Author: WmX

I stumbled off the track to success in 1968, started chasing shadows that summer. Since then, In addition to farm-laborer and newspaper photographer my occupational incarnations include dishwasher, janitor, retail photo clerk, plumber, HVAC repairman, auto mechanic, CAT scan technologist, computer worker and politico (whatever it takes to buy a camera.) I am on the road to understanding black and white photography.

betula uber

The Virginia round-leaf birch was the first tree given protection under the Endangered Species Act. This rare variant was first described by botanist
W.W. Ashe in 1918 as living in a single creek's drainage area.
The single natural population of Virginia round-leaf birch has dwindled down to only eight individuals in 2003.
Reproduction in the wild was last documented in 1981.
While there are nearly 1,000 artificially propagated trees in botanical gardens and the wild, the lack of natural reproduction is the primary reason the tree is still listed today.
Recovery for the Virginia round-leaf birch hinges on the successful natural reproduction and survival of these populations in the wild.--U.S. Fish and Wildife Service
tree sex
Tree champion Joe Murray talks about woody perennial sex and Betula Uber…

River Thing


Wednesday, July 20, the City Council will interview candidates for the City’s “Planning Commission”.
I hope the Councilors will ask PC wannabees to:

Identify strategies to maximize the presence and value of the Rivanna River in the life of the City.

The city of Charlottesville has a 3.6 mile waterfront without a single path from the river’s edge to the water.
Imagine that.

A city that ignores its river cannot call itself great.

Polar Bears and Liberty


US district court for the western district of Virginia held session at Monticello today and naturalized a group of new US citizens.


There were a lot of Coca-Cola bottles and logos in evidence.


citizens attended to sing and celebrate


local and network tv on hand to document the crazy salad.


We walked to Monticello past the homeless camps of Albemarle County and the beautiful remains of Mr. Jefferson’s liriodendron tulipifera.