Perhaps you have seen these small trees growing on Five Forks Drive near Solitude.

 

They are called Devil's Walkingstick, or Hercules' Club.  Botanically, they are Aralia spinosa.  They are in the Ginseng family, Araliacea.  Don't worry, there's not going to be a test;  I just think it's interesting.

 

The small, deciduous trees are native to Eastern North America,  and were used like fences to keep animals out of people's gardens.  They have been cultivated since the 1600's.  Not sure I'd want one in my landscape, but they are interesting to see.  They produce huge clusters of white flowers in summer that evolve into the beautiful umbels of purplish blue berries we are seeing now.

 

A close up look will reveal that the 5 - 15  foot tall trunks are covered in vicious looking spines.  Hence the wicked moniker:  Devil's Walkingstick. 

 

Be sure to notice them;  they are strikingly beautiful right now, and throughout the fall, when the leaves turn to yellowy orange.  In winter they die back, and begin again in spring.

 

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!

 

Down on the Creekside Trail today I saw Cardinal flower, Lobelia cardinalis.  While I was scrambling down the hill to get this picture, I was buzzed by a hummingbird who apparently saw the same thing.

 

Cardinal flowers are bright, bright red, about 12 - 18 inches tall and grow along streamsides, marshes and roadside ditches.  They are all along our Creekside trail, all the way to the bridge.

 

It's worth the trip on the trail to see it.  It's really pretty!!!

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!

 

Joe-Pye-Weed, Eupatorium purpureum.  Also known as Queen of the Meadow.

 

It's a tall wildflower, 2 - 12 feet, with a large rounded pink flower head.  Often they grow in clumps, but sometimes you see single ones.  There are a few growing down by the creek.  You can also see them on both sides of Moccasin Church Road.  

 

According to folklore, Joe Pye was a Native American medicine man who made a tonic from the roots.  The early American colonists used it to treat an outbreak of typhus.  

 

Do look for Joe-Pye-Weed in your travels.  They're beautiful and prevalent right now.

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

OK, this is NOT a test, but you already know this tree.  (hint:  root beer flavoring.)

 

I saw it yesterday showing beautiful fall color.  I couldn't help taking its picture.

 

Be on the lookout for more Autumn SASS around our beautiful mountains.

 

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!

 

I hope you are enjoying my series on Tree identification.  I am having fun writing it.

I know a little about trees from Horticulture school, and I love researching each tree further, to present them in an informative and entertaining way.  This way my books are getting used, and we're all learning something new.

 

Black gum,  Nyssa sylvatica.  Medium height, slow growing, deciduous trees reaching 30 - 70 feet.  I'm mentioning this tree NOW because they are already beginning to show fall color:  brilliant red leaves scattered among the glossy green ones.  You may have also noticed dark blue berry stains on the pavement.  The berries are relished by black bears and over 30 species of birds, including wild turkeys.

 

Black gum is also called Sour gum or black tupelo, and the lumber is used for furniture, boxes, and crates.  

 

Next time you are out, I hope you will notice a bit of fall color.  It's already started on our mountain.

 

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!

 

 

 

 

Folks,

I have to keep up with Gerry and get a few more posts out here. It is indeed hard, with the depth of her knowledge about gardening that she is sharing with us, to keep up and find a new topic. So, I decided to start writing about health and public health which is another area that I hang out in these days. Health can indeed be a controversial topic but information is worth sharing to help you make decisions with a little more data from at least one corner of the thinking. There is such amazing experience and knowledge in this neighborhood and I encourage others to offer views to teach all of us. For example, I have had wonderful discussions on energy resources and generation that have expanded my thinking considerably.

 

Todays topic is to give you and idea what CDC is saying they predict the next flu critters are going to be and their vaccine recommendations.

 

OK, I respectfully admit that not all believe that vaccinations are a good thing, but as a scientist I see where populations both here in the US and across the world have been healthier way more than not when vaccinations are used. Even to the point where horrible diseases have been eliminated like smallpox across the world. Im always up for a discussion to hear other views about this so please add a comment to this blog on other views.

 

The execution of vaccines is not 100% perfect in all people and all ages. There is too much variance in how we all work and I cant deny that the quest for revenue drives some things to market faster than the comfort zone of the scientists and regulators who are trying to keep everyone safe.   I even know Dr Jeff Koplan who many of you know had a huge issue with rotavirus vaccine in the 90s. I watched as the causes were discovered and the vaccine adjusted to not hurt children ever again. You have not heard about this vaccine hurting children since because we learn and stay on the quest to keep our population healthy and safe from evolving threats using data and information we gather over time.

