Verna and Bob's Weblog – Page 500

Stargazer Lily – A Favorite

I’ve posted about my favorite flower, the Stargazer Lily, before. For whatever reason, the flower concession at our local supermarket has been devoid of ‘gazers. Over the weekend, however, we went to another store and found a nice bouquet of three stems for under $10. This one opened over the weekend and is so pretty. It’s nice to see ‘gazers back on the dining room table. Click the thumbnail for a larger view.

From FloraPedia:

The stargazer has added a new layer to the already rich legacy of lilies, which have been a significant floral symbol for centuries. In ancient mythology and in folklore from around the world, the lily has appeared as a deeply spiritual and philosophical metaphor. Developed in the latter part of the 20th century, the stargazer lily is a recent addition to the lily family, but this unique and rather exotic hybrid has rapidly risen in popularity to become one of the most adored and sought-after of all lily varieties.

August 27, 2007 by Verna Photography

On the Range

Video summary of our session at the shooting range today:

August 26, 2007 by Bob Firearms Photography

Pigeon Dung and Reno’s Famous Sign

After reading news accounts about the contribution of pigeon dung to the collapse of the I-35W bridge in Minneapolis, I was reminded about how pigeons similarly factored into the destruction of the famous “RENO – The Biggest little city in the world” sign that spans the entrance to the downtown gambling district. I recall reading a the story in the 1980’s about how the old sign became inhabited by pigeons that roosted or nested in the sign. They got in through gaps in the sign and, of course, pooped while they were in there.

Image right: Reno sign, 1980’s – click to enlarge

Eventually, despite having been evicted several times by the city’s maintenance crews, the pigeon problem persisted until one day there was an electrical short-circuit in the sign. The methane from the dung ignited; there was a minor explosion and a fire afterwards that damaged the sign beyond repair. The sign was removed and subsequently replaced by a newer Vegas-style beauty which electronically beckons visitors to the downtown district. While it’s a beautiful sight, the new sign doesn’t have the old sign’s charm and breaks the promise for a “little city” beyond. Recent visitors to the new Reno, if they knew the old Reno, will know what I mean.