DOGWOOD: June 2013

Saturday, June 29, 2013

Alpacas, poppies, wisteria

Spotted in and around my father's back garden today:

Photo: Marge Ishmael

Thursday, June 27, 2013

Chicago's oldest bookstore closes after more than 100 years

My local O'Gara & Wilson bookstore (used books and antiquarian) is closing after more than 100 years:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/06/24/ogara-and-wilson-books-mo_n_3492333.html

Saturday, June 22, 2013

Summer Solstice - Midsummer

Yesterday was the Summer Solstice - June 21st, 2013 - and I came across a foxglove http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digitalis and a starling http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_Starling on my afternoon walk.

And lots of Queen Anne's Lace or Cow Parsley: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthriscus_sylvestris

Photos: Marge Ishmael

More info. on the Summer Solstice @ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Summer_solstice

Wednesday, June 19, 2013

Sustainability-Spirituality-Despair-Optimism

Photo: Corbis

Excellent article in today's Guardian:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sustainable-business/blog/sustainability-spirituality-despair-optimism

"We have created an extremely complex globalised society, but what we truly seek in life is as simple as can be. Western society's perverse embrace of individuation, specialism, accumulation and speed has not only fractured our minds into a thousand pieces but has led to the multiple challenges of climate change, resource scarcity, inequality and ecosystem collapse.

But nature is always striving to bring things back into balance, so it is not surprising to see a growing desire in society to return to a feeling of wholeness, having the time and space to know who we truly are and to find purpose and meaning in what we do."

Thursday, June 13, 2013

Mourning Cloak and Tulip Tree in Jackson Park


Photo: Marge Ishmael


Photo: Jane Masterson

We came across a Mourning Cloak butterfly http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nymphalis_antiopa and a tulip tree http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liriodendron during a walk in Jackson Park this morning. Meanwhile, the Chicago Tribune ran a story about the fears of Jackson Park birders now that many trees are being cut down by the Chicago Park District near to the Wooded Isle. http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/ct-met-jackson-park-birders-20130613,0,2707749.story

Wednesday, June 12, 2013

Pope admits to Vatican corruption

I'm not surprised to hear about a "stream of corruption" in the Vatican....but I am surprised that Pope Francis actually admitted to it. I guess you can't solve a problem unless you first admit you have one!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-22869399