FanningSparks – Page 60 – A DIY and lifestyle blog authored by Peg Frizzell.

Nature Plants

Southern Ladies, Christmas Stockings and Hairy Armpits

What do Southern Ladies, Christmas Stockings and Hairy Armpits have in common? They’re all memory joggers to identify a species of fern. The Southern Lady Fern (Athyrium asplenioides), for instance, can be identified by its long smooth stalks. So the silly, little phrase, “Southern ladies shave their legs” is a helpful way to remember it.

The Cinnamon Fern (Osmundastrum cinnamomeum) can be identified by tufts of white or tan hairs at the base of each pinna (often referred to as a leaf) thus the hairy armpits reference. The pinna of the Christmas Fern (Polystichum acrostichoides) is thought to resemble the shape of a Christmas stocking. Note the toe of the stocking close to the stalk in the below photo.

These are some of the fun facts I learned during a recent class at the State Botanical Garden of Georgia in Athens. The class, Ferns and Fern Allies, was taught by Dr Wilf Nicholls and Linda Chafin. It was an excellent opportunity to learn about these interesting plants. I had no idea, for instance, that ferns and fern allies (more accurately “seedless vascular plants”) were the first land plants and date back 475 million years. Who knew?
We learned about the astonishing diversity of ferns (Phylum Pterophyta) which includes 11,000 species. Although there are only about 130 species native to my home state of Georgia.
We learned the proper terminology for ferns. For instance, ferns do not have leaves, they have fronds. Here are the major parts of a fern.

We learned that all fern fronds begin as croziers (that pretty little spiral I always thought was a fiddlehead). Here’s the crozier of a Christmas Fern (Polystichum acrostichoides).

We used microscopes to examine spores and sporangia (spore-producing case or bag). We learned about the life cycle and sexual reproduction of a fern. Here are the sporangia on the underside of the Marginal Wood Fern (Dryopteris marginalis) pinna.

We concluded our class with a guided tour of the Dunson Native Flora Garden to identify native ferns and discuss their growing conditions. We didn’t address ferns for home gardens but, of course, recognizing native species and understanding their preferences goes a long way to making wise selections for the garden. Here are a couple more native ferns we saw. This lovely frond, backlit by golden sunshine, is a Broad Beech Fern (Phegopteris hexagonoptera).

This is the Cinnamon Fern (Osmundastrum cinnamomeum). Unfortunately, those hairy armpits mentioned above are not visible in this photo.

Ferns always remind me of a place I stayed in Thailand. Fern Paradise is a small, family-run resort hidden away in the countryside just outside Chiang Mai City in northern Thailand. My friend Vicki and I stayed there for a few nights many years ago. I’m happy to report that a quick internet search shows Fern Paradise is still a going concern. At Fern Paradise, guests stay in unique, elevated villas which are restored rice barns. The rice barns, or “Lhong Khao”, were originally used by rice farmers in what was the Lanna Kingdom in northern Thailand.

Guests can enjoy a cozy, outdoor terrace underneath the rice barn.

Dr. Niwat Tantayanusorn, owner and architect of Fern Paradise, moved 9 of these structures to his property to preserve their rich heritage. These unique Lanna architectural treasures are surrounded by a lush, green tropical paradise. Much of that lushness can be attributed to an abundance of ferns. Niwat is a fern expert and an avid fern collector. There are more than 300 types of ferns at Fern Paradise. During our stay, we were fortunate to have Niwat take us on a tour. He explained the history of the resort and showed us the Fern House where a variety of ferns are exhibited.

He also showed us the Green House where he starts ferns from spores and nurtures them to maturity.

From the rustic-chic rice barn rooms to the lush fern gardens to the charming hospitality, staying at Fern Paradise was an unforgettable experience!

As suggested by the number of photos in this post, ferns are fun and easy to photograph. Their elegant, graceful lines and soft, airy foliage lend themselves to interesting patterns and pleasing compositions. Here is a favorite shot from my photo archives. I like the near-perfect reflection of the fern fronds on the water’s surface. And thanks to my recent class, I can now identify this as the Sensitive Fern (Onoclea sensibilis) which is common to wetlands in Georgia.

