Gardening, Puttering and Adventure Thread, November 11

Hi, everybody! How are you doing on this Veterans Day? Anything in your garden? Outdoors your neighborhood? The lovely photo above is from Tom Servo:

Hello Katy! attached are a couple of shots of a favorite planting of mine which always blooms very late in the year, the Confederate Rose. Used to be muchmore common, hence the name, and it is primarily is grown from cuttings, not seed.
Scientific name Hibiscus mutabilis, because the flowers change color
continually over time; you can see that in this photo. (they start off light, and
get darker over time) Look forward to your weekend post as always!

Unusual to have a flower that starts blooming so late, and also one with such an intriguing color change.

Thanks!

Edible Gardening/Putting Things By

Winter Zucchini:

Just picked our first ones and found the big sleeper at the back! Nan in AZ

Even in cool weather, there's always one that gets away. They look great!

And more:

Beans, beets, tomatoes coming along . . .

Winter Garden!!!! I see something growing with the beans in that second photo. And you might be able to get some baby beet thinnings soon.

Last Sunday was the second time CBD had uncharacteristically featured the same vegetable, "Broccolini" in his Food Thread. He mentioned its high cost both times.

I thought it might be time to review the possibilities of growing it in the garden. Park Seed has two varieties that come up when you type in "Broccolini":

Aspabroc is the original Broccolini , developed more than 20 years ago and often imitated since. It is a cross of two types of broccoli: Italian Sprouting and Chinese Kale or Gai Lan, a leafy, thick-stemmed type with fabulous flavor. Aspabroc takes its name from the asparagus look and texture of its slender, succulent stems, but this is 100% broccoli, with a peppery-sweet bite you will savor.
This gourmet variety is delicious from top to bottom, with really exceptional flavor and texture. But what you may appreciate just as much, as a gardener, is its yields. Once you harvest the central crown (which you can do at about 50 days; it will be small but scrumptious), about 5 or 6 side-shoots will appear. A little more than a week later, these can be harvested as well, so that new ones grow. The process repeats for more than a month. That's an amazing harvest from every plant, and the later side-shoots are just as delectable as the first ones.
Unlike traditional broccoli, Aspabroc has tender stems all the way to the ground, with small, delicious leaves. Occasionally a rogue yellow flower will set, especially if you are growing this Broccolini in late spring in a warm climate. Go ahead and eat the flower, too--you'll be surprised at how good it is. And the stems are slender and smooth, so you need never peel or chop them.
The key to harvesting Aspabroc is to cut that central crown as soon as it's formed.

Artwork Hybrid: This award-winning variety begins as an ordinary crown broccoli--the big "headed" type we all grew up eating--but once you cut or pinch off the central crown, long side-shoots begin to arise, packed with succulent flavor. Cut them at anywhere from 6 to 8 inches long and new ones will spring up to replace them. Before you know it, you've harvested up to 20 gourmet "sweet stem" broccoli shoots, and Artwork is the last broccoli in the garden still producing.
The secret to getting the most out of Artwork is to get rid of that central crown quickly. Cut it for eating when it's just an inch or so in diameter, or pinch it away even sooner if you don't need to harvest it. As soon as you do, the side-shoots begin to take off. Expect the first ones to be ready for harvest about 10 days after you've removed the central crown. Cut them promptly, and get ready to watch their replacements appear.
Many broccoli are better suited to crowning than to side shoot production because they tend to bolt (begin flowering) in hot weather--and hot weather is exactly what most of us have all summer long in the garden. Artwork, on the other hand, is very bolt-resistant, keeping its tight beads even when the temperature climbs. This gives you many more weeks of production . . . and means that new side-shoots can arise even in late summer, when other sweet stem broccoli varieties are done.
Artwork reaches about 8 inches wide and can top out at close to 2 feet, depending on how tall you let it grow. It has a tender texture right to the base of the stem, and richly flavored beads that top the stems like icing on the cake. Expect 10 to 20 side-shoots from every plant, plus the central crown. That's a lot of gourmet deliciousness from a single plant.

There are also other catalogs that carry seeds for these plants.

