tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13066671060506016392024-03-06T22:34:30.683-05:00Our Garden JournalSteve and Cathy's Garden Blog, Chronicling our Earth Friendly Garden RetreatCathy and Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11985161421939096681noreply@blogger.comBlogger135125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1306667106050601639.post-62880910550028001772017-04-29T14:00:00.000-04:002017-04-29T14:00:05.250-04:00Our Newest Gardening Adventure: Building a California Garden<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQxb9LqgWd8lR3WRT8NH-rddv2NNvfyF_y9t-QiTUUBPgA1dwFj8cerdm5zbk_4QT0mcNU3EkByRO0nuP3ywY1NQ6yI57qODL3ZuW3YFsOPaSLHCAs6H1gleYQ8CrOspqYauZsW4rnqz4/s1600/IMG_2347.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQxb9LqgWd8lR3WRT8NH-rddv2NNvfyF_y9t-QiTUUBPgA1dwFj8cerdm5zbk_4QT0mcNU3EkByRO0nuP3ywY1NQ6yI57qODL3ZuW3YFsOPaSLHCAs6H1gleYQ8CrOspqYauZsW4rnqz4/s320/IMG_2347.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
I’m excited to report that two months ago, we moved from our apartment in the Lodge complex to a house where
we have been given carte blanche by the landlord to create a garden after he saw
our patio garden and this blog.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am
realizing my dream of building one more beautiful garden with my husband.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While we are currently renting this home, it’s
our plan to eventually purchase it, but even if we don’t, our legacy will be a
stunning display of color and beauty.<br />
<br />
Currently, we have something of a blank slate with a few dead/dying plants in the back and a porch, an as yet unidentified
medium sized tree, and some perennials in the front. As we did in Massachusetts, we are going about this thoughtfully to be able to enjoy garden color throughout the extended season.<br />
<br />
We started by planting some … you guessed it! … roses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We planted a newly acquired <i>Veteran’s Honor</i> in front of the
front porch as our tribute to the soldiers we lost in the Blackhawk crash as well as the many soldiers we adopted through Soldiers Angels while they were deployed. We also are planting our <i>Strawberry Hill</i>, which has resided in a pot for a couple of
years now, against one of the posts on our front porch as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While not a true climber, (it’s a David Austin
shrub rose), Strawberry Hill has very long canes and can be grown as a short climber. We are going to train it up
the post but keep it pruned to just below the roof line of the porch. We also put a planter on a small plant stand and our fountain and fern on the front porch. With a wreath on the door, it looks welcoming and homey.<br />
<br />
The white camellia is currently blooming and we set it temporarily next to the front door in its pot but it will also be going
into the ground in the backyard once the blooming season is over. <br />
<br />
Also still in pots in the back are <i>Sugar Moon</i>, a gorgeous pure white climber. some perennials, and our lemon and key lime trees. The lemon tree is sporting three luscious lemons ready for harvest and new blooms and new baby lemons and the key lime also has some limes growing.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlcrGUIfwrZqAAeUvPu0G8f4r4N0hlr0BNJemVtpjDIqMdL33VOiapdDomX569Dpmo6itkbdPUeyErUboQpi6QlWhqOduRtAm7SNcHO8-ciIn0t_spkeKAhJu9RCi-cEQLrN_sVMqva6M/s1600/IMG_2350.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlcrGUIfwrZqAAeUvPu0G8f4r4N0hlr0BNJemVtpjDIqMdL33VOiapdDomX569Dpmo6itkbdPUeyErUboQpi6QlWhqOduRtAm7SNcHO8-ciIn0t_spkeKAhJu9RCi-cEQLrN_sVMqva6M/s640/IMG_2350.JPG" width="502" /></a>The garden came with what looked to be a dead citrus tree of unknown variety and we were surprised to discover that it's now leafing out and blooming. It has the largest, sharpest spines of all of our citrus trees and we are wondering if perhaps it might be a grapefruit tree. </div>
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<br /></div>
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Hopefully, we'll have some fruit on it this year that can help identify it. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz_39xXXtmdbNcs_r0fGfsj8Ax_xKPtSCJbRfV98Mc0frEIBjUS7cRhdg2ISQGTtcvEzvAgQyz8C69VLvwg5R2xTe02xfs3gEEF95vKFtSEUdHEjl-s9sdI4bFSuzTveLUdPNmAajJjHk/s1600/IMG_2351.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz_39xXXtmdbNcs_r0fGfsj8Ax_xKPtSCJbRfV98Mc0frEIBjUS7cRhdg2ISQGTtcvEzvAgQyz8C69VLvwg5R2xTe02xfs3gEEF95vKFtSEUdHEjl-s9sdI4bFSuzTveLUdPNmAajJjHk/s640/IMG_2351.JPG" width="483" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption">The spines on this little tree are enormous. If they are reflective of the size of the fruit, we are wondering if we are dealing with a grapefruit tree.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Our first major project has been to plant some grapes. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes, surprise!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It’s been the standing joke that we moved to wine country to plant roses,
not grapes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And what do we do? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We plant grapes!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No, the wine bug did not bite us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These will be used strictly as table grapes.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzyfUK4L5lwN5n2ZMiZSbECkoZdd5i4yl5mV-thTbjwmIUANbsi5HT-Z3y8kgMqU2kBMq-792a_x-5pvSsgVS29qbhyphenhyphenSiw0De7HuhPAxI38tWPvtmpFklM4R1ZH1p7VHFFE1JVRy_9Flk/s1600/IMG_2340.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzyfUK4L5lwN5n2ZMiZSbECkoZdd5i4yl5mV-thTbjwmIUANbsi5HT-Z3y8kgMqU2kBMq-792a_x-5pvSsgVS29qbhyphenhyphenSiw0De7HuhPAxI38tWPvtmpFklM4R1ZH1p7VHFFE1JVRy_9Flk/s320/IMG_2340.JPG" width="213" /></a>Shortly before we moved to the house, the spring newsletter arrived from our
local garden center, Mid City Nursery, with the news that they had a limited
number of muscat grapevines for sale. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
couldn’t get there fast enough. If you’ve never tasted a muscat grape (the
grapes that are used to make moscato wine) you simply must.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The season for muscat grapes is short and
here in California, we can find them at the end of the summer in Whole Foods.
They are simply the sweetest, juiciest, most flavorful grapes we’ve ever
tasted. We had the staff at Mid City help us choose the best looking vines and
then they potted the six of them up into a 5 gallon pot and stored them for us
until we moved and could plant them. (Just one of the many reasons they are our
favorite garden center.) </div>
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We have no large shade trees on the property but there is a very large
pergola over the patio off the kitchen. It covers almost the entire patio and
has <span class="primaryinfo">6</span> large posts supporting it. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We initially thought about climbing roses and
jasmine, but deadheading roses and pruning them would be a huge challenge, not
that pruning the grapes and keeping them manageable isn’t going to be challenge
enough. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But the idea of our own ready
supply of muscat grapes was an opportunity we couldn’t pass up and once the
pergola is covered with vines, it should be a wonderful shady place to sit and
relax. Our biggest concern at this point is having to share a limited harvest
with the birds!<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfRNJnCIOFPN6ndtsuHAeFw5OYURUZ0ISixv1ePLCtj_h6v0d-z9BHH7pYtzfxkQ5rW1hB_p4Ma2w6HkmrNnZ3Cj4XR8RALcGa4X8fFTq5sXiLid01bRV9wSeFK6YGMVvE8Gf0zCll5Ec/s1600/IMG_2354.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfRNJnCIOFPN6ndtsuHAeFw5OYURUZ0ISixv1ePLCtj_h6v0d-z9BHH7pYtzfxkQ5rW1hB_p4Ma2w6HkmrNnZ3Cj4XR8RALcGa4X8fFTq5sXiLid01bRV9wSeFK6YGMVvE8Gf0zCll5Ec/s320/IMG_2354.JPG" width="320" /></a>We acquired some wine barrels from a gentleman in town who works at a local winery.
He purchases their discarded wine barrels and turns them into planters.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He plugs the bung holes, cuts them to the
desired height, and drills drainage holes in the bottom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We had him cut just the top off and leave them
tall as we needed to find the largest planters we could find to sustain the
grapes in adulthood.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We got one barrel
to place next to each post and last month, with the help of our housekeeper’s
husband Tony, Steve planted the grapes. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Already
they are leafing out and have started their trek skyward. <br />
<br />
Because they are in containers and require a consistent supply of water to
thrive, we installed an irrigation system tthat can be set to
run on a timer a couple of times a week or however often we need during the dry
summer months. <br />
<br />
Some of our other upcoming projects include raised beds for vegetables, herbs,
and possibly some strawberries; planting the remaining potted trees and roses
(and some more roses, especially) in the ground along the fence; and filling
our empty patio pots with seasonal annuals to provide pops of color on the
patio. </div>
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One of the things that recently arrived with our furniture from
Massachusetts is a beautiful vintage style conservatory planter that I used to
plant with mini green leafy plants and African violets.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here in California I plan to fill it with
succulents to bring garden color indoors as well. I have several of Debra Lee
Baldwin’s wonderful books on succulents and hope to find some interesting minis
at our garden center. </div>
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Just before we moved here, we had turned an old fountain into the most
amazing succulent planter with the few hardy succulents that survived harsh New
England winters. Here, we have so many interesting varieties available to us
and I am excited about the prospect of choosing some interesting ones and planting
them in this conservatory.<br />
<br />
Be sure to sign up to follow our progress in the garden over the spring and
summer!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’ll also be sharing some
gardening and cultivation tips for chemical free gardening over the next few
months.</div>
Cathy and Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11985161421939096681noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1306667106050601639.post-60580918514588604482016-04-20T00:39:00.001-04:002016-04-20T00:39:19.790-04:00Stop and Smell the Roses<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="2skoc" data-offset-key="3rd3n-0-0">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6pJkpWQSOpshZCypJDfTMEnHNqhOUd5-jnakMRIFde3kED-snemerhUS1C1YceGfpwmX_jtkLLpn3u28rqEi8WciZ7Z487I8YgGUSiExBdnbjPqhm39CHlJ41rZ5GWN57j8YZtz_T6wA/s1600/IMG_1534.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6pJkpWQSOpshZCypJDfTMEnHNqhOUd5-jnakMRIFde3kED-snemerhUS1C1YceGfpwmX_jtkLLpn3u28rqEi8WciZ7Z487I8YgGUSiExBdnbjPqhm39CHlJ41rZ5GWN57j8YZtz_T6wA/s400/IMG_1534.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span data-offset-key="3rd3n-0-0"><span data-text="true">This past Saturday, Steve and I "worked" at The Friends of Vintage Roses booth at Sebastopol's "Apple Blossom Festival. There, we encouraged people passing by our booth to come in and "stop and smell the roses." </span></span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="dve72-0-0"><span data-text="true">In
our little corner of the festival they could experience a wide range of
heady, intense perfumes, the likes of which you seldom see in a modern
rose garden, roses whose fragrance ranged from the traditional tea rose,
to spice, to one rose that smells for all the world like grapefruit. </span></span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="1jq7t-0-0"><span data-text="true"><span id="goog_1207158581"></span><span id="goog_1207158582"></span>One of the main goals of the day was to entice people who love roses to join us as volunteers on our
"Dirt Days", the twice monthly work days when dedicated volunteers get
together to nurture, feed, weed, and tend one of the most important and
extensive collections of old garden roses in the world.</span></span><span data-offset-key="dve72-0-0"><span data-text="true"> Our other focus was simply to re-introduce people to these wonderful roses, to share our enthusiasm for growing them, and to inspire others to do the same.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje2qVbkEjZB5zAaFRAsqRNuuNBarTurJ_0V8i4iVlzi5fgE_V6-Q-n3f1xExdOnmZ-YN1vjw9fLfoA4ZJR6Qm8RUv_MD53TiwOqSoZD7DFPipR4BkNab6B-QHZSptMxr8m8V533q1lFdA/s1600/IMG_1541.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje2qVbkEjZB5zAaFRAsqRNuuNBarTurJ_0V8i4iVlzi5fgE_V6-Q-n3f1xExdOnmZ-YN1vjw9fLfoA4ZJR6Qm8RUv_MD53TiwOqSoZD7DFPipR4BkNab6B-QHZSptMxr8m8V533q1lFdA/s400/IMG_1541.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span data-offset-key="dve72-0-0"><span data-text="true">People looked at us quizzically, sometimes skeptically, certain we were "selling something". We weren't. Well, not really. Mostly, we were introducing people to the collection of old garden roses by letting them experience the fragrance of over fifty of the many thousands of different heirloom roses maintained by The Friends. Once we were enable to get them to come into our booth, we enjoyed their reaction. The fragrance of the beautiful roses seemed to visibly lift spirits, infuse energy, and spark reminiscing of the gardens of their youth. </span></span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="dve72-0-0"><span data-text="true">Some of our volunteers had taken the time to create fact filled posters about the collection and the history of old garden roses. We had copies of our newsletter to share, and during the time that I was there, several enthusiastic visitors voiced the intention of joining us for Dirt Days. I sincerely hope they do. The opportunity to work with such historically important specimens and alongside some of the most experienced and knowledgeable rosarians in the world is a rare gift in and of itself. </span></span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="dve72-0-0"><span data-text="true">I tended to be rather brash at times as I stood at the entrance to the booth and called like a carnival barker, urging people passing by to "come and smell the roses." One man, a stoutly built, muscular gent sporting more ink on his body than I have in my art studio at first rebuffed my invitation. </span></span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="dve72-0-0"><span data-text="true">Undaunted, I stood in front of him with my walker and oxygen tank and told him that anyone who had that many tattoos of roses on his body simply had to stop and smell the roses. </span></span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="dve72-0-0"><span data-text="true">Amazingly, he followed me into our booth and then, as he sniffed every single one of the display roses, he told me that many of his tattoos were in honor of his grandmother who had raised him. He told me, "She had roses in her yard that smelled just like this!" He got a little choked up and I confess, I shed a tear or two watching this biker type with a studded dog collar wrist band gingerly lifting the bud vases to smell the roses.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgENfnEbgpzdKbPu3keEpoUc0FGOkJqyI6mxI3mXw7EjDF2k7bF5Fv_IBdJwKuIvh4Epy3yF1Ppgf5mVJ1Aky7cBOiNW8HbjkPGWRbRr8DYU867h4R2hmgNZd081c85lUsrSg57AgrKwz0/s1600/IMG_1539.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgENfnEbgpzdKbPu3keEpoUc0FGOkJqyI6mxI3mXw7EjDF2k7bF5Fv_IBdJwKuIvh4Epy3yF1Ppgf5mVJ1Aky7cBOiNW8HbjkPGWRbRr8DYU867h4R2hmgNZd081c85lUsrSg57AgrKwz0/s400/IMG_1539.JPG" width="322" /></a></div>
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<span data-offset-key="dve72-0-0"><span data-text="true">Another of my favorite visitors to the booth were two young boys who were perhaps middle school aged. They came together and told us somewhat shyly that they heard that "it smelled really good" in our booth. </span></span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="dve72-0-0"><span data-text="true">They lingered over many of the roses, fascinated by the variety of fragrances and asking thoughtful questions about the roses. One of the boys commented that some of the roses smelled like soap and he asked how the rose fragrance got into the soap. </span></span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="dve72-0-0"><span data-text="true">I explained about French milled soaps scented by actual rose petals and one of the other volunteers explained how the rose petals were crushed to release the essential oils and then the oils were put into the soap.<br /><br />Our tour of duty was a short three hours but I totally enjoyed myself and it was over all too soon. Even those visitors who were less enthusiastic about stopping in all left with a smile. How can anyone be unhappy around such beautiful flowers? </span></span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="1jq7t-0-0"><span data-text="true"><span id="goog_1207158600"></span><span id="goog_1207158601"></span>If you missed this event, there is another opportunity coming up in May. The Friends will be providing a generous sampling of blooms for a similar display sponsored by the Heritage Rose Society at </span></span><span style="color: magenta;"><span data-offset-key="1jq7t-0-0"><span data-text="true"><a href="http://www.celebrationofoldroses.org/celebration-of-old-roses.php"><i><b>A Celebration of Old Garden Roses</b></i></a></span></span></span><span data-offset-key="1jq7t-0-0"><span data-text="true"> which will be held May 15th from 11:00 AM to 3:30 PM at the El Cerrito Community Center, 7007 Moeser Lane, El Cerrito, CA 94530. </span></span><span data-offset-key="1jq7t-0-0"><span data-text="true"><span style="color: #a64d79;"></span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br /><br />And if you'd like to join us for "Dirt Days", you can find information about volunteer opportunities and membership The Friends on <a href="http://thefriendsofvintageroses.org/"><i><b><span style="color: magenta;">our website</span></b></i>.</a> </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></span></div>
Cathy and Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11985161421939096681noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1306667106050601639.post-44483619136638687722016-04-10T06:17:00.000-04:002016-04-10T06:17:28.251-04:00RAIN + SPRING = SNAILS<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVPurfdp6OFnhzxvzKjuxMdMb8kZNtRr8SRthCoh3W7812LlYxpf02giAciVhjaZuhudkUbTLn3SGt0ZdaxqJP40BcxRk3KHyFYh1LW2HFH928GGnsCs4DODsetUQsrEcbPYTPiLKobB0/s1600/IMG_1331.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="308" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVPurfdp6OFnhzxvzKjuxMdMb8kZNtRr8SRthCoh3W7812LlYxpf02giAciVhjaZuhudkUbTLn3SGt0ZdaxqJP40BcxRk3KHyFYh1LW2HFH928GGnsCs4DODsetUQsrEcbPYTPiLKobB0/s400/IMG_1331.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A brown garden snail on one of our rose shrubs. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Snails have become my nemesis. As cute
as they are on cards and tchotchkes, they are not so cute when they are
eating our roses and the flowers in our window boxes.<br />
<br />
Much as I love
gardening in the Mediterranean climate of the Napa Valley, I have traded
the slugs and aphids of New England for snails and... more aphids. <br />
<br />
Everything might be bigger in Texas but I think California must hold
some kind of record for the biggest and most plentiful aphids. But I
digress.<br />
<br />
<i>Cornu
aspersa</i> (formerly <i>Helix aspersa</i>), is a major pest. Since each snail has the capacity to reproduce and can produce as many as 500 eggs over the course of a single breeding year, it doesn't take much for the snail population to explode if no one is watching.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJFBL944BH8UE94NDoBKK-nN7TpJpto33Ik0U1HYC44uALO6tE07J4l7KP5sl3Tu0RsR0mrtIgz8FzJMnxt0vxU6RqrABHZPPQ_9S4joMKSA9SB0dixQH9m6bikg3aOzlJgZbCn0T3bGM/s1600/2016-02-24+Spring+Patio+and+Grounds++23.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJFBL944BH8UE94NDoBKK-nN7TpJpto33Ik0U1HYC44uALO6tE07J4l7KP5sl3Tu0RsR0mrtIgz8FzJMnxt0vxU6RqrABHZPPQ_9S4joMKSA9SB0dixQH9m6bikg3aOzlJgZbCn0T3bGM/s400/2016-02-24+Spring+Patio+and+Grounds++23.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The flower petals were apparently much tastier than the leaves.</td></tr>
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Land snails, or to be more exact, terrestrial pulmonate
gastropod molluscs, can denude the gorgeous blossoms of a beautiful
primrose overnight. Here in California, the brown garden snail is the most commonly seen snail and a major problem for nurseries and gardeners alike. <br />
<br />
I was excited to plant this primrose in one f our window boxes. I had seen it in full bloom at the nursery and it was a beautiful blend of yellow, apricot, and rose.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlOqJni8Lp1VMkpu3E8-drfkd2J40FBDsPBxIDjaRYF6G7hnTgLNsFsmtZ-4EPWnL3auahdOnyQs5aNNAjkkJIDM-xhyeboxi5Ix1OOrA1jSgwjbVZipwmN1un4_7BRyk23KNLuPeMDiQ/s1600/2016-02-03+Dogs++%252837%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlOqJni8Lp1VMkpu3E8-drfkd2J40FBDsPBxIDjaRYF6G7hnTgLNsFsmtZ-4EPWnL3auahdOnyQs5aNNAjkkJIDM-xhyeboxi5Ix1OOrA1jSgwjbVZipwmN1un4_7BRyk23KNLuPeMDiQ/s400/2016-02-03+Dogs++%252837%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
When we
first moved here, the problem in our complex was so severe, the
landscape company sprayed the grounds for snails and fleas (another
major insect pest in this climate). The spraying was quite successful in that the flea problem was controlled and the snails were reined in to a manageable number. <br />
<br />
Unfortunately, the spray they used
contained permethrins, ordinarily a relatively safe insecticide, but one
known to cause health problems for Cavalier King Charles Spaniels.
