Twists and Turns. : : Fractals

A fractal is an irregular geometric structure that cannot be described by classical geometry because magnification of the structure reveals repeated patterns of of similarly irregular but progressively smaller dimensions: fractals are especially apparent in natural forms and phenomena because the geometric properties of the physical world are largely abstract.


I've been fascinated by fractals ever since I happened upon a television program in which someone had figured out how to make a visual representation of the Mandelbrot equation which describes fractals. The program appealed to my artistic side but the science behind it was incomprehensible. My favorite visual example of a fractal is an unrolling fern frond, each segment a smaller but identical version of the one beneath it.

This is a euphorbia that grows on our hill. Not only is each segment an exact but smaller replica of the one beneath it, but the whole structure twists and turns.

It's another hot day today and I noticed as I was prowling around the garden that everything looks a bit tired and thirsty, including the hearty euphorbias. We have been putting water from the shower on the pot plants to try and keep them better hydrated. We have considered a gray water system but it is a somewhat complicated engineering challenge here on our hill.

Speaking of engineering, the roof trusses* were delivered next door at about 6:30 this morning with much beeping and creaking of machinery. We met the truck that delivered them as we were driving out our very narrow twisty road. We're getting used to it, but I still wonder how we manage to pass each other without someone driving into the drainage ditch! 

They are repaving Los Alamos Road for the second time in ten years and a lot of the heavy equipment is parked in the field next door. The workers congregate there at about 6:30 in the morning, also with much beeping  and shouting. I can't help wondering why they are doing the same stretch of road again when our road has never been repaved since it was built in 1964. With all the heavy equipment using it, it is quickly reverting to a dirt road.