On my walk: end of season Roses still blooming, still beautiful

On my walk: variations of Dahlias, Asters, Sunflowers, and Black-eyed Susan.

On my walk: Wisteria and Beauty Berries.

On my walk: mushrooms - so many colors & shapes. They’re amazing.

Only walk: late summer Roses.

Prefacing his candor about convos with senior Biden Administration officials - including Jake Sullivan and VP Kamala Harris - on Gaza, @jjz1600.bsky.social said, said, "I'm going to be 80... and therefore don't give a s---." Watch our full discussion, or listen to the podcast. Link in comments.

On my walk: Nature provided this amazing arrangement of Zinnias w/ Taro & Garden Cosmos greens. Could’ve been a florist!

On my walk: signs of the end of summer are everywhere - Porcelain-berries, Spider-flowers, Autumn Clematis, & Scarlet Rosemallow.

On my walk: the stump from a massive old oak tree that was cut down just a few months ago - giving birth to new life, in two forms: clover and fungus, each beautiful in its own way.

On my walk: Garden Cosmos & Yellow Cosmos. Lovely & delicate.

On my walk: it’s that time of year - hot & humid. And so springing up everywhere - monster mushrooms (8” across!)

Good morning! I'm in Uganda to visit family and friends. But depending on your perspective, don't worry or I'm sorry: I'll be back by the end of the month. See you soon, NYC.

On my walk: neighbor’s plants & flowers are wild & wondrous. I love walking this stretch of sidewalk, you feel transported to another place.

On my walk: I’m in Utica. I love this because you get to roll back time a few weeks. Lilies that have faded in DC are just coming into their own up here. (There were all in one yard.)

On my walk: in the face of the horrors of genocide in Gaza & the dangers of expanded war in the ME, new Roses bloom daily. They keep me sane and inspire to keep up the struggle for peace and justice.

I walk & love paying attention to what I see on my way. There is beauty everywhere - you just need to notice.

On my walk: Lilies and Day Lilies #1.

Trump Bombs Nuclear Sites in Iran & then says “now is the time for peace.” Didn’t think he’d be dumb enough to do it. He was. Now this is our war. It won’t end soon & it won’t be pretty. As we found in Iraq, Libya, & Afghanistan - there are always consequences. “When will they ever learn?”

On my walk: more Roses. We’re nearing the end of their season, but new blossoms are coming out daily.

On my walk: Lace Cap Hydrangeas. A pretty remarkable blossom.

On my walk: is there anything lovelier than Lace Cap Hydrangeas?

On my walk: the name of the tree that produces these clusters of intricate blossoms is the Southern Catalpa. It’s also referred to as the Cigar Tree

On my walk: everything has bloomed so early this year. These are mid-summer beauties & it’s still just late spring. Whorled Tickweed (an unflattering name for these lovely delicate blossoms) & Lilies!

On my walk: these are called “Lawyer’s Wig Mushrooms.” Ugly as sin, but also strikingly complex & in their own way beautiful.

On my walk: Clematis in bloom.

On my walk: Peonies are lovely in every color

On my walk: Roses after the rain

On my walk: Waterlilies in the duck pond in Baltimore’s Homeland neighborhood.

“UK, France and Canada warn Israel over ‘intolerable’ Gaza suffering.” We know it’s intolerable, but what are you going to do to stop it? Sanctions? Boycott? Nothing will stop Israel’s criminal behavior except punishment & being ostracized. www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/...

Hans Christian Andersen, writing in Denmark over 200 years ago, knew we would get to this point

OMG, NYTimes! I don’t know whether to laugh, cry, or scream at this bizarre article on the ongoing genocide in Gaza. There’s no “Bitter war of attrition!” Israel’s daily killing scores of Palestinians, starving millions, & forcing them to move. How is this a “war of attrition?” It’s genocide

On my walk: in Utica visiting family. It’s like getting another opportunity to experience Spring. Btw, they’ve had a lot of rain and so the lawns are full of Dandelions, Common Daisies, & Forget-Me-Nots. Some folks want to get rid of them. I think they’re beautiful.

On my walk: some unusual beauties: Columbine. Buckeye (horse chestnut), Rhododendron, & a stunning deep purple/white Iris.

Pope Francis cared for the Palestinians in Gaza. He called Gaza’s church nightly at 7:00 pm - just to check in & show concern. The crowd that would assemble just to hear him called it “pope time.” Even in death he cares. He left his “popemobile” to serve as a mobile clinic for Gaza’s kids.

On my walk #1: the Roses are out! Oh! The Roses.

In the past 6 weeks, every day an average of 50 Palestinians have been bombed to death by Israel, 400,000 have again been forced to evacuate & relocate, & the entire population is being starved & denied medical supplies. It’s accelerated genocide & US media & gov’t don’t give a damn.

When Catholic conservatives say the goal of next pope should be “unity,” they mean on their terms (& they’re saying Francis was a divider.) Nonsense. Francis did was Jesus would do. He reached out to the forgotten, excluded, & shunned. That should be the goal of the next pope too.

On my walk. Azaleas are out and streets are awash in vibrant colors.

On my walk: still more varieties of Tulips. This time of the year is wonderous. There’s new beauty every day, around every corner.

On my walk: glorious Peonies are out!

On my walk: my favorite saint (Francis of Assisi), in what I believe would be his favorite setting - surrounded by Azalea, Pachysandra, and Painted Fern.

On my walk: more varieties of stunning Tulips.

On my walk: a canopy of color - from the top: Dogwood, Redbud, Dogwood, Snowball Cherry.

On my walk: Iris (these were Eileen’s favorite) & Witch Alder. I love this time of year because everyday there are new blossoms & new colors. There’s a surprise around every corner.

On my walk: Redbuds are my favorite flowering tree. The blossoms cling to their branches accentuating each tree’s structure. The first photo is a Redbud as the backdrop to a Japanese Maple.

On my walk #2: more Tulips in more colors and shapes. Each variety is a delight.

On my walk #1: it’s “Tulip time” - and the varieties and colors are a wonder.

One of the most powerful pieces I’ve read in years. It’s a must read: if you are a person of faith, it will enrich your faith. If you are not, it will give you new insight into what Christianity was about - at the beginning. ( Hint: JD Vance won’t like it) www.nytimes.com/2025/04/13/o...

"If the Americans, Arabs, and other nations want to make a contribution to ending this conflict, they would direct their pressure not on Hamas and Palestinians, but on Israel and its leadership. ... Bringing the benefits of peace ... will weaken Hamas." - James Zogby @jjz1600.bsky.social

6 weeks into Israel’s cruel blockade of food & humanitarian aid into Gaza. Daily they’re forcing Palestinians to evacuate to “safe” zones as they continue killing scores in pursuit of their genocidal aims. What’s so infuriating is that we know it’s happening & yet nothing’s being done to stop Israel