 

Lets get back to the topic at hand. CDC is focusing on three viruses that they predict will have prevalence this year, being Influenza A (H3N2), Influenza A (H1N1), and Influenza B (various strains). I give you these silly names of the viruses so you may recognize what the vaccines are supposed to protect against this year. The names like H3N2 verses H1N1 represent genetic differences in the flu virus and they vary in how sick we get from them. 

 

I am often asked how the CDC predicts what to put into a vaccine each year. I am a data person so what we do is track what has actually happened with what viruses over the years and surprisingly we see very consistent patterns. These patterns allow CDC to expect that most of the sickness will probably be due to certain viruses each year. Is it perfect? No, but its proven by our data to be more effective every year when we use this information to lower more people from getting sick when using better "cocktails" of the right vaccines. Its not hard to say that data can be faked and interpreted wrong, but all I can tell you is what I see in the health of the population as we get smarter about using data over time.

 

OK, so whats the reason for this blog. Many reasons really. One, why just believe the TV commercial that says get a flu shot when you can learn a little more about what is threatening you how you can be protected. Second, I know that Flu is very infectious so if I can give more information about what we know, from the scientist view, then it worth sharing to help you decide to protect yourselves and your neighbors. And.... last, You will be quite impressive in the next neighborhood picnic to share  that you know that this year H3N2 and H1N1 are the flu viruses we are getting vaccines for :)

 

There is a very detailed CDC report on the recommendations to clinicians this year on what to vaccinate for. You can read this report here: https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/66/rr/rr6602a1.htm?s_cid=rr6602a1_w There is a ton of hard to understand information in this report but it can be fun to wade through to pick up useful things.

 

One thing that I saw that you may want to challenge you doctor about is to not use the LAIV4 vaccine on you. Here is the quote that recommends against it: "In light of its low effectiveness against influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 in the United States during the 2013–14 and 2015–16 seasons, for the 2017–18 season, ACIP continues the recommendation that LAIV4 should not be used. Because LAIV4 is still a licensed vaccine that might be available and that some providers might elect to use, for informational purposes only, reference is made in this report to previous recommendations for its use." You may also find it useful to read the sections that talk about age groups and what is expected to be seen and how to vaccinate for this year.

 

Indeed, this may be a deep blog article, but its always fun to dive into a new area to learn and explore. Also, get vaccinated if you also think it can help our population stay healthier or if you are in a high risk group.

 

mark

 

 

 

 

Maybe this better explains the name of the quilt block.  See the pineapples now?

 

The pillow at the top is the single block.  Then when you join four blocks together, you get the big picture.

This quilt was made using 20 blocks.  4 blocks across, and 5 blocks down.  See?

 

 

HAPPY QUILTING!!

 

Mockernut Hickory.  Carya tomentosa.  There are lots of different Hickory trees, but I'm fairly sure most of the ones in my yard are Mockernut Hickory.  

 

They are medium to tall deciduous trees.  The best time to spot them is in the fall, when they turn golden yellow.  Otherwise, if they are in your yard, you know by skidding on the nuts underfoot, and new shoots coming up where the squirrels have buried them.

 

Further inspection shows that the leaves generally have 7 - 9 leaflets, and the undersides and twigs are pale orange-brown and hairy.  The nuts are ball or egg shaped with a thick husk not splitting to the base.  

 

I've read that the nuts are edible, but I've never been THAT hungry.

 

I'll post another picture of Hickory in the fall when they are in their glory.

 

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!

 

 

 

I read in The Old Farmer's Almanac that the next few days are good for planting!!

 

August 24, 25, 26, 27, and 28 are good days for planting flowers, and other aboveground crops.

I'm excited about planting mustard, spinach, and kale in my garden for the fall.

 

I'm also looking forward to planting my pots for the winter, but I have to wait for tulip bulbs and pansies to get to the garden center.  So I'll have to wait til September, I guess.  I'll let you know when the good planting days are in September.

 

Gotta run...

 

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!

 

Sassafras.  Sassafras albidum.  Abundant in our woods.  Can reach 90 feet, typically 10 - 50 feet.

 

The leaves of Sassafras are quite distinctive.  They are three lobed, two lobed (looking like a mitten) and single lobed.  All three shapes are usually present on a single tree, as you can see in the picture above.  They have a spicy smell when crushed.

 

The Spicebush Swallowtail and Tiger Swallowtail butterflies depend on Sassafras for their larvae.  We've seen Sassafras and Spicebush growing side by side on the Creekside Trail.  I love to spot them in early spring when they bloom, before the leaves emerge.

 

The lumber of Sassafras was used for barrels, buckets, and dugout canoes.   The berries are eaten by songbirds, wild turkey, and black bears.  Deer love to browse on the twigs.  Sassafras was the original flavoring for root beer, and some people enjoy a tea made by boiling the bark of the roots.

 

As with all wild edibles, use caution when first ingesting it, using it sparingly.

 

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!