More Info

The State Botanical Garden of Georgia, at the University of Georgia in Athens, offers a number of adult education programs.
The Nature Study Guide, Fern Finder: A Guide to Native Ferns of Central and Northeastern United States and Eastern Canada, by Barbara Hallowell and Anne C Hallowell is a helpful tool for identifying ferns.
The iNaturalist.org and their Seek app, which I mentioned in my previous post Seek to Identify Wildlife with this Fun App, are great resources for identifying wild plants and animals.

For more information about Fern Paradise in Northern Thailand, check out their website.

Not only photographers are attracted to ferns; ferns are a popular subject in art, craft and design. Check out my new Pinterest board, Ferns – FanningSparks Favs, for over 100 ideas on how to incorporate a fern motif into your home and surroundings. Jewelry, dishes, wallpaper, fabric, embroidery, vintage prints, sculpture… ferns are everywhere!

Today’s Takeaways

1. Consider taking a look at the vast and fascinating world of ferns.
2. When selecting ferns for a home garden, choose a native species suited to your growing conditions.
3. Ferns are a popular design element; consider incorporating them into your home or surroundings.

Agritourism Make Nature Photos Plants Southeast Travel USA

Blueberry Zaniness

Spoiler Alert: The blueberry necklace featured here is a result of this week’s blueberry zaniness. Continue reading to see more lighthearted results.

The other day, I noticed a new sign advertising You Pick Blueberries in our neighborhood. Turns out there’s a charming little blueberry farm, called Doe Creek Farm, just down the road. My husband noticed the same sign and so we decided to get some blueberries the old-fashioned way. We went on a quiet Wednesday morning and had the place to ourselves (ahhh… the joys of being retired!). The farm is a no-nonsense, rustic country paradise of about 8 acres. Everything was well organized and the owners were exceptionally friendly and knowledgeable.

Doe Creek Farm was started back in 2007 so many of the blueberry bushes are well established. There are, in fact, over 750 mature and maturing bushes in a number of different varieties: Alapaha, Tiff Blue, Powder Blue, Premier, Brightwell, Austin, & Climax.

The picking was easy as the bushes were laden with ripe berries. We picked primarily Brightwell and Powder Blue. Although, to be honest, they tasted the same to me‒delicious!

We brought our bounty home and kicked into action. As the cook in the household, my husband was all about the practical side of things‒the hundred and one ways to serve and preserve blueberries. I, on the other hand, was not so practical and started staging photos instead.

But after a couple of these… well… rather predictable shots, I decided to set myself a photography challenge: stage and shoot 10 photos of blueberries in unexpected ways. Thus, the blueberry zaniness took over.

Here are my 6 favorites.

1. Blueberries in a Bird Nest

2. Blueberries as a Necklace

3. Blueberries as Blue Paint

4. Blueberries on a Glass Tree

5. Blueberry as a Cuff Link

6. Sawing Blueberries

So what do think? Were these blueberry photos unexpected? Which was your favorite? Please take a moment to respond with a comment below.

More Info

You can learn about Doe Creek Farm on their website and Facebook page.
The PickYourOwn website has lots of great information regarding blueberries including picking tips, canning directions and facts about blueberries. They also provide a directory of U-Pick farms.

Today’s Takeaways

1. U-Pick farms are a great way to bring field-fresh food directly to your table.
2. Try setting a creative challenge for yourself.
3. Seek to turn the expected into the unexpected.

