Airport Artistry

Last April, while on a college tour trip, my mom and I marveled at the art installations at the Detroit airport. 

A corridor to reach gates was lit with colored lights that changed in time to dreamy music. The ambiance of the walkway was transformed from a stark industrial hall to a place where it felt as if you were being transported through space and time.

A water feature with dancing and jumping spouts kept us mesmerized for quite a while. The water spout's reflections created a symmetrical image that unified the piece, making it all the more interesting.

My mom, smiling through the water spouts...

And me, plus my reflection.

Hiking in Shasta

A back country hike through wilderness surrounding Castle Lake in Mt. Shasta yielded some spellbinding sights:

 

The Most Vibrant Red

 

Methods of Motion

 

Castle Crags

 

Heart of Mt. Shasta

 

Mt. Shasta in Alpenglow

Green Roofs

They've been around for centuries. They help our dwellings blend into the environment. They combat the "heat island effect", provide insulation, can be used for water purification, and of course are a habitat for plants and animals to flourish in our urban jungle. Yes that's right, it's a roof, and it's green. Not only because it's sustainable, but because it's made out of those things we call plants!

The Green Roof phenomenon is becoming more and more popular in the United States. Here in Bellingham, WA, a green roof was recently installed on Miller Hall, one of Western Washington University's academic buildings, and on a residential home. Community members participated in the installation of the "extensive" green roof on the house as part of a Sustainable Connections workshop. With everyone participating, it took about 40 minutes to cover the previously installed layers with a light pumice "growing medium" and cover that with vegetation. Although it is initially an involved process to acquire the proper permits and engineer a green roof, one immediately reaps the benefits after installation. It's fashionable AND functional!

A diagram of a green roof shows the basic layers that are required: