Author: Kimsmithdesigns

Documentary filmmaker, photographer, landscape designer, author, and illustrator. "Beauty on the Wing: Life Story of the Monarch Butterfly" currently airing on PBS. Current film projects include Piping Plovers, Gloucester's Feast of St. Joseph, and Saint Peter's Fiesta. Visit my websites for more information about film and design projects at kimsmithdesigns.com, monarchbutterflyfilm.com, and pipingploverproject.org. Author/illustrator "Oh Garden of Fresh Possibilities! Notes from a Gloucester Garden."

Incredible Wedding at Willowdale Estate

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Spring Tulips ©Kim Smith 2013

I have shared many photos and stories about the garden and events that take place at Willowdale Estate. Not only because I love working with everyone there, but also because several people who live in Gloucester work at Willowdale (Michele and Audi) and because everyone in the Willowdale offices reads GMG on a daily basis. The following glowing review was recently published in The Knot and I thought perhaps prospective brides looking for a venue would like to read about one bride’s beautiful experience at Willowdale.

Incredible Wedding!

Review - May 2013 Healey

Spring Tulips ©Kim Smith 2013 -1Spring Tulips at Willowdale Estate

Five Little Foxes

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Five Foxlets © Sally Williams
One of my gardening friends in Hiram, Maine, sent along this adorable photo. Sally writes that she and her husband, “thought he saw a kitten, then saw three – neither cats nor dogs – then they realized they were fox kits and not just 3 but 5. The kits sun themselves and roam around our barn and they are so cute.  Now they are skittish as their eyesight develops but a couple of days ago we could approach and stand close without moving and watch them play. Fun.” Best of all, Sally says, is that because of the resident fox family, they have had no woodchucks in the barn!

Five Little Foxes photo by Sally Williams

Swally Note from Morgan Faulds Pike

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Gloucester Sculptor and Gardening Friend Morgan Faulds Pike writes ~

Hi Kim,

Just read your post at GMG and thought I’d send this along since it happened today.

I went into the barn to put the broom back after sweeping the porch and I did the daily check of Swally! OMG!
Had to rush the photos because I didn’t know how much time I had.  I transferred him via his stick to the monarda. Then he flew away into the juniper hedge, perhaps to be shaded while firming up…
He was a tiny caterpillar last fall.  We fed him parsley and you advised us to let him winter in the barn.
Success!

Thanks and Cheers,

Morgan

Morgan Faulds Pike is well-known throughout Gloucester. She is the world famous sculptor who created Gloucester’s beloved Fishermen’s Wives Memorial.

full_size_clay_copyMorgan at Work on the Full-Size Clay for the Gloucester Fishermen’s Wives Memorial

91_owls-2Leaf-person and Owls by Morgan Faulds Pike

Newly Emerged Black Swallowtail Butterfly

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Male Black Swallowtail Butterfly Wedgewood Blue Lilac ©Kim Smith 2013Male Black Swallowtail and Lilac ‘Wedgwood Blue’

This past autumn I wrote about a Black Swallowtail caterpillar that was discovered munching on the parley plants at Wolf Hill Garden Center in Gloucester. The caterpillar had left the parsley plant and wandered around the office at Wolf Hill, where it had pupated, or in other words, turned into a chrysalis, on the razor-thin edge of an envelope. By chance, I met Kate, who works at Wolf Hill, one afternoon at Eastern Point while I was filming Monarchs, where she and her friend were looking at the butterflies through binoculars. She asked if I would be interested in taking care of the chrysalis over the winter. I of course said I would be delighted to do so!

The butterfly chrysalis lived in a terrarium all winter. The terrarium was placed in an unheated entryway. I thought it best for the chrysalis to experience normal winter temperatures rather than live in a heated home where it might be fooled into thinking it was spring. In the early spring we brought the terrarium onto our unheated front porch where it would be exposed to daylight .