Around here, they grow a commercial broccoli which produces a number of medium-sized, sweet crowns great for bunching. Though the stems are best peeled, the flavor is sweet, sort of like Broccolini.

Nature

Via Bird Dog at Maggie's Farm, Cornell's profile on the Wood Thrush. The page includes lots of information on habits and identification, photos and videos, with great recordings of the bird's songs.

The reclusive Wood Thrush hops through leaf litter on the forest floor, probing for insects, bobbing upright between spurts of digging and leaf-turning. The male's clear, flute-like song echoes through the forest in spring and early summer, and both sexes make distinctive, machine-gun-like alarm notes.

They can sometimes be seen when migrating:

The Wood Thrush breeds in deciduous and mixed forests in the eastern U.S. where there are large trees, moderate understory, shade, and abundant leaf litter for foraging. They winter in lowland tropical forests in Central America.

American bluebirds are also in the thrush family. Near the bottom of the page, see links to pages for the Eastern Bluebird, Western Bluebird and Mountain Bluebird.

Male Mountain Bluebirds lend a bit of cerulean sparkle to open habitats across much of western North America. You may spot these cavity-nesters flitting between perches in mountain meadows, in burned or cut-over areas, or where prairie meets forest--especially in places where people have provided nest boxes. Unlike many thrushes, Mountain Bluebirds hunt insects from perches or while on the wing, at times resembling a tiny American Kestrel with their long wings, hovering flight, and quick dives.
In the right places it can be a snap to find Mountain Bluebirds, as they are not shy of humans and live in fairly open country. They sit in the open on perches such as treetops, fence posts, and power lines. In summer in rural areas and ranches, particularly at higher elevations, you can often find them simply by driving rural roads and eyeballing such potential perches. In forested areas, look for them in large openings, particularly if there are aspen in the vicinity (aspen is a key cavity-providing tree in western montane forests). In winter, search for areas with berry-laden junipers and watch for flocks of birds feeding on those berries. Mountain Bluebirds often mix with Western Bluebirds, American Robins, and Cedar Waxwings when taking advantage of such fruity abundance.

Historically, the Mountain Bluebird depended for nest sites on forest tree cavities excavated by woodpeckers. Today, many Mountain Bluebirds breed in artificial nest boxes, which tend to be situated in more open areas and have smaller openings to keep out marauders and bad weather. Most of what we know about Mountain Bluebirds comes from studies of these human-made nesting sites.
A female Mountain Bluebird pays more attention to good nest sites than to attractive males. She chooses her mate solely on the basis of the location and quality of the nesting cavity he offers her--disregarding his attributes as a singer, a flier, or a looker.

Directions for making nesting boxes are found at the link above.

Here's an interesting video on dramatic bluebirds of the Himalayas. Scientists are still scratching their heads about possible impacts of global warming on the birds, according to the end of the video. Heh.

Adventure and Science

The Cantalloc Aqueducts, built by the Nazca people in the Peruvian desert 1,500 years ago, are still in use today. The uniquely shaped holes allow wind to blow into a series of underground canals, forcing water from underground aquifers into areas where it is most needed.The Cantalloc Aqueducts, built by the Nazca people in the Peruvian desert 1,500 years ago, are still in use today. The uniquely shaped holes allow wind to blow into a series of underground canals, forcing water from underground aquifers into areas where it is most needed.

Gardens of The Horde

Anything going on in your garden?

Hope everyone has a Veterans Day and a nice weekend.

If you would like to send photos, stories, links, etc. for the Saturday Gardening, Puttering and Adventure Thread, the address is:

ktinthegarden at g mail dot com

Remember to include the nic or name by which you wish to be known at AoSHQ, or let us know if you want to remain a lurker.

Week in Review

What has changed since last week's thread? Gardening, Puttering and Adventure Thread, Nov. 4

Any thoughts or questions?

I closed the comments on this post so you wouldn't get banned for commenting on a week-old post, but don't try it anyway.

Posted by: K.T. at 01:29 PM

Comments

(Jump to bottom of comments)

1 Those aqueducts are very cool. I'm going to have to read up on those.

Posted by: cool stuff is cool at November 11, 2023 01:33 PM (KFhLj)

2 Beautiful pictures.

Peace and blessings to all y'all.

