“No one knows how many types of fleshy fungi exist in nature. There are about 10,000 described species known from North America, but everyone agrees that there are undiscovered species.” — Mushroom, The Journal
Evidence: Sugar Maple
The Sugar Maple (Acer saccharum) supports of a myriad of wildlife — deer, moose, squirrels, butterfly larvae, aphids, porcupines, raccoon, song birds, woodpeckers, honeybees — and can live up to 500 years. (U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service)
Photo ©2017 Jen Payne, from the upcoming book Evidence of Flossing: What We Leave Behind.
No Bones About It…
…there are some interesting things happening over at Three Chairs Publishing!
COMING THIS FALL!
Evidence of Flossing: What We Leave Behind
Poetry & Photography by Jen Payne
EXHIBIT: Where the Whole Universe Dwells
Preview images from our upcoming book at this exhibit presented by the Arts Council of Greater New Haven at Perspectives…The Gallery at Whitney Center in Hamden, CT through August 27.
POETRY READING: Guilford Poets Guild
Enjoy poems by GPG members Nan Meneely and Jen Payne on Thursday, September 14, 6:30 p.m. at the Guilford Free Library, Guilford, CT.
BOOK LAUNCH: Evidence of Flossing: What We Leave Behind
Watch for details about the special book launch event, scheduled for October 14 & October 15 at the Martha Link Walsh Gallery in Branford, CT.
Watch for more details on our the Three Chairs Publishing website page, coming soon!
If you would like to be on our postcard/invitation mailing list, please email us your mailing address today!
Evidence: Monarch Butterfly
According to scientists, the North American continent’s Monarch Butterfly (Danaus plexippus) population has declined by more than 80 percent from its average during the past two decades — and by more than 90 percent from its peak of nearly one billion butterflies in the mid-1990s. (National Wildlife Federation, “Battle for Butterflies, The fight to bring back North America’s dwindling migratory monarchs,” by Laura Tangley.)
Photo ©2017 Jen Payne, from the upcoming book Evidence of Flossing: What We Leave Behind.
Evidence: Great Spangled Fritillary
The Great Spangled Fritillary (Speyeria cybele) prefers violets, near which they lay their eggs each spring. They sleep through the winter and will only awaken in the spring at the same time as violet plants begin to grow. It is feared that global warming may disrupt this synchronization; this would prove catastrophic to fritillary caterpillars. (“Fritillary: A Pretty Butterfly and a Good Pollinator,” By Beatriz Moisset, U.S. Department of Agriculture)
Photo ©2017 Jen Payne, from the upcoming book Evidence of Flossing: What We Leave Behind.
Greener Grass
glass-enclosed vestibule
the woman behind the counter
a dozen customers seated
The author paints a portrait
of the me I did not become
there in black and white
there seemed to be a connection
you knew they all knew one another
and me
wondering:
what if I remained?
Worked my shifts.
Married the cowboy.
Had the kids.
Lived that life.
Would it have been
the better or the worse?
Would I?
My finger dogears the page,
as if to say I was here
or remember this
the alternate ending
blurred and obscured
I was drawn to it as if to a dream.
Poem ©2016, Jen Payne, inspired by “A Great Good Place” from A Cape Cod Notebook by Robert Finch.
Evidence: Start of Spring
“Start of Spring” is one of 14 climate change indicators. It tracks the start of spring for each year, using model estimations of when enough heat has accumulated to initiate growth (leafing and flowering) in temperature-sensitive plants. Observed changes in the start of spring reflect the overall warming trend in the climate system. (U.S. Global Change Research Program)
