A gardener's take on the presidential election

The Ultimate Blogging Challenge month is nearly over. It has been another good experience of blogging, and I have really enjoyed it. Every day, I get an email with suggested ideas for blog posts. I will have to admit that I don't follow most of the suggestions because I usually already have an idea for my blog post. Yesterday's suggestion was to "write a post on what your industry would be like if one or the other (presidential) candidate is elected." Well, I'd already decided to write about insects so I set the idea aside for another day. Today is the day!

First of all, I need to take issue with "one or the other candidate." There are actually four candidates for president, not two. There are:

• Donald Trump (Republican)
• Hillary Rodham Clinton (Democrat)
• Jill Stein (Green)
• Gary Johnson (Libertarian)

I thought and thought. Industry? I have an industry? This morning, I thought about "industry," and I realized something. I am a gardener. Gardening is my business. I guess that it's an industry.

The issues that matter most to me as a gardener are environmental issues. I spend a lot of time in close contact with the ground, the plants, and the insects. I have learned a lot about the types of native species that are needed to attract bees, butterflies, and other pollinators. I have learned about the value of good, healthy soil for a garden. I have learned about the value of water. So this blog post will be mainly about water as a political issue.

We need water. We cannot live without water. Neither can our environment. I have seen this very clearly this year. The drought has caused the ground to be hard and cracked. The lawns are brown. Some people are watering their lawns, which, in my opinion, is a waste of water. It takes a lot of water to satisfy a lawn. Besides, grass always comes back. The brown lawn looks dead. But it's not dead. It's a better idea just to water the garden. Flowers and vegetable plants will die if they are parched.

Water has already been an issue. The dangerous levels of lead in Flint, Michigan's water resulted in a crisis. Flint's water became contaminated after the city switched from using Lake Huron to the Flint River, due to financial issues. That's really bad because lead poisoning can cause brain damage in children and, in Flint, that is exactly what happened. Today, six state workers in Michigan were indicted on charges of misconduct in office, conspiracy, and a willful neglect of duty for their failure to address the water crisis by manipulating the results of reports on the safety of Flint's water supply. Altogether, nine state workers have been indicted in connection with the water crisis. For a scientific analysis of this issue, click onto the word "link" on the next line:
link

There are other ways for water to be contaminated. Here in Western New York, there are issues concerning the Cattaraugus Creek. Most of the water that was contaminated is on territory belonging to the Seneca Nation of Indians. Last year, I participated in part of the Walk for a Nuclear Free Future. I walked with the group from downtown Buffalo to Sunset Bay (where the creek joins Lake Erie). 

Last April, I wrote this in a blog post:

"Maria Maybee, a Seneca from the Heron Clan, said that the Cattaraugus Creek was where she grew up. She said that she loves the creek. The nuclear waste that leached into the creek from the West Valley waste disposal site has caused Maria serious health problems, she explained."

Maria organizes an annual water walk to draw attention to the problems associated with the contamination of the Cattaraugus Creek.

Because we cannot live without water, it would seem obvious that governments should invest in infrastructure that is connected with safe water to drink, wash in, and irrigate gardens and farms. To me, that seems like a no-brainer. After all, water is life. And it potentially could become a national security issue. Some people are suggesting that access to safe and uncontaminated water could be the cause of future wars.  Here is a link to an article in Scientific American on this topic (click on link in the next line).
link

As for the presidential candidates, not one of them has really addressed the water issue. That's not a surprise. Until you experience a water shortage, you don't think much about water. People tend to take water for granted. But it should not be taken for granted. People in Flint, Michigan, know this. People who live near the Cattaraugus Creek know this. People who live in hot, dry climates know this. I'd like to see the presidential candidates talk about water. I'd like to see them invest resources in water. Yes, our government will have to spend money on a valuable infrastructure. But isn't it worth it?

Water is life. And life is precious. Let's protect it.

insect haiku

Today's blog post is a celebration of the insects and snails that I've photographed in the last few weeks. I have truly discovered the beauty of insects as they go about the routine of pollinating. The snails are fascinating little creatures. I hope that you enjoy these little delights of nature.

Lovely bumblebee
visiting a coneflower
on a summer's day.

Such a busy bee
its feet covered with pollen
flits between flowers

What would it feel like
to have to carry your house
everywhere you went?

The snail explores
amidst the weeds and grasses
the lovely garden

Precious honeybee
blends into the yellowness
of its host daisy.

Bright white coneflower
visit from a bumblebee
on a hot, dry day

Butterfly glows blue
on a gravely walkway
sun beating down hard.

It is a good world
when you can meet with your friends
in forests and fields.

This praying mantis
finds a home in the garden
lovely large insect.

Daughters of Creative Sound

Today, four members of Daughters of Creative Sound, an African-American women's drum and percussion group, came to visit the Riverside-Salem Environmental Chapel. They performed a variety of drum songs, told stories, and sang songs. The four who came were Yvonne Harris ("Big Mama Blue), Sharon Holley, Karima Amin, and Sandra Williams Bush.

They started with a "hello song" that came from Malawi, a landlocked nation in southeastern Africa. It borders Tanzania, Mozambique, and Zambia. In this hello song, greetings are extended from and entire person, not just the person's voice.

