It's quite late for a first freeze, but one is predicted for Friday night (Dec. 4). Our 'average' (prior to global climate change) is Oct. 15.
I'm not complaining, really, as we've had extended fall color, and the lettuce, kale, collards, mustards, and arugula are thriving. But it is a bit unsettling.
We left for winter travels in early December a couple of years ago without a freeze, too.
I've put flats of greens in a open cold frame (not very beneficial), but they'll need water while we're gone -- it'll be interesting to see what's survived, when we return from this year's winter travels.
The garlic that I recently planted has already started to emerge, with fresh green leaves. As I finish using the rest of last year's garlic, it's nice to look forward to the new harvest.
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Monday, November 30, 2009
Sunday, November 29, 2009
A mama squirrel relocating her family?
We saw something we'd never seen before this morning - a squirrel with a largish youngster held on the scruff of its neck scampering through the foliage above us. We were on the back road in the Garden, near the nature trail through the oak-hickory forest (the Heusel Nature Trail) when we spotted her.
We had our binoculars, so had a good look as she leaped from tree to tree carrying her 'cargo.' There was lots of chattering going on nearby, perhaps fussing at the disturbance.
A web search found (LOTS of) interesting information about Eastern Gray Squirrels: mama squirrels are VERY protective of their offspring and, if feeling threatened, will move their babies to another drey. Apparently, gray squirrels have (usually) at least three dreys, and maybe a cavity or bird box, in addition.
Eastern Gray Squirrels breed twice a year, in mid-winter and in early summer. We probably saw a youngster borne in September, but one that will overwinter with Mom until spring. It takes a long time for squirrels to be weaned (10-12 weeks), and almost nine months until they're full-grown.
Of course, we just had binoculars, and no camera, this morning. But the photos of nest-building last weekend in an earlier post are fun, too.
We had our binoculars, so had a good look as she leaped from tree to tree carrying her 'cargo.' There was lots of chattering going on nearby, perhaps fussing at the disturbance.
A web search found (LOTS of) interesting information about Eastern Gray Squirrels: mama squirrels are VERY protective of their offspring and, if feeling threatened, will move their babies to another drey. Apparently, gray squirrels have (usually) at least three dreys, and maybe a cavity or bird box, in addition.
Eastern Gray Squirrels breed twice a year, in mid-winter and in early summer. We probably saw a youngster borne in September, but one that will overwinter with Mom until spring. It takes a long time for squirrels to be weaned (10-12 weeks), and almost nine months until they're full-grown.
Of course, we just had binoculars, and no camera, this morning. But the photos of nest-building last weekend in an earlier post are fun, too.
Saturday, November 28, 2009
Winter gardens and gardening
More leaves seems to be the theme for preparation for winter in our garden.
My gardening companion collected more leaves this morning from neighbors near our small house in the mountains (to add to our already thick layer in front and back of the house), then we returned home to the Piedmont to a second load of delivered city leaves. He spent more time this afternoon moving some of those.
Leaves are black gold, certainly, and enrich the soil in our woodland garden areas. Leaves transform clay-rich subsoil to something resembling real topsoil quite quickly. A good thing, although our soil in the Piedmont (covered by lawn for many years) isn't as difficult as what faces gardeners in much of our region.
I spent a bit of time harvesting and freezing lemon grass (we're expecting lower temperatures tonight than we've had so far), and then checked everything else. I've got a lovely flat of mache (corn salad) and I'll try to transplant a few plants into soil tomorrow along with some of the collards. I'll probably put the mache in the cold frame with the top propped up, and see what happens. The lettuces still look great, as do the young collards and mustards. None of my fall spinach germinated, probably because of warm soil temperatures and dry soil, so more spinach will need to wait until late winter.
I cooked fresh arugula as a stir-fry green with homegrown garlic for our dinner vegetable, quite delicious, along with the leftover smoked turkey (from 12 Bones in Asheville, yum) from Thanksgiving.
And, I'm planning to harvest more arugula and cilantro tomorrow - both are still looking great.