Yep, ours all became ill -- they apparently absorbed the chemical
through their paws when they walked on the grass. Nearly three months
of persistent diarrhea and occasional vomiting ensued. We got to know
our wonderful vets really, really well.<br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf0qDFcryQpbvxJ9BbSaqtRrdy6g5uLkQF6UAfiMmezkc3Nqm5iIt4IaW4WFoRDGdn-z1HnWAMj_Ft4LzB8o3RGBEVIjXHBrpQKWyGuiWTTaH_weu2WYLXUR5L4j2tdmSx-Yv67wP0-HY/s1600/IMG_1515.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="322" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf0qDFcryQpbvxJ9BbSaqtRrdy6g5uLkQF6UAfiMmezkc3Nqm5iIt4IaW4WFoRDGdn-z1HnWAMj_Ft4LzB8o3RGBEVIjXHBrpQKWyGuiWTTaH_weu2WYLXUR5L4j2tdmSx-Yv67wP0-HY/s400/IMG_1515.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Garden snail moving along the sidewalk near our apartment in the rain.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Snails come out when it
rains. They need the moisture to move and to be able to search for food.
When it's dry, they camp out in their shells; when it's damp out --
when the dew is thick after an overnight fog, or during and just after a
rain -- they come out in force.<br />
<br />
They litter the sidewalks and the entry
to the grotto that our apartment opens into. They climb the walls, the
shrubs, and the trees.<br />
<br />
They get onto our patio and climb up the pots
and into the plants. Our wonderful garden is the snail equivalent of an
all-you-can-eat buffet.<br />
<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGjLfi91caQG57g0bvchsUTjDwqZwmJO78WAc7oOJkRsWC89_kX8LfCJM-hT7up1NehHHQr4NIgOfvFewT5TqB_7NlmSeGHZsWgdBWSe3WNlH8lEDG_zBSP_W_SSWmOgvR1_Aw9JlZGGI/s1600/IMG_1506.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGjLfi91caQG57g0bvchsUTjDwqZwmJO78WAc7oOJkRsWC89_kX8LfCJM-hT7up1NehHHQr4NIgOfvFewT5TqB_7NlmSeGHZsWgdBWSe3WNlH8lEDG_zBSP_W_SSWmOgvR1_Aw9JlZGGI/s400/IMG_1506.JPG" width="323" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Snail climbing the stucco wall in search of food.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Our best methods of snail control
include dusting the area with diatomaceous earth which kills them
mechanically by slicing their soft undersides to microscopic ribbons as
they crawl over it, and manually picking them off the plants and pots
and drowning them in a jar of soapy water.<br />
<br />
Fortunately, Steve doesn't
mind picking them off because I hate touching the slimy little
creatures. I dust both the plants (since DE is also helpful in
controlling aphids) and the ground around our patio and when I see a lot
of them in the shrubbery, near our apartment, I give the shrubs a
dusting as well.<br />
<br />
Winter and now spring, with all of the rain,
has been very snail friendly. I am looking forward to the dry season
when the snails will be less active. <br />
<br />
For now, every rain, no matter how minimal brings these molluscs out in droves and they do the two things that snails do best: eat, and then breed and make more snails.<br />
<br />
The dense fog we get
overnight provides just enough moisture to entice them out to feed, so
we need to check carefully on those cool, damp mornings. But once the
sun comes out, they tend to withdraw into their shells and hide out
until it's wet out again. We check the pots carefully and and collect
them into a trash bag and dispose of them with the garbage.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTwOWUWhyyKxzrE5oPw9krMLjaixf1hSTGRYivRUa5O0L72Mf16PMMKf-RZWKCoJxIolNizzjZQVHQrgZSBqJCV-qS2Hsi1kVtBw6M_hvF-QQ-0frndJ5izXFbUh8IZwEEmpVmjWRm1G4/s1600/IMG_1508.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="454" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTwOWUWhyyKxzrE5oPw9krMLjaixf1hSTGRYivRUa5O0L72Mf16PMMKf-RZWKCoJxIolNizzjZQVHQrgZSBqJCV-qS2Hsi1kVtBw6M_hvF-QQ-0frndJ5izXFbUh8IZwEEmpVmjWRm1G4/s640/IMG_1508.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Snails on the walkway approaching our apartment during a light rain this evening.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWa7Xs7mxep5zfcdwlf4mghCZ4zkGJRfzmcj1TaFc_WcTgvSTZb5KPHlK81uI5MfTK5wHVNjaAYJcoKJimlCP7QGjzWVrfKeHyffalg5K6xYdWhjE8x2_CWy_ETLLMFWCv5Z8lXwVeoQo/s1600/IMG_1510.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="412" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWa7Xs7mxep5zfcdwlf4mghCZ4zkGJRfzmcj1TaFc_WcTgvSTZb5KPHlK81uI5MfTK5wHVNjaAYJcoKJimlCP7QGjzWVrfKeHyffalg5K6xYdWhjE8x2_CWy_ETLLMFWCv5Z8lXwVeoQo/s640/IMG_1510.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Snails moving along the walkway and grotto into our building, and climbing the stuccoed walls of the apartment.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixgbVeZ56zkVUp1y_fzg504S1OfUPYol3hR4s-vLQNOOnK78EmWHNI5kDs5FkKJoYVE6NuUudtcDU91Dr1l-QD86S04bj2hk4kxG5VvlosCZQKAtgm050iv_tDBiuyLo64fUIn5bqTpJU/s1600/IMG_1511.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="538" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixgbVeZ56zkVUp1y_fzg504S1OfUPYol3hR4s-vLQNOOnK78EmWHNI5kDs5FkKJoYVE6NuUudtcDU91Dr1l-QD86S04bj2hk4kxG5VvlosCZQKAtgm050iv_tDBiuyLo64fUIn5bqTpJU/s640/IMG_1511.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Snails on the wet walkways in search of food.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzuwSCvFD3EIB7Jusk3iwB2KVhp0-EIKMSn6FNGF6EAOzpjfbQQBiCciUD46jWVnh9muV2SWn1y4MZdcsO905Tz6unitQnrVzATANfmm_4WjZcz0txq_s_zoZkWALDVKM__ZdSbldBsfU/s1600/IMG_1516.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzuwSCvFD3EIB7Jusk3iwB2KVhp0-EIKMSn6FNGF6EAOzpjfbQQBiCciUD46jWVnh9muV2SWn1y4MZdcsO905Tz6unitQnrVzATANfmm_4WjZcz0txq_s_zoZkWALDVKM__ZdSbldBsfU/s640/IMG_1516.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A brown garden snail moving from the grassy area across the sidewalk.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5uRQgN9BjN2lVAlTIdkGtocj8oq_PsOvpRmNBtr85_gxm79Vnoq5ND8HrHJik7L-8vbuCUFinMyLF-DjDmHPUMsW5I1D7Sxf66ehrPgdx8ZK8bhTwqnllnlzJVldU_PJUgy1vmw8bPmo/s1600/IMG_1518.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5uRQgN9BjN2lVAlTIdkGtocj8oq_PsOvpRmNBtr85_gxm79Vnoq5ND8HrHJik7L-8vbuCUFinMyLF-DjDmHPUMsW5I1D7Sxf66ehrPgdx8ZK8bhTwqnllnlzJVldU_PJUgy1vmw8bPmo/s640/IMG_1518.JPG" width="386" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Snails gathering in the grass outside of our apartment. </td></tr>
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Cathy and Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11985161421939096681noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1306667106050601639.post-79497986129286445612016-03-27T19:08:00.000-04:002016-04-07T16:14:59.866-04:00Springtime Patio in Bloom - Water-Wise and Full of Color<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6q2bvsM1wv-XqMAjJhwyb3OQZHG-V6qzQKuAlPlTYildpOMThNtbdPCUwUdrU4ENQAYBcBNaKnAl850W1MPwdN2F2jwGVthQpsn4oPEhdQ7zwibduHanIRKig5_d1kR2jA64OCJsqqM4/s1600/2016-02-15+Patio+and+Grounds++%25285%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6q2bvsM1wv-XqMAjJhwyb3OQZHG-V6qzQKuAlPlTYildpOMThNtbdPCUwUdrU4ENQAYBcBNaKnAl850W1MPwdN2F2jwGVthQpsn4oPEhdQ7zwibduHanIRKig5_d1kR2jA64OCJsqqM4/s400/2016-02-15+Patio+and+Grounds++%25285%2529.JPG" width="266" /></a></div>
Our patio is looking ever so beautiful this spring. We added pots of bulbs and perennials that are also blooming, and a gorgeous white camellia. Yes the camellia "sheds" and I find myself cleaning the spent petals daily, but I consider that a small price to pay for the beauty of this long-blooming, gorgeous tree. <br />
<br />
Our camellia has a full peony type bloom with ruffled petals and bright yellow stamens that peek out through the petals. <br />
<br />
Added to the apricot tree and Meyer lemon, we have the beginnings of a small forest on our tiny patio.<br />
<br />
The perennials we've added include a couple of hellebores (Lenten roses) and a pot of heuchera (coral bells), two of my favorites from New England. I loved them in our cottage garden in Massachusetts and hadn't thought they could be grown in pots.<br />
<br />
We also added some hydrangeas. In Massachusetts, we had a hydrangea tree growing in our deck garden and large shrubs in the butterfly garden. Once these florist specimens stop blooming, I plan to re-pot them together in a larger pot to allow them to grow so hopefully they will continue to bloom year after year. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFKCCLjMiEC-aSYO-Qqx9vgE-KXDkvlFC21KJrOPr28Innl9Jjlv2yFYiLiCvYuPOPJD0kQ46H5qq6AJ0XZROHM4-GcMnzRw53xSyB6BgtSJ42742-4343E9JsiBl9O2o5ELI-xjC1wE0/s1600/2016-03-15+Patio+08.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFKCCLjMiEC-aSYO-Qqx9vgE-KXDkvlFC21KJrOPr28Innl9Jjlv2yFYiLiCvYuPOPJD0kQ46H5qq6AJ0XZROHM4-GcMnzRw53xSyB6BgtSJ42742-4343E9JsiBl9O2o5ELI-xjC1wE0/s400/2016-03-15+Patio+08.JPG" width="310" /></a></div>
I had seen some beautiful hellebores at Mid-City Nursery when we were buying the annuals for our window boxes. I passed them over with regret. They are one of my favorite spring flowers but I didn't have a garden in which to plant any. It was Tovah Martin at <span style="color: #38761d;"><i><b><a href="https://www.facebook.com/Plantswise-by-Tovah-Martin-188220037885906/">Plantswise</a></b></i></span> who suggested that I should try growing them in pots and grow them as houseplants. So, back to Mid-City we went where the one I really wanted was sold out but a deep purple and green and this white with deep mauve were still available. Next to them was -- guess what -- a pot of heucheras and those came home with us as well.<br />
<br />
Emboldened, I looked for some of the other perennials that I sorely missed and created this gorgeous pot of bright blue delphinium to which I added pops of bright yellow in the form of primula (primrose). When the yellow calabrachoa are available, I'll be adding those in as well. That blue and yellow combination has always been a favorite in my garden.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikUIE6PR2wCFYhUxDeXgGhnCmtH3aFOnaSFQRXJ8JYYPplrhyphenhyphenjt7luCMr2FDSIl91HL24jmAqxzWoIEZuSr5tZ2ml-VIXOEz-1vuuf1NFySj4rnOxfrCXsOj6cqSeM3LnDxl2s4Ehz2l4/s1600/2016-03-15+Patio+24.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikUIE6PR2wCFYhUxDeXgGhnCmtH3aFOnaSFQRXJ8JYYPplrhyphenhyphenjt7luCMr2FDSIl91HL24jmAqxzWoIEZuSr5tZ2ml-VIXOEz-1vuuf1NFySj4rnOxfrCXsOj6cqSeM3LnDxl2s4Ehz2l4/s640/2016-03-15+Patio+24.JPG" width="614" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption">Bright yellow primula make a wonderful contrast for the blue delphinium. Against the wall, a purple and green hydrangea blooms cheerfully next to the Meyer lemon tree. Apple mint and spearmint share the large pot that holds the tree.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
There are many things to love about container gardens. They are neat, require little to no weeding, and you can move and rearrange them at will. They also provide the benefits and the beauty of a flower garden in a very small space. For us, living in an apartment with a patio, this has been a wonderful way to be able to enjoy fresh herbs, citrus, roses, and cut flowers for the table.<br />
<br />
Container gardens need to be watered more frequently but actually use less water, so they have an important place even in a yard where you are xeriscaping or have very limited land for raising plants and vegetables. Raised beds are an effective way to grow vegetables and maximize the crop yield in a small available space. While growing in containers and raised beds means watering more often, small frequent waterings use far less water than the deep soaking that the same plants in a large traditional garden bed require.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGd80ntnYRxtHw0VKvTcYA8hHoJilXScKdYcWXzVLYorjy5Vgz4uB1osLVI-0UqkC3qBh93teaUaky3kopRNm0QFK7uOrm4MIs-MNHfjSFRlGDi0u4XqMdF9koS5MDRANDs3Orys37ObI/s1600/IMG_1264.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGd80ntnYRxtHw0VKvTcYA8hHoJilXScKdYcWXzVLYorjy5Vgz4uB1osLVI-0UqkC3qBh93teaUaky3kopRNm0QFK7uOrm4MIs-MNHfjSFRlGDi0u4XqMdF9koS5MDRANDs3Orys37ObI/s320/IMG_1264.JPG" width="169" /></a></div>
We water our containers exclusively from water recycled from showers and the kitchen. I joke that ours is the only kitchen in the complex with a watering can as a permanent fixture in the kitchen. I keep it near the sink and collect water from rinsing vegetables and dishes and from boiling vegetables and eggs.<br />
<br />
When I'm washing dishes, it takes roughly one gallon of water to clear the pipe of cold water and to get water hot enough for cleaning and that water goes right into my watering can. I also keep a 5 gallon bucket in the shower to catch the cold water that runs before the water is warm enough for bathing as well as run off and some of the rinse water from the shower. Soap doesn't harm plants and is an excellent insecticide, helping to protect against some garden pests. <br />
<br />
I've also been known to grab every available bucket and trash can and run outside to capture rainwater during a downpour. I understand that capturing rainwater is not allowed in some counties and states, so know your local laws regarding this. In Massachusetts we captured rainwater from drain-spouts using rain barrels and watered our garden exclusively using water from the barrels and saved from the kitchen as we do here.<br />
<br />
Planting a container is no more difficult than planting a garden. It's just different. It requires a little bit of forethought and planning to have the right materials on hand. In addition to containers, you'll need a good quality potting soil, some peat moss, and compost or composted manure to fill the pots. Disposable diapers or <i>SoilMoist</i>, small pebbles (they are sold by the bag at places like <i>Home Depot</i>), and regular #4 coffee filters round out the shopping list.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoCU5gT1DX8NzMvksD-Cia7gVgwdH1QBMV3Hdx_ocngO0Dujkscb9LPlDasdhLrLY0vnO0iwaDjPQ3Sda80jFJt1GOpjAAjp_gPLeF7OWCM74IRpR-7FAbpRTKI9fVo3onl0MEE_NROQY/s1600/2016-03-15+Patio+27.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoCU5gT1DX8NzMvksD-Cia7gVgwdH1QBMV3Hdx_ocngO0Dujkscb9LPlDasdhLrLY0vnO0iwaDjPQ3Sda80jFJt1GOpjAAjp_gPLeF7OWCM74IRpR-7FAbpRTKI9fVo3onl0MEE_NROQY/s400/2016-03-15+Patio+27.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
A container garden starts, obviously, with containers. Some people prefer terra cotta pots, which are thought to hold moisture and keep the plants moist longer.<br />
<br />
We have a mix of of terra cotta and plastic, and plastic pots set into decorative ceramic pots. Honestly, I don't find any difference among all of them in terms of watering needs, but the terra cotta and ceramic pots are very heavy. Even a large plastic pot is heavy once it's filled with dirt, however, so we put all of our large pots on rolling bases to make them easier to move for both rearranging and cleaning the patio. This is where paying a little extra for quality pays off. The bargain store wheeled bases don't hold up to the weight, the pots slide off easily, and the wheels get jammed. <br />
<br />
<span id="goog_189719451"></span><span id="goog_189719452"></span>Although it's a time honored tradition to add bits of broken crockery or pebbles into the bottom of a pot to facilitate drainage, I find that a coffee filter set into the very bottom of the pot, below whatever pebbles or other material is going to be used for that purpose, helps keep dirt from washing out and soiling the patio. <br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR2cIugaUNJf8FzhHNJRcMJOYiXryMsqyANOEscBYiMe72s70sgRoF959oNk4NXMLqXJCofIC7zw7pLs-2Ih9v2BMvUC9y-PhCNML2NuEBOGWOTj9lvfBVXf-ZT72OSDuAGe399PY0hjg/s1600/2016-03-15+Patio+25.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR2cIugaUNJf8FzhHNJRcMJOYiXryMsqyANOEscBYiMe72s70sgRoF959oNk4NXMLqXJCofIC7zw7pLs-2Ih9v2BMvUC9y-PhCNML2NuEBOGWOTj9lvfBVXf-ZT72OSDuAGe399PY0hjg/s320/2016-03-15+Patio+25.JPG" width="320" /></a>An important aspect of container gardening is to use the right mix of
potting material and to feed on a regular basis, since watering
containers washes out some of the nutrients and unlike the ground, there
isn't an available source of nutrients for the roots to reach for.<br />
<br />
Most gardeners have their preferred mix of soil. For our roses
and most of our perennials and bulbs, I use an all-purpose potting mix that has moisture
control built in. Adding peat moss or vermiculite keeps the mixture
loose, so it doesn't compact and smother the roots. Mixing the soil 2:1
with compost or composted manure provides extra nutrients and enriches the overall planting
mix. I generally add one part of of peat to four parts of a potting soil-compost mixture for my regular general container gardening soil recipe.<br />
<br />
Container gardening really is a place where one size doesn't fit all. I used a special potting mix designed for acid loving plants when we potted our camellia, and I also used commercial mixes for some of our other succulents and orchids. <br />
<br />
Adding water-absorbing polymers below the root ball holds water and helps to keep the pots adequately moist between waterings. This can be done by using a product such as Soil-Moist or by opening up a baby diaper, and removing and using the water absorbent material it contains. I find it helpful to wet the diaper then peel away the plastic and set the "stuffing" low in the pot, a few inches below where the plant will set. It should be moist when you put it into the pot.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN-ZmdfE-P82zh6LXu2bMclNZUwk5PVUyJy0YV6OMIDIHhLUijb-AJEi6NT82YZ77pWHiwG9Tk26_d6-s-VbIQbXXbagA9DubtlNp-lEWl1MZoDtYDU-BP8Ge7zTjj5ySuwgLzkwXtngo/s1600/2016-03-15+Patio+26.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN-ZmdfE-P82zh6LXu2bMclNZUwk5PVUyJy0YV6OMIDIHhLUijb-AJEi6NT82YZ77pWHiwG9Tk26_d6-s-VbIQbXXbagA9DubtlNp-lEWl1MZoDtYDU-BP8Ge7zTjj5ySuwgLzkwXtngo/s400/2016-03-15+Patio+26.JPG" width="400" /></a>I also water the dirt in the bottom of the pot before I place the plant and remainder of the soil. This is especially important with tall narrow pots. You need to water the entire pot, otherwise, the bottom will dry out and make it hard for the roots to grow and develop. But this way, you don't need to drown the roots to get water to the bottom of the pot. And once it's moist, it's easy to keep it that way.<br />
<br />
Once the containers are planted, soaking them well but slowly works best. When watering the first time, it's easy to either underestimate or to over-water and drown the roots so I water slowly over the course of a few hours, a quart at a time in the large pots. Honestly, it's a guessing game, but I water until I see a bit of run off into the saucer under the pot and then not again for a week. Then I make sure to give each large pot at least a gallon of water over the course of each week.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1xvG82EiaIbLKqJwQCWd4FpK2e-ma7OiN5Mg4AbcVjOKdEr-jZ8g0oU2t2lzOELPRh6nHCZtPNEjVuvGOtmbue1Ftmyi5OI_9LNHT3YeQxzi6FCqxzCfya5ksAdJEnDSM9y2YJ3QatCA/s1600/IMG_1322.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1xvG82EiaIbLKqJwQCWd4FpK2e-ma7OiN5Mg4AbcVjOKdEr-jZ8g0oU2t2lzOELPRh6nHCZtPNEjVuvGOtmbue1Ftmyi5OI_9LNHT3YeQxzi6FCqxzCfya5ksAdJEnDSM9y2YJ3QatCA/s400/IMG_1322.JPG" width="332" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The traveling marker moves from pot to pot as I water.</span></td></tr>
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<span id="goog_189719467"></span><span id="goog_189719468"></span>Watering is easy when you get into a routine. On a daily basis, after I do the morning dishes, I take the water recycled from the kitchen and showers and start at one end of the garden and work my way around, watering a couple of pots at a time, and marking with a small garden ornament where I left off watering each day. Then, the next day I pick up where I left off.<br />
<br />
Feeding pots grown in containers is as important as watering them. I use specific plant foods formulated for each type of plant to
maximize the nutrients in appropriate amounts. Everything gets fed the same day at the same time. Otherwise, I lose track and it's easy to overlook some of the pots. Since it's easy to
overfeed, I tend to feed a solution diluted by a third every other week. I mix the fertilizer according to the package directions and then dilute and feed according to package directions. Then I continue with my regular watering.<br />
<br />
We have window boxes edging our patio wall and they are
filled with annuals, perennials, an occasional herb, and miniature
roses. Over the course of the seasons we add plants to those that have
finished blooming for the season and gone to seed. Once it gets too hot for the pansies and the ranunculus
fade, I'll switch them out with bacopa, calabrachoa, snapdragons, and
miniature mums.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAdRLFpZoxehIa1fsbAgSxZRDKmS13MaQjA8sRiMAQcUe5VFtRnzJXE_d_ujThF46SYBPCiM25LsMPAl8brWu0PjdwDb-vgdN2lWOUN3k2jjDNqtHmY0ymaqT93Y1VxBVHVxTCDRxEbzs/s1600/IMG_1324.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="366" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAdRLFpZoxehIa1fsbAgSxZRDKmS13MaQjA8sRiMAQcUe5VFtRnzJXE_d_ujThF46SYBPCiM25LsMPAl8brWu0PjdwDb-vgdN2lWOUN3k2jjDNqtHmY0ymaqT93Y1VxBVHVxTCDRxEbzs/s400/IMG_1324.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
