Wow!!!  Splitting open a persimmon seed is a lot harder than it sounds.  First of all:  they are fairly small,  and B:  they are slippery.  Not a good combination when you’re trying to cut through the tough outer shell with a serrated knife.  

 

But, for YOU, I cut open several, to show you the “fork, spoon, knife.” 

 

Honestly, I think I see all three examples.  And with that said, I’m not risking my fingers anymore.  Those other 4 seeds went into the compost bin.

 

 

HAPPY FALL!!!

 

The persimmons are starting to get ripe.  These are still yellow, but they are turning orange and falling to the ground a few at a time.  

 

We have already picked up a few orange ones that fell.  And, wow, were they sweet!!!

 

There is an interesting folklore about persimmon seeds predicting winter weather.  It goes like this:  When you split open a persimmon seed, if you see a fork the winter will be mild, if you see a spoon you will be shoveling snow, and if you see a knife the cold will cut you.

 

I guess I better save a seed the next time I eat a persimmon.  I’ll let you know…

 

HAPPY FALL!!!

 

 

 

 

 

I guess I misspoke the other day when I said the dogwoods are about the only ones showing fall color.

 

We saw these Sourwoods on our walk, and they are definitely showing fall color.  

 

So, it’s happening:  the leaves are starting to change here.  I will keep you updated on their progress.

 

HAPPY FALL!!!

 

This is the view out toward Lake Nottely.  As you can see, from long range, it doesn’t look like fall yet.

 

But I will show this view a few more times as the leaves change.  

 

This is such an exciting time of year in the mountains.

 

 

HAPPY FALL!!!

 

We love seeing caterpillars.  Last time we walked the loop we were on Beaconhill, and Jon said, “What is that?”  It was a yellowish fat caterpillar about the size of his index finger.  And it was right in the middle of the road, traveling toward the edge.  We looked it up on the Seek app, and found out that it is a larva of an Imperial Moth.  I took its picture and Jon pushed it to the side, saving its life.

 

When we got home, I looked it up on Wikipedia, and this is what it will look like in its adult stage.

 

 

The description said that Imperial moths can be as large as 6 7/8 inches across!!!  WOW!!! 

 

I hope we get to see one of those.

 

 

HAPPY FALL, Y’ALL!!!

 

 

 

Here’s my very hungry caterpillar, still on the parsley.  The plan is to let it eat as much as it wants, then put it outside when it is the size of my little finger.  Then it will be time for it to make its cocoon.

 

I don’t particularly want it to cocoon in the house, because it could be hard to know when it emerges.  Better for it to emerge as a butterfly outside where it can be free. 

 

Still, it has been fun watching it grow.    

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!

 

 

I tried to look up the fall equinox in The Farmers Almanac, but it wasn’t there.  Hmmmm:  spring, summer and winter were all there, but not the fall one.  I did capture this picture though.  

 

Then I bumped into a bunch of ads, so I went to Wikipedia.  That description was way too complicated, so I am giving you my interpretation of the fall equinox:

 

It occurred this morning at 2:50 am, when the sun went into the sign of Libra.  And today the hours of daylight and darkness are approximately the same.

 

 

That’s all I know.

 

 

HAPPY FALL, Y’ALL!!!!

 

Ever since we saw them back in June, we have been keeping an eye on our Chicken of the Woods log.

 

Just the other day, I noticed that it is fruiting again.

 

I didn’t know that they would do that, but here it is sending out beautiful mushrooms, again!!!

 

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!

 

Look at the dogwood tree!!!  This one is at the end of Scott’s driveway.  It has red berries, and the leaves are starting to change color, from pink to red to purple, and everything in between.  You can see others all around town.

 

When you are out and about, be sure to look for dogwood trees starting to change.  They are easy to spot right now:  they are small trees, and just about the only ones showing fall color so far.  

 

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!

 

 

 

Even though the tomatoes and cucumbers are done, the peppers are really hanging in there.  This is when they start performing.  These peppers are Giant Marconis.  They are delicious sweet peppers.  

 

This is such a good picture:  you get to see the peppers, my beautiful parsley, basil going to seed behind it, and beyond that you can see blueish kale from last year.  

 

So even though some of the garden is finished, there is still a lot going on.

 

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!