Decorate Exteriors Northeast Travel

Then Came FallingWater

Earlier this month, I finally had the opportunity to visit FallingWater. I say “finally” because I’ve wanted to see this Frank Lloyd Wright architectural masterpiece ever since I became intrigued by the famous architect while living in Wisconsin over 5 years ago. Since then, I’ve had the pleasure of visiting nearly a dozen of his famous structures across a half dozen US states.
While few of us will ever live in a house like Fallingwater, there are lots of interesting lessons to be learned from Frank Lloyd Wright’s design philosophies and architectural creations. I’ve noticed a few recurring themes that I’d like to share with you in this post. In the interest of keeping this post to a manageable length though, I’ll focus only on exteriors today and hold interiors for a future post.
Update July 16, 2019: Check out the post, Step Inside with Frank Lloyd Wright.
Blurred Lines
Probably the most remarkable thing about FallingWater is its placement‒it sits above a small waterfall on the Bear Run mountain stream. The Kaufmanns, who owned FallingWater, “were surprised to discover they would be living over the falls rather than across from them. Wright told the family he wanted them “to live with the waterfall, not just to look at it”. Now that’s thinking outside the box! You can see how the living room is suspended over the water of Bear Run in the below photo.
And those stairs that you see coming down to the stream, they are accessed from this glass-enclosed stairwell or hatchway in the living room.
This is a great illustration of one of Wright’s philosophies. He liked to blur interior and exterior space by making the interior decor complement the exterior. The idea of “bringing the outside in” is still popular today. It’s fascinating to see how Wright accomplished this nearly a hundred years ago.

Nature Inspiration
Wright’s most inspirational force was nature. He advised students to “Study nature, love nature, stay close to nature”. Wright is considered the pioneer of “organic architecture” in which natural forms are translated into architectural shapes.
The Guggenheim Museum in New York City, Wright’s last major work, exemplifies the use of organic form. Having had the pleasure of experiencing the Guggenheim firsthand, I can attest the building design is extraordinary. You begin your visit on the top floor and then slowly descend on a spiraling ramp around a huge light-filled rotunda. According to the Guggenheim Museum, “it is thought that a nautilus shell inspired the spiral ramp and that the radial symmetry of a spider web informed the design of the rotunda skylight.”

Horizontal Planes
In the same way FallingWater blends into the Bear Run waterfall, Wright designed his buildings to blend into the landscape rather than perch on top of it. Wright said “I had an idea that the horizontal planes in buildings, those planes parallel to earth, identify themselves with the ground—make the building belong to the ground”. You can see how he applied this philosophy at Taliesin West, Wright’s winter residence and school of architecture in Scottsdale, Arizona.
These same horizontal planes are a strong design element in Robie House in Chicago. Robie House is considered the finest example of the “Prairie Style” of architecture which Wright created in the early 1900s.
Rosenbaum House in Florence, Alabama continues with horizontal planes and rectangular shapes. Rosenbaum is an example of Wright’s Usonian style. His Usonian vision was to make home ownership affordable for the American middle class. To accomplish this, he simplified his design (eg by eliminating attics and basements) and reduced construction costs (eg by eliminating the need for specialized labor).
Natural Materials
Wright used local building materials to create a connection between the structure and its surroundings. At FallingWater, his generous use of local sandstone (on left) creates this harmony.
He used a similar approach at Taliesin in Spring Green, Wisconsin where he chose local yellow limestone and river sand to construct the walls. Taliesin is of particular interest because it was Wright’s home, studio, and garden sanctuary for over 30 years. He used Taliesin as a laboratory for architecture and design and started his school of architecture there. This was the first Frank Lloyd Wright home I had the opportunity to visit.
Cantilever Construction
When asked about the source of his design for FallingWater, Wright replied “There in a beautiful forest was a solid, high rock ledge rising beside a waterfall, and the natural thing seemed to be to cantilever the house from that rock bank over the falling water…” I’m not so sure a cantilevered house would be the “natural thing” for anyone other than Wright but cantilever construction (ie where a beam, or other structural member, is supported at one end with the other end projecting beyond its surrounding wall or column) was a technique he used frequently.
Natural Light
Wright maximized and showcased natural light in his designs. He is well-known for his use of clerestory windows which are a series of windows placed high on a wall to allow light in while simultaneously preserving wall space and interior privacy. Here’s the entrance of Kentuck Knob in Chalk Hill, Pennsylvania with a series of clerestory windows to the right.