One of the things I find the most fun about container gardens is the opportunity to add other plants to the mix for color and variety. I use every gardening surface for growing herbs and bulbs and colorful annuals and perennials.<br />
<br />
Mint and some bulbs grow with the Meyer lemon, and I routinely put summer annuals and extra herbs in with the roses.<br />
<br />
Popping up on the right are a pair of Belladona Lily bulbs (<i>Amaryllis belladonna</i>). They should send up shoots of small, medium pink fragrant flowers mid-summer. And that small little nub poking through at 9 0'clock is a hardy orchid, <i>Bletilla striata</i>, also a summer bloomer.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGMptms0KPZ6YqpaGALEWWjWvUyTLhTJrrw8IhDJHamaq1TMrLmoFS7_bTOH8wT7tkZ1AVPESJQS7e5BPuGeJ2wJKHEZFU-FoCjkPLR-BAMNTVBntkDNXJQzopQYU7pDpvHkhKX8juih0/s1600/2016-03-15+Patio+11.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGMptms0KPZ6YqpaGALEWWjWvUyTLhTJrrw8IhDJHamaq1TMrLmoFS7_bTOH8wT7tkZ1AVPESJQS7e5BPuGeJ2wJKHEZFU-FoCjkPLR-BAMNTVBntkDNXJQzopQYU7pDpvHkhKX8juih0/s400/2016-03-15+Patio+11.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Herbs share space with a miniature rose.</td></tr>
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I have a small Earth box where most of our herbs grow. Oregano, onion chives, and rosemary are doing well. I will be adding some thyme to replace the plant that the snails devoured but basil requires a larger space than the box provides.<br />
<br />
When it's time to plant it, it goes in the pots with a couple of the roses, and this year may even share space with the camellia. I can't seem to grow enough of it and I am constantly battling the snails who seem to seek it out and regard it as their personal favorite.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn6YbkDfbyp4XFyj6hgOdWKqJmkR6Jhc9AKzX5cSgcXGVfs3KFg6HYJOKRchBJ2KPmUzEI75c6QPMIGBJpfIMqbuzsrjr6lKcpsivrA0oTTcD6w0QbHRW2LraCmRdiOxkOTH9JGj7gZ6M/s1600/IMG_1297.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn6YbkDfbyp4XFyj6hgOdWKqJmkR6Jhc9AKzX5cSgcXGVfs3KFg6HYJOKRchBJ2KPmUzEI75c6QPMIGBJpfIMqbuzsrjr6lKcpsivrA0oTTcD6w0QbHRW2LraCmRdiOxkOTH9JGj7gZ6M/s320/IMG_1297.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Speaking of snails brings up the issue of garden pests.<br />
<br />
Unfortunately, container gardening doesn't eliminate garden pests and in fact, can make the plants somewhat more susceptible, since at least on our patio, they are grown densely and in such close quarters. Thrips, aphids, and snails and slugs are just as happy munching on container gardens as they are those that grow in a traditional garden. And the damp weather brings with it the constant threat of powdery mildew.<br />
<br />
The rain has brought out a plethora of snails and we are constantly picking them off the plants and pots. Hopefully, some diatomaceous earth will dramatically reduce their numbers this week. I find the use of DE to be my most effective all around garden best treatment. After a single treatment of our roses with a systemic insecticide mixed with rose food in the spring, I rely on natural products from the pantry to treat our entire garden for and protect against garden pests. In my next post I'll give details and recipes for all natural garden remedies to keep your plants blooming at their best throughout the year.<br />
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Now some photos of the blossoms that are currently brightening our patio:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsZeZe5tYaQWfgvRcou9s9zqkmX86L5KJ1AN9utnZzzfp5qar_1LWhJ5K5g2-_f9muDVsQoAMW7YymzAJcwxLiAlUt2bDxCWQ3EgHmaOawWsKjOYYl82dXvNJrr2Ie64TKF7QEF1WmcsQ/s1600/2016-02-08+Patio++%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsZeZe5tYaQWfgvRcou9s9zqkmX86L5KJ1AN9utnZzzfp5qar_1LWhJ5K5g2-_f9muDVsQoAMW7YymzAJcwxLiAlUt2bDxCWQ3EgHmaOawWsKjOYYl82dXvNJrr2Ie64TKF7QEF1WmcsQ/s640/2016-02-08+Patio++%25281%2529.JPG" width="558" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption">First to bloom this spring were the paperwhites (<i>Narcissus <span class="_Tgc">papyraceus</span></i>). I planted a large pot of them and the first blooms opened in early February. The cool winter nights promote a longer bloom time and the blossoms continued until a couple of weeks ago. Currently, the green leaves are nourishing the bulbs which will be dried and put aside for next winter.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2vm_xofYBmPy191VF9Oj4vOwvqdVnXu5RLz64gvyW_KHKho0jo7Ncmivu4tT9GG4WXi3icnZCp_lpT40UPz_7g1edzOdpBw0kCMFL2T8Grb8xXfZ32ZvFp93XzXW3EI0JU2m-bfTYL4Y/s1600/2016-03-15+Patio+12.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="368" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2vm_xofYBmPy191VF9Oj4vOwvqdVnXu5RLz64gvyW_KHKho0jo7Ncmivu4tT9GG4WXi3icnZCp_lpT40UPz_7g1edzOdpBw0kCMFL2T8Grb8xXfZ32ZvFp93XzXW3EI0JU2m-bfTYL4Y/s640/2016-03-15+Patio+12.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption">Painted daisies and blue and purple hydrangeas add cheerful pops of color to the spring garden. Later in the season, pots of coleus and zinnias will do the same.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtA-DJ2hRlZOL_Te9SKtWjXuji3cLK_vlj66bH5yCPVFDXT2XTj9SKHitZtY2userOa4MQKAkz58ZxCAGj3x1IaB1sRt0xkjhMwPDpAvuHzZLRXq9KxRpOPwtCZRcfsrk6jpyp0C4NtOw/s1600/2017-02+Hyacinths+102.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="448" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtA-DJ2hRlZOL_Te9SKtWjXuji3cLK_vlj66bH5yCPVFDXT2XTj9SKHitZtY2userOa4MQKAkz58ZxCAGj3x1IaB1sRt0xkjhMwPDpAvuHzZLRXq9KxRpOPwtCZRcfsrk6jpyp0C4NtOw/s640/2017-02+Hyacinths+102.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption">When I first planted the hyacinth bulbs, I didn't expect them to do much and weeks passed with no sign of them poking through the soil. I had neglected to stratify them; most spring bulbs require chilling in order to sprout and bloom. I was pleasantly surprised to see that every one of them eventually sprouted and sent up a flower spike.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyIz-cZdSB-gKJKY_AVKAwwJjQaTUyApYQ51ioh-VWGXkHG3urxGUBLFmhv83XrMsC5LPQhvpjs1U0LA4_l-sX6zXyIp2w3Bl9YHoBEIPDxE2qzooRtC5x1IF1yizBtVJ4Sofk8H7EiqY/s1600/2017-02+Hyacinths+107.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="526" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyIz-cZdSB-gKJKY_AVKAwwJjQaTUyApYQ51ioh-VWGXkHG3urxGUBLFmhv83XrMsC5LPQhvpjs1U0LA4_l-sX6zXyIp2w3Bl9YHoBEIPDxE2qzooRtC5x1IF1yizBtVJ4Sofk8H7EiqY/s640/2017-02+Hyacinths+107.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The pink ones bloomed first, pale blooms that darkened to a deep mauve. The purple and yellow ones followed. The fragrance of hydrangeas is one I think of as an "acquired taste". One friend thought the perfume coming from the patio when the blooms were at peak was dog urine! Steve and I love the fragrance, though strong, although when the blossoms start to pass, the perfume turns bitter. I generally clip the aging flowering stems back before I have to so that I can enjoy the fragrance of the new blooms. I also stagger the planting of the bulbs so that I can enjoy them longer. Another pot will be ready to bloom just as the last of these are fading.</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpCGtUzESc7RuIAhYtEzX_Dj2TWibGnOVWZ5iDwc27ddqpkBdNqxaEgmmiVVuLcwPaJi57l9aCzE8IbyImEP1T9lyPfIyjKHoxIInZwsU-7Y1oeeeh-BoGqlJerqJL11PJ2M0vV6tepfU/s1600/2016-03-10++Patio+02+Hyacinth.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpCGtUzESc7RuIAhYtEzX_Dj2TWibGnOVWZ5iDwc27ddqpkBdNqxaEgmmiVVuLcwPaJi57l9aCzE8IbyImEP1T9lyPfIyjKHoxIInZwsU-7Y1oeeeh-BoGqlJerqJL11PJ2M0vV6tepfU/s640/2016-03-10++Patio+02+Hyacinth.JPG" width="638" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiLCu9TAtH-LyMpwmcuGOO6l-44aYNmrwppyXi4ZhnHJQDRyINU3O0lZIxRINJE6Nko85KhvmTK18_UfP5jMaLXUjWlQe0bu3XNaa3EMCq11NsyDfKobG3dlKGlEUuL0DS-n8sHt02FgI/s1600/2016-03-10++Patio+Hyacinth+2.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiLCu9TAtH-LyMpwmcuGOO6l-44aYNmrwppyXi4ZhnHJQDRyINU3O0lZIxRINJE6Nko85KhvmTK18_UfP5jMaLXUjWlQe0bu3XNaa3EMCq11NsyDfKobG3dlKGlEUuL0DS-n8sHt02FgI/s640/2016-03-10++Patio+Hyacinth+2.JPG" width="622" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCbQSanQP77cPHqHg_LnkU0UgScXSJRMaaijHgsBUmQCgRIiiAV0zmFO1WOUcXAFHpsReSQkjblZwu54FfLiOdBGHw2HFLReCWeMdh59snqXpDGdTyBZJW-HDwNXO1q_rxekBMrU3Rkxw/s1600/2016-03-27_13-14-04.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="548" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCbQSanQP77cPHqHg_LnkU0UgScXSJRMaaijHgsBUmQCgRIiiAV0zmFO1WOUcXAFHpsReSQkjblZwu54FfLiOdBGHw2HFLReCWeMdh59snqXpDGdTyBZJW-HDwNXO1q_rxekBMrU3Rkxw/s640/2016-03-27_13-14-04.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption">I was surprised to see one of the pink hyacinths send up a second flower spike from the same bulb. You can see the fading, darker bloom to the left and a new, pale pink shot on the right, both coming from the center of the bulb. A few of the white bulbs we had in our garden did this, but this is definitely not the norm for hyacinths, which typically send up a single bloom spike per bulb.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjG9f6IsQyszf61AxIW8SW2ogmd5R70kVCoNTKU5-jg68MhiQlCNbodD8UvfO7W9MrD49nssJWriZUw6NrN4dNfjTMQmrbCBQVzTHidSM15boVuPatsCMa5Sz0hodR02uF4smF7MyOQAc/s1600/2016-02-15+Patio+and+Grounds++%252879%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="410" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjG9f6IsQyszf61AxIW8SW2ogmd5R70kVCoNTKU5-jg68MhiQlCNbodD8UvfO7W9MrD49nssJWriZUw6NrN4dNfjTMQmrbCBQVzTHidSM15boVuPatsCMa5Sz0hodR02uF4smF7MyOQAc/s640/2016-02-15+Patio+and+Grounds++%252879%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption">The plants in the window boxes are blooming enthusiastically -- white violas and pink miniature roses...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqwphHudiXAimRY3tFpXplQfAdA-myzyBCLSJP0DwouskOXQNb4q7P8O3PT8OFBzEs3v5maPJwnE6uhnoJJi4r_YK1k9F2n7jBqFn15W2nVQvnUEuLigC9SGmBKw5gmzXRECua82-KYhk/s1600/2016-02-15+Patio+and+Grounds++%252880%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="608" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqwphHudiXAimRY3tFpXplQfAdA-myzyBCLSJP0DwouskOXQNb4q7P8O3PT8OFBzEs3v5maPJwnE6uhnoJJi4r_YK1k9F2n7jBqFn15W2nVQvnUEuLigC9SGmBKw5gmzXRECua82-KYhk/s640/2016-02-15+Patio+and+Grounds++%252880%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption">... and primula with cyclamen. On the patio, the Meyer lemon bloomed almost non-stop all winter. We only recently harvested the last of this year's crop of lemons.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzt4or_zAyorFRxO3DXhttHbWG9Q7Uvpt4YLM92TbBpXEAr2qpYuCrsz25IpAJ3H_E3RZFTvk8TXTLGKJZ8XHqyKyd_O_vUED1riQdehOVzAt94qqIG8Or00CpSnTlomAfz9bKxcVeDdA/s1600/2016-02-24+Spring+Patio+and+Grounds++02.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzt4or_zAyorFRxO3DXhttHbWG9Q7Uvpt4YLM92TbBpXEAr2qpYuCrsz25IpAJ3H_E3RZFTvk8TXTLGKJZ8XHqyKyd_O_vUED1riQdehOVzAt94qqIG8Or00CpSnTlomAfz9bKxcVeDdA/s640/2016-02-24+Spring+Patio+and+Grounds++02.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption">In another box, begonias and ranunculus bloom together alongside a box of pansies (below).</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMYiSX6EPaAqpEQbiTv2grpozUy2JS4ni5JEYWfIXJEs0aLZ8E0fHxrALcPJK6ovJPdPZW63MhjIH9_mN8rGpfwVwHtN3yxZdmch3PDxr4xqrbEGxw08UKFXMzKoiPyvmcN1xW72QYHyM/s1600/2016-02-24+Spring+Patio+and+Grounds++07.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="510" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMYiSX6EPaAqpEQbiTv2grpozUy2JS4ni5JEYWfIXJEs0aLZ8E0fHxrALcPJK6ovJPdPZW63MhjIH9_mN8rGpfwVwHtN3yxZdmch3PDxr4xqrbEGxw08UKFXMzKoiPyvmcN1xW72QYHyM/s640/2016-02-24+Spring+Patio+and+Grounds++07.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Some of the other beautiful blooms in our boxes and patio...<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCCczg32BfFB_r6mM9R3yTccp9kvMSemPhMdnlOTsgG6aiEN6g1EZOcKoz17mM8uDXPk-poIGd8T-9_hmpeTe5_fL3csvu6p8G6K17rwHMZuzyxuTgbLW508seIMaD511kqYnViW97e9o/s1600/2016-02-15+Patio+and+Grounds++%252881%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="504" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCCczg32BfFB_r6mM9R3yTccp9kvMSemPhMdnlOTsgG6aiEN6g1EZOcKoz17mM8uDXPk-poIGd8T-9_hmpeTe5_fL3csvu6p8G6K17rwHMZuzyxuTgbLW508seIMaD511kqYnViW97e9o/s640/2016-02-15+Patio+and+Grounds++%252881%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Camellia blossoms</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMz7lxFBdPXy-tkkad5yWan5lNd5cFby1yMcmrgA7xZZHbx9NDDC5_6dIOLBoyeTWorCAA0zuEpO_-hzy7rYagHa-Z3UUr-aYPHmAI1BWJiJ6W3JDfHSUPKwrbCCDG37nhX16wzdGj7Dk/s1600/2016-02-24+Spring+Patio+and+Grounds++04.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMz7lxFBdPXy-tkkad5yWan5lNd5cFby1yMcmrgA7xZZHbx9NDDC5_6dIOLBoyeTWorCAA0zuEpO_-hzy7rYagHa-Z3UUr-aYPHmAI1BWJiJ6W3JDfHSUPKwrbCCDG37nhX16wzdGj7Dk/s640/2016-02-24+Spring+Patio+and+Grounds++04.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">White primrose</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFkmSILkk_pgBVzFAHS9gQ6ZZMcuWNew4To-Y2qWVZKXxKxcupOEi3ihN9sQSkG6QexpyNfZNoG6xsVL0IITqmH3TJ7UUgHn6ohVHcWYj4cZIxLlTlxtilrhNeVnjZmeCHoFKbnkGBfg8/s1600/2016-02-24+Spring+Patio+and+Grounds++31.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="548" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFkmSILkk_pgBVzFAHS9gQ6ZZMcuWNew4To-Y2qWVZKXxKxcupOEi3ihN9sQSkG6QexpyNfZNoG6xsVL0IITqmH3TJ7UUgHn6ohVHcWYj4cZIxLlTlxtilrhNeVnjZmeCHoFKbnkGBfg8/s640/2016-02-24+Spring+Patio+and+Grounds++31.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This primrose has a deep coral bloom with a bright yellow eye</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjew0Z1YRA6CBDzxTTd8zUYqBoP1Y2c4-z-EIh_OX9ATrqiN33D_2PdHLpXu_x_ektWCNqpPN53ZeTnFkrKrfiyqS3c_2UwM7_oP9r4YfzZvCGuPr8RXLynI4_Muy0XyD4IztMQ7_4wCtU/s1600/2016-02-24+Spring+Patio+and+Grounds++33.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="454" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjew0Z1YRA6CBDzxTTd8zUYqBoP1Y2c4-z-EIh_OX9ATrqiN33D_2PdHLpXu_x_ektWCNqpPN53ZeTnFkrKrfiyqS3c_2UwM7_oP9r4YfzZvCGuPr8RXLynI4_Muy0XyD4IztMQ7_4wCtU/s640/2016-02-24+Spring+Patio+and+Grounds++33.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I love the unusual coloration of this beautiful hybrid ranunculus. Ordinarily, I only see them in solid colors. At left is a white primrose.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjLusT2rhVRwyPMig9WKk5IUbGx3eMqochc27hjcV5eZeBffJ61r2dtFAxXyVjXMzoSWvGmt6t1rFdpBZje9wlvNLWCjjPN2rxxgBAH_a6f0h7RBll688sOMdOhSAO8FsI6O18WIhVCUI/s1600/2016-03-15+Patio+28.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="592" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjLusT2rhVRwyPMig9WKk5IUbGx3eMqochc27hjcV5eZeBffJ61r2dtFAxXyVjXMzoSWvGmt6t1rFdpBZje9wlvNLWCjjPN2rxxgBAH_a6f0h7RBll688sOMdOhSAO8FsI6O18WIhVCUI/s640/2016-03-15+Patio+28.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The bright and cheerful yellow primrose are the perfect foil for the blue and white spires of delphinium.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgczDloLNdWdhqukrFhHFcwK_dXn3YprvTa8gW-w-Nh6zb5W2KmloPNQmDD_yD24bwA_JDVcLBbS1AXWoP0rZRCHg_8qR1ksLGhLJRELwAG8Nh0rEtd1ChtPNCfVxzanywuDo4Gna3bkwM/s1600/2017-02-20+Spring+Patio++%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgczDloLNdWdhqukrFhHFcwK_dXn3YprvTa8gW-w-Nh6zb5W2KmloPNQmDD_yD24bwA_JDVcLBbS1AXWoP0rZRCHg_8qR1ksLGhLJRELwAG8Nh0rEtd1ChtPNCfVxzanywuDo4Gna3bkwM/s640/2017-02-20+Spring+Patio++%25281%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fairy lights make evenings on the patio magical...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdgiljuHnZ2ckpFwNM79AXt0BxkcPkLPQMCPDu3cMIoRzHsUoAChCWTOZrKVzjmE3kZYRqXZ0bBhMGUXvs_ZhWDau2hbqYpFwOHwKuQiA3Suu9Z-PabVJSiLgBSbzQ1nRn35Co5aRQvgQ/s1600/2017-02-20+Spring+Patio++%25285%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdgiljuHnZ2ckpFwNM79AXt0BxkcPkLPQMCPDu3cMIoRzHsUoAChCWTOZrKVzjmE3kZYRqXZ0bBhMGUXvs_ZhWDau2hbqYpFwOHwKuQiA3Suu9Z-PabVJSiLgBSbzQ1nRn35Co5aRQvgQ/s640/2017-02-20+Spring+Patio++%25285%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">... and show our friends and family where to find us.</td></tr>
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<br />Cathy and Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11985161421939096681noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1306667106050601639.post-23928297561180799942016-03-21T14:50:00.001-04:002016-03-21T14:50:13.631-04:00Spring in the Valley<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGphmbCKYHo44t0lNGK93DOWHupXX-ywnGj-H5oaL4CYYPwDmjLbftV6QVZrHJmvLWjHRyeAH8ChJN-1NuatQHGXV1kqVlF-bSbxVvFXx6TQz-7-zGShAd6wZ6kwQ5bljo2JH_Bs3mqoc/s1600/2016-03-12+Downpour++%25283%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGphmbCKYHo44t0lNGK93DOWHupXX-ywnGj-H5oaL4CYYPwDmjLbftV6QVZrHJmvLWjHRyeAH8ChJN-1NuatQHGXV1kqVlF-bSbxVvFXx6TQz-7-zGShAd6wZ6kwQ5bljo2JH_Bs3mqoc/s400/2016-03-12+Downpour++%25283%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Downpour this weekend.... we received almost 2 inches of rain in a day.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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After a relatively dry February, March has brought an abundance of rain,
torrential at times, and warm, very springlike weather.<br />
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Spring has come to the valley.<br />
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Winter is the rainy season here and the drab brown hills that are the hallmark of summer and fall are now a lovely verdant green. <i>El nino</i> has indeed brought rain although not in the amounts that we both feared and needed. Still, by all accounts, we are ahead of the game in terms of average annual totals, the Sierra snow pack remains healthy, and the reservoirs are all boasting near normal to above average levels. And the rains are still coming. Whereas things are usually winding down in March in terms of rainfall here in the valley, we are still experiencing above average rain fall -- nearly 5 inches so far this month, twice the historical average for March and the month is barely half over.<br />
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The trees are in bloom, but the surest sign of spring are the meadows covered with the yellow blooms of the wild mustard.<br />
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Steve and I took a ride out Jameson Canyon Road where we saw the most amazing meadows and fields full of wild mustard and other flowers, many of which I was unable to identify. As I was searching through my references, I discovered that "California wild mustard" is not only not a native wildflower, it's considered a highly invasive weed. Hailing from the Mediterranean, it has found the perfect home with our Mediterranean climate but in fact, it can found everywhere on the continent, from Mexico and Central America all the way to Hudson Bay.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUvJ8cbr1OboMH6JjRJV5hZkCF1diHmwjA42MVc7cbYkwpK5fA1FczvnZEx3kbGvz3X_wuU5aJgbkiZ7pnOMlx5t3VXQhwoFnyk7v9T7y3mi8zRjhTrLgWyyYgXLvbhYDRKGgN-lKHlH8/s1600/2016-02-17+Spring+Green+Hills+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="432" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUvJ8cbr1OboMH6JjRJV5hZkCF1diHmwjA42MVc7cbYkwpK5fA1FczvnZEx3kbGvz3X_wuU5aJgbkiZ7pnOMlx5t3VXQhwoFnyk7v9T7y3mi8zRjhTrLgWyyYgXLvbhYDRKGgN-lKHlH8/s640/2016-02-17+Spring+Green+Hills+%25282%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The meadows and hills in Early February. January rains brought the first signs of spring greening.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhH0zs3ypgFrzh38RGjllJWfJnsU60c6GQbEJwnT5Lz7RsPoBl82iB21UJHUj7Oz2_FBCjGNzMBY5iKlONZYQ8A8zThqzzsjNdEGUIWz89mRADceUbTDkQHrzd6gcLm4ngjYqIc_NkumE/s1600/2016-02-03+Spring+green+hills++%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="486" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhH0zs3ypgFrzh38RGjllJWfJnsU60c6GQbEJwnT5Lz7RsPoBl82iB21UJHUj7Oz2_FBCjGNzMBY5iKlONZYQ8A8zThqzzsjNdEGUIWz89mRADceUbTDkQHrzd6gcLm4ngjYqIc_NkumE/s640/2016-02-03+Spring+green+hills++%25282%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">By early March, the hills were dusted with fresh green growth.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrCgsOansz5YWJbVDphWdftNqQrZytHkNaxd4LMnJsstaE0u6AQ9JbWCmLXQvTbdp0ua1szMWqxczz7vd78nGY3lTOO8XVp6op-b6JaMPo3vy2Q2tTy-ZCp5SQHcidln4e4Kg5ikD1o7g/s1600/2016-02-28+Spring++Green+Hills+16.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrCgsOansz5YWJbVDphWdftNqQrZytHkNaxd4LMnJsstaE0u6AQ9JbWCmLXQvTbdp0ua1szMWqxczz7vd78nGY3lTOO8XVp6op-b6JaMPo3vy2Q2tTy-ZCp5SQHcidln4e4Kg5ikD1o7g/s640/2016-02-28+Spring++Green+Hills+16.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mid-March, the hills, trees and meadows are a beautiful, lush green.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBYdNm_ttaCYCUXjiQaCdc0ROjrPnUVKQxQM51Nd4n7A9cIulMl7J7NjJ-XcX87skyBRX9gLQnmghRzZ-3GISrvCzFP0WrHKubMdTUI2njUCwhkF7G-4Kh1ueB3296oy8xU8hdUUSoIyM/s1600/2016-02-28++Spring+Mustard+04.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="336" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBYdNm_ttaCYCUXjiQaCdc0ROjrPnUVKQxQM51Nd4n7A9cIulMl7J7NjJ-XcX87skyBRX9gLQnmghRzZ-3GISrvCzFP0WrHKubMdTUI2njUCwhkF7G-4Kh1ueB3296oy8xU8hdUUSoIyM/s640/2016-02-28++Spring+Mustard+04.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mid-March, the grapes are barely starting to send out leaf buds but the vineyards are full of wildflowers.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyPsZrmtcAD-zjphGioPbRnQNsJ9SDkHY4osu1Xh3yTaiMN6RnhEKxvKH7gked0mSHkN88QOwHagLxFMmStxiPQB8ZCjkSq9cjnC8_-qLQJfBW1FjcA6nCop166FW7k7pUxRJuLbtC9ww/s1600/2016-02-15+Patio+and+Grounds++%252815%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyPsZrmtcAD-zjphGioPbRnQNsJ9SDkHY4osu1Xh3yTaiMN6RnhEKxvKH7gked0mSHkN88QOwHagLxFMmStxiPQB8ZCjkSq9cjnC8_-qLQJfBW1FjcA6nCop166FW7k7pUxRJuLbtC9ww/s640/2016-02-15+Patio+and+Grounds++%252815%2529.JPG" width="424" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Around our apartment, the trees and shrubs are all in bloom.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
