Barbie: Goddess of Spring

Barbie, as the Goddess of Spring, wishes everyone a Happy Earth Day

Given my love for flowers and fascination with landscapes, one would think that these would be the images that would grace this blog on Earth Day. Well, I've been sitting on these Barbie photos for a while. So I figured that today would be a nice occasion to share them with you. ;-)

It's funny how blogging evolves over time. Going back a couple of years, I wrote about environmental topics on a regular basis, although it was never a primary focus. Now, I rarely discuss such matters. Perhaps it is because I find it so disheartening a topic. In spite of a continuous data stream of studies that reliably indicate looming ecological troubles, the governing powers of the world are not yet interested in seriously addressing the issue. Moreover, the populace as a whole is either too stuck in complacency or blinded by ideology, refusing to demand action on the matter.

It's too depressing. In short, I consider the debate for a ecologically comfortable future to be over, with the win going to those who enable the pollution and despoiling of our world. The wealthy exploitative elite will get their filthy lucre, while the powerless will suffer the consequences. Maybe some technological breakthrough will save the day, but the tipping point to bad times is soon to come.

Full length view of Goddess of Spring Barbie (2000)

Anyways, Barbie makes for a nice Earth Day image. Her plastic figure will endure well beyond our days, beyond whatever troubles may come, whether she ends up submerged beneath the waves of a toxic sea or buried in the arid desolation of a great drought-induced desert. Our little goddess will persist. ;-)

Enjoy!!!

Friday Flowers: Champagne Bubbles

Iceland Poppy: Scarlet Champagne Bubbles


Still the Mind Smiles
(By Robinson Jeffers)

Still the mind smiles at its own rebellions,
Knowing all the while that civilization and the other evils
That make humanity ridiculous, remain
Beautiful in the whole fabric, excesses that balance each other
Like the paired wings of a flying bird.
Misery and riches, civilization and squalid savagery,
Mass war and the odor of unmanly peace:
Tragic flourishes above and below the normal of life.
In order to value this fretful time
It is necessary to remember our norm, the unaltered passions,
The same-colored wings of imagination,
That the crowd clips, in lonely places new-grown; the unchanged
Lives of herdsmen and mountain farms,
Where men are few, and few tools, a few weapons, and their
dawns are beautiful.
From here for normal one sees both ways,
And listens to the splendor of God, the exact poet, the sonorous
Antistrophe of desolation to the strophe multitude.


Robinson Jeffers was an aesthetic leader of the early environmental movement. His poetry is both harsh, with scathing critiques of human destructiveness, and gentle, to the grandeur of nature. In one of my favorite of his poems, The Vulture, Jeffers even imagines the sublimity of being devoured by the namesake bird and becoming a part of its avian splendor. For certain, he was a true believer in ecological interdependence. ;-)

Iceland Poppies: Yellow Champagne Bubbles

And what of the Champagne Bubbles? Well, I figured that we would start the weekend off with a rich diversity of colors.

Exploring the Madrona Marsh

The Madrona Marsh during the Dry Season of early Autumn on a dismal gray day.

The urban sprawl of Los Angeles hides many strange and hidden features. One of the most peculiar is the suburban wetlands of the South Bay, the Madrona Marsh. Yeah, just a couple miles from the stereotypical SoCal beaches is this primordial marshland, hidden between a shopping center and residential neighborhoods.

I'm a flower and plant enthusiast. So, I love heading over to take photos or botanical sketches. But I don't often head into the marsh proper. It isn't very big, but, when your inside of it, it feels as though you've entered a "transitional" space, a liminal area that doesn't quite synch up with the typical vibe of suburban LA life. But I'm not an "outdoors" type of person. I normally stay close to the Nature Center.

Nevertheless, it is a wonderful place to visit. The plant life is gorgeous in its wild state, certain to please the flora fanatics. Likewise, birdwatchers can spot many a fine avian subject throughout the year. Bug hunters can also find a myriad selection of diverse species. In short, if you have an interest in ecology, then you ought to visit the Madrona Marsh.

The Madrona Marsh on a sunny day.

If you're interested in experiencing the wetlands but have no knowledge of what to expect or appreciate, then check out the Nature Center adjacent to the marsh.