Wright created new and innovative windows along the way. This corner window of mitered glass from FallingWater is a case in point.
Art Glass
Wright often used art glass to maximize natural light. The exterior walls of the Annie Pfeiffer Chapel at Florida Southern College in Lakeland, Florida are rather unusual. But it isn’t until you enter the chapel that you can fully appreciate those small squares of colored glass.
Meanwhile, the front of the chapel has this stunning display of light and color.
Geometric Shapes
It’s impossible to discuss Frank Lloyd Wright without mentioning geometric shapes. One of his principle methods of design was a system of rotating geometric forms. Interestingly, Wright credits the Froebel kindergarten education he received from his mother for this inspiration. Part of this education included a set of wooden blocks designed to teach design and elementary geometry. Here’s how he put it in his autobiography “That early kindergarten experience with the straight line; the flat plane; the square; the triangle; the circle! If I wanted more, the square modified by the triangle gave the hexagon, the circle modified by the straight line would give the octagon. Adding thickness, getting ‘sculpture’ thereby, the square became the cube, the triangle the tetrahedron, the circle the sphere. … These primary forms and figures were the secret of all effects . . . which were ever got into the architecture of the world.”
It’s fun to pick out the geometric shapes and forms in Wright’s designs. The hexagon figures prominently in Kentuck Knob. These photos show the hexagonal cutouts in the eaves along with the interesting shadows they cast on the terrace.
Circles and semi-circles are prominent in Wright’s design for The Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Triangular shapes are seen all around campus at Florida Southern College including along the roof of the central walkway.

Rectangles, especially arranged into a step pattern, can be seen throughout FallingWater including on this exterior staircase…

and along the covered walkway to the guest quarters.

Blurred lines, nature inspiration, horizontal planes, natural materials, cantilever construction, natural light, art glass, and geometric shapes‒these are all recurring themes I’ve observed in the Frank Lloyd Wright architectural treasures I’ve had the opportunity to visit. Certainly, all of these themes are evident in Wright’s most extraordinary house at FallingWater.

More Info

Update July 16, 2019: Check out a second post, Step Inside with Frank Lloyd Wright, to see the interior of FallingWater.
There is a wealth of information available on Frank Lloyd Wright and his architectural designs. Here are some links for the buildings mentioned in this post.
. Frank Lloyd Wright
. Taliesin and Taliesin West in Spring Green, Wisconsin and Scottsdale, Arizona (respectively)
. FallingWater in Mill Run, Pennsylvania
. Kentuck Knob in Chalk Hill, Pennsylvania
. Florida Southern College in Lakeland, Florida
. Annie Pfeiffer Chapel at Florida Southern College in Lakeland, Florida
. Solomon R Guggenheim Museum Architecture in New York City
. Robie House in Chicago, Illinois
. Rosenbaum House in Florence, Alabama
. The Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

You can learn more about the Froebel blocks Wright played with as a child on this website about Friedrich Froebel, creator of Kindergarten and designer of Froebel play gifts.

Today’s Takeaways

1. Consider exploring design outside your chosen discipline or area of focus.
2. Explore a master’s entire body of work.
3. Use a combination of observation and research to identify recurring themes.

Make Nature Tutorials Wildlife Wood

DIY Bluebird-Approved Birdhouse Tutorial

A long time ago a young boy attended Vacation Bible School and built a wooden birdhouse. The little boy’s mother tucked it away and saved it for decades. At some point, the birdhouse was returned to its maker and has traveled with him ever since. That little boy is my husband and this birdhouse is almost 50 years old.

I love this birdhouse. It’s too precious to use outside but has made numerous appearances in our home décor over the years. I love its provenance but I also love the design. It’s served as the model for several birdhouses I’ve built over the years. In today’s post, I’d like to share a step-by-step tutorial for making this birdhouse. There are hundreds of birdhouse designs available but I like this one for a simple reason‒birds like this birdhouse. Over the years, we’ve had several Eastern Bluebirds nest in them.

But it’s not only bluebirds that like this birdhouse. We’ve had other small birds, such as chickadees and wrens, choose to nest in these birdhouses as well. The size and design of this birdhouse are tailored to small birds. For instance, the size of the opening‒at a mere 1½”‒only allows small birds to enter.

A few other advantages of this birdhouse design are:
. It is attractive and looks pretty in the yard.
. It is sturdy and easy to install.
. It is simple and straightforward to make. Only standard tools, a jigsaw and a drill, and readily accessible supplies are needed.

We’ll start with the supplies and tools needed to make this bluebird-approved birdhouse. Step-by-step instructions follow.