Although it's found everywhere throughout the valley and is synonymous with spring here in California, Wild Mustard, <i>Sinapis arvensis, </i>is a native of the Mediterranean basin and is an invasive weed throughout much of North America. An annual that produces an abundance of seeds, the climate is perfect for self-propagation and birds are likely a big reason for its wide-spread distribution. </div>
</td><td style="text-align: center;"></td><td style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOz3uidEBQT9IA9xwf_PmSR5C_3yt6jbMjZcODRCjZS-ucuDImxv-UHnQMA7XutbJl6fPL1pMbTPIXsQhRNODVDMKpVuMpAJ-VntLeFRWAhDqqmnb3XslinuTC8wC55w_x0S7p_KU-JYA/s1600/2016-02-28+Spring+Mustard+Wildflowers++%252855%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOz3uidEBQT9IA9xwf_PmSR5C_3yt6jbMjZcODRCjZS-ucuDImxv-UHnQMA7XutbJl6fPL1pMbTPIXsQhRNODVDMKpVuMpAJ-VntLeFRWAhDqqmnb3XslinuTC8wC55w_x0S7p_KU-JYA/s640/2016-02-28+Spring+Mustard+Wildflowers++%252855%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wild mustard, <i>Sinapis arvensis</i>, covering an open field, mid-March.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio1TstIk01tL-rBv1pszsyfJdaNNY2xOUwE9dwHoidsg_bI0idhn4PEoWB4Pez-oPSBiR-E10uQnHWF2NM3Lb8sUysVxVyfmuki1irSqN-am5cfkg1zdDgwoFbY4NisukhxMrlXJO89ac/s1600/2016-02-28++Spring+Mustard+13.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="396" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio1TstIk01tL-rBv1pszsyfJdaNNY2xOUwE9dwHoidsg_bI0idhn4PEoWB4Pez-oPSBiR-E10uQnHWF2NM3Lb8sUysVxVyfmuki1irSqN-am5cfkg1zdDgwoFbY4NisukhxMrlXJO89ac/s640/2016-02-28++Spring+Mustard+13.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wild mustard, spread across the fields as far as the eye can see.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge4WPzcmR6I4oD_iBH1Rx4MP-3QJTkdJBIEY_Fo6_bZ8uXytfY1o6Fi0xWaIkopR_fvzl04HZWLdgS7e2n5KKSjwNtMXRVHdXc_8DMKdMzEqQg_J945AnH8U-MPL5PpN1E7vz-Ll9satw/s1600/2016-02-28++Spring+Mustard+17.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge4WPzcmR6I4oD_iBH1Rx4MP-3QJTkdJBIEY_Fo6_bZ8uXytfY1o6Fi0xWaIkopR_fvzl04HZWLdgS7e2n5KKSjwNtMXRVHdXc_8DMKdMzEqQg_J945AnH8U-MPL5PpN1E7vz-Ll9satw/s640/2016-02-28++Spring+Mustard+17.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFLtNcK1_8_eqwhfH5h3De2l-fcyHk2czewEg-aMSPaNMgMjitz6m10PXfbAMCgQf8FJk13-AvYaHEeNn66_hNEzmXx0FeOOTJYv8UGhju5AzBfWuTMpZ9K9VWl5XD6wbH2LPS5JvhYT8/s1600/2016-02-28+Spring+Mustard+Wildflowers++%252825%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFLtNcK1_8_eqwhfH5h3De2l-fcyHk2czewEg-aMSPaNMgMjitz6m10PXfbAMCgQf8FJk13-AvYaHEeNn66_hNEzmXx0FeOOTJYv8UGhju5AzBfWuTMpZ9K9VWl5XD6wbH2LPS5JvhYT8/s640/2016-02-28+Spring+Mustard+Wildflowers++%252825%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A river of yellow flows through the valley.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />Cathy and Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11985161421939096681noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1306667106050601639.post-66082961021877822122016-02-28T02:23:00.000-05:002016-02-28T02:23:23.092-05:00Astronaut Scott Kelly is Returning From a Year in Space<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiooWi46eWyE-Rbh6rM7fYHdP1tQWUtpvqCnLhH1OMyzqlhfOVpglsMkfpUYAKWyXM8YLxNGVm9CNsW2P3YkjceegXQN03VogHvIbfSlAQo4opgCMiFqUSGdIErSGam6vGX0LuCGmyVV4/s1600/Kelly+returns.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiooWi46eWyE-Rbh6rM7fYHdP1tQWUtpvqCnLhH1OMyzqlhfOVpglsMkfpUYAKWyXM8YLxNGVm9CNsW2P3YkjceegXQN03VogHvIbfSlAQo4opgCMiFqUSGdIErSGam6vGX0LuCGmyVV4/s400/Kelly+returns.jpg" width="347" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Astronaut Scott Kelly and Cosmonaut Mikhail Kornienko</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Astronaut Scott Kelly and his Russian colleague cosmonaut Mikhail Kornienko will be returning to Earth after spending nearly a full year in space at the International Space Station. You can watch all of the coverage on NASA-TV. <br /><br />
You can find all of the details here: <a href="http://www.nasa.gov/press-release/one-year-crew-returns-from-space-station-march-1-live-coverage-on-nasa-tv" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://www.nasa.gov/…/one-year-crew-returns-from-space-stat…</a><br />
<br />
You can view the events on NASA TV here: <a href="http://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nasa.gov%2Fnasatv&h=NAQGPTSzeAQFwXpZsoxTKu_94ZZW3i8VxNGOBZO2t1zoxtA&enc=AZMH-3EjS-Qw8mhrwtIDTFLE5Vp8hiTsoR6HDjwCaAOYLUr_Y2vUuchHl2g-WUT4KX7-3yCqVAQdSgW3FRXCZgFGbazclK2iU0R1ZxQXjbod67gxKQ47pXdTvNKhruLGXVS9zH0TExcLlH3NmT5YL5eReWNxl3Kv5o8QBiK74FBfGkQeLu9TVt8C-ynBtRv79yo&s=1" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://www.nasa.gov/nasatv</a><br />
<div class="text_exposed_show">
<br />
The schedule is as follows: <br />
<br />
<b>Monday, Feb. 29</b><br />
<br />
3:10 PM (12:10 PM PST) -- Change of command ceremony (Scott Kelly hands over space station command to Tim Kopra)<br />
<br />
<b>Tuesday, March 1</b> <br />
<br />
4:15 PM EST (1:15 PM PST) -- Farewell and hatch closure coverage<br /> 4:40 PM EST (1:40 PM PST) -- Hatch closure <br />
7:45 PM EST (4:45 PM PST) -- Undocking coverage begins <br /> 8:05 PM EST (5:05 PM PST) -- Undocking scheduled <br />
10:15 PM EST (5:05 PM PST) -- Deorbit burn and landing coverage begins <br /> 10:34 PM EST (5:05 PM PST) -- Deorbit burn scheduled <br /> 11:27 PM EST (10:27 AM PST on March 2, Kazakhstan time) -- Landing<br />
<br />
<b>Wednesday, March 2</b><br />
<br />
1:30 PM EST (5:05 PM PST)-- Video file of hatch closure, undocking and landing activities</div>
Cathy and Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11985161421939096681noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1306667106050601639.post-5614839770873537222016-01-19T20:03:00.001-05:002016-02-25T06:30:46.859-05:00Our Rainy North Bay Winter: The Drought may Finally be Easing<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZv9h-f4ndCsJLjU0vuktXO_BmNkCqODnVqAFb6RRD9pb-QMLMUfCndgrx_PJ1bLEGkuhhTI6u5438G6Q5lP8hSgGXPluAbTQHFnmXsOGxyFhKhMbzyhBS0PofYpfEFITJLJgh_oU1bh4/s1600/2015-11-02+Weather+thunder+rain+09.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZv9h-f4ndCsJLjU0vuktXO_BmNkCqODnVqAFb6RRD9pb-QMLMUfCndgrx_PJ1bLEGkuhhTI6u5438G6Q5lP8hSgGXPluAbTQHFnmXsOGxyFhKhMbzyhBS0PofYpfEFITJLJgh_oU1bh4/s400/2015-11-02+Weather+thunder+rain+09.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The rain has stopped for now and the
sun is out! It's in the mid 60's... a perfect afternoon. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">While I was napping
this morning, we were blessed with a total of 0.91 inches<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"> </span>today. That means
almost 6 inches for the month so far. We were an inch under average last month
so we've made that up and the month is still young. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br />
Here in American Canyon, we get an average of 20.39 inches of rain every year,
about the same as the average for the state of California but roughly half what
the national average is.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Winter is our “rainy
season” and we get most of our rain (83% or just over 17 inches) between
November and March.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Our monthly averages are:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">January - 4.38 in; February - 3.79 in;
March - 2.50 in; </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">April - 1.04 in; May - 0.82 in; June
- 0.19 in; </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">July - 0.00 in; August - 0.03 in; September
- 0.32 in; </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">October - 0.97 in; November - 2.56 in;
December - 3.79 in.<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdCLRDX877H0XtOIRXM8oOXOuIffRraubDJcPTypwq2CNrRhV21FZ0uddFFq-y3tcHIpykHFjBwTTtKVEEZMDUSgqZ8evTUesawVsYN-i9PW6navhXezzzJUbUfs6cD4Va4ibXp8JIGo0/s1600/IMG_9303.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdCLRDX877H0XtOIRXM8oOXOuIffRraubDJcPTypwq2CNrRhV21FZ0uddFFq-y3tcHIpykHFjBwTTtKVEEZMDUSgqZ8evTUesawVsYN-i9PW6navhXezzzJUbUfs6cD4Va4ibXp8JIGo0/s400/IMG_9303.JPG" width="400" /></a><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">We are experiencing a state-wide
multi-year drought, so severe that mandatory water restrictions have been in
place now for a year, along with a state mandated water use reduction averaging
25% for most communities.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">By the end of the summer, </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">usually verdant hillsides were dried and brown and brush fires were a constant threat. The risk struck perilously close to home when a grass fire burned a wide swath across the hill behind our home.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Rainfall averages in our city have been
abysmal over the last few years with the annual precipitation averaging 40% - 50%
of the normal amount we usually receive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The cumulative deficit has put the majority of the state – including the
part of the state that we live in – in the “extreme drought” category. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPpEWu4yNJMgjrkJNyX7Av6gFaWvFOtNppi8Pk_1o1wENF4MLwI2Kvgm1Gd8fm3YWxzb1sTV_XuGlkZqfnUbl2KGJswrmobuJ7W34x-u3D8Rr7-FmV-JO5sQW2r-bK9uhQd5x3WZRNlQk/s1600/2015-11-02+Weather+thunder+rain+47.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPpEWu4yNJMgjrkJNyX7Av6gFaWvFOtNppi8Pk_1o1wENF4MLwI2Kvgm1Gd8fm3YWxzb1sTV_XuGlkZqfnUbl2KGJswrmobuJ7W34x-u3D8Rr7-FmV-JO5sQW2r-bK9uhQd5x3WZRNlQk/s400/2015-11-02+Weather+thunder+rain+47.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Welcome rain, at a steady rates without flooding.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Even more problematic than the local
lack of rainfall has been an equally significant decrease in the snow pack in
the Sierra Nevada mountains.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Melting of
the mountain snow pack each spring replenishes the aquifers and groundwater supply
that is used during the warmest, driest months of the year<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"> to provide <span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">water not just for human use but for agriculture as well</span></span>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">In years of normal rainfall, this pattern
keeps precipitation and water use in balance. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>But when we don’t get the rainfall and the
mountains especially don’t get their usual winter precipitation, we operate in
a deficit that has been building dramatically for five years.<br />
<br />
This year’s<i> el nino</i> will hopefully turn the tide and help us to replenish some
of the severe deficit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Already the
snow pack is more than twice the average for the entire winter and the season is
still young.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And here in the North Bay
we are seeing optimistic forecasts and substantial enough rain to require
umbrellas, raincoats, and for fellow arthritis sufferers, extra ibuprofen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All of this is good.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Here is how things are shaping up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Looking at the actual and average rainfall
for the wet winter months, we will hopefully reach our stride and hit our
annual average by the end of the month.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The effect of <i>el nino</i> is definitely. being
felt.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br />
November 2015 <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>1.21 inches</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">November Average <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>2.56 inches</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br />
December 2015 <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>2.78 inches</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">December Average <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>3.79 inches</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br />
January 2016 <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>5.78 to date</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">January Average <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>4.38 inches</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br />
November - January Total <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>9.77 inches to
date </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">November - January Average <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>10.73 inches</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizOxDJ-juITBIOIXdAYRTHjpHIZTxWEarjvoF5mkvBYHWVMIAMAP1xgAK76lHXVecgS3lB0dp1CJf8NUbcoWwb4JveWXtBzb87BqdOhOrlD_UOcGlBCXXHAoInhNx6Y2GEnb9uME_J5b0/s1600/December+2015+Winter+in+the+Valley++%25284%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizOxDJ-juITBIOIXdAYRTHjpHIZTxWEarjvoF5mkvBYHWVMIAMAP1xgAK76lHXVecgS3lB0dp1CJf8NUbcoWwb4JveWXtBzb87BqdOhOrlD_UOcGlBCXXHAoInhNx6Y2GEnb9uME_J5b0/s400/December+2015+Winter+in+the+Valley++%25284%2529.JPG" width="265" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">For today, I’m enjoying a brief
respite from the rain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The sun came out
early this afternoon and although clouds moved in, the sky is clearing again and tomorrow is supposed to be similar weather to
today.... periods of sun and clouds with temperatures about the same, easing into the
60's. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Balmy by New England standards a<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">nd a good day to tend to the roses on the patio. </span>More rain is expected on Thursday evening and
continuing overnight.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The current prediction is for
another 1.5-2 inches or more over the next week and potentially as much as 3-6 total
additional inches before the end of this month. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even more promising (in terms of the drought)
is that the increased rate of precipitation is expected to continue through May
with the mountain snow pack continuing to accumulate and reservoirs also
beginning to refill as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">One local
reservoir has shown a dramatic improvement in just the past couple of
months.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Folsom Lake lies in the path of the
storms that have been moving through our area and heading east to the mountains
and as a result the water level there is now at 63% of its historical, average
capacity, a dramatic improvement since the water level dropped to a
mind-boggling 14 percent of capacity in November.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This reservoir, which is situated about 25
miles northeast of Sacramento has been depleted not just by drought but by
pumping as well into the Sacramento River which was necessary to help maintain the
delicate balance needed for the Chinook salmon to be able to spawn. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRmAx0ZaCe-hxZkT2Z29NieJtzJojz_ICSVKNnVwavVCPxZtFd6CoPmji11uxgsUP8uiLlzGnC6I2WLc_LAWdrtnOTcU8mQ3Dzb7hz5hVW5b1ArLwTrNTP590sPjDyu-fH_LViKAO_fA4/s1600/Reservoirs+CA+Jan+2016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRmAx0ZaCe-hxZkT2Z29NieJtzJojz_ICSVKNnVwavVCPxZtFd6CoPmji11uxgsUP8uiLlzGnC6I2WLc_LAWdrtnOTcU8mQ3Dzb7hz5hVW5b1ArLwTrNTP590sPjDyu-fH_LViKAO_fA4/s1600/Reservoirs+CA+Jan+2016.jpg" /></a></div>
</span></h3>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%;"> </span></h3>
<h3>
<i><u><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%;">References:</span></u></i></h3>
<h3>
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%;">Rainfall amounts
and averages courtesy of</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%;"> National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration at <u><a href="http://www.noaa.gov/">www.noaa.gov</a></u></span></span></h3>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Reservoir Capacity Diagram and Map courtesy of <a href="http://cdec.water.ca.gov/cdecapp/resapp/getResGraphsMain.action">http://cdec.water.ca.gov/cdecapp/resapp/getResGraphsMain.action</a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Folsom Lake: http://www.sacbee.com/news/state/california/water-and-drought/article44927409.html</span></div>
Cathy and Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11985161421939096681noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1306667106050601639.post-17351473250970306672016-01-02T00:30:00.000-05:002016-01-02T00:41:19.938-05:00Our Blooming Patio - Through the Macro Lens<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio0XzdSvrOLbUrGueO5By2qNb_TxTOt3g2f73ukWTSUtrLOkX4jiLP8-wQRdWolyUYTL2amy4r78upG3O860IVgWMWPfE6U48NzEcLmmAL8eqe8QlNv0i6SN61BxrlhAu_O6-vDd0dkwU/s1600/IMG_0500a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio0XzdSvrOLbUrGueO5By2qNb_TxTOt3g2f73ukWTSUtrLOkX4jiLP8-wQRdWolyUYTL2amy4r78upG3O860IVgWMWPfE6U48NzEcLmmAL8eqe8QlNv0i6SN61BxrlhAu_O6-vDd0dkwU/s640/IMG_0500a.jpg" width="354" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A blooming bacopa is intertwined with a calibrachoa.</td></tr>
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The calendar may say January 1st but our window boxes are still in bloom. I went out with my macro lens to study the beautiful blooms we've been enjoying over the past few weeks.<br />
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This past summer we planted ornamental trailing bacopa for the first time. <i>Chaenostoma cordatum</i>, (not to be confused with the aquatic <i>Bacopa monnieri</i> that it closely resembles), is grown as an annual in cooler climates but is perennial where we live in USDA Hardiness Zone 9b.<br />
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We bought these plants by mistake when we were shopping for calibrachoa. The bacopas were intermingled with the calibrachoas on a display at the nursery. We were choosing a variety of colors but neither of us was paying any attention to the tags (or to the plants themselves). <br />
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Bacopas have smaller, more heart-shaped, textured leaves with serrated edges. The blossoms have 5 distinct petals and are much smaller than the calibrachoas.<br />
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The calibrachoa is related to the pansy and some varieties have blooms that are so heavily scalloped, they almost resemble individual petals. The leaves are larger, smooth, and oblong. When you really look at them closely, there is no mistaking one for the other. But we were looking only at the color and the distinct differences didn't even register in my mind until we got home and I was laying them out to plant them in the window boxes.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDD15Mswa1uBsbCuWcuKlmzGZTdchyphenhyphengFrHg5cDxSFLC_TiLeNmHkcKDAzKmUQLJPPNs5HPNnOwLdWzmKUkrO0UtScOGeOxxrEzCfambHTserJVscZRqZVwqIGyh8l60edXNeMrqXvpqsI/s1600/IMG_0502.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="363" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDD15Mswa1uBsbCuWcuKlmzGZTdchyphenhyphengFrHg5cDxSFLC_TiLeNmHkcKDAzKmUQLJPPNs5HPNnOwLdWzmKUkrO0UtScOGeOxxrEzCfambHTserJVscZRqZVwqIGyh8l60edXNeMrqXvpqsI/s400/IMG_0502.JPG" width="400" /></a>Although we acquire these plants inadvertently, this was definitely our happy
accident this past gardening season. This creeping perennial has
out-performed most of the "recommended" plants for this climate. It
thrived in the summer's dry heat, never wilted even when the window
boxes dried out, and it has continued to bloom in the cool winter
temperatures. Other than an occasional "haircut" to neaten the long trailing stems and encourage re-blooming, this is as low maintenance as a window box plant can get.<br />
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Amazingly, one of our calibrachoas has survived the growing season.
