Stephen Hawking, Pi and Cosmos

By now you've heard that renowned theoretical physicist and cosmologist, Stephen Hawking died this morning, at his home in Cambridge, England.  He was born in Oxford, on January 8th, 1942, the 300th anniversary of the death of astronomer, Galileo.  The irony of the brilliant Cambridge University professor and author dying on March 14th , which is both Albert Einstein's birthday, and Pi Day, is not lost.  Hawking always had a great sense of humour!

Pi Day, or 𝝅 Day falls on the greatest of all geek days, 14th day of the 3rd month.  Pi is the ratio of the circumference of any circle to the diameter of that circle, and it is always 3.14.  In university campus cafeterias, college town diners, and boardrooms of upstart tech companies, pie is featured on today's menu.  

I would like to think that Hawking and Einstein, the two most revered scientists of my lifetime, are greeting each other, and sitting down along with Galileo, to a delicious pie, like the heavenly Peach and Blueberry Crumble which my friend Ailene baked for me.  Professor Hawking didn't believe in Heaven.  He did believe in heaven on earth...that this is the only life we have, and to live each day fully.

For someone who didn't believe in miracles, his life was a miracle.  Stricken with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), or Lou Gehrig's Disease at the age of 21, he was told he had only two years to live.  He survived more than five more decades, dying at the age of 76, surrounded by his family.  He had three children by his first wife, and three grandchildren. 

Unable to speak, his body contorted and paralyzed, he was entirely dependant on others, and technology for daily care, feeding, communicating, and transportation.  Yet, he published best-selling books, went on speaking tours, and continued research and mentoring.  He was an inspiration.

This morning, University of Cambridge posted this video in tribute to Professor Hawking...

https://youtu.be/ZrVVvXOIwQc

My tribute to Hawking is a field of Cosmos flowers...looking very much like a constellation of stars.

 

Photographs Copyright of:  Ruth Adams, Widow's Endorphins Photographic Images Incorporated.

Cosmos for an Eclipsed Lunar Eclipse

With so much activity in our sky this month, it's the perfect time to gaze at one of the neglected stars in our earthly gardens: Cosmos.  Sweet, simple and very independent cosmos, gets eclipsed by roses, peonies, and orchids, the stunningly beautiful, but very demanding divas of the flower world.

The word cosmos, is Greek for balanced universe.  The complete opposite of chaos and disorder. Astronomers use the word to describe the universe as a complex and orderly system.  The flower too, is balanced, with its petals arranged in opposite pairs.  When you look at a large field of cosmos, they look like stars in the Milky Way, spreading across the night sky!

  

Go ahead, ignore them!  Cosmos thrives on neglect.  These sunloving flowers are one of the easiest plants to care for, even in dry, drought conditions.  They need very little water, and don't bother fertilizing the soil.  In fact, if the soil is too rich, the leaves will take over the flowers. 

Cosmos are members of the sunflower family, however, their seeds look nothing like sunflower seeds.  They resemble tiny pine needles.  The plant self-seeds, too.  If you want to grow your own plants from seed, it's best to start later, rather than sooner.  The plant doesn't do well until after the last frost has passed, which in parts of Canada could be early June.  For once, being an early bird is not a good thing.

So, dear I-love-flowers-but-can't-be-bothered-with-all-the-work gardener, if you're beating yourself up about being a "lazy procrastinator", stop it!  Go out and buy cosmos plants (or maybe do it next year). It'll be a gardening marriage made in heaven!

I first saw cosmos while driving through the Quebec countryside.  It was blooming alongside weathered fencing, in farm fields.  The plants were higher than the wooden fences, their pink petals waving in the wind, above billowing mounds of what looked like asperagus leaves.

Quebec is a long way from the plant's origins in Mexico.  Which only proves the hardiness and adaptability of cosmos.  It grew wild in arrid regions of Mexico, accidentally making its way to the high plains of South Africa, by way of Argentinian horsefeed shipped to feed war horses during the Boer War.

Cosmos was introduced to Britain and Europe in the 1800's.  Then, it almost disappeared.  In recent years, many new varieties have been created, and last year in the UK, 2016 was named, The Year of the Cosmos.

Chocolate Cosmos is creating a sensation.  Discovered in 1860, it was last seen growing in the wild in 1878.  The deep chocolatey maroon coloured flower is gifted with a chocolate scent!  While I haven't had the pleasure of the flower's fragrance, I am told that it is, "out of this world"!

Tonight's Lunar Eclipse won't be seen in North, Central or South America.  It has nothing to do with the smoke from wildfires in British Columbia.  Not every eclipse is seen all over the world. This one will be visible in Europe, South and East Asia, Africa, Australia, and the most Easterly side of Brazil.

It's also visible from Antarctica, but only a lunatic would stand outside to watch a Lunar Eclipse from anywhere on that continent!  Tonight's Antarctic forecast is for temperatures of -55C (-67F)...with the windchill, it will feel like -74C (-101F)!

There's still plenty to see in the night sky this month:  mark your calendars for August 12th, when the Perseid Meteor Shower is at its peak, and August 21st for the Total Solar Eclipse.

Photographs Copyright of:  Ruth Adams, Widow's Endorphins Photographic Images Incorporated.