A stunning male Black Swallowtail emerged last week. Earlier that very day I had seen a female Black Swallowtail nectaring at azaleas at a farm in a neighboring town. See the original post on Good Morning Gloucester about Kate and the Wolf Hill caterpillar.

Thank you Kate for the Black Swallowtail Chrysalis!

Black Swallowtail Chrysalis Brown form-1Black Swallowtail Chrysalis ~ Brown Form

Niles Pond Ducklings

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Niles Pond ©Kim Smith 2013

Late afternoon Monday while photographing around Niles Pond, I heard a soft rustling in the reeds nearby. I had been standing very still and was hoping it was the illusive muskrat who seems to be everywhere on the Pond, and nowhere when you have camera at the ready. Not Mr. Muskrat, but instead, Mama Mallard and her ducklings emerged.

Niles Pond ducklings ©Kim Smith 2013

Niles Pond ducklings -2 ©Kim Smith 2013Niles Pond Ducklings

Come Visit My Film’s New Website!

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When you have a spare minute, I hope you”ll take a moment to look at the new website for my forthcoming film Life Story of the Black Swallowtail Butterfly. I had lots of fun creating the website and it was great to be able to assemble and house all the information in one place, including photos, upcoming events, the trailer, and a share page. Please let me what you think. THANK YOU! 

Life Story of the Black Swallowtail Butterfly

*

To all who have expressed interest in attending the premier of Life Story of the Black Swallowtail Butterfly, the advance tickets are selling rapidly and the event is nearly sold out.  Please purchase tickets while still available. Link to Advance Ticket sales at Cape Ann Community Cinema.

Reminder ~ Cape Ann TV Annual Meeting is Tonight

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Message From Cape Ann TV Board President Paul J ~
Everyone’s busy these days. Just a quick reminder note – the CATV Annual Meeting is tonight!

It’s going to be an interesting and enjoyable event with:  CATV clips from the past year; a short overview of station performance; and brief, but insightful presentations from 4 current show producers.

The Meeting is at the TV studio- 38 Blackburn Center. It will go from 7-8 pm.

It’s going to be a good one. Hope to see you later.

 

In Flanders Field

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In Flander's Field Illustration 1921

In Flanders fields the poppies grow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

~ Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, MD (1872-1918), Canadian Army

Icelandic Poppies ©Kim Smith 2013Icelandic Poppies

In Flanders Field is one of the most beautiful war poems ever written. To read about the making of the poem see the following from the Arlington National Cemetery website.

In Flander's Field

To The Wonder at the Cape Ann Community Cinema

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Sarah Green to the Wonder CACC ©Kim Smith 2013Sarah Green at the Cape Ann Community Cinema

Last night I caught the screening event of To The Wonder, hosted by the film’s producer, Gloucester’s Sarah Green, and showing at Cape Ann Community Cinema. My favorite aspect of the film is the cinematography by Emmanuel Lubezki–simply stunning, really-and the characters are equally as gorgeous to look at as are the landscapes that surround. The theatre was packed for this very special event and the procedes are going towards launching Cape Ann Community Cinema’s indigogo fund-raising campaign to upgrade their projection equipment. READ MORE ABOUT THE CACC indiegogo fundraiser here.

The full schedule can be found at the Cinema’s website at Cape Ann Community Cinema.

Sarah Green Duncan Nelson to the Wonder CACC ©Kim Smith 2013Duncan Nelson’s Impromptu Ode to Sarah 

Sarah Green to the Wonder Cape Ann Community Cinema ©Kim Smith 2013JPGSarah’s Q & A after the film’s screening

Read Gail McCarthy’s Gloucester Daily Times story about Sarah Green here.

Sarah Green to the Wonder CACC ©Kim Smith 2013 Michael UllmanBoston Filmmaker Michael Ullman

All the photos are grainy. They were shot without flash in the cinema’s darkened theatre with the Fujifilm X-E1,  ISO 12,000, which isn’t too shabby that my camera even has an ISO 12,000!