Supplies Needed

. Lumber: 5 ft of 1” by 8” (actual size is ¾” x 7¾ ”). I used knotty pine boards.
. Screws for House Assembly: 20 Size #6 1¼” length wood screws
. Flange: 3” black metal floor flange for ½” pipe
. Screws for Flange: 4 Size #8 ¾” length wood screws
. Pole: 5 ft length of ½” black steel pipe. The pole needs to be threaded for connection to the flange.
Note: I found the flange and the pipe in the plumbing department at my local Home Depot store.
. Steel Rebar: 2″ ft length

Tools Needed
Jigsaw (or whatever type of saw you prefer to cut the wood)
Drill (alternatively a hole saw or drill press would work)
3 Drill bits:
… 3/32” bit for pre-drilling Size #6 screws
… 7/64” bit for pre-drilling Size #8 screws
… 1½ “ spade bit for opening
Clamps
Screwdriver
Tape Measure
Pencil
TIP: To determine the size of pilot hole to pre-drill for screws, consult a handy cross-reference chart such as this Wood Screw Pilot Hole Sizes chart from BoltDepot.com.

Instructions for Bluebird-Approved Birdhouse
Measurements
The design and dimensions of the birdhouse are shown below.

Preparations
Step 1 Cut Wood Parts. Start by creating a paper template for the Front following the dimensions and instructions noted in the photo above.

Cut the 8” x 1” pine board into the following parts:
. Over Roof 7 ¼” x 10”
. Under Roof 7 ¼” x 9 ¼”
. Front 7” x 11 ⅞” – to shape specified
. Back 7” x 11 ⅞” – to shape specified
. Side 5” x 6 ½”
. Side 5” x 6 ½”
. Bottom 6 ½” x 4 ½”
TIP: Use a simple guide to make accurate and straight cuts with a jigsaw. Clamp a length of wood trim along the cutting line to guide the edge of the jigsaw. Measure carefully to determine where the guide should be placed. Note the guide is clamped about 1” from the actual cutting line in the below photo. Take note of the measurement to use on subsequent cuts.

Step 2 Test Fit. Assemble the pieces to get familiar with how they fit together and to ensure they fit correctly. Make any necessary adjustments.

Step 3 Cut Under Roof. The top edge of the Under Roof is the only angled cut required. Cut this edge at a 70⁰ angle so it will fit snugly under the Over Roof section.

Step 4 Drill Opening. A 1 ½” opening is needed in the Front. Mark circle for hole centered horizontally and with bottom edge 5⅞” from bottom of Front.

To drill this hole using a spade bit complete the following steps. Clamp Front on top of a piece of scrap wood to cushion the operation and prevent tear out. Drill pilot hole in center of circle using a small bit. Drill series of holes with ¼” bit around outside edge of circle. Ensure holes are drilled all the way through the Front piece. These holes eliminate some of the bulk making it easier to drill the final hole.

Using the 1½” spade bit, center bit in pilot hole and hold firmly. Drill down until hole is cleared.

Step 5 Attach Back to Side Mark Back for 4 screws.
TIP: Make a simple guide to mark screw placement accurately. Use a piece of scrap wood. Find and mark the center. Align this guide with the edge of the piece to be screwed and mark with pencil. Press tip of sharp nail into wood at pencil mark to indent for pilot hole. This indentation makes it easier to position the drill bit in the right spot.
As shown below, clamp Side along 6½ ” edge to hold it steady and level. Hold Back on top of Side, squaring corner and aligning roof line and bottom edges. Drill pilot holes at marks with 3/32” bit. Attach with size #6 1¼” length screws. This will result in an L-shaped piece.

Step 6 Attach Front to Side Repeat Step 5 to attach Front to other Side. This will result in a second L-shaped piece.
Step 7 Construct Nest Box Prepare to attach the 2 L-shaped pieces.

Hold 2 pieces together aligning bottoms and side edges. Drill pilot holes and screw together. This will result in a basic 4-sided box.

