Floridana Alaskiana v2.5

Aurelia Time Is Nearly Here!

2009-07-16T16:30:34-08:00

Okay, so it's 4:20 pm on Thursday 16 July 2009. We check into Providence first thing Friday morning to induce labor and to welcome our Aurelia Zora Mumpower Jones to the world!

I don't anticipate blogging directly during this rather miraculous event (obviously), but I will be Twittering frequent and short updates for friends and family throughout the process.

I've temporarily inserted a Twitter stream to my account in the right-hand menu of Floridana Alaskiana. You can keep up with updates via this feed, if you don't use Twitter yourself. If you are on Twitter, my account name is fairly easy to remember. It's jansonjones.

Now: I wish you the best.

I'll blog again when... I'm a daddy!?!? (How quickly the world changes!)

Again, our thanks to our friends and family for all of their love and support. It means the world to us.

Here's the Aurelia Blog: http://web.me.com/bacchusjones/Aurelia/Welcome.html.

AND HERE'S THE TWITTER FEED -------------->

Newest posts are at the top

iTunes Review Dredging: Harry Potter!

2009-07-16T15:48:00-08:00

Here are two deeply amazing reviews I screen captured on my iPhone while browsing reviews on the iTunes store. These are reviews for the new Harry Potter flick, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, now playing in theaters inescapably everywhere around you.

I give you reason and logic, unbound!

Yes, in 2009 everybody's a critic! A stark raving mad, logically challenged critic.

I think #1BritneySpears,P!nk,&Ashley...whatever should run for office. The bar has been set!

I frakkin' love it.

This officially launches a new category for Floridana Alaskiana: the iTunes Review Dredging category.

New Page Design...?

2009-07-16T09:27:10-08:00

Okay, so I've been tinkering with CSS and the Typepad interface and have made some changes to the Floridana Alaskiana template design. The logic of the site's structure demands the "By Species" and "By Locale" lists of categorical links, though they are a bit larger than is typically desirable in a clean blog design. In the past, I had these two link-columns flanking each side of the main content column; however, as a result the post-column was rather thinnish.

I really wanted to expand this main-content column to get larger images on the main display, but wasn't sure which way to go. I could either manually expand the center column, which would make the whole blog much wider, or I could go to a two-column design, with all the links clustered together in one column. The former option was a little less desirable because I would then have to also redesign the banner -- and blogs shouldn't be too wide in the first place.

I've currently got the two column design running, with all links and categories bundled in the thinner, right column. This allows for a wider main-content column, which also means that images will appear larger in blog posts. This was my goal.

Here's the trick: all prior images aren't automatically resized. Thus, I've got innumerable posts now with smallish looking images (in proportion to each post's expanded width. To fix this, I would literally have to repost each submission after reloading the images. Bleh. Not gonna happen.

When it comes to formatting and consistency, I'm a little OCD (and I'm not using that term lightly). Inconsistencies in visual design really get under my skin. No doubt a result of teaching technical writing... But still, I think I like the two-column presentation better. The images are the primary focus of this blog and it makes sense to have larger, clearer representations of these images as I post them.

What say you? I'd appreciate your feedback. Please feel free to comment or to email me at floridana (at) mac (dot) com.

Chiming bells, 10 June 2009

2009-07-16T08:40:56-08:00

Chiming bells (Mertensia paniculata), also known as bluebells, are a delightful treat to the Alaskan brush. They're fairly common and quite beautiful. The flowers hang down from the small stems, giving them the appearance of small, delicate bells.

Wild geranium, 10 June 2009

2009-07-15T23:10:33-08:00

A simple flower, really. There's nothing especially remarkable about the wild geranium (Geranium erianthum), other than its stark beauty and the contrast it holds against its Alaskan surroundings at Arctic Valley. A simple, soft and elegant flower in the midst of such hard terrain.

Here's another shot of some wild geraniums from the same area ten days later:

- Janson

AKGovSarahPalin is the Mama Bear!

2009-07-15T21:50:46-08:00

Yup. Sarah Palin just rocked Twitter again. This time with a four-part epic mini-series straight outta the Naturalist's TwitterBook!