Sarah Green to the Wonder CACC Michael Ullman Rachel©Kim Smith 2013

Sarah Green to the Wonder CACC Michael Ullman Rachel -2. ©Kim Smith 2013Michael meeting the always gracious and beautiful Cape Ann Community Cinema’s Rachel

More Stills from Felicia’s Forthcoming Kickstarter Cookbook Project

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See previous post

Craig and Felicia ©Kim Smith 2012 Craig and Felicia

Pat and Hannah Kimberley©Kim Smith 2013Pat and Hannah Kimberley

Felicia Craig Kickstarter video -12 ©Kim Smith 2013

Felicia Craig Kickstarter video ©Kim Smith 2013

Winners Announced 2013 Rockport Short Film Festival People’s Choice Awards

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Rockport Art Festivals Blog ~

Rockport Festivals is pleased to announce that two films received the inaugural Motif 1 Short Film Fest People’s Choice award(s):

Homemade Parade by Emile Doucette & BomBom Butterflies by Kim Smith

RFfilmfestwinnerlogo

Wow! What a great first year for the first Motif 1 Short Film Fest! We had some great submissions, ranging on topics from the launch of an Essex-built schooner to the legend of the Gloucester Sea Serpent. The following eight short films were chosen for the first Motif 1 Short Film Fest:

Launch Day of the Schooner Ardelle
by Len Burgess
What do You Love About Cape Ann?
by Mike Kelly
BomBom Butterflies
by Kim Smith
Gloucester Sea Serpent
by Doctor Colonel Gonzo
No More Gloomy Sundays
by Robert Newton
New England Blood
by Dylan/Ladds
Homemade Parade
by Emile Doucette
Thacher Island Nature Reserve Sunrise 
by Ron Rismen

Two screenings were held at the annual Motif No.1 Festival in Rockport, one on Friday, May 17th and another on Saturday, May 18th, with Twin Lights soda courtesy of Rockport’s own Thomas Wilson Beverage Co. at both screenings. Viewers were asked to vote for their favorite film (if they felt so inclined — voting was entirely optional). Across the ballots all the films received great feedback, with one voter checking off every single option with the comment that each one was a favorite. But in the end, two films emerged as the front runners with both receiving the same number of votes.

Read more about the event at Rockport Art Festivals

To The Wonder

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Gloucester’s Sarah Green will host a special screening of the Terrence Malick-directed romantic drama To The Wonder, which she produced, on Saturday, May 25th at 7:30pm at The Cape Ann Community Cinema at 21 Main Street in Gloucester.

Green’s impressive filmography includes Jeff Nichols’ Mud (also now in theaters) and Take Shelter, as well as the boxing drama Girlfight. She has worked frequently with David Mamet and John Sayles, and produces all of legendary auteur Malick’s films, including The Tree Of Life, for which she was nominated for an Oscar for Best Picture in 2012.

To The Wonder, which stars Oscar winner Ben Affleck, Rachel McAdams, and Javier Bardem, was the last film reviewed by the late great film critic Roger Ebert, who awarded it 3 1/2 out of 4 stars, saying of the interactions between its characters, “As all of these relationships intertwine, Malick depicts them with deliberate beauty and painterly care.”

Tickets for this special event are $15.00 ($13.50 for Cinema Members), and benefit the Cinema and its upcoming Kickstarter campaign to upgrade its projection equipment. Tickets can be purchased at www.CapeAnnCinema.com (or in person at the box office).

A full schedule can be found on the Cinema’s website at www.CapeAnnCinema.com.

New Format for Cape Ann TV Annual Meeting

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Paul Jermain, Cape Ann TV board president writes,

“Thanks for accepting our invitation to participate in the CATV annual meeting next week.

You know, historically, CATV annual meetings, like most other of that ilk, have been a tad boring. Yes, the business got done, but holy smokes, it could be dull.

