butterfly bush (Buddleja spp.) flowers all over the place. And the amazing thing is that this happens every year (see Why They Call It Bee Balm and Flowers 2013). What a great planet we live on.

CUISH

There's a great little shop, CUISH,  in the center of Oaxaca City that sells a bunch of different varieties of artisanal mescal made from wild  agaves. The agave circled in red in the poster shown above, "papalometl", is the species (Agave cupreata) that I studied in Guerrero (see Mescal and Counting Agaves). The shop is dark and filled with hundreds of little bottles of mescal; tasting is encouraged before buying. [NOTE: The posters are free when you buy a bottle of mescal].

Bellagio

I have been awarded a writing fellowship by the Rockefeller Foundation and will be in residence in northern Italy at the Bellagio Center, also known as "Villa Serbelloni", from August 17 to September 14. I will be working on a book about the field projects and botanical inquiries that I have been involved with over the last three decades; tentatively entitled Managing the Wild. I am thrilled about this. [NOTE: Image above, by Peter Anderson, shows the view of Lake Como from the Villa Serbelloni].

Books On The Floor

When books and papers start piling up on the floor of my office it's a good sign that I'm deep into a project. In this case, the Rattans of Myanmar (see Rattans of Myanmar). Over the past ten years, we have identified, counted, and measured rattan canes in over 1,000 sample plots in northern Myanmar. Lot of numbers to sift through. [NOTE: It's been years since I've done a PQV (Paired-Quadrat Variance) analysis of spatial pattern].

What Have I Done Today To...

Saw this walking home from the train station yesterday after work. Corner of Centre and Huguenot.  Says (on the left) "What Have I Done Today..." (and on the right, after it is finished) "...To End Climate Change". Relevant question.  Go here for more information about this wonderful mural. [NOTE: And so, what have you done?]

Teaching Buddha

One year ago today, I was in San Francisco at the De Young Museum standing in front of this exquisite Gandhara, 2nd–3rd century, statue of a Teaching Buddha (schist with traces of gilt and pigment). To point out some of the finer details of the piece: "Holding his hands in the teaching gesture, the Buddha is seated on an inverted lotus throne supported by two elephants and a lion. He is flanked by a pair of columns with bull-shaped capitals that support a balcony of female figures, two figures kneeling by his head, a pair of bodhisattvas in niches on either side, and two parakeets atop the arch".  Lot going on here.

Instruction For Poem No. 81

The Museum of Modern Art currently has an interesting show of Yoko Ono's art. The MOMA's first exhibition dedicated exclusively to Yoko Ono, the show includes 125 of her works ranging from texts, objects, music, films, performance art, and installations. I was particularly touched by her "Instruction For Poem No. 81 (shown above). "Give birth to a child. See the world through its eye. Let it touch everything possible and leave its fingermark there in place of a signature". [NOTE: I assume that the handprint is from Sean]. 

Farmers Market

New Rochelle has its Farmers Market on Saturdays. I went last Saturday and got a lot of really great produce. Have already cooked the kale, it was delicious, and an easy recipe for preparing this delightful leafy green can be found here (Steamed and Sautéed Kale.pdf).