Admiration For The Jungle

Jane Swavely's show may have come down yesterday but that hasn't kept the critics from commenting. Mira Dayal's review for Two Coats of Paint puts Jane's paintings in historical and artistic perspective.  A great read. Well Done, Jane.
Gaffer63: Jane Swavely's Espial

Trapped in National Harbor

I'm feeling a bit like this sculpture today.  I am in National Harbor, MD to do a shoot tomorrow.  The place is a bit of an island if you don't have a car. And the ferry is broken between here and Georgetown.  So no DC museums for me. At least it's sunny and I can read by the Bay. Outta here Saturday morn.

The Concert

The concert that we were making the background imagery back in April for started it's world tour last night in NYC.  Looks impressive.  I hope to catch the show in LA.

Banco in Situ

Maui Onions

Maui Onions are back in season. I picked up some massive specimens at the farmers market this morning. Along with some heirloom carrots and other veggies, a grand paella was made for lunch.

More Desert Willow

A few better photos of the wild flowers growing around the Desert Willow. I wish I knew the names but they're still beautiful.

Banco in Situ

High tailing it through the hoop

Under the Desert Willow

With the desert willow in full bloom, we got a seed mixture from Theodore Payne Society and sowed them into the area around the tree and new wall. Things are popping up in yellows, oranges and blues.  Other than the poppies, I have no idea what the other flowers are but the bees love them.
Gaffer63: Banco in Situ

Saturday on the Lot

A few weeks ago, I got to spend some time with some known personalities and do some fly bys on an empty, weekend lot

Close Up Poppies

Much better look at the textures in the new poppies out back. This plant is young but next year, the stalks should be 6'-8' tall and the flowers 6" across.

Jane Swavely's Espial

Fave NYC fine artist Jane Swavely has a new one woman show that opened last night at the A.I.R. Gallery. Her work has gotten remarkably strong and nuanced over the past few years and it's been great to see the progression. Espial is the act of discovery, of observation. Her current observations are as poetic as they are fierce.
If in the DUMBO area the next month, don't miss it. You can keep up with Jane and see some works in progress on her Instagram page.
Gaffer63: Purlieu
Gaffer63: Immortalized

Birthday Lemon Tree

We planted the new lemon tree out front this morning. The Femminello Santa Teresa from Italy is renowned for its high lemon oil content in the skin and ample juice. It is the main ingredient for limoncello.
We took out the huge Pride of Madeira in the front.  I transplanted that huge brute in our neighbor's backyard. 5 feet tall and 50 pounds!
The soil in our front yard is very much clay based.  So with pick axes and shovels, we dug deep and amended well the soil. Hopefully the new tree takes to its surroundings.

Matilija Poppies

The plant is very young but I guess it's taken to the back slope. The Matilija Poppy can be super finicky and the wasteland beyond the wall has what it likes.....bad soil, no water and relentless sun. If it survives the summer, we'll be planting more back there.

Guy Hamilton Has Passed

The man who sealed James Bond's lasting legacy by directing "Goldfinger" has died at 93.  He directed some of my favorite films including 3 more Bond films, Michael Caine's "Funeral in Berlin" and, as one reporter remarked this morning, the still effervescent "Evil Under the Sun"
The Guardian has his obit here

Last month saw the passing of another Bond alumni, production designer Ken Adam was 95. He gave the Bond films their distinctive look and also gave the world what Steven Spielberg has called the perfect set, the war room in "Dr. Strangelove".
The BBC has his obit here

He gave a book length interview with Christopher Frayling 10 years ago that is an excellent read and can be bought here

Banco in Situ

She Jumps!

WL has been teaching Banco to leap through a hoop.  An older brother told me he's been doing the same for years and to get some pointers.....I think the solution to happy hoop jumping is a treat afterwards.

Banco in Situ

It's so nice not having to crop out the back wall anymore.

The Back Slope

 With the new wall gate, we are becoming more interested in the steep slope at the back of the property. To help with any erosion and to add stability, we've added a Catalina Cherry tree, a Grey pine tree and some red flowered Jubilee Crown from Australia.

Morning Sun

After a few days of rain, everything out front is enjoying some sun and growing fast.