That’s why I’m so excited about the new format we’re going to try out next week, and your participation in it.

In contrast to an endless chain of drawn out speeches, this event is going to revolve around you and some select other producers. Now, I have to share a little bit about the Station in review of last year’s highlights. But, really, the core of the evening is going to be you and the others sharing a bit about your programs- how and why you got started; what you learned; and some interesting moments and clips. As a producer myself, I’m looking forward to hearing what you have to share. And you’ll probably enjoy listening to the other folks as well.

What: CATV Annual Meeting

Where: CATV Studio, 38 Blackburn Center

When: Tuesday, May 28th, 7-8pm

Why: Celebrate the achievements of the station and the producers over the past year.

I’m looking forward to seeing you again and working together to deliver an evening that people will really enjoy and appreciate.”

Thanks Paul for writing. I met Allen Estes at the station yesterday and he is looking forward to participating as well. Best wishes for the new format!

Sista Felicia’s Kitchen

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Felicia, Craig, Hannah, Pat.

Felicia, Craig, Hannah, and Pat

Yesterday afternoon I popped over to Felicia’s to find her and her fantastic team getting ready to launch Felicia’s Kickstarter program for her first cookbook. Craig Kimberley was shooting Felicia’s Kickstarter video and there was a mountain of food styled by Craig and Felicia, with Pat and Hannah providing assistance. Craig has created many cooking shows and he knew exactly how he wanted to film Felicia’s wonderful cooking demonstrations. It was lots of fun watching the two of them working at what they both love to do–Felicia cooking and Craig directing and shooting–and I was so glad to have had my camera with!

Felicia Craig video kickstarter ©Kim Smith 2013 -1

Felicia Craig video kickstarter ©Kim Smith 2013Felicia Craig video kickstarted bl-wh -1 ©Kim Smith 2013Felicia and Craig

Willie Alexander Film & Performance In Gloucester This Thursday

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Rob Newton submits ~

LOCAL MUSIC LEGEND SAYS HELLO GLOUCESTER!

Ferrini film and concert celebrate Gloucester’s own Willie Alexander

Willie Alexander

On Thursday, May 24th at 7:30pm, The Cape Ann Community Cinema at 21 Main Street in Gloucester will present Hello Gloucester followed by a live set by Willie Alexander and the Persistence Of Memory Orchestra. Tickets are $15.00 ($13.50 for Cinema Members), and are available either at the box office or online at www.CapeAnnCinema.com.

January 12,  2013 was a memorable day in  rock-and-roll. On that day, Governor Deval Patrick issued a citation that acknowledged Bay State rocker Willie Loco Alexander on the punk vanguard’s 70th birthday. His significant other, Anne Rearick, had planned a “surprise party du la monde” at Jimmy Tingle’s old theater in Somerville and dozens of musicians showed up to honor Willie and play tunes he has written over the past 5 decades.

Bands at the January celebration included Rockport’s A-Train Orchestra, Moose Savage, Breadman, Jon Hardy and the Bags, Birdsongs of the Mezozoic, Reddy Teddy, Barrence Whitfield, the Nervous Eaters, Rupert Webster (all the way from London), Kenne Highland, Dave Sag, Jon Macy, Asa Brebner, John Powhida, Frank Rowe, Dennis Brennan, Peter Wolf, Mission of Burma, Andrea Gillis, Persistence of Memory, Roger Miller, John Macey and Gloucester’s own The Boyfriends. All were  there to honor a guy who has spent his life pushing the rock and letting it roll down on the hearts of Boston music lovers.

The film is produced by the Gloucester Writers Center video archive and directed by Gloucester filmmaker Henry Ferrini. The Gloucester Writers Center was founded to celebrate, preserve and promote the future of Gloucester’s rich literary legacy. Housed in the former home of poet Vincent Ferrini (1913-2007), the GWC is dedicated to fostering the tradition of local poetic investigation practiced by Ferrini and his friend and renowned Gloucester poet, Charles Olson (1910-1970).