I give you, AKGovSarahPalin.

And I quote:

~~~~~

Wed 15 Jul 21:34 via TwitterBerry

Great day w/bear management wildlife biologists; much to see in wild territory incl amazing creatures w/mama bears' gutteral raw instinct to

Wed 15 Jul 21:38 via TwitterBerry

protect & provide for her young;She sees danger?She brazenly rises up on strong hind legs, growls Don't Touch My Cubs & the species survives

Wed 15 Jul 21:40 via TwitterBerry

& mama bear doesn't look 2 anyone else 2 hand her anything; biologists say she works harder than males, is provider/protector for the future

Wed 15 Jul 21:45 via TwitterBerry

Yes it was another outstanding day in AK seeing things the rest of America should see;applicable life lessons we're blessed to see firsthand

~~~~~

Awesome. I mean, DAMN! That was just awesome!!!

I know everybody sounds like an ass on Twitter, but Palin just owns it. Absolutely, fantabulously, gloriously, utterly, wonderfully awesome! I so love reading her Twitterly Prose!

Psssst! Sarah Palin is the Mama Bear. (Get it?)

If only John Muir had access to Twitter...

Here's a picture of a black bear (Ursus americanus), for illustration:

Aurelia Approaches! T-minus 2 days and counting...

2009-07-15T09:29:49-08:00

Photographed here is the Alpine forget-me-not (Myosotis alpestris), Alaska's state flower. This lovely and delicate little flower grows in alpine meadows, such as the one at Arctic Valley, just east of Anchorage in the Chugach State Park.
I post this while thinking about the impending arrival of our daughter, Aurelia Zora Mumpower Jones. She's scheduled for delivery in two days, on Friday 17 July 2009. Assuming Mumpower doesn't go into labor earlier, we'll be checking into Providence first thing Friday morning.
On Friday the 17th, the world and my life completely changes. For the better.
Needless to say, we're quite anxious and excited to welcome her to the world. As to be expected, I find myself a bit nervous and slightly frightened. I'm not sure there's any way for me to psychologically prepare myself for this transition... I've tried, but still have more questions than answers -- and I suspect experience will ultimately be the best teacher. What's important, I suppose, is that I'm anxious and damn near ecstatic to learn.
On a whim, I Twittered the following question: Do you have any advice in 140 characters of less for a new parent? I received a handful of replies, my favorite being from Mel who wrote Always follow through on what you say, whether w/ rewards or consequences. It's essential to trust. Listen w/out judgment.
Though I'm not *yet* a parent, I've always found it difficult to understand how a parent could judge or not listen to their child. To try to not see the world through their eyes, from their perspective, from their own unique, personal, perception of reality. For me, writing this two days before the Official Launch, this is one of the things I most look forward to. I can't wait to see the world as Aurelia will see it. New, fresh, exciting. And I want to do everything that I can to foster her own journey of self-discovery and self-actualization. I can think of nothing greater than this responsibility in my life. I can think of nothing more rewarding.
Anyhow, once she arrives we'll do our best to keep posting and updating... But obviously, time management will be a little different on our end.
Again, let me say thanks to our friends, family, colleagues, and internet communities for all their love and support during this most precious epoch of our lives.
We have a second blog/site set up, wholly dedicated to All-Things-Aurelia. We'll be posting photos and videos over there, for our friends & family in the lower-48. So far away, and yet so close in the heart. We'll continue to text-blog here, of course, and I'll provide links to the other site when there are substantial updates that may be of interest. The Aurelia Site is located here:
http://web.me.com/bacchusjones/Aurelia/Welcome.html
- Janson

Arctic lupine, 10 June 2009

2009-07-15T08:44:16-08:00

Another identification concession: it's entirely possible that this could be Nootka lupine (Lupinus nootkatensis) instead of Arctic lupine (Lupinus arcticus). But as of now, I am fairly sure that this is Arctic lupine. As before, I'm going to shop around for some confirmations or corrections and then will later update this post...
This lupine was blooming quite beautifully along the road heading up to Arctic Valley, just east of Anchorage in the Chugach State Park. It's one of my favorite June flowers in southcentral Alaska. Rich and vibrant, of course -- but the shapes of the flowers and the stems themselves are quite amazing too. A deeply beautiful plant.

