Almond joy
Thursday, 20 November 2008
Have you discovered* these yet at TJ’s? They’re outstanding!
* We found these among the booty John won! the other day.
Musings
What’s over there?
Wednesday, 19 November 2008
I know this looks like we were shining frogs, but I promise, we weren’t! There’s a pipe just under the surface that we had to avoid as we forded this creek on our way home before the moon came out on Sunday night….
Castanea dentata
Tuesday, 18 November 2008
Yesterday I wrote about the eastern hemlocks, which are on the cusp of disappearing from our forests. This is an American chestnut, a species that used to anchor our eastern forests (about 1/4 of the trees), but is now reduced to an extremely rare mature specimen, and a few natural-coppice-growth trees less than twenty years old or so, like this one. These commonly get the blight and die back.
By the way, don’t forget that we have also lost our American elms from our forests. They were also commonly chosen as shade trees along residential streets within their range.
Not pretty
Monday, 17 November 2008
Here’s another of those floral devastation stories: the Eastern hemlock is under attack by infestations of hemlock woolly adelgid, an Asian import that sucks the sap from young twigs, retarding growth, causing needles to drop prematurely, and ultimately killing the trees—within a few years, actually, so it’s a short “ultimately.” Every hemlock we examined yesterday during our hike in Lumpkin County was infested.
Hemlocks are one of my favorite trees, and there is no stopping this invasion. These forests have already lost the legendary chestnuts, and this is another huge blow to this ecosystem. The Forest Service predicts that the loss of this species will change stream flows, light permeation, and in turn, of course, change habitat for many other species, including in streams.
Sad, sad, sad.
The seasons change…
Sunday, 16 November 2008
Thank you for harboring the snow, O Leaf of Liriodendrum tulipifera.
Several worthy topics arose today, but I’m going to confine myself to an easy one.
We saw snow today.
Yes, we were in Georgia. But way north Georgia. At elevations above about 2700 feet, in a few very shady places, we saw a few streaks of grainy, persistent snow. So, winter’s here, or our version, anyway!
Pouring concrete
Saturday, 15 November 2008
Without a doubt we’re in a deflationary period with few $$ available for loans. Still, some projects underway ahead of this mess are going strong, including several in and around our beloved Piedmont Park. Here, they’re pouring concrete for the revitalized natatorium* (will have wifi!), adjacent to Lake Clara Meer. Up the hill, the Bot Garden (and the Park) are getting a new parking garage that’s supposed to be quite green, vegetated and attractive (it’s still bare cement and rebar right now), although it’s been extremely controversial. And, on the edge of the park, the Piedmont Driving Club (“now in our second century”), is rebuilding a whole wing and redoing its parking area.
On a personal note, it’s windy, so I’ve been jumpy all day….
* Trivia: the TBS program “Adult Swim” was named for a sign on the door of this building, I’m told….
Foggy day/brain
Friday, 14 November 2008
Clever how I snapped right when that leaf was falling (just left of center)….
Foggy-morning on our street became spitty rain all day. This was good. Remember, we’re still in a drought around here.
To celebrate the elevated humidity, I began the interior painting that the work the contractor did highlighted needing to be done—in this case the baseboard/trim on the stairs (lots of kneeling and awkward sprawling).
Looks MUCH better!*
* Not surprisingly, with these conditions the house is kinda stinky, even though the paint’s supposed to be “low odor”….
Grumpy in VaHi
Thursday, 13 November 2008
Yesterday: here’s a fine example of how COMCAST cares about business in our neighborhood. I could see no reason for this vehicle to be parked off-street like this (other than SLOPPINESS).*
Today: they came and picked up the recycling they didn’t get yesterday (the regular day), but arrived in a GARBAGE truck, which makes me think our recycling was NOT recycled.
* I can read the “How’s my driving?” phone number; should I call?
Leaves (well, plants)
Wednesday, 12 November 2008
Okay, I admit it; this was yesterday when it was sunnier than today’s overcast.
As I watch the plants prepare for wintery doldrums, I can’t help but think about…plant* foods!
So, I’ve posted two new recipes for side dishes (well, postings are new; recipes are not). Celery salad—it’s heavenly, and I’m not a celery fan. And cracked wheat pilaf, which is a tasty way to enjoy those whole grains you know you should be eating….
* Oops; I erroneously typed plabt….
Reflections x 2
Tuesday, 11 November 2008
Glorious afternoon today, but probably rain in the days to come. In the meantime, feast your eyes on the sky reflecting in Lake Clara Meer. In the foreground, the bald cypress are still attired in most of their leaves (which look like needles; don’t know why they’re not needles, but I’ll take Wikip’s word for it…hmm, I guess needles are just a shape of leaves…).