Through a variety of community-based programming, including literary readings, workshops, youth programs, topical writers’ talks and conferences, and a residency program, the GWC will serve as a gathering place and resource center for local and international writers in all genres, fields and realms of interest.

The Cape Ann Community Cinema’s full schedule can be found online at www.CapeAnnCinema.com, with the week’s offerings available by phone at (978) 282-1988.

The Mary Prentiss Inn

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mary prentiss inn ©Kim Smith 2013 copy

Last fall I began a new project, The Mary Prentiss Inn, located on Prentiss Street off of Harvard Square. The old garden had grown up and out and the plants had become too over-sized for the little borders out front of the Inn.

mary prentiss inn before ©Kim Smith 2012Mary Prentiss Inn ~ Before

Jennifer Fandetti, who runs her family’s Inn, had wanted more color throughout the growing season, as well as flowers to bring indoors to decorate the rooms.

Jennifer fandetti and helper ©Kim Smith 2012Jennifer and bulb-planting helper

Mary prentiss Inn fall planting ©Kim Smith 2012Our awesome fall crew planting the borders

We are all so weary of winter’s drab hues that when spring at long last arrives the tulips and jonquils are a wonderfully welcome sight. I make a special mix of color and variety for each client and later this season we’ll add perennials and annuals. The boxwoods give the borders a neat appearance and the hollies and magnolia provide structure and beauty throughout the year. Coming soon is a little cutting garden along the side of the building. For now, everyone, including guests and neighbors, are enjoying the new look at the Inn!

Mary Prentiss Inn spring tulips ©Kim smith 2013

Harvard and MIT are just around the corner from the Mary Prentiss, and with all the graduations and events, if you need a wonderful place to stay, or recommend to a friend, The Mary Prentiss Inn is an absolutely perfect and delightful inn in the heart of Cambridge. The staff is gracious and helpful, the building has been beautifully renovated and restored (and is meticulously maintained) and all the rooms are charming and beautifully appointed, with decor by Charlotte’s Forsythe. Amenities include high speed internet service (wired and WiFi), cooked to order breakfasts, and 100 percent cotton bed linens. Every afternoon tea is served with super delicious homemade cookies and other sweet treats. Around back is a stunning secret garden and sunny courtyard used for breakfast, afternoon tea, and relaxing.

Mary Prentiss Inn spring tulips -1 ©Kim smith 2013

I watched as these two women were were walking down Mass Ave. They looked down Prentiss Street, and continued to walk by, but on second thought turned around and came back to photograph the flowers!

Mary Prentiss Inn spring tulips -2 ©Kim smith 2013

Sarah Kelly, Rockport Short Film Festival, 7th Wave, and a Great Saturday on Cape Ann!

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There were so many amazing community events taking place yesterday. Although our GMG Cape Ann Monarch Milkweed Project was held in the morning, I was able to attend the Rockport Film Festival in the afternoon, where Sarah Kelly, the festival’s organizer (and GMG contributor) had invited me to speak about my forthcoming film “Life Story of the Black Swallowtail Butterfly” and my short film”BomBom Butterflies” had been accepted to the screening.

Rockport was teeming with families and activities. It was difficult to find a parking space but when I finally arrived at the Firehouse where the afternoon’s screenings were taking place, Craig and Hannah Kimberley had very kindly saved me a seat. All of the films were well-worth seeing;  just some of the highlights were Len Burgess’s film about the launching of the Schooner Ardelle, Robert Newton’s film about Gloucester’s WPA murals, and “Homemade Parade” by Emile Doucette. The short film event was followed by poetry readings from local poets. I left shortly after and returned home, with plans to return to the 7th Wave with my husband for dinner (where our son is the cook).

