Summer Blooms

Clematis and Daisies

Edited by Felina Kavi
I had visited my family in California at the end of last month.  In the morning after I returned home, I went outside to my garden to see if my flowers were blooming and had survived the week without me.  What a reception they gave me!  Tall, white daisies with yellow centers waved at me and invited me to walk through them down the path.  Clematis, geraniums, Stella de Oros yellow lilies, and peonies greeted me with pops of color.  Purple was scattered everywhere and seemed to catch my eye, complimenting all the yellow along the fence and mixing with the other colors.  The beauty takes my breath away.

I want to focus on the color purple for this month.  This photo is of a wisteria tree in the Ashikaga Flower Park in Tochigi, Japan. The largest and oldest in Japan, this tree dates back to approximately 1870.  The 143-year-old tree has branches that are supported by beams, because wisteria grows outward rather than upward, which creates a stunning flower umbrella.  When I look at wisteria, I think of Prince’s song, ‘Purple Rain’.  The wisteria looks as if it is raining purple blossoms.

 Beats of a Different Drum

Though Prince passed away in April this year, his birthday was this month (June 7th).  Many tributes to his music came up after his death, but some of his close friends remembered him another way.  Prince was a great humanitarian.  Watch this interview with his friend, Van Jones, to discover some of the amazing things this musician did in his life and how the money he made from his artistic talent was used to make a positive impact in the lives of others.

Another thing I would like to focus on this month is sound.  For years I have listened to the radio show 'A Prairie Home Companion' on Saturday afternoons on NPR.  I grew up listening to the radio.  My family would have our Sunday sandwich dinner in late afternoon while listening to radio shows.  I would walk home from school for lunch and listen to the radio soap operas my mom had on.  I love listening to the radio and I listen often.  Garrison Keillor is the creator and host of 'A Prairie Home Companion' (this is his final year he will be hosting) partnered with Fred Newman for his amazing abilities to create sound effects in extraordinary and entertaining ways.  Check out this delightful interview to learn more about this unique talent!

Speaking of unique talent, Joey Alexander (who was born in Bali, Indonesia but now lives in New Jersey) is only 12 years old and is already being called 'the future of jazz'.  He is an amazing jazz pianist and already has two Grammy nominations!  Here is an article about him that includes a video of him playing the piano.

Come to Your Senses

Our sense of hearing allows us to experience so many amazing things.  If you followed the links above, you have already heard three different types of music...one of the world's favorite things to listen to.   What are some of your favorite sounds?  When I listen to the world around me, I hear the sound of cooking utensils, the hum of machinery, whistles, vehicles, insects, birds...so many different sounds!  Pay attention to your reactions to certain sounds.  Are there any that startle you...like a creaking door, thunder, or the fly-by buzz of an insect?  What sounds make you cringe?  Nails on a chalkboard is a common one!  What sounds soothe you...flowing water, a crackling fire, or maybe the tinkle of wind chimes?  What is your favorite sound...laughter, a certain song, or perhaps the purr of a cat?  All of these things make up the music of our lives.

Now for a little musical interlude that not only refers back to the color of the month, purple, but also because I have loved this song and group for a long time.   "Deep Purple" by the Hi-Los showcases not only the sound of close harmonies with wide vocal ranges (where their name comes from), but also takes me back to the garden with the beautiful lyrics.  It gets me thinking about the deep purple shadows as twilight gives way to nightfall.  There is a sense of wonder and closeness in becoming part of the shadows.  Visualize and feel it wrapping around you.

The shape I would like to focus on this month the triangle.  There is a lot of structural strength associated with the triangle.  Buildings with a triangular shape are more structurally sound during earthquakes than the usual rectangular shapes of buildings because they don't twist during seismic activity, one of the most common reasons rectangular buildings are prone to collapse.  The photo at the bottom of this blog is of the Flat Iron Building in Manhattan.  It was designed by Chicago architect Daniel Burnham and built in 1902.  The distinctive triangular shape allowed the building to fill the space located at the intersection of Fifth Avenue and Broadway.

Where else do you see triangles around you?  They are in math and science, clothing and fabric design, home design, etc.  Notice how many triangles you see in your environment.

Movement of the Muse

I have this book called 'A Whack on the Side of the Head:  How You Can Be More Creative' by Roger von Oech.  It is intended to stimulate the reader's creativity with puzzles, anecdotes, exercises, metaphors, cartoons, questions, quotations, stories, and tips designed to systematically break through your mental blocks and unlock your mind for creative thinking.  It's an excellent book, and right up my alley!  In the book is the following exercise:

Take a look at these shapes above.  Select one of them that is different than the others in at least one respect.  Now go to this website to see if you were correct!  You may be surprised by the answer!

Thank you for taking the time to read and try new things.  I would like to leave you with a quote that sums up the life and artistry of Prince well.  He said, "The key to longevity is to learn every aspect of music that you can."

Manhattan's Flatiron Building