My gardening companion collected more leaves this morning from neighbors near our small house in the mountains (to add to our already thick layer in front and back of the house), then we returned home to the Piedmont to a second load of delivered city leaves. He spent more time this afternoon moving some of those.
Leaves are black gold, certainly, and enrich the soil in our woodland garden areas. Leaves transform clay-rich subsoil to something resembling real topsoil quite quickly. A good thing, although our soil in the Piedmont (covered by lawn for many years) isn't as difficult as what faces gardeners in much of our region.
I spent a bit of time harvesting and freezing lemon grass (we're expecting lower temperatures tonight than we've had so far), and then checked everything else. I've got a lovely flat of mache (corn salad) and I'll try to transplant a few plants into soil tomorrow along with some of the collards. I'll probably put the mache in the cold frame with the top propped up, and see what happens. The lettuces still look great, as do the young collards and mustards. None of my fall spinach germinated, probably because of warm soil temperatures and dry soil, so more spinach will need to wait until late winter.
I cooked fresh arugula as a stir-fry green with homegrown garlic for our dinner vegetable, quite delicious, along with the leftover smoked turkey (from 12 Bones in Asheville, yum) from Thanksgiving.
And, I'm planning to harvest more arugula and cilantro tomorrow - both are still looking great.
Friday, November 27, 2009
Clear winter air
Our mountains in the Southeastern U.S. are normally hazy in the summer, part natural humidity with some additions (ozone and particulates) not so natural.
But in the winter, after a front comes through, the mountains are crystal clear, and the evening light is excellent, sharp and cool.
I don't have any images, having not brought a camera along on our late afternoon excursion. But walking back across the overpass above Highway 240 towards Montford, we experienced the expanse of Mt. Pisgah and the Blue Ridge Mountains.
But in the winter, after a front comes through, the mountains are crystal clear, and the evening light is excellent, sharp and cool.
I don't have any images, having not brought a camera along on our late afternoon excursion. But walking back across the overpass above Highway 240 towards Montford, we experienced the expanse of Mt. Pisgah and the Blue Ridge Mountains.
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Thursday, November 26, 2009
Eastern Gray Squirrels and a winter drey
Activity in a large oak tree caught our eye this afternoon.A clump of leaves, supported by dead English ivy vines was being visited by Eastern Gray squirrels with mouthfuls of leaves.
They dove into the drey (scientific talk for squirrel nests) repeatedly, moving around leaves.
It must still be early in the process, as the nest isn't that large, as of yet. The two-some, maybe a pair, maybe siblings, continued to scamper around the nest and up in the tree together.
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
An evening view
I'm grateful for our blessings on this eve of Thanksgiving.Today was a beautiful warm fall day in the mountains of North Carolina, and the light at the end of day, reflected from the sunset, illuminated the view into the ravine behind our house in the mountains. Designed by a local architectural designer for his personal home, it's an 'ecohouse', small and spare in design, with radiant floor heat, instant-on gas hot water, Icynene insulation, and recycled materials, including using wood from the site (an empty lot overgrown with black cherry, tulip poplar and white pine).
This is a legacy house for us - our moms, now gone, are part of this place and they'll be part of our thanks tomorrow for Thanksgiving along with all of the memories that they provided for us.
My mom, a great traveler, will be remembered, too, as we travel during winter break, as will my gardening companion's (aka my husband's) dad, who was also a keen traveler. They inspired us to step up our traveling as we were reminded by their loss that life can be shorter, rather than longer, and if not now, when.Traveling has enriched our lives, work, and understanding of what it means to live in the world and we're grateful that we have the opportunity to do that.
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
A fussy Carolina Wren
A Carolina Wren was fussing outside the kitchen window late yesterday afternoon in the old camellia. I don't know what set him off -- maybe the neighbor's cat or even my moving around the kitchen. The squirrels have been fussing lately too -- it's practically a chorus.
Carolina Wrens are quite vocal with a musical tea-kettle, tea-kettle call, but also have a harsh, almost hissing, sound as their warning call, and many other variations, apparently. Male Carolina Wrens are the vocal ones, with females being much quieter. They maintain pairs and defend territories all year round according to All About Birds. This post about bird songs was interesting, too -- I'm going to have to look for the books about bird songs that were mentioned!