Posted by: nurse ratched, otter 841 has a BABY! at November 11, 2023 01:33 PM (tCUIr)

3 I've grown Broccolini. Easier than cauliflower or brussels sprouts.

Posted by: KT at November 11, 2023 01:40 PM (rrtZS)

4 First time I saw a wood thrush was in the BF's backyard.

I was so iintrigued, since I'd never seen that particular coloration. His yard backs up to woods, so I guess that's why I spotted it. I also so bluebirds for the first time at his place, except it was the Eastern Bluebird, not the Mountain.

the Mountain bluebird is so pretty with all the shades of blue. And the females are smart!

She chooses her mate solely on the basis of the location and quality of the nesting cavity he offers her-

she knows the looks of the pretty boys will fade, also their ability to fly sexy patterbs

Posted by: kallisto at November 11, 2023 01:44 PM (zDKXS)

5 One neighbor burns leaves starting at dusk, but the fellow in the back has only weekends off. I shoukd thank him for making it impossible to go out and work in the yard. Ha ha. It's sunny but the high hit 47 and is sliding down. We're getting hard frost tonight.

Posted by: NaughtyPine at November 11, 2023 01:47 PM (99CKQ)

6 The Nazca were quite the engineers, really.

Posted by: NaughtyPine at November 11, 2023 01:49 PM (99CKQ)

7 Well done Nan!
I still haven't figured out how to keep the critters from eating everything I plant.
The Javalina are easy to defend against they don't jump but, they'll push anything flimsy out of their way.
Squirrels and antelope squirrels are harder because they'll climb and/or dig their way in to get at the garden.
Rabbits dig under and/or hop up and have been seen to stand on items to reach low branches/leaves. They go through the 2x4 grate fences like the fence wasn't there.
Chicken wire panels will work; but, there will be a lot of them and you have move them to get at the garden.

Posted by: AZ deplorable moron at November 11, 2023 01:51 PM (Ri6RV)

8 Plumbing is a adventure
Can't get old fitted off properly due to water in the line, of course it's on the pump side

Posted by: Skip at November 11, 2023 01:52 PM (fwDg9)

9 hiya

Posted by: JT at November 11, 2023 01:58 PM (T4tVD)

10 My leaves are piling up. One issue is in my condition would be hard to get old very heavy compost out of bin to put new leaves in.

Posted by: Skip at November 11, 2023 01:59 PM (fwDg9)

11 Free lunch for vets at Teriyaki Madness! (Mrs Meanie wanted to plug). She also reminded me that the Mountain Bluebird is the state bird of Idaho.

Posted by: Big Fat Meanie at November 11, 2023 01:59 PM (ieja3)

12 Plumbing is a adventure
Can't get old fitted off properly due to water in the line, of course it's on the pump side
Posted by: Skip at November 11, 2023 01:52 PM (fwDg9)

Can ya drill a small hole in the line, letting out the water ?

Posted by: JT at November 11, 2023 01:59 PM (T4tVD)

13 Here in N Illinois, it seems like the leaves are kind of late to fall this year.

Posted by: Big Fat Meanie at November 11, 2023 02:00 PM (ieja3)

14 Plumbing is a adventure
Can't get old fitted off properly due to water in the line, of course it's on the pump side
Posted by: Skip at November 11, 2023 01:52 PM (fwDg9)

Skip, you’re a gentle man, plumbing is a nightmare and the best that can come out of it generally is not good. Wish you the best and hopefully your recovery is going well.

Posted by: Rufus T. Firefly at November 11, 2023 02:01 PM (+Mjp8)

15 My gardening experience this coming week involves raking leaves. the redbud trees are big enough now to drop a lot of leaves! Not sure what to do with them, as the yard isn't big enough for easy disposal. So they'll be used to protect the hastas and other flowers or put into the gutter for the next windy day to reallocate.

