Musings

Long-time readers (from last summer) may remember my nemesis, the cow parsnip (Heracleum maximum). This specimen is on the roadside, and may well be the parent of the invaders on our property. When (not if) it gets cooler, I will dig up the ones I find on our place, and, and this is my vow, these too. To (try to) stop the spread.

While somewhat interesting in appearance, this species aggressively multiplies and, worse, is phototoxic to humans, as it has chemicals that are activated by the ultraviolet rays in sunlight, and make skin blister far worse than poison ivy. It must go.

Happy Fourth (as in freedom from British oppressors…but it’s complicated).

Posted at 9:39 PM | Comments Off on Nemesis update

Don’t these mushrooms look a bit like pale beige turtles? 🐢

Here’s why I was thinking about turtle shapes. It’s from Peter Hessler’s “Learning to ski in a country of beginners,” in the 21 June issue of The New Yorker. The Country referred to is China. Present-day China.

Many beginners wore accessories known as huju: protective gear. Huju consists of three large stuffed animals that can be strapped onto the knees and the backside, in order to cushion a fall. The most common huju comes in the form of green turtles, but there are also brown bears, pink pigs, and yellow SpongeBob SquarePants. There doesn’t seem to be any social stigma attached to wearing these things, which are common at ski resorts across China. At Wanlong, it wasn’t unusual to see a hip-looking snowboarder in his twenties, dressed in fashionable ski clothes, with a huge turtle on his butt.

What kind of huju is your favorite…for skiing or whatever else? Is it plush? 🐢

Posted at 9:13 PM | Comments Off on Mushroom pair

I’m astounded by the hot temps from northwestern central North America. This is climate change combined with an Omega weather pattern. It’s only going to get worse. And perhaps accelerate.

Posted at 9:13 PM | Comments Off on Fasten your seatbelts

Still glorying in lily season. Particularly enjoying the deep red orange hues. Other years I’ve loved the pale yellows more. Why the change?

Posted at 8:27 PM | Comments Off on Mystery of life #422.8e

I see from the Great Database that is The Cloud that some hostas do bloom in relatively saturated purples; however, around here, they are usually rather pale

This cluster is quite purple-y, and I perked up when I found it.

Little did I know that (some part of) hostas are also edible.

Posted at 8:16 PM | Comments Off on Cloud info

Most saturated hydrangea. Ever.

Whatta neighborhood! We have a Beer Car. 😎

Alterations along the BeltLine. Looks like an elongated pond. We’ll see if it stays that way.

Posted at 6:30 PM | Comments Off on Neighborhood notes

Since yesterday (at least), our weather has been greatly affected by that tropical depression that moved north out of the Gulf. This morning fairly early I checked the prediction, and figured we’d see rain all day, off and on. Then, about 10:30, I saw that the temperature predictions had changed, and rose significantly into the afternoon, which I figured meant that the sun would come out, and…I should get out before that happened unless I wanted to melt.

I did do ho-hum, and got my shoes on and headed out, enjoying a few random drops from the trees. Then I saw a bit of shadow, and thought oh no, I didn’t move fast enough. But the sun retreated and I kept moving through the humidity that the overnight rain had engendered, got my minutes in, and returned soaked in sweat, but not as overheated as I would have been if I had left later.

First photo: droplets on spreading grass. Second: crepe myrtle bark, soaked. Third: magnolia blossom, newly opened so dry inside the petals.

Posted at 8:04 PM | Comments Off on Rolling with change

I watched and heard a spate of tree removal and trimming early in the spring, and there’s another round underway this week. That hollow, rotten core means this tree was a goner if it hadn’t been removed.

I saw the title on a t-shirt back in 2019…had to use it myself. Or am I repeating myself? Oh, well, it’s a keeper line.

Posted at 7:31 PM | Comments Off on Sawdust is man glitter

Last night we became temporary keepers of a fern forest and assorted house plants. Fingers crossed that they thrive for the next two weeks and the rodents don’t…dig them up.

Today I continued my week of accidentally triggering my phone to act one way or another on my behalf. Got an arty shot of it!

Posted at 5:47 PM | Comments Off on Life’s details

Dawn sky. Apologies for the infrastructure eyesore.

By late afternoon yesterday, the humidty had dropped, and even though the temps had not, the FEELing was more pleasant.

Ditto for today, for the humidity. Somehow, in addition, it was even cool this morning. And we’re in lily season.

Posted at 8:27 PM | Comments Off on Five star morning