Although calibrachoa is also a perennial, it is considered "weak" and most people treat them as annuals in our area. The bushy growth trailing from the window box is primarily from the no longer blooming calibrachoa. I'm anxious to see if it will resume blooming in the spring. All of the remaining blossoms belong to the shorter, sturdier bacopa.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="609" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzaeTJBGZYoEG2mWtUA-ImFQDDD68JAgSK9mFpBXaa7KpZ5O80VYG3C5p7j8y_YLXlq4j5FNgj6sATqJBxMw01VjxXSi6Gk6EjFsaTlkGfAF-SBALIyyhhUB99H8dElt81fVPAiDVbKkw/s640/2015-12-29+Meyer+Lemon+window+box+macros+25.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">When the blooms are first open, they are a deep lavender. They fade to nearly white as they age.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTnj0vyBXScpIS7Ebuq5gI-AY7uCcZSnAWYu_br1bsMoJkf-BEZrBUATLh1rXtdJq2dxb72n7WRr0nkEwJ7P-FnYf_ZybeTXDsemHB1lXRELoYZOFrKga6xMwAhZjpkAPLjUbYFZSUoT0/s1600/2015-12-29+Meyer+Lemon+window+box+macros+23.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTnj0vyBXScpIS7Ebuq5gI-AY7uCcZSnAWYu_br1bsMoJkf-BEZrBUATLh1rXtdJq2dxb72n7WRr0nkEwJ7P-FnYf_ZybeTXDsemHB1lXRELoYZOFrKga6xMwAhZjpkAPLjUbYFZSUoT0/s640/2015-12-29+Meyer+Lemon+window+box+macros+23.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXlYnERQJ6TWVjBIVlznzE4kH0rpV4xbId8lGvdHB8CKASLOqcGhGU_KokFBwWou1bM3-J9rHiP6t2sqgi3ezbjYUtoBJAp6T_hO8IevwHgL8pP-L0Omys25kgOg0Dn_GphiUzKaroCIs/s1600/2015-12-29+Meyer+Lemon+window+box+macros+35.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="574" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXlYnERQJ6TWVjBIVlznzE4kH0rpV4xbId8lGvdHB8CKASLOqcGhGU_KokFBwWou1bM3-J9rHiP6t2sqgi3ezbjYUtoBJAp6T_hO8IevwHgL8pP-L0Omys25kgOg0Dn_GphiUzKaroCIs/s640/2015-12-29+Meyer+Lemon+window+box+macros+35.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption">Young blossoms are deep lavender with an orange throat. The color of the petals and throat fade over several days before the blooms eventually dry and fall off.</td></tr>
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Bacopa is reportedly easily grown from cuttings and I may try to root some of the heavy, lengthy growth from the three plants that I currently have. They are available in pale blue/lavender variety that we have as well as white. I will be scouting the nursery in the spring for some of the white ones as well as a few more brightly colored calibrachoa. That was a winning combination in our window boxes this year.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNYQKbp1gybK-Qgyh82hcpjMi4Xq5WQyX8D7TgBxqbrAhciIbAwVdED89x55agnju0OVYcLeA72U3-aoMWkqZ9jgFfbXhmrObhxSsukD8mFCrLS8_I8R1F5m8e_JDq4UWCVLkQq9Q7MlU/s1600/IMG_0504.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNYQKbp1gybK-Qgyh82hcpjMi4Xq5WQyX8D7TgBxqbrAhciIbAwVdED89x55agnju0OVYcLeA72U3-aoMWkqZ9jgFfbXhmrObhxSsukD8mFCrLS8_I8R1F5m8e_JDq4UWCVLkQq9Q7MlU/s640/IMG_0504.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bacopa (blooming) intermingled with calibrachoa.</td></tr>
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Early in November, we planted some additional pansies to replace most of the annuals that faded during September and October. Two months later, they continue to bloom and provide bright pops of color across the window ledge.<br />
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The burgundy, rose and purple have been all-stars, blooming enthusiastically. The blossoms have been large as well, despite the cool night time temperatures. <br />
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The orange and yellow ones seem to have been more sensitive to the
cooler temperatures. The blooms are smaller and less prolific. But they continue to send up new buds.<br />
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My favorite is the periwinkle blue. The variety packs that we planted contained just one but it has not disappointed. I just picked off the last of the spent blooms and it has several buds that will be opening again soon.<br />
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One of the big surprises has been a snapdragon that simply refuses to quit. This upright bloomer has become lazy over the winter and has taken on a trailing habit but that has done nothing to discourage it from blooming. Snapdragons are cold season annuals and we originally planted two flats of them early last spring. Most of them faded during the heat of the summer but this one remaining pink one got it's second wind when the fall temperatures returned. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This snapdragon has been blooming non-stop and is still sending out new shoots and buds.</td></tr>
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In July, this pink snapdragon was the only remaining one of the cold weather spring plants we had planted in early spring to still be blooming and thriving. We replaced the leggy pansies and wilted snapdragons with zinnias and calibrachoas. <br />
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We planted some miniature white chrysanthemums this fall and they continue to provide a pop of white here and there, a lovely contrast to the brightly colored pansies and snapdragons.<br />
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Our Meyer lemon also seems to have its calendar topsy-turvy. I recently posted about it <span style="color: #bf9000;"><i><a href="http://thewiedersgarden.blogspot.com/2015/12/loving-our-meyer-lemon.html">HERE</a></i></span> but I couldn't resist getting a few more photographs, especially when I saw that some of the blooms had given way to tiny little lemons. We will be having yet another crop in the next several months.<br />
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By the end of January it will be time to prune the roses and get them started on their next blooming season. Having something in bloom in our container garden year round has been one of my guilty pleasures since moving to a Mediterranean climate.<br />
<br />Cathy and Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11985161421939096681noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1306667106050601639.post-69981095535488675522016-01-01T02:10:00.000-05:002016-01-01T12:20:58.095-05:00Welcome, 2016<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="background-color: purple;"><span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="background-color: white;">To our family, friends, and devoted blog followers: </span></span></span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="background-color: purple;"><span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="background-color: white;">we wish you a magnificent year ahead. </span></span></span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="background-color: purple;"><span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="background-color: white;">May 2016 bring health, happiness, and prosperity to you all.</span></span></span></b></span></h2>
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Cathy and Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11985161421939096681noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1306667106050601639.post-19702752079186312792015-12-29T01:20:00.000-05:002015-12-29T14:49:14.859-05:00Winter Comes to the North Bay<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFzKf9fVWsF5sIYCSmzaeRX0gdybg9Rs5mDd6Jm3NvolbLjKsAEANT-71A_xEFER5IaMzOB5vURm49vL8vAfPk3dpixjwWCrnFn_J1fS2Ad1Fk487J9FfQqpfDVGjHnTDzuKo6xJfi8U4/s1600/2015+Judd%2527s+Hill+Winery+909.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFzKf9fVWsF5sIYCSmzaeRX0gdybg9Rs5mDd6Jm3NvolbLjKsAEANT-71A_xEFER5IaMzOB5vURm49vL8vAfPk3dpixjwWCrnFn_J1fS2Ad1Fk487J9FfQqpfDVGjHnTDzuKo6xJfi8U4/s400/2015+Judd%2527s+Hill+Winery+909.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You know it's Fall when the grape vines change from green to gold.</td></tr>
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As a native New Englander and life-long Yankee, I'm used to seasons marked by dramatic changes in both weather and landscape. Not so where we live now in the Napa Valley area of the North Bay. The area is famous for its Mediterranean climate, perfect growing the grapes that make this the countries most famous wine growing region. <br />
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Spring, Summer, and Fall the weather is so stable, except for the occasional hot summer days that push into the 90's, the average daytime temperature is in the 70's to low 80's and it quickly drops into the 60's once the sun sets in the evening. Humidity is rare, as is rain.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On December 9th, this tree still had plenty of green leaves.</td></tr>
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Since the Fall temperatures both last year and this year were unseasonably warm, the only way I could tell it was Fall (except for checking the calendar) was when the luscious green foliage in the vineyards changed to burnt orange and gold.<br />
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The glorious red and orange colors of New England are rare here, although sugar maples and other trees that provide brilliant fall colors have found their way to nurseries here and do pop up here and there.<br />
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Still, while deciduous trees do turn color and shed their leaves, the prevailing color here is gold with occasional pops of orange.<br />
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Late into November, this tree was still mostly green. It finally dropped its leaves just before Christmas.<br />
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I love the orange colors on some of the trees. When the sun is shining, it almost seems as though the trees are on fire!<br />
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The other striking difference between New England and the Napa Valley is that while things are turning brown in the Northeast's winter landscape, the rains turn the hills green as fresh new growth replaces the brown grass and brush that gradually dried out and went dormant over the dry summer.<br />
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Looking out at the hills behind our apartment, the golden swaths of grapevines in the vineyards contrast with the fresh grass in the bright green fields and pastureland.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The hills behind our apartment... starting to green up with the recent rain.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGAgYjyMQeTdPZClWK_muDsacaJS3JSB3GKZp4WTaNUAnuCwW1ottJj1Se2_Wxb_Tk-783myMF_gE39P0gUm8fhfOZ_cCUR89d9AfFuUMjrzj0MetXfgJVqAWbICDkvhUxjv1XqUCKSRc/s1600/2015-11-09+Rain+5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGAgYjyMQeTdPZClWK_muDsacaJS3JSB3GKZp4WTaNUAnuCwW1ottJj1Se2_Wxb_Tk-783myMF_gE39P0gUm8fhfOZ_cCUR89d9AfFuUMjrzj0MetXfgJVqAWbICDkvhUxjv1XqUCKSRc/s400/2015-11-09+Rain+5.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
The rains gradually increase through the Fall but Winter is the rainy season and we get roughly 85% of the annual 20'1/2 inches of average rainfall between November and March. Both rainwater and melting snow from the snow packs in the mountains refill the aquifers and provide the groundwater used for irrigation during the growing season.<br />
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For the last four years, the winter rain has been abysmally low resulting in a lengthy and worrisome drought. Last year was exceedingly dry but the December 2014 rainfall at 11.03 inches (almost 3 times our usual December rainfall) helped to avert disaster when the January rains, usually the highest amount of rainfall for the year, simply never came. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_eXYk8NJRqZzSDYuzhih_z6GVCzL1RrsWYAwP1Be0ClqOZOVdUDfNUOgxFO9wak0XaCYA12nsqX3ilFTl-SKtxXW4YjzJ7lXlE9m1eIq36otPRquhRPiGqR6GCRnJ5ZN6vq1JbQGEyWQ/s1600/2015-11-02+Weather+thunder+rain+61.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_eXYk8NJRqZzSDYuzhih_z6GVCzL1RrsWYAwP1Be0ClqOZOVdUDfNUOgxFO9wak0XaCYA12nsqX3ilFTl-SKtxXW4YjzJ7lXlE9m1eIq36otPRquhRPiGqR6GCRnJ5ZN6vq1JbQGEyWQ/s400/2015-11-02+Weather+thunder+rain+61.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
But we are off to a better start this year. Ordinarily, we get about 2.5 inches of rain in November and 3.8 inches of rain in December. So far this winter, we have received a decent amount of rain: almost 2 inches for November and a respectable 2.8 inches to date this month.<br />
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But even better for the long term outlook is that many of the recent storms skidded past us, leaving a scant half inch or less of rain behind and instead carrying the water inland where it was deposited in the form of snow in the mountains.<br />
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The Sierra Nevadas now boast a 10 foot snow pack, double what is usually accumulated this early in the season. In fact, ski resorts opened weeks ahead of schedule with natural, not man-made snow. With a strong <i> el nino</i> predicted to give us an exceptional amount of rain over the next two months, we may reach our annual average and make up some of the deficit of the previous three years. And if the snow pack in the mountains continues to benefit from Mother Nature's munificence, we may be in good shape when the rains roll out and April rolls in.<br />
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But I'm still having some trouble getting used to "Winter" in the valley, where Christmas lights are draped over a blooming lemon tree and snake through window boxes full of blooming annuals that would have long since perished in the hard New England frosts.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0GVtgQJSENsPSUjmcXdM0R9D0hJZpTB_j5enu0Wzx0aqXfg9NtyGdUs7q4irE1HpJJppugp-AaeQa95RB_wJK8QSmXun2LXvnUCti-eQzeki2hIRP6Id4m2LHzVWzB3bRZUsumd4EBb8/s1600/December+2915+Patio+2++%252826%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0GVtgQJSENsPSUjmcXdM0R9D0hJZpTB_j5enu0Wzx0aqXfg9NtyGdUs7q4irE1HpJJppugp-AaeQa95RB_wJK8QSmXun2LXvnUCti-eQzeki2hIRP6Id4m2LHzVWzB3bRZUsumd4EBb8/s640/December+2915+Patio+2++%252826%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The lemons are ripe and the lemon tree is in full bloom, as are the snapdragons in the window box.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGGEw25a7rvP3qjnwjBmw4fu2BYyxE72D61mUOrDg3ezJPKKzu31jIO18RhpihyphenhyphenW_rXPSd1h0S_UaDPnyZ1sSyFjXVsRTVm_kWkolJbuel32zYlKYRCsth3ypQ9c1C1EmGSCeH3xrXx_E/s1600/December+2915+Patio+2++%252827%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGGEw25a7rvP3qjnwjBmw4fu2BYyxE72D61mUOrDg3ezJPKKzu31jIO18RhpihyphenhyphenW_rXPSd1h0S_UaDPnyZ1sSyFjXVsRTVm_kWkolJbuel32zYlKYRCsth3ypQ9c1C1EmGSCeH3xrXx_E/s640/December+2915+Patio+2++%252827%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The coleus were pulled two weeks ago after they became leggy and went to seed (neglect on my part) and were replaced with pansies which thrive in the cooler temperatures. But the calibrachoa is thriving and still has a couple of blossoms. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT3m7xKNZjyobCoGuEivMhkDydowUfbYIUR2kjLjcBSmekQNDnCNvFZCJDJdQ5-wF1AwE_SWnNMX55WDWv45ZCgY_pRjXzUZNIDmv8nYcLtA1bd7b-tnVxSGUUXVltKmolDKlJHJ3ZUsQ/s1600/2015+Chanukah+second+night+%25284%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT3m7xKNZjyobCoGuEivMhkDydowUfbYIUR2kjLjcBSmekQNDnCNvFZCJDJdQ5-wF1AwE_SWnNMX55WDWv45ZCgY_pRjXzUZNIDmv8nYcLtA1bd7b-tnVxSGUUXVltKmolDKlJHJ3ZUsQ/s640/2015+Chanukah+second+night+%25284%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chanukah, 2015 with a Boston Fern thriving outdoors --<i> not</i> in Boston!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb_9e_XjqgxiE5i3C-WGvUTuisIMVTcSP1UmSwsCe8GdMle-HhyphenhyphenNe6VfOQnkodCFXBdlCFgORCM3FKa5eGV6EH6NrnRckwIfaaZ4nYn9nMHrFXzllDg1nVa0PhSVlb417rJa8X8fGHeGM/s1600/2015+Chanukah+second+night+%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb_9e_XjqgxiE5i3C-WGvUTuisIMVTcSP1UmSwsCe8GdMle-HhyphenhyphenNe6VfOQnkodCFXBdlCFgORCM3FKa5eGV6EH6NrnRckwIfaaZ4nYn9nMHrFXzllDg1nVa0PhSVlb417rJa8X8fGHeGM/s640/2015+Chanukah+second+night+%25281%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chanukah lights weaving through blooming annuals and the lemon tree.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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Watching the storms move in across the hills and up from San Pablo Bay is fascinating. In early November, I tuned into the mid-day news one day and heard that we would be having severe weather by 2 PM.<br />
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Outside, the sky was bright blue, the sun was shining, and the temperature was a balmy 66 degrees. <br />
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I waited patiently but the promised rain didn't materialize and so just shy of 4 PM I got ready to walk the dogs over to the park where we usually get our afternoon exercise. As I was getting a sweater and leashes, I heard what sounded like thunder claps and then the living room suddenly became dark.<br />
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When I looked out, I was shocked to see a fast-moving storm had blown in. Lightening joined the thunder and torrential rain broke through the clouds and gave way to pelting hail. The storm barely lasted an hour but dropped just over a half inch of new rain on the sun parched earth. It moved out as quickly as it moved in and when the sun finally poked back through the clouds, the temperature was a brisk 51 degrees F.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR2PTc5p47uCw2b_Hhl9OIbvNqZQeP3dr-KGIWmKmn3k4DJydeK10rLTF1GhUhOgW3CXSBjLwXlNxEhrFsF3urhWkWOB_soQe9o9XTA0p0nvBOhLgzfnqg89rxmSEpZf7TvkOuFef9bwM/s1600/2015-11-02+Weather+thunder+rain+16.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR2PTc5p47uCw2b_Hhl9OIbvNqZQeP3dr-KGIWmKmn3k4DJydeK10rLTF1GhUhOgW3CXSBjLwXlNxEhrFsF3urhWkWOB_soQe9o9XTA0p0nvBOhLgzfnqg89rxmSEpZf7TvkOuFef9bwM/s640/2015-11-02+Weather+thunder+rain+16.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7YiK5Dj8UYww-HuwJDTSB_LlNHNUlxybpujm2lBeAhnwTDz8T2RbotlcXEen5nH_0SpgwHDabkEBBG0EJD5eEXg5-gpKjZRu4xuxpu7KpDWAFAogM7RPpZOfbKdvO81MaumtXVz0Is00/s1600/2015-11-02+Weather+thunder+rain+17.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7YiK5Dj8UYww-HuwJDTSB_LlNHNUlxybpujm2lBeAhnwTDz8T2RbotlcXEen5nH_0SpgwHDabkEBBG0EJD5eEXg5-gpKjZRu4xuxpu7KpDWAFAogM7RPpZOfbKdvO81MaumtXVz0Is00/s640/2015-11-02+Weather+thunder+rain+17.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The storm moved in quickly and the blue sky disappeared under the roiling gray clouds.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHHQWImCV-wZJjCuLSg5EtyD91VQMtissFd-9a4gSibwuXdRi-pqpFxm37XB1bToIWC8J8nfAsxlySsaTpkVxWNpsig-iIwXkymd9eO3ogQ3yJggvVRF0lSBXTQ8xB8H3yK68msV02pQI/s1600/2015-11-02+Weather+thunder+rain+20.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHHQWImCV-wZJjCuLSg5EtyD91VQMtissFd-9a4gSibwuXdRi-pqpFxm37XB1bToIWC8J8nfAsxlySsaTpkVxWNpsig-iIwXkymd9eO3ogQ3yJggvVRF0lSBXTQ8xB8H3yK68msV02pQI/s640/2015-11-02+Weather+thunder+rain+20.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This was the angriest cloud and the backdrop for much of the lightening.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik83DswQbx_09FQ75kHVa1ZdBrhI0c0xk5xAMvVTdefJSStShocFpQfh6-IsFez-cEqrcpIxdU8sHfbCvZ3q1yYyjo_ReTiE9lJZfUauzTnrxkj-9zXg7vpeu84JBrEzenxvmVM9ZWWwM/s1600/2015-11-02+Weather+thunder+rain+22.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik83DswQbx_09FQ75kHVa1ZdBrhI0c0xk5xAMvVTdefJSStShocFpQfh6-IsFez-cEqrcpIxdU8sHfbCvZ3q1yYyjo_ReTiE9lJZfUauzTnrxkj-9zXg7vpeu84JBrEzenxvmVM9ZWWwM/s640/2015-11-02+Weather+thunder+rain+22.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4q209kbpn1PW5ElwS-_QxrF7fSYuIaREhRyUFkBFgormf59AxQWGlc-9rFvvjFAaCIJusKTG0xOPWgX-VIq3oLZXqGnE0B9GuLuZbUmgLhRq5y-lBGFW6m2aBLOfrTG6OYJ3SpPEMgrY/s1600/2015-11-02+Weather+thunder+rain+63.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4q209kbpn1PW5ElwS-_QxrF7fSYuIaREhRyUFkBFgormf59AxQWGlc-9rFvvjFAaCIJusKTG0xOPWgX-VIq3oLZXqGnE0B9GuLuZbUmgLhRq5y-lBGFW6m2aBLOfrTG6OYJ3SpPEMgrY/s640/2015-11-02+Weather+thunder+rain+63.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just as quickly as the clouds rolled in, they blew out and to the east. </td></tr>
