Footnotes to a Conversation, April 4, 2022
Green Thumbs
I have a balcony – now to fill it with flowers! It faces northwest so my choices are limited, but I’m still excited. I planted arugula, spinach, and godetia seeds this week – it may be a touch too early, but I have pansies blooming and the thyme seems to be thriving.
An article about cultivating small areas raises some intriguing possibilities, such as an underwater landscape in an aquarium (fish optional) or a stumpery which sets the stage for mosses and lichens while still providing space for ferns and other shade-loving plants. [The Guardian]
Painting a More Accurate Picture
Students at the University of British Columbia have been working with staff at the Museum of Anthropology to update descriptions of items in the museum’s African collection: “The aim of the project was to move away from how Western society describes the objects, and bring in more knowledge from the objects' places of origin to paint a more accurate picture of how they were used. I worry sometimes that decolonization efforts pay lip service to a broader perspective without any real depth. This project gives me hope that that is not the case, and I’ll be interested to visit the museum once the new descriptions are in place. [CBC]
Ciao!
I had a whirlwind trip to Italy this week. I visited with the locals over breakfast, tasted some fabulous meals, and attended a wine festival. Of course, every minute of it was imaginary, but it was still highly enjoyable. If you’re in the mood for a change of scene, I highly recommend Murder in Chianti by Camilla Trinchieri. Interestingly enough, she also publishes mysteries as Camilla T. Crespi.
Attention, dog lovers! A stray mutt with impeccable manners has a starring role in this book.
Sustainable Architecture
It’s been many years since I visited The Forks, but I was impressed to discover their green credentials. Let’s hope more facilities follow their example and aim for zero garbage, zero water waste, and zero carbon emissions. [EcoFriendly West]
Footnotes to a Conversation is a weekly Monday feature covering an assortment of topics that I’ve come across in the preceding week – books, art, travel, food, and whatever else strikes my fancy. I also post occasional articles on other dates, including frequent book reviews and travel tales.
If you share my love of nature, check out EcoFriendly West, an online publication encouraging environmental initiatives in Western Canada, and Nature Companion, a free nature app for Canada’s four western provinces.