Comment

Comment by Chris Breman on May 10, 2013 at 12:55am

I think a hawthorn. I cannot see much of the leaves but it's the right time. Hawthorn has got some family members that look almost the same, so if it isn't the one, it's the other...

Comment by Sentient Biped on May 9, 2013 at 9:39pm

Hi all,

Any ideas as to identity of this tree?  I don't know.  It reminds me of spirea, but much bigger.  There is a row of them on a neglected area on my property.  They are near a creek that runs in fall/winter/spring, dry in summer.  I think I see them growing wild in fence rows, so either native or feral.  These reach about 30 feet tall, have bark like cherries.  Wild, sweet, and tart cherry trees are all finished blooming here.  Tart cherries just barely.  This mystery tree just started blooming.  i'm not aware of fruit but might not have noticed last year.  The flowers have a musty/sweet scent, sort of like Bradford pear, but fruiting pears here are long since finished blooming.

 

Bees like the flowers, which is good. We seem to be in a minor nectar and pollen low until something else takes over.

Comment by Sentient Biped on May 4, 2013 at 10:14pm

This was lush growth a few days ago.  Then it frosted.  

 

Oh well.  Into every life a little frost must land.  I think they'll grow back.

I wouldn't like mice or rats in my compost.  I found a mouse nest in the well house.  Fortunately they ran off before I had to make a decision about eliminating them.  

Comment by Annie Thomas on May 4, 2013 at 9:18pm

I'm enjoying the comments about killing viruses in composts.  I like to add horse manure to my compost, as it really makes it cook. I am abandoning one compost pile as I have at least one rat living in there.  I'll set up a new one in a sunnier area and hope I have more luck.

It was too rainy and chilly for any naked gardening here today... maybe next week? ;-)

And Dominic that serpent gourd vine is incredible... it looks like fine lace.  I'm off to look it up!

Comment by Dominic Florio on May 4, 2013 at 7:57pm

Comment by Idaho Spud on May 4, 2013 at 3:16pm

So, you think you've out-skunked the skunk?  Hope so.

Comment by Idaho Spud on May 4, 2013 at 8:04am

Joan, just yesterday, I looked-up what temperature is needed to kill virus'.  I was surprised to find that Influenza viruses are weakened or killed with temperatures of 167 to 212 F.  Lower than I assumed.

I'm not familiar with the Hantavirus until now.  I've just read some on it and now know why my city wants to keep junk from piling-up which provides a home for mice.  They never mentioned the diseases that can be caught from mice.  I don't know how reliable this site is, but it says the virus is only viable for 3 days or less at room temperature, and sunlight kills it faster:  http://www.healthyhomespartnership.net/faqcd/PDF%20library/contamin...

This site says 150 F for 2 hours: . http://www.thermapure.com/environmental-services/viruses/

More interesting info on:  www.cdc.gov/hantavirus/. 

Comment by Joan Denoo on May 4, 2013 at 12:12am

The northwest is my choice to live, by every measure I used to decide where I wanted to settle. It is hot and cold and beautiful and watered from an aquifer and just perfect for me. The bergenia is almost ready to go to seed, the Kwanzan Cherry coming into bloom very fast. I cleaned out only one raised bed, and I will get to the others as my energy developes. There are blossoms on strawberries and the raspberries look very healthy. 

Did I mention, Cary successfully blocked the holes of the skunk? He placed concrete stepping stones where she dug under the shed. 

Mice proliferate out under the compost pile so there should be some rich material coming from it. I probably should sterilize it with a plastic tarp and sun. Do you think that will take care of any Huntavirus?  

Happy gardening!

Kwanzan Cherry 

Comment by Dominic Florio on May 3, 2013 at 11:22pm

I have never seen a serpent gourd vine

Comment by Sentient Biped on May 3, 2013 at 10:04pm

Skimming the comments, I thought you were all talking about Sarah Palin.  I would not mind if she went into the snow storm and was lost.  But it didn't make sense to me so I googled.  Guess I missed some American Culture or something.  

I grew up in the Midwest near the Mississippi.  Summers, hot sticky humid mosquito ridden.  Winters bitter cold snow ice wind.  Spring floods but mostly ok, Fall OK.  Didn't like the climate.  Happier in Pacific NW which to me is paradise.

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