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We are finally registering the typical winter temperatures usually seen in this climate for this time of year. Mid to high 30's into the low 40's at night, high 50's into the low 60's during the day. We've had rain on and off throughout the last 8 weeks but rarely more than several hours at a time. Many of those days, it rained heavily overnight but the sun rose to clear skies.<br />
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We close out 2015 with blue skies, brisk temperatures in the mid-50's, and the prospect of generous rainfall over the next 8 weeks from an enthusiastic <i>el nino</i>. That would indeed be a Happy New Year.<br />
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<br />Cathy and Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11985161421939096681noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1306667106050601639.post-43381364964668752052015-12-28T01:18:00.001-05:002015-12-28T11:09:42.679-05:00The Last Rose Blooms of the Season<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMQ2xPdCaZ8aDEnFJtZnYo8guFovfe8hmQa-kPaKwzK1U_Np-3YGxD3RGNJCN11RulNqw-Bzsik3jhnOsrYBRCUZ9hPLFO9DSncQdr3sJcvcHvtDNbsK6vbIDfEMHSy2NA3HeRusnC6oI/s1600/IMG_9839.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMQ2xPdCaZ8aDEnFJtZnYo8guFovfe8hmQa-kPaKwzK1U_Np-3YGxD3RGNJCN11RulNqw-Bzsik3jhnOsrYBRCUZ9hPLFO9DSncQdr3sJcvcHvtDNbsK6vbIDfEMHSy2NA3HeRusnC6oI/s400/IMG_9839.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
One of my most favorite roses is <i>Koko Loco</i>, a lovely mauve blend floribunda rose hybridized by rose breeder Christian Bedard in 2010. <i>Weeks Roses</i> introduced it to the market in 2012 and I've been in love with it ever since. <br />
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Although it has been described as having a mild fragrance, ours is fragrant enough to perfume the patio when the shrub is in bloom, which is most of the growing season. Peach colored pointed buds open to blooms that are the color of milk chocolate latte. As the blossoms age, the color evolves to an unusual blend of chocolate and lavender. The blossoms are large - 4.5 to 5 inches in diameter.<br />
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Foliage is a pretty, medium green and semi-glossy. And other than the usual problems with snails and aphids on occasion
(they are such a plague where we live... I have to stay on top of our
entire little container garden), it's amazingly disease resistant. We never see any mold or mildew.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCtwTTLzR0zbUvo_KFlieFYwWcD2-hs5qcYBr7trQsIQjhSP4okLrKuljzf4E-FG-fTKNXhi3CVLiYIbDLx8YmJKHZRaSivWj6HsF11coV-_uk0PJsZ26ntDuJ9xoKKSnjOoQtFtJmyag/s1600/December+2915+Patio+2++%25286%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCtwTTLzR0zbUvo_KFlieFYwWcD2-hs5qcYBr7trQsIQjhSP4okLrKuljzf4E-FG-fTKNXhi3CVLiYIbDLx8YmJKHZRaSivWj6HsF11coV-_uk0PJsZ26ntDuJ9xoKKSnjOoQtFtJmyag/s400/December+2915+Patio+2++%25286%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a>The shrub does well in a pot and is our most prolific bloomer. It continued blossoming right up through the
first week of December when I finally nipped off the remaining buds to
force it into dormancy. I stopped dead-heading in November to encourage it to set hips, which it does quite willingly. <br />
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I previously posted about this rose in October. Check out <i><a href="http://thewiedersgarden.blogspot.com/2015/12/the-last-rose-blooms-of-season.html">that post</a></i> to see the variations in color as the blossoms open and age.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I stopped dead-heading to encourage it to set hips.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcR7eGrgGegg3bP1GwfwS96SMI5hUS0ekCz1VMW0hYgD5pfvGXgt4XzaMDGT93U3ryFbFzpyyKO-ikot6l-Frk3t5fchoF8-9Qcb2jMj5jbOHwplUenxWYCFF8sZ-nVZNHEMxxIeG79RM/s1600/2015+December+Patio++%252820%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcR7eGrgGegg3bP1GwfwS96SMI5hUS0ekCz1VMW0hYgD5pfvGXgt4XzaMDGT93U3ryFbFzpyyKO-ikot6l-Frk3t5fchoF8-9Qcb2jMj5jbOHwplUenxWYCFF8sZ-nVZNHEMxxIeG79RM/s640/2015+December+Patio++%252820%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Sugar Moon</i>, photographed on December 6th</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<i>Sugar Moon</i> is a beautiful pure white hybrid tea, also bred by Christian Bedard and introduced by <i>Weeks Roses</i> in 2012. The blooms are large but ours almost always exceeded the average of 5 inches in diameter. <br />
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With canes that can stretch to 6 feet or taller, we treat it like a short climber and let it trail along the railing on our patio wall. Our last bloom of the year was an enormous white beauty that measured 6 inches across and was so fragrant, I sat next to it to read one afternoon, just so I could enjoy its heady citrus perfume.<br />
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Roses are still well-represented on our patio, however. In November, I was gifted with several miniature red roses that were fully budded and just beginning to bloom.<br />
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Not sure what to do with them, for the winter, I planted them in the herb box in the area where the basil usually grows. I moved the planter box closer to the apartment so it would get some radiant warmth from the building and more sun exposure.<br />
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Here we are approaching New Year's Eve and these little babies are still blooming cheerfully and the foliage is just as glossy and dark as the day I planted them. Growing behind them on the left is the last of the oregano. I harvested it and used quite a bit of it in my tomato sauce last month. Behind them in the middle of the back is some rosemary, and on the right side of the pot is thyme, two other culinary favorites that find their way into my cooking on a frequent basis.<br />
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When it's time to add basil to the planter in the spring, I'll have to decide where to move them but hopefully by then we will have moved to a home with a yard and garden and they can take up residence in a flower bed.<br />
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<br />Cathy and Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11985161421939096681noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1306667106050601639.post-35977518788106908862015-12-27T20:33:00.002-05:002015-12-27T20:33:13.753-05:00Loving our Meyer Lemon<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Just over a year ago when we moved in, we purchased a Meyer Lemon tree at Mid-City Nursery and that tree has been a continuous bright spot on our patio. It's still a very young tree but it produces a near continuous crop of sweet, tasty lemons that I have used to make chicken piccata, lemon tea cookies, and of course, lemonade.<br />
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We are ready to harvest all but two of the lemons today, which means I'll make Steve chicken piccata this week. (Scroll all the way to the bottom for my recipe.) <br />
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I love the lemon tree because the fragrance of the blossoms perfumes the entire patio. The fragrance reminds me a lot of gardenias... heady, intense, floral. And once again, it is filled with fragrant blooms which will hopefully lead to another bumper crop of lemons. <br />
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Meyer lemons are natives of China, thought to be a cross between a true lemon and either a mandarin or common orange. They were first introduced into the United States in 1908 by a USDA employee and food explorer Frank Nicholas Mayer. In China, they were primarily considered ornamental trees and they were grown in pots, their fruit largely overlooked as a food staple. <br />
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They languished here as well until re-discovered by restaurateur and Chef Alisa Waters, owner of <i>Chez Panisse</i> in Berkley, California. Chef Waters, who is credited with pioneering the <i>"California Cuisine"</i> movement in the 1990's, has been one of the most prominent promoters of the movement to use locally grown, organic, fresh ingredients in cooking. <br /><br />Whereas Chef Waters increased the popularity of the Meyer lemon in California, Martha Stewart introduced it to the rest of the country when she began featuring it in her recipes in the late 2,000's. <br /><br />In 2010, we acquired our first Meyer lemon tree from a mail order nursery after we saw one at a flower show. The tree was healthy but slow to acclimate -- we kept it indoors in late fall and winter and put it back on the deck in spring after the last frost. It bloomed prolifically but the fruit was so slow to develop, even slower to ripen, at first we thought they sent us a lime tree by mistake. I contacted the nursery and when they stopped chuckling, they told me to just be patient... the lemons would grow and ripen in the fall, and they did.<br />
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I love to use Meyer lemons in cooking because they are lemony tart without being sour or bitter. And Meyer lemons are slightly larger than the usual lemons you get in the store so you get a generous amount of juice and zest. Below are some more pictures of our lemon tree and if you scroll down to the end of the post, I've included my recipe for Chicken Piccata with Lemon and Capers. <br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">3/4 cup seasoned dry bread crumbs <br />
<br />
Extra light olive oil (2T or enough to coat the bottom of the pan)<br />
<br />
1 large or 2 small fresh lemons, reserve thin slices from middle of cut halves,
then zest and squeeze</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">1 can salt free chicken broth</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">1/2 cup to 1 cup (to taste) white
wine (I use Riesling mostly, but Moscato is fine also)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">1/3 cup freshly squeezed lemon
(see above)</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">1 generous teaspoon fresh lemon
zest <br />
1 generous teaspoon of capers, rinsed</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Thin slices lemon (see above)<br />
3 Tablespoons butter</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">1 tablespoon of finely chopped fresh
parsley leaves, for garnish<br />
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Pasta, for serving (I use angel hair or linguine)</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Directions: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Prepare the lemons: </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Cut each lemon into halves, then slice 2-3 very
thin slices from each half (paper thin, half moon slices are fine) and set aside.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Squeeze and zest the lemons.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Set juice and zest aside.</span> </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Place
chicken breasts in a large food storage bag and pound out to 1/4-inch thick. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Cut into medallions approximately 1 to 1-1/2
in wide/long. </span><br />
<br />
Mix the flour, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon of pepper in a large zip-lock
bag. Put the chicken medallions in the bag and shake to coat. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In a shallow bowl, beat the egg and water
together. Place the bread crumbs in a second shallow bowl. Dip each flour-coated chicken breast medallion
first in the egg and then roll in the bread crumbs to coat. <br />
</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Lightly cover the inside bottom of a lar<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">ge <span style="line-height: 115%;">sauté</span> p</span></span>an with olive oil and heat over
medium heat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I use olive oil for <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">sautéing</span> or
“extra light” as it has more flavor than extra virgin oil. Add the chicken medallions
and cook for 2-3 minutes on each side until browned and just cooked through. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Remove to a plate and cover with foil to keep
warm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Make the sauce in the same </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">sauté</span></span></span></span> pan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Add the chicken broth, lemon juice, and wine to the pan and </span><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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</xml><![endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">adjust the heat to bring the
sauce to a gentle boil.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Continue to cook until the volume</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> is reduced by about
half. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>Once the sauce is reduced, turn off the heat
and then add the butter, capers, <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">reserved
lemon slices,</span> and lemon zest and swirl in the pan to melt
the butter and combine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
<br />
To serve, put pasta in a flat bowl, top with chicken medallions, spoon the sauce
(include some capers and lemons slices) over the chicken and pasta and garnish with fresh chopped parsley.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"> </span><br />
<b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: x-small; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">References:</span></i></b><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: x-small; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meyer_lemon">Meyer Lemon</a> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: x-small; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alice_Waters">Chef Alice Waters </a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><br /></span>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"> </span>Cathy and Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11985161421939096681noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1306667106050601639.post-61024188349367969722015-11-02T14:07:00.000-05:002015-11-02T14:07:01.854-05:00Finding Venus, Mars, and Jupiter... and the International Space Station<div data-contents="true" data-reactid=".6.1.1.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuu9W8tr_IObtVj1O6i1K7NF5Fg445StqIVmMWB4vp-fVbHFF0F-Q1iE8TciyYXUU8xkO5aVPC4WmLdrN5eRtgDYZ6iGIDw0XtV40lyFivhXydxUqjTi8qPpeqfSFEBX57absnuuhjak0/s1600/2015+november+2-planetary-trio.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuu9W8tr_IObtVj1O6i1K7NF5Fg445StqIVmMWB4vp-fVbHFF0F-Q1iE8TciyYXUU8xkO5aVPC4WmLdrN5eRtgDYZ6iGIDw0XtV40lyFivhXydxUqjTi8qPpeqfSFEBX57absnuuhjak0/s400/2015+november+2-planetary-trio.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo credit: <span data-offset-key="evtfl-0-0" data-reactid=".6.1.1.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$evtfl.0:$evtfl-0-0"><span data-reactid=".6.1.1.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$evtfl.0:$evtfl-0-0.0"><i>Earthsky.org</i></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="_209g _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="7qeb2-0-0" data-reactid=".6.1.1.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$7qeb2">
<span data-offset-key="7qeb2-0-0" data-reactid=".6.1.1.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$7qeb2.0:$7qeb2-0-0"><span data-reactid=".6.1.1.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$7qeb2.0:$7qeb2-0-0.0">Tomorrow morning there will be another excellent opportunity to see the planetary trio of Mars, Venus, and Jupiter. They should be pretty easy to spot as long as your sky is relatively cloud free. </span></span></div>
<div class="_209g _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="1lvna-0-0" data-reactid=".6.1.1.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$1lvna">
<span data-offset-key="1lvna-0-0" data-reactid=".6.1.1.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$1lvna.0:$1lvna-0-0"><br data-reactid=".6.1.1.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$1lvna.0:$1lvna-0-0.0" /></span></div>
<div class="_209g _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="1jqtu-0-0" data-reactid=".6.1.1.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$1jqtu">
<span data-offset-key="1jqtu-0-0" data-reactid=".6.1.1.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$1jqtu.0:$1jqtu-0-0"><span data-reactid=".6.1.1.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$1jqtu.0:$1jqtu-0-0.0">You'll want to look to the east a couple of hours before dawn and find the brightest thing in the sky just above the horizon. That will be Venus. Extend your arm in front of you with your index finger pointing outward and line up your finger with the left side of Venus. </span></span></div>
<div class="_209g _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="cgj1k-0-0" data-reactid=".6.1.1.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$cgj1k">
<span data-offset-key="cgj1k-0-0" data-reactid=".6.1.1.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$cgj1k.0:$cgj1k-0-0"><br data-reactid=".6.1.1.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$cgj1k.0:$cgj1k-0-0.0" /></span></div>
<div class="_209g _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="1trd9-0-0" data-reactid=".6.1.1.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$1trd9">
