Winter Outing

After all the fun of the holidays, it's time to get "back" in shape. What could be better than taking a long walk on a sunny day in an interesting park that is filled with trees, shrubs, and tombstones? On this January day, we're going back to the Mountain View Cemetery in Oakland. The cemetery is a beautiful place that has a long history and fantastic views of the Bay Area.

Brotherly Love

Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks

There is always something new to discover at the cemetery. On this day we came across a magnificent bronze elk statue perched on top of a tumulus in Plot 32. The site is an "Elks' Rest" burial place for deceased lodge members (similar sites are located around the country). The monument was established by Lodge #171, and unveiled and dedicated in 1896 (see Where Elks May Sleep in Peace).

View towards Millionaire Road

Tombstones are always fascinating, for both their styles and the stories they tell about the deceased. This gravestone for William H. Lessels caught my eye. It looks like it was broken at some point, and then repaired. The tombstone is a little difficult to read in places, but it looks like Lessels was a midshipman of a British Duke class ship, who died August 21, 1876 at the age of 18. He drowned near Sunderland, England and the officers and crew of his ship paid tribute to their deceased colleague.

I did a quick internet search of the Lessels family and found Brief Life History of Allen Henderson (Lessels). William Henry Lessels is listed as the second child (1858-1876) of Allan and Jane Lessels. However, the family seemed to be firmly settled in England and Scotland, with no mention of anyone migrating to the Bay Area. I am curious how his grave marker ended up at the Mountain View Cemetery - a family history mystery!

Tribute to William H. Lessels, midshipman

We also discovered a graffiti tribute to a deceased 21-year old (1995-2016), painted on a concrete retaining wall nearby. Two young lives in two different eras, snuffed out too early, both with friends, family, and colleagues to honor them.

Tribute to Tonio, brother

Our outing was a success - we got some exercise in a beautiful location, and made several interesting discoveries.

Ethnobotany and Dyeing with Plants

Our theme for Eden By The Bay this year is "Ethnobotany and Dyeing with Plants". According to an AI Overview:

Ethnobotany is the study of how people use plants in different cultures, regions, and time periods. It involves the study of the relationship between people and plants, including how plants are used for food, medicine, shelter, and more.

Since ethnobotany is such a broad topic, I plan to focus on the plants used for dyeing or decorating (part of the and more category cited above). I also plan to further narrow the focus to three specific people groups—Tlingit and Chimmesyan/Tsimshian (Alaska coast and Canada interior), Ohlone/Costanoan (Northern California), and Polynesian/Pacific Islander (Hawaii). That is still a pretty big swath, so my exploration will be at the survey level. I'm really looking forward to learning more about dye sources used by these people groups.

Dye Sources, clockwise: White Alder (photo by Mitch Barrie)
Wolf Lichen (photo by Jason Hollinger)
Blueberries
Hibiscus (photo by Tim1357)

How did I make my choices? I was born and raised in Juneau, Alaska, and have an affinity for the culture and art of the Tlingit people. I have been privileged to view their dances, story telling, totems, and art in person, and would like to learn more about their use of plants for dyeing. I'd also like to learn more about the Ohlone people, who have thrived in the Bay Area of Northern California for thousands of years, and about their use of plants for dyeing or embellishing. And finally, since Hawaii is one of our future trip destinations, I'd like to learn more about the beautiful island paradise, how it came to be populated by Polynesian seafarers thousands of years ago, and the plants they used or brought for dyeing. As always, I hope you'll join me on this quest!

Looking Ahead to 2025

Happy New Year! I love looking ahead to a new year. There is so much potential一possibilities for exploring, travelling, creating, and enjoying friends, family, and life. Really, any new day offers a fresh start, but a new year gets me thinking about what's important, what I don't need any more, and what I'd like to do or learn in the next 365 days. I find that to be a better approach than making a list of new year's resolutions, which are typically cast aside after a week or so!

This year my theme for Eden By the Bay is "Ethnobotany". My focus over the years has been on the plant hunters of the past who discovered plants from all over the world and looked for economic uses for them. This year I'd like to focus on plants that indigenous people were already using when they were "discovered"!

Clockwise: Hawaii's state flower - photo by Conrado
Ethnobotany and dyeing with plants
Observing local flora and fauna
Enjoying the landscape in all seasons

Looking ahead, I'm researching trip ideas for the coming years. My husband and I love to travel, and to learn about the history, flora and fauna, natural history, and gardens of our destinations. A few candidates on our radar include Hawaii, upstate New York, Four Corners Monument, and Mesa Verde National Park. We also plan on more visits to Alaska, Washington, and Oregon, as well as "long weekends" anywhere in California. Travel enriches our lives and makes us more appreciative of what we have at home! 

While that's brewing, we'll continue some of our favorite pursuits like tending and enjoying our new landscape (I'm currently learning what tasks are required for each month and season), visiting beautiful gardens and landscapes, and delving into the seasons, weather, and critters we encounter. There are books to read, movies to see, seeds to plant, floral arrangements to create, projects to accomplish, fabric to dye, and new ideas to try. At the heart of it all though, are the people, loved ones, and Huskies that travel along on that journey!