When we walked the loop on Saturday, I noticed this Bradford Pear tree hanging onto its leaves, STILL!!!

 

I guess these last few days of 60 degree weather isn't sending the right message to the trees that it's time to drop those leaves.  But I have to remember that they know exactly what they are doing, and I am just a casual observer.   

 

HAPPY DECEMBER!!!

 

Patty's Nandinas are in full berry mode, looking a lot like Christmas to me.   

 

There are about 6 or 7 bushes like this across the back of their house.  A couple winters ago when it was so cold, we thought they were dead.  But they have come back, and are beautiful again.

 

 

HAPPY CHRISTMAS!!!

 

Speaking of Christmas decorations:  look at this Sycamore tree.  It has dropped all its leaves, and all that's left are the seed pods hanging on like ornaments on a Christmas tree.  Hold onto your hat!  Each one of those seed pods has about 50 seeds in it.  If they all germinated, the world would be covered in Sycamore trees.  Of course they don't all germinate, but don't they look neat hanging on the branches.  

 

The other cool thing about Sycamores is their exfoliating bark.  If you look up into the top of the tree, you can see stark white branches poking up into the winter sky.  I hope you see some in your travels.

 

HAPPY DECEMBER!!!

 

You know that old snag down in the meadow?  Well, when we were driving out last week, we saw these turkey vultures up in the tree.  I'm not sure if they were shopping for lunch, or just hanging out, but aren't they magnificent?  

 

I read that they are gregarious and hang out in large groups, and we have often seen lots of them flying together.  The article that I read also said that they have a wingspan of 63-72 inches, and can weigh up to 5 pounds.  That's a big bird!!!

 

I love seeing them flying overhead, but this is pretty cool too.  

 

 

HAPPY DECEMBER!!!

 

On one of our walks I noticed that the Christmas ferns are still nice and green.  I think that's how they got their name, being evergreen and staying mostly green right up until Christmas.  Some of the leaves will fall over and melt into the forest floor, and others stay upright and green through the winter.  

 

You can also see another identifying characteristic; at the base of each leaflet is a little thumb, making it look like a mitten.  That's how I remember the Christmas part.  

 

If you would like to read more about this fern, go to https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polystichum_acrostichoides?wprov=sfti1#

 

HAPPY CHRISTMAS!!!

 

I've shown you the blueberry bushes before, but usually when they are blooming or fruiting. Today I want you to see their fall color.  Did you know that blueberry bushes are deciduous? Yep, they are, and before they drop their leaves they turn this beautiful red.  We have eight bushes on this hill, and they are all blazing red.

 

Next on the agenda for the blueberry bushes, after they drop their leaves, is to prune them. You do it when they are dormant.  We will pick a warmish day in January or early February and get out there and cut them back.  The plan is to take out the old canes, trim back the newer ones to within reach, and generally get them into shape, before they set new leaf and flower buds for next year's berry crop.  It is a good thing to do every year, and we have been pretty good about it.  

 

And these bushes have been giving us blueberries (almost every year) since we planted them in 2012. 

 

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!

 

 

 

I saw this little lady on my dill and I had to take her picture.  She is so cute surrounded by all that green.

 

And, I know what she's doing there.  She's feeding on the aphids that have invaded my garden.  I don't know how many aphids one little ladybug can eat, but she's happy, and I want to be rid of as many aphids as possible.  The aphids don't hurt us, and can be washed off easily, but they get on the kale and dill, and I don't like it.  

 

So, little lady, eat all you want.  

 

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!

 

 

 

 

This is the chickweed growing in my arugula bed.  There is no way to "weed it out" short of pulling everything out of the bed.  So, for the rest of the season I'm going to use it along with the arugula, adding it to soups, stews, and fresh on grilled cheese sandwiches.  We've tried it before and it melts just like spinach.  

 

Most people know chickweed as a weed that invades their lawns and flower beds.  Yep, that's chickweed alright.  But it is also an herb and a nearly year-round source of salad greens.  

 

Please do not use my pictures for plant identification.  Positive identification needs to be done using a reliable field guide, internet pictures, your Seek app., and making sure that the plants you are seeing are indeed what you think they are.  Once you are sure, then try just a bit, because it may or may not be to your liking, or your body's tolerance.  

 

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!

 

I wanted to show you how the arugula is holding up to our cooler weather.  When I looked at it more closely, I saw that the bed is full of chickweed.  Chickweed along with arugula is not a problem, as they are both edible as salad greens and cooked vegetables.  So when I harvest the arugula, I don't have to "weed out" the chickweed.  

 

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!

 

We made our yeast rolls for Thanksgiving.  We make them every year, mostly for turkey sandwiches afterward.  I will add our recipe to the recipe section.  They are really good, and fun to make.

 

Wish you were here.

 

 

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!