<span data-offset-key="1trd9-0-0" data-reactid=".6.1.1.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$1trd9.0:$1trd9-0-0"><span data-reactid=".6.1.1.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$1trd9.0:$1trd9-0-0.0">Mars should be on the other side of your finger, almost parallel to Venus. It should look reddish, especially if you are viewing through binoculars or a telescope. Jupiter will be quite a bit higher in the sky and not quite as bright as Venus.</span></span></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRSKM72Ao3HBySZHH_gxFTjnb8x53Wp3vQVRcz7LiOLUuvBlQj2lQI-1CpB3mCiGKb3TmMgQYKHV9PEI4P6F1PRqFzXwL9__15CbR5NC5lpyuf_aoT-gXgBJw9qSlq-I9WUEz-y0IHw6E/s1600/2015+november-5-veus-mar-jupiter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRSKM72Ao3HBySZHH_gxFTjnb8x53Wp3vQVRcz7LiOLUuvBlQj2lQI-1CpB3mCiGKb3TmMgQYKHV9PEI4P6F1PRqFzXwL9__15CbR5NC5lpyuf_aoT-gXgBJw9qSlq-I9WUEz-y0IHw6E/s400/2015+november-5-veus-mar-jupiter.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo credit: <i>Earthsky.org</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span data-offset-key="ft0ar-0-0" data-reactid=".6.1.1.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$ft0ar.0:$ft0ar-0-0"><span data-reactid=".6.1.1.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$ft0ar.0:$ft0ar-0-0.0">If you miss it tomorrow morning, each day, Venus will move farther away from Mars so keep that in mind if you look for it on a different morning. It will always be the brightest thing in the sky over the horizon. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span data-offset-key="ft0ar-0-0" data-reactid=".6.1.1.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$ft0ar.0:$ft0ar-0-0"><span data-reactid=".6.1.1.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$ft0ar.0:$ft0ar-0-0.0">This will be the view on Friday, November 6th, when Jupiter buddies up to the Moon. <br /><br />You should have no trouble seeing the planets since the Moon will be a waning crescent. <br /><br />Over the weekend, the Moon will continue to move down in the sky so that by Saturday morning, it should be sitting right next to Venus. </span></span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="1rp68-0-0" data-reactid=".6.1.1.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$1rp68.0:$1rp68-0-0"><br data-reactid=".6.1.1.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$1rp68.0:$1rp68-0-0.0" /></span>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAd07Z3jcwFD8hJw3o1uSwe30EQA2XW76683QeOoJUAPo51v59dh7AWa014kRK7s5eFL-rdc4k7LPggUJZYV_unQT7GQI5HZwJoqJUELKNeoJbzM21Eu1gXERkzRpqrTPKuIfPnJA3zvw/s1600/2015+november-5-6-7-regulus-jupiter-mars-venus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAd07Z3jcwFD8hJw3o1uSwe30EQA2XW76683QeOoJUAPo51v59dh7AWa014kRK7s5eFL-rdc4k7LPggUJZYV_unQT7GQI5HZwJoqJUELKNeoJbzM21Eu1gXERkzRpqrTPKuIfPnJA3zvw/s640/2015+november-5-6-7-regulus-jupiter-mars-venus.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="center"><td class="tr-caption"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo credit: <i>Earthsky.org</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</td></tr>
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<br />
<span data-offset-key="evtfl-0-0" data-reactid=".6.1.1.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$evtfl.0:$evtfl-0-0"><span data-reactid=".6.1.1.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$evtfl.0:$evtfl-0-0.0">You can read more about this <a href="http://earthsky.org/tonight/last-quarter-moon-plus-venus-mars-conjunction-on-november-3?utm_source=EarthSky+News&utm_campaign=dc7187a325-EarthSky_News&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_c643945d79-dc7187a325-394455217">HERE</a> on <i>Earthsky.org</i>.</span></span><br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCxt2eiyPNO7fBi_gWR_TFcF-K4OT9n6sEduu1fffcg47oi9X6I7gAtQlyTLkvmiCZG3S0PskGs7W4ewuFAy0OGXfYI-8bj0M_MmEL_RIhjdtHzWiAHOF1Ls62Qhi5UDPa-CdGaPYUISU/s1600/ISS+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCxt2eiyPNO7fBi_gWR_TFcF-K4OT9n6sEduu1fffcg47oi9X6I7gAtQlyTLkvmiCZG3S0PskGs7W4ewuFAy0OGXfYI-8bj0M_MmEL_RIhjdtHzWiAHOF1Ls62Qhi5UDPa-CdGaPYUISU/s400/ISS+1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo Credit: NASA.gov</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span data-offset-key="6lcs4-0-0" data-reactid=".6.1.1.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$6lcs4.0:$6lcs4-0-0"><span data-reactid=".6.1.1.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$6lcs4.0:$6lcs4-0-0.0">The International Space Station will also be visible every morning this week on both coasts. You should be able to spot it with the nnaided eye -- it's the third brightest thing in the sky and even city dwellers should have no trouble identifying it. With a good pair of binoculars or even a modest telescope, you should be able to see a fair amount of structural detail. </span></span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="6lcs4-0-0" data-reactid=".6.1.1.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$6lcs4.0:$6lcs4-0-0"><span data-reactid=".6.1.1.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$6lcs4.0:$6lcs4-0-0.0"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="_209g _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="6lcs4-0-0" data-reactid=".6.1.1.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$6lcs4">
<span data-offset-key="6lcs4-0-0" data-reactid=".6.1.1.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$6lcs4.0:$6lcs4-0-0"><span data-reactid=".6.1.1.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$6lcs4.0:$6lcs4-0-0.0">You can register for alerts or simply check the schedule <a href="http://spotthestation.nasa.gov/">HERE</a> on NASA's website. NASA will send alerts when the ISS is passing overhead just before dawn and just after dusk. <a href="http://spotthestation.nasa.gov/message_example.cfm">THIS</a> is a link that explains how to interpret the information in the alert so you can find the ISS.<br /><br />And mark your calendars now: the next spacewalk will be happening this Friday when Commander Scott Kelly and Flight Engineer Kjell Lindgren step out of the airlock and into space. Log into NASA TV to watch the preparations and the actual walk. NASA broadcasts feeds from cameras mounted on the astronauts' helmets and on the space station itself.<br /><br />You can read more about this on NASA.gov. The schedule for all upcoming live events on NASA TV is <a href="http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/schedule.html#.VjezNCtLBgI">HERE</a>. Coverage for this Friday;s spacwalk begins at 5:30 AM EST (2:30 AM Pacific) and the spacewalk starts at 7:10 AM EST (4:10 AM Pacific). </span></span></div>
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Cathy and Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11985161421939096681noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1306667106050601639.post-37907086067737794682015-10-27T11:21:00.000-04:002015-10-27T11:21:09.243-04:00Hunter's Moon - October 26-27, 2015<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge_CYMJOV2ckNESZu3eH48ed8ojV0bOh9kUWQLOFCKQ9n9ZWDTLnKfew_2TUmpqL_7jtZ9Z15dHSFmuIQ1taihyogbdr5QmCKOZVqMMx6ABpqzysW2Yd823bXtvMidbhMEQ6y2j7IMwnw/s1600/2015+-+Oct+-+26+Full+Moon++2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge_CYMJOV2ckNESZu3eH48ed8ojV0bOh9kUWQLOFCKQ9n9ZWDTLnKfew_2TUmpqL_7jtZ9Z15dHSFmuIQ1taihyogbdr5QmCKOZVqMMx6ABpqzysW2Yd823bXtvMidbhMEQ6y2j7IMwnw/s400/2015+-+Oct+-+26+Full+Moon++2.JPG" width="367" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The nearly full moon just over the horizon, hiding behind cloud cover.</td></tr>
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Tonight (October 26th) and tomorrow night (October 27th) we are on either side of the full moon, which actually becomes full while it is below the horizon on the morning of October 27th. Despite the cloud cover this evening, I was able to get some wonderful images of the Moon. Unfortunately, I missed it as it was coming up over the mountains; the cloud cover was just too thick.<br />
<br />
Tomorrow we will try again. The October full moon, the Hunter's Moon, should present a spectacular show. As it comes up low over the horizon, it should look lightly burnt orange due to the effect of the atmosphere on light waves. The atmosphere scatters blue waves so when we look through the densest part of the atmosphere to the full moon at the horizon, we will be seeing the red light waves reflected to a greater or lesser degree, hence the amber or orange color. And since the Moon is still in perigee, it will be the last supermoon of the season. That coupled with the phenomenon of "moon illusion" makes the moon look overly large as well. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisR2Xtgt-JfuhVETSKS8iSWL5moZntOQuYaifqdKRIP2ZabrFCi6p75ZcgiLhMiUG6q0OMegYIBFsLVuOMzPX-fglUUMNyCSgkV16TpOsdkuOEAclPkUNgW-5zfzzA1bFGDVmhCSQ5vd0/s1600/2015+-+Oct+-+26+Full+Moon++4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="619" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisR2Xtgt-JfuhVETSKS8iSWL5moZntOQuYaifqdKRIP2ZabrFCi6p75ZcgiLhMiUG6q0OMegYIBFsLVuOMzPX-fglUUMNyCSgkV16TpOsdkuOEAclPkUNgW-5zfzzA1bFGDVmhCSQ5vd0/s640/2015+-+Oct+-+26+Full+Moon++4.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The "halo" is created by the effect of moonshine on the high thin clouds that are floating in front of the moon.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKN_nBMbkpgHA3mBABgZynINIxbiPd28a4kfqhyphenhyphenZLwfUCyWpv-Jn8VZ09aG2_pOvUpesY4uyr9pAkW3ISoh1EHLyrVXFvCn4FZ98UOXMVFTsNhT1rlSu3btNAbb4VXfBhZbI8ah-iPwjY/s1600/2015-10-27+Full+Hunter%2527s+Moon+12+AM+203.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="627" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKN_nBMbkpgHA3mBABgZynINIxbiPd28a4kfqhyphenhyphenZLwfUCyWpv-Jn8VZ09aG2_pOvUpesY4uyr9pAkW3ISoh1EHLyrVXFvCn4FZ98UOXMVFTsNhT1rlSu3btNAbb4VXfBhZbI8ah-iPwjY/s640/2015-10-27+Full+Hunter%2527s+Moon+12+AM+203.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The full moon, nearly directly overhead, at midnight. It had just peaked out from behind some clouds.</td></tr>
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<br />
The Hunter's Moon rises just after sunset in the east, so check the time of your local sunset and moonrise times so you don't miss the action. Tonight the moon will rise about 45 minutes later and set tomorrow morning over an hour later than today. Do drop by this post tomorrow for additional images of the moon as it rises this evening and sets in the morning.Cathy and Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11985161421939096681noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1306667106050601639.post-27393122679681603472015-10-26T15:15:00.001-04:002015-10-26T18:22:59.030-04:00Beautiful Roses... Patio Perfection<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD90UeCVZ6PM0zjlpsxxtjAdwO-Eh7q7twknkJsyMXrDiCylyqM5XJaRsv-6yywbTcKntTKxYQd20BQ5yGMCnN5gZVogqgCf4gMmjcg_4WJlDt1E1gcUrK1ErDQ3wSJiOtMrNY2xMfet4/s1600/Patio+Oct+26+2015+++%252813%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD90UeCVZ6PM0zjlpsxxtjAdwO-Eh7q7twknkJsyMXrDiCylyqM5XJaRsv-6yywbTcKntTKxYQd20BQ5yGMCnN5gZVogqgCf4gMmjcg_4WJlDt1E1gcUrK1ErDQ3wSJiOtMrNY2xMfet4/s400/Patio+Oct+26+2015+++%252813%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Potted annuals on the table on the patio.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Our patio garden is thriving. We have pots and pots of annuals -- I just replanted the window boxes with chrysanthemums and pansies in and amongst the calibrachoa and coleus which continue to thrive.<br />
<br />
Our Meyer lemon tree will have a generous crop of lemons for us in another month or two and around the bottom of the lemon tree, spearmint is growing enthusiastically and will be a welcome addition to tabbouleh salad over the winter.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRmvQNsHBu-m8bGcjmTHF-SJPcF6aLZ7srhpsuzcrptoHJjyzOenzJsuCo4KcLnB0Rg6gAjW9DvxOQ0gyHgffSyBue_EwNJUXuBQJFnTPS_PvlLHGeF9YWmaMe70VROzZsCdyj0UDWCp0/s1600/Koko+Loco+++%25287%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="383" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRmvQNsHBu-m8bGcjmTHF-SJPcF6aLZ7srhpsuzcrptoHJjyzOenzJsuCo4KcLnB0Rg6gAjW9DvxOQ0gyHgffSyBue_EwNJUXuBQJFnTPS_PvlLHGeF9YWmaMe70VROzZsCdyj0UDWCp0/s400/Koko+Loco+++%25287%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The mauve blend floribunda Koko Loco.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
We continue to harvest thyme and oregano but I've fought a losing battle with the slugs over the basil. And our succulents are doing equally well. In fact, they've grown so much, they need to be repotted again. <br />
<br />
But the stars of the patio are, without a doubt, the roses. Neptune and Strawberry Hill just finished a bloom cycle; Neptune has a single bud remaining after a beautiful display of deep mauve-purple blossoms. But Koko Loco and Sugar Moon picked up where the others have left off.<br />
<br />
Koko Loco is a mauve blend floribunda bred by Christian Bedard in 2010
and introduced in the US in 2012 by Weeks Roses. We bought it for our
garden in Newburyport as soon as it was available and I had it growing
with Hot Cocoa where the pair made a fabulous combination.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXxQJq0B95spe6yqY7UwT5KrAJxG_cN4P1HXs4zzSGmIJ9_Lvmdd8nJQH8NhDkZ0LHM-vceGJgqkuXoN5hPQfXqOcpjyFrG-Le_cyGGtGnrcubCE16VwAzgLVNsr-YLO9DRTZ5-h6YXgI/s1600/Koko+Loco+++%25286%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXxQJq0B95spe6yqY7UwT5KrAJxG_cN4P1HXs4zzSGmIJ9_Lvmdd8nJQH8NhDkZ0LHM-vceGJgqkuXoN5hPQfXqOcpjyFrG-Le_cyGGtGnrcubCE16VwAzgLVNsr-YLO9DRTZ5-h6YXgI/s400/Koko+Loco+++%25286%2529.JPG" width="308" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bud, barely opened, of Koko Loco</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span class="text_exposed_show">Here in California, the roses are much more enthusiastic growers and bloomers than the same roses grown
in New England, with its much shorter growing season and variable
weather. </span><br />
<br />
<span class="text_exposed_show">Here, we can really appreciate the color changes in Koko Loco.
Considered a "mauve blend", the buds have a dark peachy color, open up
as a buff that is close to the color of creamy hot chocolate, and
gradually evolve to a true mauve. Having all of the different
colorations present in different blooms at the same time on the shrub is
a treat! </span><br />
<span class="text_exposed_show"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="text_exposed_show">
It's
coloration reminds me a lot of Bella'roma, a hybrid tea bred by Dr.
Keith Zary in 2003. It was one of the first roses we planted in our
garden in Newburyport and was one of my long time favorites, not just
for its color but for its wonderful fragrance. Bella'roma is a
peach-yellow blend, but in our New England garden, the colors were more
subtle and before it turned brighter yellow, it was the same buff
colored tinged in peach that I love in the Koko Loco.<br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbXaqoWVx6k1xc6dGnaERGY3bUVH99UjTtDrN-z91LUP8GuHFZ1aH2fOQb24oLoH6GCgFuMwr9OH09ESU42lJhSS49ZhvtguxeZ4z1qnT3QdurnU5ogMhyRJ_1AtM4yweb8vNa7uTuwGQ/s1600/Sugar+Moon+++%25284%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="363" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbXaqoWVx6k1xc6dGnaERGY3bUVH99UjTtDrN-z91LUP8GuHFZ1aH2fOQb24oLoH6GCgFuMwr9OH09ESU42lJhSS49ZhvtguxeZ4z1qnT3QdurnU5ogMhyRJ_1AtM4yweb8vNa7uTuwGQ/s400/Sugar+Moon+++%25284%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The hybrid tea, Sugar Moon, crisp white and wonderfully fragrant.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The white
bloom, one of the purest white roses we have ever grown, is Sugar Moon,
another wonderful hybrid tea hybridized by Christian Bedard (2012). I
was attracted to Sugar Moon not only because of the large blossoms and
bright white coloring but because of the fragrance - a perfect blend of
citrus and rose.<br />
<br />
Although not as prolific a bloomer as the floribunda
Koko Loco, the blooms are amazing and the rose usually has at least one
blossom open and perfuming the patio at any given time. It's a wonderful cut rose for the vase as well, and I frequently clip buds to finish opening indoors.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivBREZcZgaUQaPX6Xgxxwu_q216l1UpL_JAJeA3QbaBlDUIZgfFyQeB_jDkZwZhGkIrZ8nEEs7OvtGH4q48yNN3n9DdePPxdxqvzYYgzowX64fiQV5Z6n0BzvxQA76MjprTfNGCH7N5uc/s1600/Koko+Loco+++%25283%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="572" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivBREZcZgaUQaPX6Xgxxwu_q216l1UpL_JAJeA3QbaBlDUIZgfFyQeB_jDkZwZhGkIrZ8nEEs7OvtGH4q48yNN3n9DdePPxdxqvzYYgzowX64fiQV5Z6n0BzvxQA76MjprTfNGCH7N5uc/s640/Koko+Loco+++%25283%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Koko Loco,showing hints of peach and mauve.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXemaGc1vF69QKjr3T5dNtXfH0MGgtm6yq4oADT_HJG5WsR3VgPKm1zvCkOH8iFwtn0-IeVGoP8IYkxzDMRHYZUyNUu-1X03ZRMkzcnIgr5-C4KaexyZoO9Qfl1awXM3qiFuWRi_YZ6OY/s1600/Koko+Loco+++%25285%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXemaGc1vF69QKjr3T5dNtXfH0MGgtm6yq4oADT_HJG5WsR3VgPKm1zvCkOH8iFwtn0-IeVGoP8IYkxzDMRHYZUyNUu-1X03ZRMkzcnIgr5-C4KaexyZoO9Qfl1awXM3qiFuWRi_YZ6OY/s640/Koko+Loco+++%25285%2529.JPG" width="600" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The opening blossom of Koko Loco shows more of its peachy tones.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2T1xH7HsYpJ7vci0243o0x-JFX8NCZRw36RPJt48a3ItVMGnPJgqFz5HHF5Vd81la5q1sNYO8KBYDEEATZXv69eAA4_Pka-HSMjVLXgehS4XzqlEFupp538muqvNIGaRclB-XPSXzLdc/s1600/Koko+Loco+++%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="412" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2T1xH7HsYpJ7vci0243o0x-JFX8NCZRw36RPJt48a3ItVMGnPJgqFz5HHF5Vd81la5q1sNYO8KBYDEEATZXv69eAA4_Pka-HSMjVLXgehS4XzqlEFupp538muqvNIGaRclB-XPSXzLdc/s640/Koko+Loco+++%25282%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Koco Loco, bloom gradually shifts from peach to mauve</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeVf1d-QD8QEEldyrmwOBk_BpVrTfnHwMt6kpaH9PsgSb1Gvfhtolx6ELCK9seubhOOrqZ6VpSl-G7QQF8amsgxewlee9Z9xURiQ8E4WjfeKO5sUx5tqRRPe_7-L1mfzg79xd3f0wAyp4/s1600/Koko+Loco+++%25288%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="548" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeVf1d-QD8QEEldyrmwOBk_BpVrTfnHwMt6kpaH9PsgSb1Gvfhtolx6ELCK9seubhOOrqZ6VpSl-G7QQF8amsgxewlee9Z9xURiQ8E4WjfeKO5sUx5tqRRPe_7-L1mfzg79xd3f0wAyp4/s640/Koko+Loco+++%25288%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Early bloom is more peach in color.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxhDxKmM5dJVac4DWEvQSqKrFsPv-NYNxWkZtK_sBpHv1IC-w_ivhRNrU08xE4Uz2VQBPIvhT0wU2bEApw1yJjPzMRWHJdR21s28GSIyLIMA5KbG5KqlpHjtFSzqUF939V3O2lRjT4sSs/s1600/Patio+Oct+26+2015+++%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="572" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxhDxKmM5dJVac4DWEvQSqKrFsPv-NYNxWkZtK_sBpHv1IC-w_ivhRNrU08xE4Uz2VQBPIvhT0wU2bEApw1yJjPzMRWHJdR21s28GSIyLIMA5KbG5KqlpHjtFSzqUF939V3O2lRjT4sSs/s640/Patio+Oct+26+2015+++%25281%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Side of our patio, the coleus have thrived!</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmyUbDt60_FCqmhNBV1ROyxgcPhMVUYroLz08hATmeeHYdFlNbw5m5iHUaZ4MrMRUCldurosT4_MpJA1Biyq_uFvXM4uo1Uj7OYD-VFtxacx82Fk40XhVj0XRe-r5KV7W0JFF8WQsme18/s1600/Patio+Oct+26+2015+++%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmyUbDt60_FCqmhNBV1ROyxgcPhMVUYroLz08hATmeeHYdFlNbw5m5iHUaZ4MrMRUCldurosT4_MpJA1Biyq_uFvXM4uo1Uj7OYD-VFtxacx82Fk40XhVj0XRe-r5KV7W0JFF8WQsme18/s640/Patio+Oct+26+2015+++%25282%2529.JPG" width="594" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption">Front of our patio, with newly replanted window boxes; the snapdragon we planted in spring is still blooming vigorously. In the background, the Meyer lemon displays fruit from several bloom periods.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_18SJpMK5ysmgJ91bdYpI1OW5V4sSLDQ_LjRyCLTtl10wdGqyzCUFnEdUXWoUovXYW3HZDeHOLmDQZf4O3fDyFyWXVtytJzBMvutH2W5Rmy3Gki7pEkK08DKV92cclHJF3Mb2E7dgTaU/s1600/Patio+Oct+26+2015+++%25285%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_18SJpMK5ysmgJ91bdYpI1OW5V4sSLDQ_LjRyCLTtl10wdGqyzCUFnEdUXWoUovXYW3HZDeHOLmDQZf4O3fDyFyWXVtytJzBMvutH2W5Rmy3Gki7pEkK08DKV92cclHJF3Mb2E7dgTaU/s640/Patio+Oct+26+2015+++%25285%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some of the smallest baby lemons from the last bloom a few weeks ago.