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Suzanne Ferriss's avatar

Every picture tells a story! A keen eye and even keener eye for details. I love how these open up worlds, especially the first about the succulent that leads into history about Dunedin's music scene. Vintage vehicles and classic Mark McGuire wry wit.

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Mark McGuire's avatar

Thanks, Suzanne. I am easily sidetracked, as you know. I photographed another impressive cactus in Oamaru on Saturday. There are some some amazing treasures to be discovered in the suburbs.

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Friedchickensandwich's avatar

just a great read.. Also agree that would make a heck of a band name. I need to get more comfortable taking photos of houses. In which; I really love architecture so really should i got some cool ones around my way.

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Mark McGuire's avatar

Thanks, Ryan. I've discovered that even modest, suburban houses can be interesting. People really let their personality show with their own house and garden. I'll have to spend more time exploring the more 'ordinary' parts of town.

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Friedchickensandwich's avatar

Couldn't agree more Mark. It's personality mixed with some neighborly competitiveness lol.

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Jeannine's avatar

Very cool pictures. I especially liked the cactus and the story behind it. Did the owner tell you whether it stays put year round or goes in and put of the house with the seasons? I have a 37 year old orange tree living in the dining room that grew up from a seed planted by my eldest son. It used to spend the summers on the deck, but it's grown too big - and my husband and I are too old - for travel, so it now stays indoors and relies on grow lights, getting pruned every time it starts hitting the ceiling. The Succulents would definitely be a good name for a band!

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Mark McGuire's avatar

Hi Jeannine.

I'm pretty sure the cactus remains put all year. I'm not aware of anyone who moves plants indoors during winter, but I'm sure some would take delicate planted pots indoors if they were not used to cold winters. It rarely gets below freezing here (unlike Kitchener, Ontario or Rochester, NY — cities where I lived when I was growing up).

I really thought that cactus was terrific. It didn't seem to care if its stood out against that brick wall. It was like meeting the tallest kid at a gathering who you might expect to feel self-conscious about his or her height but then discovering that he or she was happy to be the Empire State Building of the party and to be looked up to. I also felt very fortunate to meet the owner, whose father had planed the cactus, which was almost like a sibling to him, as they had both grown up in the same household. I imagines how difficult it would be for him if that plant moved on before he did. I think there's a short story there somewhere. I am reminded that Canadian short story author, Alice Munro, recently died in her home in Port Hope, Ontario. Her stories are like the kind of photography I like — details of everyday life closely and sensitively observed and appreciated.

I love your story about your orange tree. It reads like a poem.

I have a 37-year-old orange tree that lives

in the dining room.

It used to spend the summers on the deck

before it got too big,

and we got too old,

for travel.

So, now, it stays

indoors, in the warmth of grow lights.

When my son visits,

he helps us trim its top

when it touches the ceiling.

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Jeannine's avatar

That was beautiful, thank you!

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Mark McGuire's avatar

It was a collaboration — 95% your good work, 5% my editing. So I’ll be expecting 5% of the proceeds from this poem when your book of poetry comes out.

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