Our weather has continued to bounce between winter and spring with some sharp transitions. After snow fell, warm temperatures and rain made the river overflow its banks.
Today is the first day of spring, but winter may not be done with us quite yet.
On the lone sunny day last week we went to the Aylmer Wildlife Management Area(AWMA) to see the Tundra Swans as they migrate north. AWMA volunteers spread grain around the edges of the largest open pond. This, and the adjoining farm fields attract thousands of swans as they stop to refuel before continuing north to breed in the coastal regions of the Arctic.
As we walked through the area we heard an approaching flock of swans that grew louder and louder until hundreds of birds were passing overhead. Quite a sight!
If you listen to the sounds from New York, November 23, 2019, second last on the list, you will have an idea of the sounds we heard.
https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Tundra_Swan/sounds
Jardin Majorelle, Morocco Friday April 25, 2014
According to Wikipedia: The Majorelle Garden is a one-hectare botanical garden and artist’s landscape garden in Marrakech, Morocco. It was created by the French Orientalist artist Jacques Majorelle over almost forty years, starting in 1923…
The property features a Cubist villa designed by French architect Paul Sinoir in the 1930s. Marjorelle incorporated a colour of blue into the villa and other architectural features that has become know as Majorelle Blue. Majorelle’s choice of blue was inspired by the blue found in pottery designs and other ceramics throughout Morocco. Here are some examples:
When the property proved too costly to maintain, Majorelle was forced to sell the house and land in the 1950s. For years, the garden and property fell into disrepair until fashion designers Yves Saint-Laurent and Pierre Bergé took it over and began restoring it in the 1980s. Since 2010, the property has been owned by the Foundation Pierre Bergé – Yves Saint Laurent, a French not-for-profit organization. Since 2011 it has been managed by the Foundation Jardin Majorelle, a recognized non-profit organization in Marrakech.
The gardens are now a popular destination, open to the public for a fee. We visited on a sunny day when the garden was overflowing with spring blossoms.
In London, today, we have to content ourselves with early tulips, forced for those of us who cannot wait any longer for spring weather to fully arrive.
Music suggestions
David Lindley, who died recently, was a musician, composer and sometime singer who was revered by other musicians. He was a studio musician for many high-profile stars (Jackson Browne, Linda Ronstadt, Ry Cooder, Bonnie Raitt, Warren Zevon, Curtis Mayfield and Dolly Parton among many others). According to Wikipedia, Lindley played stringed instruments from around the world, including violin, acoustic and electric guitar, upright and electric bass, banjo, mandolin, dobro, hardingfele, bouzouki, cittern, bağlama, gumbus, charango, cümbüş, oud and zither.
Here he is with Jackson Browne in 1978. Jump ahead to 6:20 for vocal fireworks.
Here they are again, a few years later…
Bonus content:
We were thinking about other music we listened to in our student days and remembered “Sister Kate”, a 1970 album by James Taylor’s sister. She has a stellar cast of backup singers and players including James and her other brothers, Linda Ronstadt and many more. Here she is singing one by Elton John and Bernie Taupin:
Thinking of James Taylor, here is a joyful performance of “Mocking Bird” with Carly Simon: