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.
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.
