Practical Ecology

Nature Switched On

 

 

 

 


in the Pyrenees  the first 10 years

introduction
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faunistic catalogue
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index
gallery 1: 2006-2012
gallery 2: 2012-
map
>> 2011 Apr  4
<< 2011 Feb 16

                         a   S T A M M E R  project              

2011 March 21 to April 2


Spring is here again and it immediately showed off with temperatures reaching 22ºC on Saturday 2nd. If we open the door at midday the temperature inside reaches 25º so it is no problem that the roof covers now completely the front window with its shadow.
Almond trees and the barley field are of a beautiful fresh green colour. The grass on the terrain is somewhat duller, with the exception of the 'service' areas.

 

 


WWW   NSO


At noon the shadow of the roof covers the window which doesn't heat up the inside anymore.
Looking north.
23 Mar 12:12

 

The barley field and almond trees are at their greenest.
31 Mar 18:45
The greener areas in the grass are the result of the occasional nocturnal pee.
21 Mar 17:23
 

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Some impressions of the spring awakening in the zone, using some of the driftwood objects as a kind of anchor-holds in the frame.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Hypochaeris radicata flowering in front of the proto-croco.
2 Apr 11:16
Genista scorpius near the unicorn.
1 Apr 18:28
Cistus albidus seems to have developed new green leaves but in fact they have been there almost all winter.
2 Apr 10:56


This 'anchor' is holding the complete frame and it wasn't driftwood either but the lines on this platan stump are very nice.
2 Apr 11:02 

 

 

A Natterjack toad, Epidalea calamita, is meditating under a sprouting Valeriana officinalis, planted last year.
2  Apr 10:38

 

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I couldn't resist the temptation of purchasing and introducing some new species. Most of them practically native or naturalized in the region (Vinca major, Sambucus nigra, Hepatica nobilis, Pinus pinea, Larix sp.) but I made exceptions for the rose 'Paul's Scarlet Climber', planted against the toilet building and some Narcissus cultivars, planted in front of the garden house.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Narcissus 'Stint' accompanying the black deer.
2 Apr 11:42

 

 


Hepatica nobilis, planted near the filter pond.
2 Apr 12:27

 

Also bought as Narcissus 'Stint' but it turned out to be another cultivar, alas somewhat bigger and without the nice smell, but the flower buttons open spectacularly.
2 Apr 10:35


Umbrella pine
(Pinus pinea).
Most plantings receive a ring of straw flakes serving 3 purposes:
-humidity
-suppressing weeds
-avoiding trampling
31 Mar 18:43

 

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Time for the seasonal inspection of the green roof. Perhaps a bit too early because the more sturdy Sedum species (S.sediforme, S.reflexum) were clearly lagging behind the smaller ones like Sedum acre and Sedum anglicum and the omnipresent annual Alyssum alyssoides. The poorer development of the sturdy ones could be partly explained by the vigorous and exhausting flowering of last year; a phenomena I have observed in other areas of the zone.

 

 

 

 

 
The yellow fluff is from Alyssum alyssoides which graciously fills in the places not yet occupied by the Sedum species.
Also Iris germanica is doing well.
31 Mar 17:25
 
Looking south with the greenhouse on the right.
31 Mar 17:48
 

The mini green roof on the washing machine shed. The Sedum and Sempervivum cuttings receive regular watering and are doing well.
2 Apr 9:24

 

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The rock corner saw the happy emergence of the Sedum telephium which were planted as cuttings last year. Almost all of them were successful, so I took more cuttings and planted them in other areas of the zone.

 

 
Two emerging Sedum telephium (left and centre) in the rock corner.
1 Apr 10:41
 



Iris germanica with some driftwood in the rock corner.
1 Apr 18:20

 

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A bit sidetracked but perhaps not so much, I would like to mention the release of my fifth music album Water Works. Privately produced and partly a consequence of the long, isolated winter evenings, the ten tracks circle around the workings of this mysterious fluid.

Maybe a nice occasion to explain briefly my inspiration and working method which shows, naturally but not immediately apparent, a remarkable resemblance with switching nature on here in our zone (compare the introduction).

A central idea is setting up some parameters or conditions and then letting things go, develop and mature. Interactions on my part are limited, have more a guiding character and observing or listening is almost as important. Chance and coincidence being vital, the confrontation of man-nature or man-machine should arouse the interest.
This may sound abstract and theoretical and the resulting music sounds sometimes indeed quite minimalistic, noisy or chaotic but melodies, harmonies or rhythms are never far away. Modern jazz is a clear influence but I am even not afraid of the occasional sentimental cliché or some heavy metal. If you Believe the hype you can also consider the comments over there.

Some remarks about my instrumentation: all sounds are electronic and are produced by synthesizers (recently only software synths). Together with modern midi  sequencers and controllers, they offer a dazzling amount of parameters and settings, not only for producing sounds but also for their placement and development in time and space. To play notes I use a midi keyboard , but sometimes also the computer mouse or touchpad and recently even a tablet with an electronic pen.

 
   

introduction
floristic catalogue
faunistic catalogue
contact
index
gallery 1: 2006-2012
gallery 2: 2012-
map
>> 2011 Apr  4
<< 2011 Feb 16

 

 

 


 

  

 

 

 

 

 

Latest revision on:  01/08/2018