Wyland's Whaling Wall #31

Detail of Gray Whale Migration mural (1991) by Robert Wyland


Los Angeles is noted for being a city full of murals. I noticed that this blog is a bit light on showing such public art. So, here's a post to remedy the situation. ;-)

Wyland's work can be found all over the coast of California. Fortunately, we have a pretty cool mural over in Redondo Beach, the Gray Whale Migration. It was painted in 1991, the 31st of 100 murals that Wyland executed upon this theme. It was recently touched up to celebrate the twentieth anniversary.

I like how it captures the "Save the Whales" vibe of the era. It's an example of the developing "eco-consciousness" within the popular culture of the late 1980s and early 1990s.

South wall segment of Gray Whale Migration (1991) by Wyland.

And, most importantly, the Gray Whale Migration is an interesting image. Compositionally, it fits well along the building's western and southern walls.

Biodiversity Crisis

Wired has a disturbing article entitled Australia Pistachio Disaster Hints at Agricultural Breakdown. It's an interesting read about how the development of a crop monoculture opened up the entire production to devastating disease vulnerability. In this case, the fungal infestation of anthracnose wiped out over half of Australia's pistachio crop. Although fungicides are helping in containing the problem, it is only a matter of time until a resistant strain of anthracnose develops.

The risks of crop monoculture are well known. Even before the pistachio crisis, the big worry was in regards to wheat rusts, a similar fungal disease that threatens a vital grain staple. If a pistachio crop fails, that is a sad but limited economic crisis. If a wheat crop fails, that can result in widespread starvation.

Moreover, history provides dramatic examples of catastrophic crop failures resulting from monocultural farming. The Gros Michel banana was once the dominant cultivar in the world's banana supply, but a fungal infestation wiped it out. Its successor, the Cavendish, faces a similar threat.

I understand that the efficiencies of production are wildly increased by crop monocultures. But that's focusing on the short-term benefits. Yes, there is greater profit to be immediately gained, but at some point the crop will fail and somebody will be left with economic ruin. A polycultural system may be less efficient, but over the long term it will prove more enduring. So, isn't that the more ethical path?

Here's a link to the Wired article Australia Pistachio Disaster Hints at Agricultural Breakdown.

Here's a link to the Wikipedia page on Monoculture.

And here's the Banana Wikipedia page.

Learn!!!

Down These Mean Streets

Scrooge McDuck, Urban Entrepreneur (Original image by Carl Barks)

There's a fascinating article at Discovery News about how birds with big brains are successful at adapting to an urban environment. The term "big brain" doesn't necessarily means "smarter" but refers to the overall ratio of brain to body size. Avian critters such as jackdaws, magpies, and wrens are urban adapters. They are able to adjust to the diverse elements that comprise the city life, in terms of food and habitat.

Moreover, there may be some natural selection at work in the avian world, as these birds may become even brainier to continue thriving in the city. As urban development spreads and paves over the preexisting natural environment, the pressure for birds to adapt will become even greater. Things aren't looking good for the yellowhammer or the golden oriole.

Life is tough when you have a small brain. ;-)

Of course, a mention of big-brained magpies necessitates a vid:

Here's a link to the Discovery article, Brainy Birds Live the High Life in Cities.

Here's a link to Wikipedia page for Scrooge McDuck.

And here's the Wikipedia page for Heckle and Jeckle.

Finally, it's always good to pay a trip to the Audubon Society website.

Enjoy!!!

Full of Thy Glory

John Muir (1907)

John Muir was born on April 21, 1838. He is the grandfather of the American environmentalist movement. His tireless efforts to preserve the unspoiled western wilderness, including Yosemite Valley and Sequoia, earned him the designation of "Father of the National Parks." He was a prolific Nature writer, influencing many generations of naturalist artists, including the photographer Ansel Adams. His political legacy is still active, most specifically in the organization which he founded, the Sierra Club.

In contemporary times, ecological matters are shamefully politicized. Expressing even the slightest enthusiasm for Nature and Her transcendent majesty gets one labelled a "crazy leftist moonbat" by the American Right. This is a sad situation. Nature is beautiful and should be preserved for future generations, rather than paved over, dug into, or polluted. Certainly, modern human technology and ingenuity can handle the challenge of meeting our needs while respecting our ecology.

In any case, take a moment to appreciate the natural world around you. Listen to the birds. Admire the trees and flowers. Be grateful for the food that grants you sustenance each day.

Here's a vid about Muir's meeting with Teddy Roosevelt:

Here's a link to John Muir's Wikipedia page.

Here's a link to the Sierra Club's website.

The National Park Service website for Yosemite can be found here and, for Sequoia, here.

Enjoy!!!