Posted by: exdem13 at November 11, 2023 02:04 PM (W+kMI)

16 Well over a hour but got old fitting off finally.
Need to get new part on the old line piece

Posted by: Skip at November 11, 2023 02:07 PM (fwDg9)

17 Burn season here for the next few months. My chance to deal with all the weeds that I didn't pull or keep mown or weed whacked this summer. I don't have to bother burning the leaves, its semi-arid prairie so there isn't any depth of leaves.

Posted by: PaleRider at November 11, 2023 02:07 PM (3cGpq)

18 7 Well done Nan!
I still haven't figured out how to keep the critters from eating everything I plant.
=========
My parents have problems with rabbits and chipmunks that have found sanctuary inside the anti-deer fence. The chipmunks have some sort of D&D tunnel complex in the hillside, and the rabbits care naught for any fence they can wiggle under. They're really good at that wiggling! I'd be more sympathetic, but my folks in their old age are soft-hearted towards small furry beasts and won't really take effective measures.

Posted by: exdem13 at November 11, 2023 02:10 PM (W+kMI)

19 Beautiful photos as always.

Posted by: BeckoningChasm at November 11, 2023 02:11 PM (CHHv1)

20 Those pink flowers look like peonies. They are so pretty.

Posted by: CaliGirl at November 11, 2023 02:11 PM (UYUKJ)

21 I have a big hydrangea that changes color in the flowers from one year to the next depending on soil ph. For years it was blue with perhaps a bit of pink here and there. Then it started doing something very cool. One side of the giant blooms was blue, the other side was pink and where those colors met in the middle was lavender. Then we got a cat who thinks the space underneath the bush is perfect potty area. That hydrangea was talking pink! Bright, show stopping, cannot be overlooked, pink! Sadly it didn't bloom this year due to early spring warm up followed by late spring cold snap. I have to move that giant before we tear the old house down. I can (and have) dropped a house on hostas and they just laugh at me and bloom anyway. But hydrangea don't play that so move it must. Which means it probably won't bloom next year either.

Posted by: Madamemayhem (uppity wench) at November 11, 2023 02:15 PM (cRrcX)

22 Burn season here for the next few months. My chance to deal with all the weeds that I didn't pull or keep mown or weed whacked this summer. I don't have to bother burning the leaves, its semi-arid prairie so there isn't any depth of leaves.
Posted by: PaleRider at November 11, 2023 02:07 PM (3cGpq)

No burn season here in Western, NC. We’re in a drought. Got some rain this am, but living in a rural wooded area I am more than a little nervous about fires.

Posted by: Rufus T. Firefly at November 11, 2023 02:22 PM (+Mjp8)

23 I'd be more sympathetic, but my folks in their old age are soft-hearted towards small furry beasts and won't really take effective measures.
Posted by: exdem13

Both types of squirrel populations have been significantly decreased (22 short). I haven't started on the rabbits... there seems to be an unending supply of them.

Posted by: AZ deplorable moron at November 11, 2023 02:24 PM (Ri6RV)

24 Blew leaves yesterday so that's done until next time.

There is a monster pile of leave compost years old back at the edge of our property so I dug out a couple of cf and brought it up to the gardens. Beautiful stuff - very well rotted, black and full of worms and bugs. Great start on next years plantings.

Posted by: Tonypete at November 11, 2023 02:27 PM (e1mwr)

25 The uniquely shaped holes allow wind to blow into a series of underground canals, forcing water from underground aquifers into areas where it is most needed.

when I see that, my first thought is "how the HELL did they figure that out???" I mean you've got to do an incredible amount of work before you see the first result!

Posted by: Tom Servo at November 11, 2023 02:27 PM (i9ffA)

26
Still getting tomatoes and leaf lettuce under the big overhangs on the south facing side of my house here in SE PA. Gentle frost didn't get 'em yet. Looking into a modest greenhouse to extend the season a couple weeks on both sides of the year. Is it my imagination or do people who grow their own food stay healthier?

If so, don't tell the leftists. Let 'em eat buggggzzzzz.

Posted by: Divide by Zero at November 11, 2023 02:28 PM (enJYY)

27 Both types of squirrel populations have been significantly decreased (22 short). I haven't started on the rabbits... there seems to be an unending supply of them.
Posted by: AZ deplorable moron at November 11, 2023 02:24 PM (Ri6RV)

Once my lefty neighbors decamp back to Florida I intend to do some wildlife management also.

