Macoun is a nice eating apple—crisp and sweet. They do not store well. The name gives folks problems; it rhymes with “clown,” not “spoon,” although some pronounce it “McCowen.”
Monthly Archives: November 2013
Happy Thanksgiving from Hakusan Creation
We wish you a wonderful day this holiday. Thank you for visiting us.
A little out of season, but here are a pair of wild turkeys that come to our garden to forage under the bird feeders.
The Belt of Venus
Driving up Cadillac Mountain in Acadia National Park last weekend, we were offered a beautiful display of the Belt of Venus. The belt is an atmospheric phenomenon and fairly common. It is caused by the shadow of the Earth creating a dark blue band below the warm light from the setting or rising sun. The belt is seen on the opposite horizon from the sun. Click on the image for a larger version.
The Beauty of Stillness—Winter comes to Acadia
The silhouette of the South Bubble viewed through the winter forest in Acadia National Park. Autumn’s gold is replaced with silver. Click on the image for a larger view.
Acadia in Late Fall
The visitors to Acadia National Park leave with the foliage. The roads and trails are populated with the occasional traveller. A stillness falls over the area. But the beauty does not abandon the park with the people.
Click on the image for a larger view.
Spartan—Apples of Maine
Spartan is a hybrid of a McIntosh with an unknown variety. Like a McIntosh, it is a good all-round fruit. It is a crisp and sweet with a slight tang.
Northern Spy—Apples of Maine
Northern Spy is a great all-round apple for eating, storage, cooking, and ciders. The apple is crisp and sweet with a slight lemony undertone.
The Torii: a Sacred Gate
Most shines in Japan are marked by a gate called a torii. As the worshipper passes through the gate, it symbolized the transition from the mundane world into a sacred space. This gate is at Meiji Shrine, the largest shrine in Tokyo. The structure just beyond the gate is the ablution pavilion, or temizuya, where worshippers will rise their mouth and wash their hands as a purification rite.
Forest Spirits of Fall
The days of late fall are short in Maine. There is a point after the sun dips below the horizon when the deep cobalt sky of winter is the only light to penetrate the forest. The bole of the trees luminesce like bleached bones or rising spirits.
Tire Park, Tokyo
The Japanese love their children. Even in packed urban areas such as Tokyo, playgrounds and parks can be found everywhere. Tire Park, or Tire Koen, is one of the magical places the Japanese have built for their kids. As the name suggests, the park is created from recycled tires.