Alaska roseroot, 20 June 2009

2009-07-14T23:24:21-08:00

Here's another interesting plant from Arctic Valley. This is Alaska roseroot (Sedum rosea). In southcentral Alaska, you can sometimes find roseroot growing at higher elevations. I've only seen it at Hatcher Pass and at Arctic Valley so far, but have probably walked right by innumerable others. It's a lovely and strange plant, this roseroot.
My thanks to Mel for helping confirm this identification!

False hellebore, 20 June 2009

2009-07-14T15:23:03-08:00

This is a lush little patch of false hellebore (Veratrum viride) found in Arctic Valley on 20 June 2009. Looking at it, sure, I can understand your temptation to just dive into all that green and start eating, eating, eating... But stop yourself! False hellebore is rough and tough and can easily take you in a one-on-one battle. That is to say, it is extremely toxic. If consumed and not treated, this stuff can kill you.
But it sure it purty to look at. FTW!
Kudos to Mel for helping identify this for me!

White and Green, 30 June 2009

2009-07-14T08:44:30-08:00

I have no idea what plant this is. It's completely beyond me! But it was a most-lovely plant.
I've been going through photos, pulling out unidentified foliage and plant photos, and trying to identify them. Some I'm finding, others not so much. In another life, in another reality, I'm a biological guru and would remember to check out the leaves more closely when hiking...
As always, if you can help identify this, I would appreciate it!

Yellow flowers at Arctic Valley, 10 June 2009

2009-07-14T07:28:19-08:00

I am extremely unsure of the identification of this flowering plant. As of now, I have it tagged as one-flowered cinquefoil (Potentilla uniflora), though I remain deeply insecure about this identification. If you can either confirm or correct this identification, it would be great appreciated!
This plant was found on the Arctic Valley trail in the Chugach State Park, just east of Anchorage, Alaska. The plant was growing in some loose, rock-strewn soil at a fairly high altitude (about midway up the mountain range elevation). A rather beautiful plant. I was smitten by the stark contrast of this lively plant and the harsh rock and soil surrounding it.
You can find all "unidentified" or "unsure identifications here:
http://floridana.typepad.com/weblog/pending-identification/

Pickerel weed, 14 May 2009

2009-07-13T12:15:50-08:00

In Florida, pickerel weed (Pontederia cordata) is usually in shallow fresh water bodies, such as the edges of ponds and lakes, as well as throughout soft, shallow marshes. The plant is perennial and shoots up each growth season, most notably with its rather beautiful and lovely purple flowers. It can grow in remarkably tight clusters, beneath which a variety of freshwater fish take refuge.

Spanish moss, 14 May 2009

2009-07-13T09:57:01-08:00

The stuff you see hanging from the branches of the trees in these pictures is called Spanish moss (Tillandsia usneoides). You may think it's a moss or a lichen, but it's actually not. It is actually a plant belonging to the Bromeliaceae family (along with the Giant airplant).
If you've ever been to the American southeast, you know Spanish moss very well. It's extremely common throughout the thick forests and wetlands. In film, Spanish moss is often used to give the setting some kind of gothic aura. It's immediately recognizable and unique in the American south -- and often reminds me of early painted representations of Florida and the southeast. Almost always is there Spanish moss in these paintings.

Common fireweed, 09 July 2009

2009-07-12T14:50:51-08:00

I do adore fireweed (Epilobium angustifolium angustifolium). It's an extremely common herbal plant in southcentral Alaska and lives for several years. During the winter, of course, fireweed is completely shut down and buried by the snow. But as summer arrives, it shoots from the ground, as if in a race.
Firewood grows up to around five feet or so in our yard. It seems to keep growing until winter finally comes around. It also doesn't seem to take very long for fireweed to move into a new area. In just over a season, an area can quickly be colonized by these vivid and powerful plants. I rather adore this strange plant. There's nothing like it in Florida.