Step 8 Attach Roof Note there is a ¾” overhang on the front edge of the roof but not on the back. Mark Roof pieces for 4 screws. Screws should be about 1″ from the front edge due to the roof overhang.
Lay Under Roof on work surface. Place basic box on top of Under Roof aligning roof edges. Position the Over Roof on top of the basic box aligning edges. Hold together firmly. Drill pilot holes and screw together. I found it most effective to start by attaching the top edge of the Over Roof followed by the top edge of the Under Roof. Then attaching the bottom edges of both roof pieces.

Step 9 Attach Bottom and Pole Mark Bottom for 4 screws. Find center of Bottom and mark. Place metal Flange over center mark ensuring it is centered. Mark screw placement for Flange. Drill pilot holes at Flange marks with 7/64” bit. Attach Flange with size 8 ¾” length screws.
Hold birdhouse with bottom facing up. It’s helpful to wedge the roof peak between two boards so the bottom of the nest box is flat and level. Lay Bottom in place aligning edges on all sides. Drill pilot holes and attach with screws. Screw metal Pole into metal Flange.

I deliberately do not paint or finish the wood to avoid exposing the birds to harsh materials. Plus I prefer to let it weather naturally. When it comes time to clean the birdhouse, simply back off the screws in the Bottom and carefully lift off the box.

Your birdhouse is ready to install! Take a few minutes to consider the best location. If you’re lucky enough to be in an area where Eastern Bluebirds live (see More Info below), you’ll want to consider the bluebirds’ preferences. According to NestWatch from The Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Eastern Bluebirds prefer “open field or lawn; orchards; open, rural country with scattered trees and low or sparse ground cover; entrance hole should face open field, preferring east, north, south, and then west-facing directions“. See More Info below for advice on other birds. Of course, you’ll also want to consider your own preferences and place the birdhouse in a location that’s convenient and easy to watch.
Insert the Rebar into the ground ensuring it is plumb. Simply slip the metal Pole over the Rebar. Now, wait for the birds to move in…

… and the show to begin!

More Info

The Cornell Lab of Ornithology is a great source of information for anyone interested in birds. Their website states: “We believe in the power of birds to ignite discovery and inspire action. Join us on a lifelong journey to enjoy, understand, and protect birds and the natural world.” The All About Birds section of the website is jam-packed with useful and interesting info.
The Birds of North America section of their website includes detailed maps showing where different birds live and migrate.
To learn more about locating your birdhouse, check out the Nest Box Placement on the NestWatch section of their website.
You might also enjoy my previous post From Feeders to Quilts where we took a peek at a busy backyard bird feeding station along with some bird-themed fiber art.

Please pin the below image for future reference.

Today’s Takeaways

1. A birdhouse is a great project for a beginning woodworker.
2. The design of a birdhouse influences which birds will nest there.
3. Choose the location of a birdhouse carefully considering the birds’ preferences as well as your own.

Artists Make Northeast Travel

Harvard’s Incredible Glass Flowers

Incredible! That’s the word that kept popping into my head as I explored the Glass Flowers exhibit at the Harvard Museum of Natural History. I first heard about this exhibit during an Intro to Glass Blowing class at the John C Campbell Folk School. During our class, we learned flamework techniques including glass sculpting and blowing with a propane torch. Here’s one of the instructors, Tony Prince, demonstrating how to make a small glass tree.
While it looks easy when a pro like Tony does it, it’s not! Glass flamework takes exceptional coordination and lots of practice. My own meager attempt to blow a round Christmas ornament turned into an odd shape more like a vegetable. Yet, I’m insanely proud of my pepper-like ornament!

My fellow students said the Glass Flowers were amazing and, boy oh boy, were they right!

Not only are the botanical models impressive in their detailed accuracy but the fact they’re made of glass and wire with the simplistic equipment used at the time (1886 – 1936) is simply mind blowing. Here’s the lampworking bench believed to have been used in the making of the Glass Flowers.

As a case in point, instead of adjusting the flame of a propane-fueled torch with the simple turn of a dial as is done today, they used foot-operated bellows to provide a stream of air to intensify the flame of the lamp. The bellows are below the desk.

Being able to manipulate glass to the precision needed to replicate real life plants and flowers is just incredible. I am in awe! Let’s look at an example to prove this isn’t an exaggeration. Here’s a photo of the Malus pumila, aka apple, flower in glass. Please note this photo was taken through the glass display case under harsh showroom lights so it’s not as clear as it could be.

