Wednesday, May 28, 2025

roses bloom


Yesterday, 27 May, we were at Columbus Park of Roses. It had to be near this year's peak bloom. An approaching rain was threatening in the sky. The sky was a very pale grey, and no clear sky whatsoever. The bloom is weather dependent. May has been mostly rainy and cool, with a couple of days in the 80s. Still it was a great day to see the myriad of blooms, and yet few people were touring.
There were some that were waiting to bloom, and some with significant fall of petals; but overall, the buds were in bloom, mostly full bloom.
The camera did not capture the bright palette of colors here.
The rose park is within Whetstone Park, and is maintained by the city. The rose park opened in 1953. It has become an official Arboretum, and contains many plants outside the roses.
The walking paths were welcoming, and that included hounds of all kind.
Quinton is a three year old beagle, and currently, very shy and overly timid. Very recently, he was subject to experimentation at Ohio State U.
Rosa Alba is the flower of Bonnie Prince Charlie (Stuart). He was to be King of Scotland & England, until the Battle of Culloden Moor 1746.
Moonlight in Paris
Lady of Shallot
High Voltage
Gertrude Jekyll
Enfant de France
peony like Sunmaid
Varieties can be named anything, the wildest i saw was Screaming Neon Red.

Saturday, May 24, 2025

2025 Miscellany #7 — Yumedono & foto safari

For the summer, Cleveland Art Museum has a replica of Yumedono (Hall of Dreams) at Nara (8thC capital), where Buddhism spread from in Japan.


New statue of Balto (also the other sled dog heroes who ran diptheria serum to Nome in 1925).
West side Cleveland, Old Brooklyn refers to Orange Caligula. — Ω ☨
West side Cleveland, also possibly referring to neurosyphilis, one of several mental diseases that may inhabit Orange Caligula's thought. — Ω ☨
Welcome Bear
part of long mural across Garrett Morgan High Cleveland, Starbeing 2025
front yard Buddha pool

Wednesday, May 14, 2025

2025 Miscellany #6


                                       Someone's front yard has a Cheerleader for Immigration.  Her torch is out.  Site undisclosed, to deter ICE terrorists an opportunity for a disappearance. Ellen's musketeers are attacking everything the federal government does for the public good. This billionaire is a greedy lunatic, and is allowed to be a loose cannon, and he has a coterie of minions who act likewise. One of his many targets is the national park system. A group has paid for billboards to remind motorists of what is being done. They have used the old format of vacation post cards to needle the prick.

After a period of wet days, Dayz Whun continues on his mural on Cleveland's St. Clair.
Akron Zoo has a dinosaur exhibit scattered through the park for the summer.

Wednesday, May 7, 2025

"By what name shall you be called?"

A little after 9 p.m. Rome time. No pope after first day of voting.

Pope Francis, surely Pope St, Francis, has died. Currently, 133 cardinals are in conclave to choose his successor.  Recently, an American film was called Conclave.  Robert Harris's novel of 2016 was its source, and it mixed theological division with politics, and a crime and suspense thriller.  The new pope was Innocent.
 
We were taught in school and catechism that the first pope was born Simon.  Jesus gave him a new name (Cephas in Aramaic) Petros, when he Jesus instituted the papal office. For centuries, popes did not choose a new name.  Mercurius became pope in 533, and since the name was that of a pagan god, he became John.  Marcellus in 1555 was the last pope that used his birth name, he died in three weeks and a day.
 
The most common regnal names in order: John, Gregory, Benedict, Clement, Innocent, Leo, and Pius.  Albino Luciani was pope for 33 days in 1978, he was the first to choose a double name. It was very common to choose the name of the pope who created you a cardinal. Luciani was named bishop by John XXIII, and cardinal by Paul VI. It was the first new papal name since Lando in 913, his birth name. When one is the first by that name, he isn't called Name I. Pope Francis is not now Francis I, he will be if there is a next Francis, but John Paul called himself John Paul I.
 
Next pope after he accepts his election will be asked, "Quo nomine vocaberis?(By what name shall you be called?)".  This will be a very important answer.  It would be a signal of what sort of papacy he aspires to.  If he says "Francis", it is to continue the spirit of his predecessor.  Likewise, if he chooses another name previously used.
 