When we returned to Rockport at 7:00, Sarah Kelly was still working away at the Firehouse cleaning up with her family and friends after the day’s events. She was so gracious and I think is doing a fabulous job promoting the festival. I am hoping she will perhaps write a post-festival GMG post on her perceptions of the event’s successes.

We arrived at the 7th Wave Restaurant and were seated at a lovely spot by the window, with the gorgoeus view of the harbor made even prettier in the light of the setting sun. I had a Blue Moon beer, which I love because the name of the beer is one of my favorite Ella Fitzgerald songs. The beer was served with a wedge of orange–a flavorful touch, and fitting because Blue Moon’s list of ingredients includes orange peel. My husband had the cooked-to-perfection grilled mahi-mahi with a delicious spicy mango salsa. Usually I don’t order fried clams because frankly they often aren’t very well prepared and, as they are currently more expensive than a lobster dinner, it really is no fun to bite into a pricey soggy, soden lump of sand and grease. Have no fear of being diappointed at the 7th Wave because, really, their fried clams are to-die-for; simply the best fried clams I have had in a long time (take note Craig if you are reading this!). The batch I had last night was soooo fresh and delicious, perfectly golden brown and crunchy crispy on the outside, with tender, fat bellies on the inside. I had heard in Joey’s podcast with Craig that the fried clams at the Cape Ann Brew Pub are pretty awesome and I have yet to try those, but I know where I will be heading next time I get a jones for extra delicious fried clams and dinner with a stunning view!

Khan Family 7th Wave Rockport © Kim Smith 20137th Wave Khan Family

Many Thanks to the Positively Most Awesome Community Ever!

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The Cape Ann Monarch Milkweed Project was positively a resounding success. Thank you to everyone who ordered and picked up your milkweed plants. Thank you to Joey who turned my small seed of an idea into a fabulous community-wide project and who also very kindly offered Captain Joe and Sons for mug up and pick up. Thank you to Felicia for taking valuable time from writing the world’s-greatest-cookbook-ever and spending the entire morning making and serving coffee and Sicilian gigilani cookies (I know that is totally misspelled) and for helping with the plants and for just being a great friend. Thank you to all my GMG fellow contributors and all the FOBs for coming, and for everyone’s enthusiasm in the project.

And, most importantly, the Monarchs thank you!!!

We have exactly fourteen plants remaining and all fourteen are spoken for. After all the plants are picked up and the money totaled, we will have enough to make a donation to the Rocky Neck Cultural Center. So thank you again. I am very inspired by the success of the program and plan to later in the summer have a Cape Ann Monarch Aster and Goldenrod Program.

Monarch Butterfles Eastern Point Gloucester MA © Kim Smith 2012

Monarch Butterflies at Eastern Point

How to Plant and Care for Your Milkweed Plants

Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) has a taproot. Plants with taproots do not like to be disturbed once established so it is best to plant your Common Milkweed seedlings as soon as possible. Common Milkweed is not too fussy about soil and is the milkweed we see growing in fields, roadsides, dunes, and meadows. It can reach up to six-feet in height, but more commonly grows two- to four-feet. Common Milkweed spreads by underground shoots and by seed dispersal.

The Marsh Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata) are well-rooted year-old plants and can be planted in the garden now, or within the next month or so. Marsh Milkweed grows best in good garden soil and/or moist areas. Marsh Milkweed is clump forming and does not spread by underground shoots.

Both milkweed species prefer full sun, but will take some slight shade. Plant with the soil line equal to the soil line in the pot. Place a stake nearby so that you do not step on your little milkweed seedling. Water gently. Check frequently on your milkweed plant until it is fully established. Water when dry, but do not over water. Monitor for milkweed aphids. Milkweed aphids are tiny soft-bodied orange insects. If you do see any aphids, gently wash them away with water; no soap or strong pesticides needed!

Milkweed seed pod bl-wh ©Kim Dmith 2012