And here’s a photo I took just 2 days earlier of apple blossoms in the Kingsbrae Garden in St. Andrews, New Brunswick. Incredible, right?

Each specimen is shown with flowers (if any) along with magnified sections of significant parts. Here’s the display for the Lathyrus splendens with the common name of Pride of California or Wild Pea. It’s very similar to the flower we know as Sweet Pea (Lathyrus odoratus).

Here’s a closeup of the flower blossoms.

The story behind the glass flower models is fascinating. Here’s the explanation provided at the Exhibition along with a few more photos.
“Tradition of Glass Making Leopold Blaschka was born into a family of glass workers on May 27, 1822 in Böhmisch Aicha, now the Czech Republic. Like his father and grandfather, Leopold Blaschka embraced the family tradition. He built a vibrant business producing jewelry and other fine goods, as well as more practical items such as laboratory equipment and glass eyes.”

American White Waterlily in Glass Flowers Exhibit. @FanningSparks — American White Waterlily

“From Father to Son After Leopold was commissioned to make sea anemones for Dresden’s natural history museum in 1863, he began to focus on scientific model making. Gifted with exceptional aptitude as a flameworker and a love of natural history, 19-year-old Rudolf joined the family business in 1876. Together, they supplied invertebrate marine models to private collectors, museums and universities worldwide, attracting the attention of Harvard’s first Botanical Museum Director, George Lincoln Goodale …”

Monarda didyma aka Bee Balm in Glass Flowers Exhibit. @FanningSparks — Monarda didyma aka Bee Balm

“Pursued by Harvard In Leopold and Rudolf Blaschka, Harvard Botanical Museum Director George Goodale had found a source for scientifically accurate plant models for study and display. Goodale actively lobbied a reluctant Leopold and in 1886, finally persuaded the father and son duo to create a small selection of plant models for Harvard University. Entranced by the models’ beauty and accuracy, Boston residents Elizabeth C. Ware and her daughter Mary Lee Ware agreed to finance the creation of an entire collection.”

Cosmos bipinnatus in Glass Flowers Exhibit. @FanningSparks — Cosmos bipinnatus

“To Model the Plant World In 1890, Goodale’s persistence was rewarded when the Blaschkas signed an exclusive 10-year contract with Harvard University to create the Ware Collection of Glass Models of Plants. Leopold and Rudolf completed the majority of the collection before Leopold’s death in 1895. In the nearly four decades to follow, Rudolf dedicated himself to producing plant models for Harvard, all the while experimenting with innovative materials and techniques.”

Penstemon spectabilis on Glass Flowers Exhibit. @FanningSparks — Penstemon spectabilis

Another interesting aspect to the story was the research the Blaschkas conducted. “This photograph of Rudolf Blaschka (right) and botanist William Ganong (left) was taken in 1892 during one of several field trips to the Caribbean and the United States. In order to create accurate models, Rudolf observed and collected specimens, made drawings and took detailed notes to document plant forms and colors. The Blaschkas used field specimens as references for 312 of the models created for the collection.”

Rudolf Blaschka on Field Collecting Trip at Glass Flowers Exhibit. @FanningSparks — Collection of the Rakow Research Library, The Corning Museum of Glass, Corning, New York

The Glass Flowers exhibit at the Harvard Museum of Natural History is… well… incredible! Whether you’re interested in flowers and gardening or fine glasswork, it’s well worth seeing.

More Info

You can learn more about the Glass Flowers: The Ware Collection of Blaschka Glass Models of Plants exhibition at the Harvard Museum of Natural History in Cambridge, Massachusetts on their website.

My first experience working with glass was at a Gilbert Glassworks’ workshop, in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida. You can read about that experience in my post A True Hot Glass Experience. Then I attended a week-long Intro to Glass Blowing class at the John C Campbell Folk School. You can learn more about the folk school on their website or in my post A Makers’ Playground.

Today’s Takeaways

1. Fellow enthusiasts are a great source of recommendations for experts to admire, exhibits to see and places to visit.
2. Consider examining the work of experts in a medium that interests you.
3. Seek out examples of work that push the limits and make the impossible possible.