"Hello. I see you with my eyes. I see you with my heart. I see you with all of me."

The drummers played several songs. They also sang songs and they told stories. One of the songs that was sung was a tribute to the water, "praising and honoring the supreme creator who is responsible for everything that we get." Another song was a tribute to one of the founders of Daughters of Creative Sound Nia Mary Alice Boyd, who passed away in 2005.

The drummers invited us to be part of the music by dancing. They also talked about the drums and what the drumbeat meant. The drumbeat, said Karima, is "the first sound you hear before you're born." The baby hears the mother's heartbeat and is soothed by that. Sandra said, "We went to a women's drumming camp." Several hundred women were at the camp. One of the unique things about the camp was that four women drummed a mother drum. They were playing a heartbeat. "It never stopped," said Sandra. "Everyone had the chance to play the heartbeat."

"No matter where you were," Karima said, "You could hear the heartbeat."

Yvonne said, "The eyes of babies in strollers brightened when they heard the drums." She said that one of the instructors encouraged the students to listen to every day sounds and pick up their rhythm. As an example of listening to and reproducing an every day sound, the instructor repeated the rhythm of the washing machine.

The drum, Karima said, is a "living thing." Her drum is made of part of a tree and goat skin." Sharon's instrument is a shakeray. It is a hollowed out gourd with beads on the outside. Here in Western New York, gourds are very small. In warmer climates, the gourds grow larger because the growing season is longer.  Gourds are used as instruments, and they are also used as vessels to hold water, grains, or rice.

The rhythm of the heartbeat connects all humans. It is a comforting sound. "Drumming gives me comfort," Karima said.

The sound of the drumbeat brings us together because it comforts us and reminds us of the beating of our own hearts.

"We're all interrelated and interconnected," Karima said. 

The front row is Sandra Williams Bush, Karima Amin, and Yvonne Harris (Big Mama Blue). In back is Sharon Holley.

Juicy, mouth watering fruit

Today, I went to downtown Buffalo, New York, to check out the Downtown Country Market. It operates on Tuesdays and Thursdays from May 12th through October 27th. The hours of the market are from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., rain or shine.

The whole country market experience was made more entertaining by a band performing at M&T Plaza from noon until 1 p.m. During the summer, from Monday through Friday, a variety of performers presents their unique styles in downtown Buffalo.

This is probably one of the most unusual things that I've ever seen in Buffalo... miniature golf at M&T Plaza.

Bread and rolls.

These cashews were prepared to be sweet and tangy.

Here is a lovely array of baked goods for... the dog in your life!

Food trucks are the thing now. This one serves delicious Italian foods. Chef's Restaurant is a legend in Buffalo. It opened in 1923 at its current location at the corner of Seneca and Chicago streets. The food truck is the newest addition. Apparently, you can follow the food truck's progress on Twitter. Its Twitter handle is @ChefsBuffalo

There are so many delicious fruits and vegetables to choose from.

Here is a lovely display of fruits. It's an option for people who want a nice taste test of fruits to enjoy.

The fruit is luscious and colorful. 

Mmm, honey and colorful berries.

Here are some of the early apples, which are ripe in July. There are many more apples that ripen in late August, September, and October. When more apples ripen, I will make applesauce, and when more pears ripen, I will make pear-applesauce.

Some fruit is just not ready yet. As I was walking home from the bus stop, I noticed this crab apple tree. Although the crab apples have this lovely color, they are hard to the touch, and they taste bitter. Yes, I took a taste (not today). They need to ripen some more on the tree.

This is the tree in front of my mom's house. The apples are growing nicely, despite the drought. These apples tend to be fairly large, and they will turn red and yellow when they are ripe, early in September. 

Rainy day activity

It poured all last night. The rain continued through most of the morning. It was very welcome. I wasn't able to do my gardening job, though. I tried to visualize myself digging weeds with one hand and holding up an umbrella with the other hand. I could only visualize my weeding and holding up an umbrella simultaneously if I had a third hand. Since I'm not about to grow another hand, I called my customer and we decided to postpone the weeding and pruning until Friday.

So, I needed an indoor activity that was creative and fun. I had collected a bunch of rocks, both large and small, and I decided that painting them would be a fun indoor activity. I also decided that they would be a set that could go into a single garden.

I started by painting them black. Then I added the flowers. I needed to add a few coats of the paint just to make it stand out. Within the next few days, I will spray the rocks. Then they will be ready to be placed in a garden as decoration.

What do you enjoy doing on a rainy day?

The river at night

It's Sunday, and, at church, Jason, our former intern who is now in seminary studying to become an Episcopal priest, presented a homily about prayer. He said that we have many reasons to pray. Often times, we make lots of requests of God and expect all of our wishes to be fulfilled. I will readily admit that I make lots of requests. Lately, I pray for rain at every opportunity that I get. We're now in a severe drought condition. While it is lovely to see bright sunshine, I (and the grass, the trees, the plants, and the farmers) would appreciate a good soaking rainfall.