In the mountains today, it didn't take long for the nuthatches and Carolina chickadees to return to the refilled feeders. Unusually, a group of blue jays was also visiting, bobbling the hanging feeder. And, a group of squirrels was taking advantage of the spilled seeds under the feeder.
Carolina Wrens are quite vocal with a musical tea-kettle, tea-kettle call, but also have a harsh, almost hissing, sound as their warning call, and many other variations, apparently. Male Carolina Wrens are the vocal ones, with females being much quieter. They maintain pairs and defend territories all year round according to All About Birds. This post about bird songs was interesting, too -- I'm going to have to look for the books about bird songs that were mentioned!
In the mountains today, it didn't take long for the nuthatches and Carolina chickadees to return to the refilled feeders. Unusually, a group of blue jays was also visiting, bobbling the hanging feeder. And, a group of squirrels was taking advantage of the spilled seeds under the feeder.
Monday, November 23, 2009
Winter
Because we often travel during winter break, our relatively mild winters in the Southeastern US seem even shorter. We're fortunate to be able to travel in December; without family obligations (our families are far-flung and independent at this point), it's an excellent time to visit many parts of the world as we can.
During our academic winter break from early December to early January, we've traveled to Mexico, Chile, Ecuador, Peru, and Costa Rica in the Americas, Thailand, Laos, Northern Vietnam, and India in Asia, and Tanzania and Zanzibar in Africa, as well as going to Italy, France and Great Britain, over the years.
All have been wonderful trips and we're grateful that we were able to take them.
But one of the non-traveling pluses has been that we leave just as winter descends (not very heavily in our part of the world), return in early January, and by February and March have quite a few periodic mild days, which are really quite spring-like, and we're back to warm weather.
So, we're fortunate to escape the 'worst' of what our Southeastern winters offer; we're totally wimpy compared to so many of you that have much more harsh winters to cope with!
During our academic winter break from early December to early January, we've traveled to Mexico, Chile, Ecuador, Peru, and Costa Rica in the Americas, Thailand, Laos, Northern Vietnam, and India in Asia, and Tanzania and Zanzibar in Africa, as well as going to Italy, France and Great Britain, over the years.
All have been wonderful trips and we're grateful that we were able to take them.
But one of the non-traveling pluses has been that we leave just as winter descends (not very heavily in our part of the world), return in early January, and by February and March have quite a few periodic mild days, which are really quite spring-like, and we're back to warm weather.
So, we're fortunate to escape the 'worst' of what our Southeastern winters offer; we're totally wimpy compared to so many of you that have much more harsh winters to cope with!
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Sunday, November 22, 2009
A rainy fall day
We barely managed to take a quick walk in the Garden before the rain started. It rained all day. Pelting drops, washing away the drought of past years. The lakes nearby are already at full pool or above, happily signaling the end of droughty times (for now).
It's hard to predict future patterns of weather and climate -- experts in this differ, but my take on what they're saying is that we're likely to have much more extreme and variable weather in the future than we've had in the past, because of changes in global climate.
But we'll keep planting and gardening. My gardening companion (aka my husband) went out in the rain this afternoon to dig up some paw paws (from our large expanding patch here in the Piedmont) and a large blueberry, to transplant up to our space in the mountains. We decided early on that we're going to be natural gardeners, there, too, not being able to keep from wanting to restoring natives to places that they should be.
It's hard to predict future patterns of weather and climate -- experts in this differ, but my take on what they're saying is that we're likely to have much more extreme and variable weather in the future than we've had in the past, because of changes in global climate.
But we'll keep planting and gardening. My gardening companion (aka my husband) went out in the rain this afternoon to dig up some paw paws (from our large expanding patch here in the Piedmont) and a large blueberry, to transplant up to our space in the mountains. We decided early on that we're going to be natural gardeners, there, too, not being able to keep from wanting to restoring natives to places that they should be.
Saturday, November 21, 2009
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