July 15-16, 2011

Sally had a Zen retreat Saturday, so I came out alone via the short cut – thinking I would get some more wild berries. But it has been just too hot and too dry (in spite of a half inch in the rain gauge). The blackberry floricanes (second year, fruit bearing) are just burning up with berries on them. I found only a few edible ones to snack on, and nothing to collect. My cultivated thorn-less ones are not doing any better. I picked some, but most berries are dying on the vine (cane). The prima canes (which will produce next year) are practically the only ones left with any green leaves.

House and Temperatures

It was 96 degrees outside when I arrived, 83 in the living room (addition to the cinder block structure), and 80 in the core of the house. I find it amazing the internal temperature is not higher, especially considering that in town my AC will run all afternoon and sometimes only keep the temperature at 80. First thing I do is turn on the AC in the addition, and a little fan on the floor to blow cool air into the rest of the house.

So by Saturday afternoon when I was leaving the outside temperature was 97, it was 78 in the living room, and 77 in the main house – cooler than the room with the AC in it! As an experiment for the next weekend, I closed off the living room and will be anxious to see how I find the internal temperatures. (And the week's forecast is for many 100 degree days and lows of only 78 some nights).

Nut Trees being Eaten

I first noticed the 15 foot walnut tree growing just below the house had no leaves, just the stems from which the leaves grew. Then I noticed the tops of several of the smaller hickories I'm letting grow were also being eaten. I could see the worms on these just munching away. I don't think they are what got the walnut, because I found partial damage on many other walnuts but not the same worms.

Not knowing how to best attack the invaders, I just used a gloved hand to squash the pests. I was able to get most all of them on three different trees, but I am sure armies more will appear to finish the job. I suspect this invasion is related to the hot dry summer, and I hope the trees will recover. Luckily, there is no sign of damage (yet) on any of my babies I put out in the spring (and have been hand watering).

Water

Three hours Friday, 3 hours Saturday, trip justification, same as weeks past.

Mow

The grass that is not getting water is not growing and so there is very little mowing needed – I think it's been a month. But the road to the pond down by the big Sycamore has thick green grass (I know there is a little spring in that area, but there must be a broader seep as well), as does the south side of the pond (a spring there as well). So I mowed down and back.

Garden

I think I previously miss-identified the squash we are growing. Sally told me its Butternut, and it is taking over the garden. There were two plants originally in this mound, and its spreading like the tentacles of an octopus. There are another couple of plants on the far end doing the same. The summer spinach is to the far right and the tomatoes are just right and being squeezed out by the squash and zinnias (and still being eaten by hornworms). Behind the squash is the basil, bell pepper, and jalapeno. On the far side (and on the end to the left) is the chard. The green beans (to the left) are shot, though I did get enough for 1 serving for dinner. I brought chard, spinach, and 1 squash home.

Road Work

I got some road repair in, working up the hill this weekend. I got one load of buckets and rocks on Friday, harvesting the mud uphill from the East end of the barn (it was shaded in the afternoon). I thought I would have shade Saturday morning, but I didn't get out early enough. Saturday I took the mud from the lower edge of the bluff behind the barn – my traditional spot. After filling the buckets I split a few more of the red oak logs I picked up on the short-cut earlier in the summer. You can see the truck loaded, the harvest site, tools, and the split oak all in this picture.

Walking Stick

I saw one of these guys at the cattle guard when I arrived. He moved to the opposite side of the post so I couldn't get a picture. This one was sitting in the drivers seat when I was done with the road work and ready to come back down the hill. I carefully moved him back outside.