Posted by: Rufus T. Firefly at November 11, 2023 02:32 PM (+Mjp8)

28 I wonder if I could grow broccolini in my hydroponic set up. I may try it.

And I should find out what the two trees in the front yard are. I thought they might be hawthorn. They have round hard berries that the dog likes. The leaves have turned red mostly, and they seem to be the only trees in the neighborhood with any color

Posted by: Notsothoreau at November 11, 2023 02:35 PM (cLWyk)

29 I picked up a small standalone green house on sale at Tractor Supply a month ago. $49. I bought one similar for my stepson a few years back and he's gotten a lot of use out of it. I am always hopeful I will figure out a way to grow something

Posted by: Notsothoreau at November 11, 2023 02:37 PM (cLWyk)

30
I had a neighbor with a farm who volunteered to take the entire townships leaf supply off their hands because he knew it was so good for soil. I have big piles I'll knock down as the winter progresses then move to one area. Next spring, beautiful topsoil filled with night crawlers. Big, tasty (to largemouth bass), night crawlers.

Posted by: Divide by Zero at November 11, 2023 02:39 PM (enJYY)

31 The uniquely shaped holes allow wind to blow into a series of underground canals, forcing water from underground aquifers into areas where it is most needed.

when I see that, my first thought is "how the HELL did they figure that out???" I mean you've got to do an incredible amount of work before you see the first result!
Posted by: Tom Servo at November 11, 2023 02:27 PM (i9ffA)

I'm not so sure the wind blows into those holes so much as it blows across them, and thereby creates a suction to draw water up. Those cats had a practical understanding of Bernoulli's Principle long before there was Bernoulli.

If they had thought outside their box, they might have invented the glider.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at November 11, 2023 02:40 PM (Pskr9)

32 I'm not so sure the wind blows into those holes so much as it blows across them, and thereby creates a suction to draw water up. Those cats had a practical understanding of Bernoulli's Principle long before there was Bernoulli.

If they had thought outside their box, they might have invented the glider.
Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at November 11, 2023 02:40 PM (Pskr9)

things that make you go hmmmm.... this is the Nazca, the people who also built those huge figures in the desert that can only be seen from from very high up in the air.

Posted by: Tom Servo at November 11, 2023 02:48 PM (i9ffA)

33 Started the cleanup of the garden plot today. It's a mess.

Posted by: Martini Farmer at November 11, 2023 02:50 PM (Q4IgG)

34 I'm still picking some tomatoes that are in the middle of the bushes. They yellow brandywine and the black tomatoes are my favorites. I planted one early girl and those are really tasty too, surprisingly good. The early girl still has fruit and I planted it in April.

I need to start watching videos to try and start new bulbs from my peonies. I think it's time to pick the seed pods and figure out how to do this.

I had a seed pod on one of my amaryllis bulbs and it was dried out and opening. It had maybe 25 black seeds and I just stuck them in a pot because I wasn't sure what to do.

Posted by: CaliGirl at November 11, 2023 02:53 PM (UYUKJ)

35 Well, another disappointment, the 2 connecting unions are not good.

Posted by: Skip at November 11, 2023 02:57 PM (fwDg9)

36 23 I'd be more sympathetic, but my folks in their old age are soft-hearted towards small furry beasts and won't really take effective measures.
Posted by: exdem13

Both types of squirrel populations have been significantly decreased (22 short). I haven't started on the rabbits... there seems to be an unending supply of them.
=====
Now that the pinoak has dropped its acorns and Dad has put up the winter feeders, the squirrels have shown up again. they are facing competition from the feeder bosses, the flickers and blue jays. Little birds are active otherwise.

Posted by: exdem13 at November 11, 2023 02:58 PM (W+kMI)

37 I would like to put up a bird feeder here, but the house layout doesn't favor it on our narrow lot, and the population of feral & outdoors cats would use it as a stalking-ground.

Posted by: exdem13 at November 11, 2023 03:00 PM (W+kMI)

38 the squirrels have shown up

Squirrel Boss!!

