Each year after the holidays we take our Christmas tree to the Muny lot in Forest Park to be recycled into mulch. We recently discovered that for 26 years (where have we been?) the Missouri Department of Conservation has found another creative use for some of the trees. As shown in the photo above, they are strung out in Jefferson Lake near Steinberg Rink to offer fish a protective habitat for spawning and a safe environment for the young fish as they grow.
The fisherman in the first photo was reluctant to let me take a photo until he was headed home with his catch of three large trout, above. That's when he raised them proudly to signal it was okay to snap away.
Across the street Frank James, aka the "Curbside Artist*," had positioned his easel to afford a sweeping view of the lake. I learned a lot about Frank in a very short visit. He is self-taught, has painted a series of scenes in Tower Grove Park and Lafayette Square, and has recently been working in Forest Park. Though you can't tell much about his talent from the painting he had just started above, other examples of his work that I saw are quite lovely.
I couldn't help but notice Frank's artfully-torn jeans and striking tennis shoes.
As I looked around I discovered he wasn't the only one sporting orange Tuesday afternoon.
*Frank James, (314) 827-1684.