Fiber Make Nature Nova Scotia Travel Wildlife

From Feeders to Quilts

Birdwatchers observe wild birds in their natural habitat. The popularity of birding has increased significantly since 1934 when Roger Tory Peterson first published his book “A Field Guide to the Birds”. The availability of binoculars and the rise of car travel increased the popularity further.

Wild birds can be observed in a multitude of locations ranging from one’s backyard to internationally-recognized, birding hotspots. Feeding birds in the backyard is tremendously popular. Research findings, provided by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, report more than 50 million North Americans feed birds.
According to Darryl Jones, a professor at the Environmental Futures Research Institute and School of Environment and Sciences at Griffith University in Australia, “Feeding wild birds is a deceptively commonplace activity. Yet, it is one of the most intimate, private, and potentially profound forms of human interaction with nature … people who feed birds are alert to a wide range of additional natural phenomena.” In the below photo, it’s a full house at the silo feeder as a flock of American Goldfinches enjoy niger seed in Margaree, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia.

Backyard feeders can attract various species of birds depending on location and food provided. Here a Red-Breasted Nuthatch prepares to leave the feeder.

This Downy Woodpecker enjoys a feast at the suet feeder.

In addition to enhancing our connection with nature, watching birds can provide inspiration for arts and crafts. Take this sweet little Black-Capped Chickadee for instance.

Anne Morrell Robinson is an international award winning fiber artist located in Big Intervale, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. I recently had the pleasure of visiting Anne’s treasure-filled studio at Kingross Quilts and Fibre Arts. As she showed us around, this gorgeous work-in-progress on her quilt design wall caught my eye.

The below wine/red fabric, called My Little Chickadee and designed by Jackie Robinson, inspired Anne’s design.

But Anne took the chickadee theme to the next level by designing and creating her own chickadee appliques. Brilliant!

This quilt was not the only piece that featured local birds. The below quilted wall hanging features appliqued crows.

There’s another crow in the below quilted panel, called In the Woods.
I don’t want to give the impression that Anne’s work is limited to bird themes. Her studio was filled with beautiful quilts, hooked rugs and other fiber arts with a wide variety of subjects. Here’s a quilt she had in progress on her quilting machine.

She calls this pattern Plates and Saucers because that’s what she used to draw the circles for the original template. I love the vibrant colors and bold patterns in this one.

It is said that birds delight people because of their beauty and their power of flight. Many believe birds also help people connect to the beauty of nature. I’d like to take it one step further and point out that birds are a major source of inspiration for artists around the world.
Special thanks to Bertha and Dave for the private showing at their bird theater and to Anne for the special tour at Kingross Quilts and Fiber Art.

More Info

To learn more about Anne Morrell Robinson and her beautiful work, check out the Kingross Quilts and Fiber Arts website or Facebook page.
I recently visited another talented Nova Scotian artist. See Rug Hooking in my Home Province to learn about Deanne Fitzpatrick and her lovely hooked rugs.

Finding inspiration in nature is a recurring theme on this blog. Check out the following posts for more:
Color Palette by Mother Nature
Patterns by Mother Nature
Texture by Mother Nature

The Cornell Lab of Ornithology is a great source of information for birdwatchers. Their website states: “We believe in the power of birds to ignite discovery and inspire action. Join us on a lifelong journey to enjoy, understand, and protect birds and the natural world.” The All About Birds section of the website is jam-packed with useful and interesting info.

Cornell Lab of Ornithology, along with Bird Studies Canada, operate Project FeederWatch which is “a winter-long (November-April) survey of birds that visit feeders … in North America. Participants periodically count the birds they see at their feeders and send their counts to Project FeederWatch.”

Today’s Takeaways

1. Watching birds can be a surprisingly enjoyable pastime.
2. There are numerous resources available to learn about birds and bird feeding.
3. Birds can be a great source of inspiration for art, craft and design.

Southern Ladies, Christmas Stockings and Hairy Armpits

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Blueberry Zaniness

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Then Came FallingWater

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DIY Bluebird-Approved Birdhouse Tutorial

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Harvard’s Incredible Glass Flowers

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From Feeders to Quilts

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