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=vKcruJ36BfM

Posted by: Commissar of Plenty and Lysenko stuff in solidarity with the struggle to maintain Moron standards at November 11, 2023 03:03 PM (7C01W)

39 No burn season here in Western, NC. We’re in a drought. Got some rain this am, but living in a rural wooded area I am more than a little nervous about fires.
Posted by: Rufus T. Firefly at November 11, 2023 02:22 PM (+Mjp

I could get a burn permit for open burning in my county, but I just use the burn barrel and just do a little burning at a time so that I don't have to remember to apply for a permit and worry if the wind will be low enough when I have free time during the permit period. I've gotten pretty comfortable burning in the barrel.

Posted by: PaleRider at November 11, 2023 03:07 PM (3cGpq)

40 It is going to be taking the unions apart, wipe off the Blue Monster pipe thread and Flex Seal and screw them together overnight

Posted by: Skip at November 11, 2023 03:08 PM (fwDg9)

41 screw them together overnight
Posted by: Skip

That screw is going to take all night?
Bound to win a prize!

Posted by: AZ deplorable moron at November 11, 2023 03:09 PM (Ri6RV)

42 Screw together then sit overnight.

Posted by: Skip at November 11, 2023 03:16 PM (fwDg9)

43 My wife's Fuyu Persimmons are getting ripe, finally, and the winter apple that I suspect is a root stock from a very old orchard is giving yellow apples. It is either some chance seedling a nurseryman thought was a decent rootstock or intentionally a winter type apple. It is yellow, crunchy and both sweet and tart. It has scarlet dots on the skins and the best match I can find from an apple database is an Antonovka apple, but it probably isn't.

In the future I will be trying to make hard cider from it, but this year I will try my hand at brining a jar-full. I may use it for some grafts if I can find a use for it. I am fascinated by winter apples that have flavor.

I gave my wife one to eat to watch her make the squished up "my that is tart" face since she does like tart fruit. Straight they are not really edible.

Posted by: Kindltot at November 11, 2023 03:16 PM (xhaym)

44 Cooling off out thar.....

Posted by: JT at November 11, 2023 03:19 PM (T4tVD)

45 It is yellow, crunchy and both sweet and tart.
Straight they are not really edible.
Posted by: Kindltot

Doesn't this describe apples that are great for apple pie/crumble?

Posted by: AZ deplorable moron at November 11, 2023 03:21 PM (Ri6RV)

46 Bye the way, thanks for the thread K.T. Always interesting and beautiful pictures of plants and wildlife. Much appreciated. Rufus

Posted by: Rufus T. Firefly at November 11, 2023 03:23 PM (+Mjp8)

47 Still have flag out, need to bring it in by dark

Posted by: Skip at November 11, 2023 03:28 PM (fwDg9)

48 Doesn't this describe apples that are great for apple pie/crumble?
Posted by: AZ deplorable moron at November 11, 2023 03:21 PM (Ri6RV)

It should, though we always used Gravensteins for apple crisp. Hard to find those this time of year though.

Posted by: Kindltot at November 11, 2023 03:34 PM (xhaym)

49 Did you look at this site?

https://adamapples.blogspot.com/

Posted by: Notsothoreau at November 11, 2023 03:36 PM (cLWyk)

50 Gravensteins are probably the earliest apple out there. Ready to pick about August.

Posted by: Notsothoreau at November 11, 2023 03:37 PM (cLWyk)

51 From Boise area: Some frosts and freezes in the last 2 weeks, but daytime temps still mild for Nov., 40's and 50's.

I'm 4 weeks post-second knee replacement surgery. Still on a cane, still not driving. I've started doing household chores, but leg stamina is an issue.

Back on 10/28, we hosted a bunch of 4-H families to pick the apples off our 2 old trees, and help make cider. I think Husband estimated 200 dry gallons picked! Kids really seemed to get into the cider-making process. All families got to take home apples and cider. We got enough cider for 2 batches of hard cider, and apples for making applesauce (8 pint jars canned). The last 120 dry gallons of apples went to one family's cows.

