Nature

elusive butterflies

It’s muggy today as I wander through the forest. There are Peacock, Brimstone and Red Admiral butterflies about but they are all on the small side and flit nervously about tantalizing me. Finally I have to make do with a small brown Speckled Wood butterfly which did oblige by taking a short break. There are many small white, yellow, and purple wildflowers to be seen but not the sort that attract butterflies it would seem. It is still rather early for mushroom picking but I did come across this champignon-like mushroom, which I suspect, was poisonous.

Sunset

After a reasonably sunny day yesterday but for a brief storm in the afternoon the sun finally sets on Sommerberg at 20:45. The summer seems to be later this year. Apart from ferns, which are silently invading some forest tracks, compared to last year there is a dearth of flora, wildflowers and insects.

Nightart

Thomas our technical expert worked like crazy the last few days but still found time to update the artscreen backlighting by adding a mirror. The visual effect is much improved so that the impact the artscreen lacks during the day is more than made up for at night. Thanks Thomas! Work has also started on a second artscreen which features the old Sommerberg hotel and will hopefully be ready by the end of August.

Wandbild by night!

Die erste Nachtbeleuchtung haben wir entspannt mit einem Gläschen Rotwein, Kerzenschein und dem "besten Käse der Welt" begrüßt! (Cheddar Cheese)

Wildflowers galore

The roundabout to Sommerberg in Bad Wildbad caught my attention the other day with its incredible display of wild flowers, the like of which I have rarely seen before.

Wandbild

Ein Riesenlob an Jan Fellstrom, das erste unserer zwei Großbilder hängt! Seine Kreativität, sein Enthusiasmus und seine Zielstrebigkeit beflügeln mich. DANKE!!
Das Sommerberg-Areal entwickelt sich weiter zu einem kulturellen Highlight im Nordschwarzwald.
Ein besonderer Platz für neue Ideen. Wir laden kreative Querdenker ein uns bei der Neugestaltung unserer Heimat zu begleiten!
Sie haben kreative Ideen die im Freien ausgestellt werden? Wir haben das Forum.

Restaurant Sommerberg Hotel - Flammkuchen Gourmet

Ein neuer Genuß, mit Lachs, Spinat und Käse.
Bald geht das neue, monatliche Kochbuch vom Sommerberg Hotel online. Regionale Spezialitäten zum selbst kochen.

Wandbild - Artscreen installation

Pensive looks from Herr Eckert and Denis as we begin the complex task of unfolding and fixing the artscreen while at the same time dismantling the scaffolding.

1,2,3 hey presto … Despite the difficult task, 3 hours later it is installed without any major mishaps thanks mainly to Herr Eckert, Denis, Zeno, Uwe, Michael and Tilman. This was by far the most challenging phase of the whole project and I would like to thank all involved who helped make it a succcess. The next step will be to backlight the artscreen with floodlights so that the full effect of the silhouettes can be seen at night.

Wandbild - Artscreen

The artscreen is finally completed and installing it should happen Tuesday. Next to the screen there will be an information plaque explaining how it was created and naming all the wildlife silhouettes.

Kunstag - Artday

Tilman models a clay house for a project under the guidance of student Frau Liebhaber.



Dramatic acrylic paintings by Christine Fluhrer, inspired by the bergbahn, have a unique style.



Nicole Höger demonstrates the art of printmaking using a technique called ‘monotyping’

As part of the Bergbahn centinary celebrations art students from the International Hochschule Calw in Bad Wildbad spent the day in the Sommerberg bergbahn station demonstrating their artistic skills to visitors.

Link to school

Redstart chicks

Redstarts are breeding like crazy up on the hill. The lefthand picture shows five chicks that flew their nest in the Sommerberg Hotel some weeks ago and now a new brood has appeared (see righthand picture). Maybe the spring-like weather is the reason.

Wandbild - Artscreen

The artscreen will probably now be installed next week as the weekend weather looks unpredictable and there are also still some last minute finishing touches to be done.

Enztal

Scene from the Sommerberg Hotel terrace. Rain clouds fill the Enztal valley today but it should improve a bit over the next couple of days.

Wandbild - Artscreen

A worms-eye view of the first screen nearing completion. We plan to install it on Sunday, weather permitting. Eventually it will be backlit at night giving it a new dimension that will hopefully help improve the local environment.

Wandbild

Das Gerüst zum Aufhängen unseres ersten Großbildes steht bereit.
Die Reaktionen auf die Renovierung der Fassade sind geteilt, von skeptischen Blicken bis begeistertem Applaus, alles drin! Ich freu mich auf die Reaktionen auf unser Wandbild! ;-)

Dusk

The last couple of days have been wet, cool and cloudy. Last night on an evening walk through the forest I pass the ants nest that I have documented since the start of May. It is beginning to take shape now though it is still far from the majestic mound that it was last summer. Apart from the hum of the toiling ants and the odd bird-call the forest is unusually quiet. I get the feeling that summer has yet to get going properly or maybe it's because I spend most of the day eyes fixed to the floor painting a large mural.

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Blue sky

Another fine day at the mill...

Wandbild

Das größte Bild Bad Wildbads (9 m x 4 m) nimmt langsam Form an! Zum Glück gibt es im Hotel Räume mit besonderen Flächen.

Frisch gescherter "Rambo" -

- hat inzwischen (vgl. das Posting "Schafscherer") schon wieder etwas Flaum angesetzt.

Neuer Anstrich!

- auch ein Teil der Renovierungsarbeiten: Das Eingangsschild erhält einen neuen Anstrich, ganz in Silber.

Hotel interior (lower restaurant)

This recent photo shows the lower restaurant area of the Sommerberg hotel. Although the restaurant is not in use and has hardly seen a customer in the last 10 years the exotic décor has survived largely intact.

The ceiling is particularly impressive with an art deco influenced relief pattern based on a foliage motive.