Two winged silverbell (Halesia diptera)
One of our most spectacular small native trees, Halesia diptera grows to be about 15-30 feet tall and produces an abundance of small white flowers that are faintly, but pleasantly, fragrant. It is a low maintenance tree with few insects or diseases that attack it and is also resistant to drought. When mature it tends to have a pleasingly round shape. There are few trees that are its equal when it is in full bloom.
Mohammad-Reza Shajarian
Mohammad-Reza Shajarian (born September 23, 1940, Mashhad, Iran; died October 8, 2020, Tehran, Iran) was an internationally acclaimed Iranian singer, composer, and master (ostad) of Persian music. He was also known for his mastery of Persian calligraphy and for his humanitarian activities, most notably his organization of a benefit concert for the survivors and families of the victims of the 2003 earthquake which ravaged the Iranian city of Bam, killing more than 26,000 people.
Shajarian embodied the timeless beauty of Persian music. Revered for his swooping, undulating voice, he united Iranians across generations and enlivened Iran’s traditional music with his singing style. His soaring, quavering tenor trilled over beloved Persian poems set to song. Many of the string and percussion instruments that accompanied his music he designed himself. His singing has been described as technically flawless, powerful, and strongly emotional.
Regarded as one of Iran’s national treasures, Shajarian popularized traditional Persian music for a new generation and built a global following. One of the most celebrated world music artists, Shajarian was named a chevalier of France’s Legion of Honor in 2014. He received the UNESCO Picasso medal and Mozart medal in recognition of his unparalleled talent and commitment to artistic freedom. In 2009, the Los Angeles Time named him “Iran’s greatest living master of traditional Persian music.” He was hailed as one of NPR’s 50 Great Voices of all time.