Another reason to pray would be to say thank you. I do try to remember to say thank you for the sun, the moon, and the stars and for all of the gifts of nature. I try to remember to say thank you for friends, family, and a place to call home. I try to remember to say thank you for art, music, and dance. There is so much in life that brings joy.

I try also to say thank you to other people. Today, I am very grateful for everyone who reads my blog and who has left so many kind comments. They mean a lot to me. I am very grateful to everyone who has followed my 366-day photography project from the beginning. It has been a good experience. I started it on August 1st, 2015, at Buckhorn Island State Park, here in Grand Island. Because I missed a day when I had the flu (despite a flu shot), I am going to make up that day. I will finish on August 1st, 2016, at Buckhorn Island State Park. It will feel good to go back to the place where I began, to feel that I have traveled full circle.

One thing that I am very thankful for is living close to a river. Being able to watch the water is a wonderful thing. Usually, I watch the water during the day, but, lately, I've had the opportunity to watch the water at night. Below are a series of pictures that I took when the sun set and a short time after sunset. They were all taken in Grand Island, New York.

This is the view from a scenic overlook on the west side of the island. There are three scenic overlooks. There are two roads, a "parkway" and a "service road." If you walk, you have to walk on the "service road." It is so far from the river that you can't see water. The parkway, which is much closer to the river, is a high-speed road that is closed to pedestrians and bicycles. I'm not sure why it's there. How can you admire the river and your view of Canada while driving 50 miles per hour?

On the evening that I took these pictures, I traveled there in a friend's car. 

The rest of the pictures were taken on the east side of the island on Wednesday evening. It was the day after the full moon. Here, you can see the moon rising in the sky. It is radiant and it casts a bright shadow in the river.

It is starting to get darker, and the reflection in the water seems brighter and more dramatic.

Above the river, there is a sense of magic. I feel fortunate to have captured this image. It is with that sense of joy that I share all of these images of nighttime on the river.

Have a great day and check back with me tomorrow!

The 366-day photography project: week 51

I am now closing in on the conclusion of my 366-day photography project. I have spent so much time with my camera that it is starting to feel like an extension of myself. I would recommend this project for anyone. It is a good way to document your world. It is also a good way to see the beauty around you. When you have to look for something or someone to photograph, you are really looking at your world. If you want to be a photographer, you'll find that the more you practice your art, the better your skills will become. You will think about composition and about framing your picture. Sometimes you'll miss and your picture will not be awesome. That's OK, too. You'll figure out what happened and you'll fix the problems for future pictures.

So, my week. Well, it's been very warm and dry. We are now in a severe drought. The lawns are brown and the ground is hard and cracked. Fortunately, the flowers are still blooming and the bees are still busily pollinating them. I spend much of my time pruning shrubbery, rather than weeding.

On Sunday, Dawn and I co-hosted coffee hour at church. I brought home-made cookies, fruit, and cheese. Dawn brought some lovely treats, including the goodie shown below in two pictures (the plate of goodies, which consists of strawberries, a brownie, and a marshmallow, and a closeup of aforementioned goodie).

It tastes as good as it looks!

After church, I went to check out a little flea market. It seems to be new. This lady is selling jewelry. One group was selling cotton candy, and another group was selling second hand merchandise. I found a pair of Sketchers sneakers for five dollars. They were a perfect fit so I bought them. They are comfortable and look great. They are good for short walks but my running shoes are better for longer walks. 

Seen in the back yard.

For me, painting clouds is a challenging task. I spend a lot of time looking at them and wondering how to reproduce them on paper or on canvas and make them look as alive and as vibrant as they do in real life. Clouds don't have well-defined borders, which makes them difficult to draw and paint. It's not like a building or a tree. Painting clouds will continue to be a work in progress for me as an artist.

Monday evening, at the public library.

The full moon rose on Tuesday.

... a big ball of light...

It looks as if the trees are reaching for the moon.

The clouds look different every day. This is the sky on Tuesday, when I went outside to take a walk.

Rose of Sharon with buds.

A closer view of the inside of the Rose of Sharon.

Little flower bed next to a mailbox.

Insect busy inside a daisy.

Here is the busy river.

Seen on one of my walks. 

Just bee-cause...

Bee convention!

The moon breaks through the darkness. If you want to know more about breaking through the darkness, I can suggest A Wrinkle in Time, by Madeleine L'Engle.

Haircut appointment on Wednesday. I walked over a bridge and took a picture of Woods Creek.

Creative planter.

Thistle, with a bee.

On the day after the full moon, this is the sunset over the east river.

The moon in the darkness.

On Thursday morning, I was busily pruning shrubbery at a garden on the river. This is my view from that customer's garden.

As I was pruning a small tree, a praying mantis started climbing up my legs and onto my shirt. It is a very attractive and large insect.

Here is another view of the praying mantis.

On Friday, I took a walk to the library.

Bee convention.

In the evening, my friend Amy and I took a ride to the west side of Grand Island. The sun was setting, and I took these pictures. I think that at least one of them could serve as a reference photograph for a painting.

Saturday morning. The bees are always busy, and they are happy to pollinate all plants, even those that we call "weeds."

Have a great week! Look around at your world and take some pictures! You may be surprised by what you see.