Husband has been mulching some leaves, sweeping others. Oak leaves will be burned atop the corn patch - sweet gums went into leaf cages to become compost next year. He's also been removing dead veggie vines and putting them in the trash each week. And he arranged to get the studded tires onto my car.

Today we canned strawberry jam - 10 half-pint jars processed, plus 1 jar for the refrigerator, plus jam-toast for lunch.

God bless all veterans!

Posted by: Pat* at November 11, 2023 03:37 PM (td6Vu)

52 God bless all veterans!
Posted by: Pat* at November 11, 2023 03:37 PM (td6Vu)

Thank you !

Posted by: JT at November 11, 2023 03:39 PM (T4tVD)

53 >>> The uniquely shaped holes allow wind to blow into a series of underground canals, forcing water from underground aquifers into areas where it is most needed.

Wish that the article was more informative. It had the flavor of "I just love science and ancient ruins" but didn't go as far as "do you think space aliens were involved?"

Anyway, no amount of wind is going to bring that water to the surface and I would would guess that the multiple pits with spiral ramps were for the chinese (err, Nazca) bucket brigade ease of access. Such wells exist elsewhere. Just a wide enough pit for human access because nobody invented a bucket winch yet when the well was dug.

And as a sidebar - if they knew their wind so well they could could have rigged up some windmills, ropes, pulleys, buckets... or wooden pumps with a direct drive from the windmill.

Nonetheless, impressive work in an effort to get to a reliable water source to which an archeologist/anthropologist/history might ask - What drove these people to try and survive in such an arid region?

In recorded history the main driver is loosing the war.

Posted by: Itinerant Alley Butcher at November 11, 2023 03:53 PM (cOq4q)

54 Did you look at this site?

https://adamapples.blogspot.com/
Posted by: Notsothoreau at November 11, 2023 03:36 PM (cLWyk)

I will, but I have been looking at Pomiferous.com

Posted by: Kindltot at November 11, 2023 04:08 PM (xhaym)

55 I am off to rake maple leaves. This year I am putting them on the garlic bed to see if mulching makes them do better.

Then of course I have to figure out what to do with the rest. The compost heaps are full, I may make a pile.

Posted by: Kindltot at November 11, 2023 04:13 PM (xhaym)

56
Big old brown paper bags, full of leaves, located in a place that gets rain or snow... you open them up in April and wonder who put all this terrific potting soil in the bag. It's one of life's many mysteries.

Posted by: Divide by Zero at November 11, 2023 05:13 PM (enJYY)

57 If they had thought outside their box, they might have invented the glider.

One of the explanations for the Nazca Lines is that they did.
Most of the patterns don't make any sense from ground level; it's as if someone with an ultralight or hot-air rig was there to check it all out. Very Von Daniken...ian.

Posted by: Way, Way Downriver at November 11, 2023 05:20 PM (4PZHB)

58 That is a lot of apples Pat*
Almost enough to wonder at making calvados and dodging the revenoors

Posted by: Kindltot at November 11, 2023 05:41 PM (xhaym)

59 Wondrous apple crops are being reported from all quarters.
I'm sure some scientist will be along to spoil the magic.
I was crediting the Return of The Bees.

We have a 'literal' embarrassment of apples. I can't give enough away. Wife has dozens of pre-measured pie packages frozen, there are bushels stored in the barn, and I have a nice batch of 'falls' working on a rather expensive mead yeast. I got good results using an old blender for pulping, but if these trees keep bearing like this, by golly I'm investing in a garbage disposal!

I'll be doing a session of Jersey Lightning. Won't bother boring you with the process; it's described by WC Fields' "daughter" character in...the same movie with the "Bellefontaine" routine. This product was my family's stock in trade back in the Berkshires; my grandfather, as a youth, ran a wagon route into Hartford a couple of times a week, selling milk off the front and moonshine in the back. It's how he met my grandmother, which, frankly, he was not supposed to do.

Posted by: Way, Way Downriver at November 11, 2023 05:54 PM (4PZHB)

60 Is it too late to comment? Hope not. One of the many reasons I love this site on Saturday. Beautiful birds!

Posted by: Mrs. Leggy at November 11, 2023 06:53 PM (Vf4Y7)

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