It is possible, for him to also choose a new name. There are apostles, and great saints that have not have their names chosen. It was thought by many, that Francis was a name that would not ever be chosen. Peter is the most prominent name that is expected never to be chosen.
 
If Francis it shall be, ultra-conservatives and the U.S. Republican Party, and shameless American capitalists will not be happy. Currently in Rome very rich Americans are lobbying. Timothy Dolan Cardinal of NYC is with them. He shamelessly campaigned for the office last time. I doubt that an American would be respected by other cardinals, and certainly not that political ass.
 
A similar choice would be Ignatius. Francis was a Jesuit, the only Jesuit pope. Ignatius Loyola was the founder of that order. 
 
We wait for what to-morrow brings.
 ___________________________
 
postscriptum 2 p.m. 8 May: well a little after noon we found out.  Well, the choice of a papal name is considered to be an indication of what kind of pope he will be. Leo XIII was a pope who believed in the rights of labor, and social justice. Leo XIV will not be popular amongst capitalists (read American conservatives [Republicans and other fascists]).
 
see encyclical "Rerum Novarum" 1891, Rights and Duties of Capital and Labor

Sunday, May 4, 2025

rainy morning at the dump turned park

A few decades past, this area was Parma's town dump. It is by West Creek, i thought that was a directional name, but no. A former property owner's surname was West. Well, the MetroParks have turned the place around, and it did take some years. They have, and still making paths. Parma is not friendly to dog walking, and neither are Parma Heights cops. Here many people drive there dogs, often in Subarus, to have an unbothered, and pleasant walk. 

These two willows are seen from outside the back entrance of the still new Water Shed Education Building. I have shot fotos of this several times through the seasons. This morning it drizzled for hours. The weather people tell us we are midst in a rainy spell.

From the same spot, this foto showing the water will cover up the boardwalk.
Japanese downspouts hang from the building gutters. The Japanese did have an eye of crafting elegance in fabrication. They are now marketed as chain gutters.
Electric lines disappearing in the rain's mist.
Bird identification is a bit off at this moment.
Pileated woodpecker, (Dryocopous pileatus), 'Woody' to friends

Thursday, May 1, 2025

2025 Miscellany #5 — 𝑻𝒓𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒉𝒆s 𝒅𝒆 𝒗𝒊𝒆...

 

Easter Monday, Bradstreet's Landing, Rocky River O., Lake Erie

Rain was coming in behind a mostly sunny sky, which had groups of white clouds changing sections of lake surface color.  Here is a serendipitous composition resembling the solitude of a Hopper. This is all speculation. It was very warm April afternoon, it has been very common for people, especially youngish to wear somber black, even when conditions would make one hot and sweaty. Generally, black is not a happy color.

trumpster truck in Lorain seen and footed on the 100th day of cruel fascist incompetence in the revenge tour of trumple-thin-skin. Do not know if any people who had been disappeared were inside.
Two wooden Warner birds outside an ice cream place, also in Lorain.
Caught in the act of arting, mural season is well under way. E. 72nd Cleveland O.
Making bare concrete retaining walls beautiful. Louise Jones and several crew members have been painting, bright, beautiful flowers, and some fauna.
The other side is finished, here is part. The walls go some hundreds of feet, on both sides, declining in height to about a foot or so.
Dayz Whun was on St. Clair after buying something to drink. We talked for a bit while i was using my camera. This building is just outside of what is now called Asiatown. Soon there will be a black and orange carp under the flowers.
Some color by the front door, Cleveland O.

Monday, April 21, 2025

2025 Miscellany #4 — near Easter

Sometimes there is fun at Lake View Cemetery Cleveland. Karma is collared in a daffodil cut out.
Una alfombra de Semana Santa de la Parroquia Sagrada Familia Cleveland
window washer
Many of the plaques were taken for scrap in the Cultural Gardens in the 60s. Noticed five new non-metallic plaques on stones in the Hebrew Garden. Hope the trumpster regime doesn't see this one, the stone will be naked again. It is a quotation on the Statue of Liberty monument.
On April 15th, 2 new flamingos came to Parma. One to replace the original that was stolen, and a larger one, the unused Byzantine Cathedral is in the distance.
Na Zdrowie (Polish for 'to [your] health', said before a drink), saloons expect to be busy Easter Monday.
Barrel cactus in bloom at Rockefeller Greenhouse, Cleveland.
doggie in the window

Fr. Ben S.J. with Karma