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-L01k5STSA7j99w9g9c4wjnuQZHdUFb3ZOZ00gylE3g8pTU_lZoBwKERqEIvql1nGbdYRvl504KnWsynkJgBZe33VUIBiV9MfXp5fNXeznu6KDOpjdloXalV4dmk_cSc8_eojK1N8s4s/s1600/Patio+Oct+26+2015+++%25286%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-L01k5STSA7j99w9g9c4wjnuQZHdUFb3ZOZ00gylE3g8pTU_lZoBwKERqEIvql1nGbdYRvl504KnWsynkJgBZe33VUIBiV9MfXp5fNXeznu6KDOpjdloXalV4dmk_cSc8_eojK1N8s4s/s640/Patio+Oct+26+2015+++%25286%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the earliest lemons is started to ripen but it will be weeks yet before it's ready to be picked.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtw6mRb-10_TusTZJxpiaKPRHUGS7ud4CW-YmxbCYRua0cwagX9FJ99fy65HZ2K8fwVwu8oAvTNjPD92eF0s_dhQwfSlFu-baoC0ppuIqzS0C_nOQYH3VuEB6CHbX8YNIgORd51X8Hmtw/s1600/Patio+Oct+26+2015+++%252810%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="562" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtw6mRb-10_TusTZJxpiaKPRHUGS7ud4CW-YmxbCYRua0cwagX9FJ99fy65HZ2K8fwVwu8oAvTNjPD92eF0s_dhQwfSlFu-baoC0ppuIqzS0C_nOQYH3VuEB6CHbX8YNIgORd51X8Hmtw/s640/Patio+Oct+26+2015+++%252810%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption">This morning I discovered new buds - meaning yet another crop of lemons. With at least four different crops from four different blossoming times, we should have fresh lemons over the winter and into the spring.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwHdiJV2vvPjC-MngA2yEGG0rGG5bph2sKS-K1S4LWDSZyeRp6a7DHzvFHl16JSsvprNvg4phRqvmGdvlHejrdtjKQlLu_bOZ5b_gj6MYCznZFdBhcTkAg4Vy-T0RJ53Op_9YRqpYufS4/s1600/Patio+Oct+26+2015+++%25287%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwHdiJV2vvPjC-MngA2yEGG0rGG5bph2sKS-K1S4LWDSZyeRp6a7DHzvFHl16JSsvprNvg4phRqvmGdvlHejrdtjKQlLu_bOZ5b_gj6MYCznZFdBhcTkAg4Vy-T0RJ53Op_9YRqpYufS4/s640/Patio+Oct+26+2015+++%25287%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These were from the second crop and won't ripen for at least a couple of months.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfWYeq4co4rmtMOyrymw83pKknHkohWbMQuVzVRop2f0gXuH8x3Q4P-5fKPYl6ArEZRFHWqVRZt1aNy4aHRCbRBwKCXeVlE7Mywz6SwFdRok5GTytYakSZYlGB9gBPUC53qzt0DeGr-FU/s1600/Neptune+bud+-+Oct+2015.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="538" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfWYeq4co4rmtMOyrymw83pKknHkohWbMQuVzVRop2f0gXuH8x3Q4P-5fKPYl6ArEZRFHWqVRZt1aNy4aHRCbRBwKCXeVlE7Mywz6SwFdRok5GTytYakSZYlGB9gBPUC53qzt0DeGr-FU/s640/Neptune+bud+-+Oct+2015.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This bud of Neptune will be open in the next day or so. While the buds are a deep rosy mauve, the mature blooms are a lavender mauve and the roses has the strong citrus notes in the fragrance that I've come to associate with lavender roses.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
Cathy and Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11985161421939096681noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1306667106050601639.post-21208837202569971312015-10-26T13:37:00.000-04:002015-10-26T15:20:21.318-04:00Sunrise, Sunset<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnCY9qEGMFin5hX_Fnt1-w2XfwBzwEqsllNtkTjlz8hUaPB68F0MNz2xXl2DFL4Ya-uMvpqiwhmACjtmzkGPute9A5a_glG0Wo9JdDq32fIaC9EkV16hsBXtansno_hJThXo1V38UnpY4/s1600/15-10-23+Sunrise+++%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnCY9qEGMFin5hX_Fnt1-w2XfwBzwEqsllNtkTjlz8hUaPB68F0MNz2xXl2DFL4Ya-uMvpqiwhmACjtmzkGPute9A5a_glG0Wo9JdDq32fIaC9EkV16hsBXtansno_hJThXo1V38UnpY4/s400/15-10-23+Sunrise+++%25282%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a>Here in the Napa Valley, where we can go weeks or months without
clouds or rain, thunderstorms are such a rare occurrence, they are a
media event and sunrise and sunset are magical times of the day. There
is no question we had some exquisite sunsets on the East Coast, but they
occurred far less frequently than we see them here, mostly due to the
weather. And unlike here, a colorful sunrise on the East Coast signified bad weather in the offing. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
That old sailor's ditty, "Red sky at night, sailor's delight, red sky at morning, sailors take warning." held true where we lived on the Northeast Coast of Massachusetts. Here, a gorgeous, brilliant colored sunrise usually gives way to bright blue skies with no stormy weather in sight, often to our dismay.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQaPa3jNJB9MJrDsRPxuftEshWKVaoLvGjfT-4Nu5g_Hxwo2W5NNl30aQyNjkYvdsjEou7y6XPOF_nbh5z3eNvT9yt47v4MLq6TU5yeY-1y-6J16pCCuIlG16Ru7SNalxs1gc0AcmK4W0/s1600/15-10-23+Sunrise+++%25286%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQaPa3jNJB9MJrDsRPxuftEshWKVaoLvGjfT-4Nu5g_Hxwo2W5NNl30aQyNjkYvdsjEou7y6XPOF_nbh5z3eNvT9yt47v4MLq6TU5yeY-1y-6J16pCCuIlG16Ru7SNalxs1gc0AcmK4W0/s400/15-10-23+Sunrise+++%25286%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<span class="text_exposed_show">I love to watch the sun rise over the hills behind our house. On a clear sky morning, the colors are amazing and the presence of high thin clouds adds to the magic. </span><br />
<br />
<span class="text_exposed_show">Sunrise he<span class="text_exposed_show">re
is also later than on the East Coast, mostly, I think, due to the
change in latitude. The closer you are to the Equator, the later the
sun rises and the earlier it sets. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span class="text_exposed_show"><span class="text_exposed_show">Today, for example, the sun rose at
7:19 AM and will set here at 6:17 PM. </span>And the sky doesn't begin to
brighten well before sunrise the way it does in New England. The sky is
dark almost until the sun starts to edge over the horizon and likewise
in the evening, when the sun goes down, we don't have the kind of "dusk"
that we have in New England. This has taken some getting used to for
me.</span><br />
<br />
In contrast, in
Boston today, the sun rose at 7:10 AM and will set at 5:46 PM, but both
morning twilight and evening dusk are much longer in the northern,
eastern city of Boston where the skies were beginning to lighten before
6:30 and will still be light enough for sailors to see the horizon at
almost 7 PM.<br />
<div class="text_exposed_show">
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj_OPw0Cpx2p96MOfSB8u4G-1wfi_ywqu5UE-emUUx1LwgPEz08YRTxUnbPHXZDbyQbYzsvvxcIjEr-gq7LLgGfaAT39U7Fqf8FAHJngHVaqbzH7N0YB6xjaHHN-knRT3l8Qurw6EK4BE/s1600/2015-10-26+fog++%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj_OPw0Cpx2p96MOfSB8u4G-1wfi_ywqu5UE-emUUx1LwgPEz08YRTxUnbPHXZDbyQbYzsvvxcIjEr-gq7LLgGfaAT39U7Fqf8FAHJngHVaqbzH7N0YB6xjaHHN-knRT3l8Qurw6EK4BE/s400/2015-10-26+fog++%25282%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
This morning, the skies are overcast and we had
dense fog, although there is no precipitation in the forecast. It was
such a contrast to the glorious sunrise I photographed three days ago,
which is our "norm". The sky was so grey and the fog was so thick, you
couldn't see the hills behind the house.<br />
<br />
Now that fall is here, we see more radiation fog,. As the days shorten and the nights get longer, the air is much cooler for a greater part of the day/night cycle. The land and water surfaces are still warm, much warmer than the air, as they retain the heat from the summer and from the sun. The cool, night time air passing over the warm land and water (we border the Napa RIver delta where it empties into San Pablo Bay) results in fog.<br />
<br />
The fog usually burns off by late morning and then the sky is brilliant blue and the temperature rises rapidly. Currently, it's a cool and somewhat damp 55 degrees but by 3 PM the temperature will have climbed to at least 75 degrees, possibly a bit higher.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisKVkr4JSpFxf3JTs0M7GoHMxKOpMCs9quMws8M-Shpwr2kFBRuyTIjb1EGNU4SAKekar_mbxKwaU5SLz_tHU8_nm1fZ2nkUNZJEcqhjSRbwgDmSJpRz1SYtEpWRpJS89WW8nQtKVf9NI/s1600/15-10-23+Sunrise+++%25283%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisKVkr4JSpFxf3JTs0M7GoHMxKOpMCs9quMws8M-Shpwr2kFBRuyTIjb1EGNU4SAKekar_mbxKwaU5SLz_tHU8_nm1fZ2nkUNZJEcqhjSRbwgDmSJpRz1SYtEpWRpJS89WW8nQtKVf9NI/s640/15-10-23+Sunrise+++%25283%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brilliant colors across the eastern sky as the sun rises over the horizon.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1TXPvWQwLbDNIjztZ75e7pzWuexomzb-TIJO_7xSc0fxbA0iIctuO38gEsP6fOv8WoO5bDpIKNzrK83I9_vaHhgngX3-YnvSOhGoNTNkHP9Q4AgkUe-JRMeG1mUc-_wXBRTccwo2cdXk/s1600/2015-10-22+Sunrise++08.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1TXPvWQwLbDNIjztZ75e7pzWuexomzb-TIJO_7xSc0fxbA0iIctuO38gEsP6fOv8WoO5bDpIKNzrK83I9_vaHhgngX3-YnvSOhGoNTNkHP9Q4AgkUe-JRMeG1mUc-_wXBRTccwo2cdXk/s640/2015-10-22+Sunrise++08.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption">Taken two days ago, there was fog hovering over the hills and clouds low in the sky. When the sun came up over the fog line, it cast a glorious glow on the clouds and the hills.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisG4PjsvJ6P_I3_pvBAkiLtf5o5ic8UzvKSESIbk3H_HUhtbcYUsjv7NfUfbtyB_9ZfVN3V_toSOQr1sYTxy3VktM72p9be-hOGteBf74IiATIaY05O5Ax-z9cdwCPn60mRW7C8P4pSCo/s1600/IMG_8831.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisG4PjsvJ6P_I3_pvBAkiLtf5o5ic8UzvKSESIbk3H_HUhtbcYUsjv7NfUfbtyB_9ZfVN3V_toSOQr1sYTxy3VktM72p9be-hOGteBf74IiATIaY05O5Ax-z9cdwCPn60mRW7C8P4pSCo/s640/IMG_8831.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption">Sunset, looking west over the Napa River delta at Waters Edge Drive, our favorite place to watch the sun set here in town.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT1PCOpPF4lAYc9upQLA5oGfFMUeEhDVtcrsQaRdv0xgzWyHrn98T6p38ThiApKCqyqyhTwVUn4YNy003yYNjG18OGYRaDJ-bCU5-iY-FEcm1M20tVBFhmP_d099zhJkFdZvnsSnHNb3k/s1600/IMG_8843.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT1PCOpPF4lAYc9upQLA5oGfFMUeEhDVtcrsQaRdv0xgzWyHrn98T6p38ThiApKCqyqyhTwVUn4YNy003yYNjG18OGYRaDJ-bCU5-iY-FEcm1M20tVBFhmP_d099zhJkFdZvnsSnHNb3k/s640/IMG_8843.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">As the sun sinks below the horizon, the colors of the sky become more vivid.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8OBlQFG6g60b7WtKuohi20cBJAb-5vFXCqXo2p3iSf_C0kl2LBG61uUlk3_fehXstlffVgvD_D6ikDCb0ZXL2t7GHlycgaSy3QvGZ1chYZ-p4_jp8DKyuGktqlSYktv0nsy-ALGrFWaU/s1600/IMG_8778.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8OBlQFG6g60b7WtKuohi20cBJAb-5vFXCqXo2p3iSf_C0kl2LBG61uUlk3_fehXstlffVgvD_D6ikDCb0ZXL2t7GHlycgaSy3QvGZ1chYZ-p4_jp8DKyuGktqlSYktv0nsy-ALGrFWaU/s640/IMG_8778.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption">Above and Below: Looking east during sunset, although the setting sun is not visible from our apartment, the brilliant red of the setting sun is reflected in the clouds all over the sky.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOFdzkqRAYQJX52sUWn5KANN1Pi-cdlrz6Zwj6GsRi66n-i4PzF_9fRYIYMjoVy8o5n17IAM6vi1g4mWEdyc7Q7UpQtGtBV4C6zS-54OKlegxhJ_rn_Y19CoUiroF0Yl409rz8czMSt7Q/s1600/IMG_8781.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOFdzkqRAYQJX52sUWn5KANN1Pi-cdlrz6Zwj6GsRi66n-i4PzF_9fRYIYMjoVy8o5n17IAM6vi1g4mWEdyc7Q7UpQtGtBV4C6zS-54OKlegxhJ_rn_Y19CoUiroF0Yl409rz8czMSt7Q/s640/IMG_8781.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Cathy and Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11985161421939096681noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1306667106050601639.post-59412019675165592802015-10-25T17:42:00.002-04:002015-10-26T00:33:24.230-04:00<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7fHzZ2HnW6WP-zgBdK6r8BggklF82R9ChXhTxu88-HZr8RAdOZLKVhAnH6WAKmGSbs0Ov-Ij6ICwrNRGZLlyNErLZGKvM2GJcD-ZC6m7EbLLiOLl6Bm3u24ztuo0rOchm7i873K4ZanE/s1600/2015-october-25-mercury-mars-jupiter-venus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7fHzZ2HnW6WP-zgBdK6r8BggklF82R9ChXhTxu88-HZr8RAdOZLKVhAnH6WAKmGSbs0Ov-Ij6ICwrNRGZLlyNErLZGKvM2GJcD-ZC6m7EbLLiOLl6Bm3u24ztuo0rOchm7i873K4ZanE/s400/2015-october-25-mercury-mars-jupiter-venus.jpg" width="400" /></a>For those of you who enjoy spotting planets in the sky, the next
several days will provide a great opportunity to see Mercury, Mars,
Venus, Jupiter which will all dot the eastern sky before dawn for the next few days.<br />
<br />
Venus,
Mars, and Jupiter form a tight grouping in the sky known as a planetary
trio. They won't be visible in such close proximity in the sky again until 2016.<br />
<br />
The
planets are best seen about an hour before sunrise... another "bennie",
since you don't have to stay up late or get up in the middle of the
night to<span class="text_exposed_show"> see them.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="text_exposed_show">
<i><a href="http://earthsky.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Earthsky.org</a></i>
reports that Venus will be at it's highest point in the sky tomorrow
morning, but the planets should all be visible through the morning of
October 29th.<br />
<br />
And don't let the presence of high thin clouds
deter you. The stars might not be clearly visible but the brightly
shining planets may still peak through breaks in the clouds. <br />
<br />
Mercury will be rising just over the horizon. If you face tall trees or
hills in the east, it might not be visible, but if you drive a short
distance to an area where the horizon is low, you can probably spot this
elusive planet.<br />
<br />
Here are some links to more information about this. Photos are credited to <a href="http://earthsky.org/tonight/venus-reaches-big-milestone-in-morning-sky-on-october-26">Earthsky.org</a>.<br />
<br />
You can read articles about viewing these planets <a href="http://earthsky.org/tonight/planetary-trio-lights-up-morning-sky-in-late-october-2015?utm_source=EarthSky+News&utm_campaign=c0f83d6cdf-EarthSky_News&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_c643945d79-c0f83d6cdf-394455217">HERE</a> and <a href="http://earthsky.org/tonight/venus-reaches-big-milestone-in-morning-sky-on-october-26">HERE</a>. <br />
</div>
<div class="text_exposed_show">
Photographer Ken Christison captured the image below of the planetary
trio despite the presence of clouds in the sky. The photo gives you a
good sense of the brightness and size of each planet, helpful for
separating them out from everything else in the nighttime sky. <br />
<br />
Note that the positions of the planets will change somewhat during the night and from night to night.</div>
<div class="text_exposed_show">
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjguPbDixDCSDhyGhpA8_NoYM8ii-sbBszU4HlMyYmgsPzMcRMqJY6MxcVFIoK_6dHWAZjXpaWJCABL17z24e-EQ8n0tEDHIDsU04cir37heluLolFHAhy1uCt6qVqOwpFKCGukxmMibc/s1600/2015-october-25-mercury-mars-jupiter-venus+photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjguPbDixDCSDhyGhpA8_NoYM8ii-sbBszU4HlMyYmgsPzMcRMqJY6MxcVFIoK_6dHWAZjXpaWJCABL17z24e-EQ8n0tEDHIDsU04cir37heluLolFHAhy1uCt6qVqOwpFKCGukxmMibc/s640/2015-october-25-mercury-mars-jupiter-venus+photo.jpg" width="510" /></a></div>
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Cathy and Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11985161421939096681noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1306667106050601639.post-21004661022539674052015-10-20T20:46:00.000-04:002015-10-26T00:35:04.642-04:00The Orionid Meteor Shower - October 21-22<div data-contents="true" data-reactid=".0.1.0.1.0.0.$editor6.0.0">
<div class="_209g _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="4hea7-0-0" data-reactid=".0.1.0.1.0.0.$editor6.0.0.$4hea7">
<span data-offset-key="4hea7-0-0" data-reactid=".0.1.0.1.0.0.$editor6.0.0.$4hea7.0:$4hea7-0-0"><span data-reactid=".0.1.0.1.0.0.$editor6.0.0.$4hea7.0:$4hea7-0-0.0">Early to bed, early to rise, there will be meteors again in the early morning skies!!</span></span></div>
<div class="_209g _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="1mh8u-0-0" data-reactid=".0.1.0.1.0.0.$editor6.0.0.$1mh8u">
<span data-offset-key="1mh8u-0-0" data-reactid=".0.1.0.1.0.0.$editor6.0.0.$1mh8u.0:$1mh8u-0-0"><br data-reactid=".0.1.0.1.0.0.$editor6.0.0.$1mh8u.0:$1mh8u-0-0.0" /></span></div>
<div class="_209g _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="ui52-0-0" data-reactid=".0.1.0.1.0.0.$editor6.0.0.$ui52">
<span data-offset-key="ui52-0-0" data-reactid=".0.1.0.1.0.0.$editor6.0.0.$ui52.0:$ui52-0-0"><span data-reactid=".0.1.0.1.0.0.$editor6.0.0.$ui52.0:$ui52-0-0.0">Tomorrow morning, and possibly to a somewhat greater extent, on Thursday morning as well, we'll be treated to another meteor show, this time courtesy of the debris from Comet Halley.</span></span></div>
<div class="_209g _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="ui52-0-0" data-reactid=".0.1.0.1.0.0.$editor6.0.0.$ui52">
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ5Ya4jM2HIPoMeipHzcI-FBiQKFO8RF8uf5vmNh4ZouX6iadCvZFyFIBacdveojv2s973DLX0KEecHMv5cbmBakOuSVzXDrC_ulkBzlHQznwB04n3BHxILieXLT21DXhHXWBE1dBuf24/s1600/halleys_comet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="292" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ5Ya4jM2HIPoMeipHzcI-FBiQKFO8RF8uf5vmNh4ZouX6iadCvZFyFIBacdveojv2s973DLX0KEecHMv5cbmBakOuSVzXDrC_ulkBzlHQznwB04n3BHxILieXLT21DXhHXWBE1dBuf24/s400/halleys_comet.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo Credit: NASA Image of Halley's Comet from Earthsky.org</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="_209g _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="cfjg1-0-0" data-reactid=".0.1.0.1.0.0.$editor6.0.0.$cfjg1">
<span data-offset-key="cfjg1-0-0" data-reactid=".0.1.0.1.0.0.$editor6.0.0.$cfjg1.0:$cfjg1-0-0"><span data-reactid=".0.1.0.1.0.0.$editor6.0.0.$cfjg1.0:$cfjg1-0-0.0">Halley's Comet might be the most famous of all comets but we usually only see it once or at most twice in our lifetime since it takes takes 76 years to complete it's orbit around the Sun. While it won't pass this way again until the year 2061, twice a year we are treated to a light show courtesy of debris from Halley's tail, first in May (the Eta Aquarid Meteor Shower) and then again in October (the Orion Meteor Shower).</span></span></div>
<div class="_209g _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="94rbp-0-0" data-reactid=".0.1.0.1.0.0.$editor6.0.0.$94rbp">
<span data-offset-key="94rbp-0-0" data-reactid=".0.1.0.1.0.0.$editor6.0.0.$94rbp.0:$94rbp-0-0"><br data-reactid=".0.1.0.1.0.0.$editor6.0.0.$94rbp.0:$94rbp-0-0.0" /></span></div>
<div class="_209g _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="fhuii-0-0" data-reactid=".0.1.0.1.0.0.$editor6.0.0.$fhuii">
<span data-offset-key="fhuii-0-0" data-reactid=".0.1.0.1.0.0.$editor6.0.0.$fhuii.0:$fhuii-0-0"><span data-reactid=".0.1.0.1.0.0.$editor6.0.0.$fhuii.0:$fhuii-0-0.0">The Orionid meteor shower gets its name from the constellation Orion where the bulk of the meteors seem to emanate. Orion is a particularly easy constellation to locate because it contains some of the brightest stars that we can see even in areas with a fair amount of light pollution. </span></span></div>
<div class="_209g _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="6telf-0-0" data-reactid=".0.1.0.1.0.0.$editor6.0.0.$6telf">
<span data-offset-key="6telf-0-0" data-reactid=".0.1.0.1.0.0.$editor6.0.0.$6telf.0:$6telf-0-0"><br data-reactid=".0.1.0.1.0.0.$editor6.0.0.$6telf.0:$6telf-0-0.0" /></span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnBypoK3JeWc6k7AvurqbYqM3vH7gonck_sSUM8ocHz_pJksOCGyjty-GsmuGTrKbISp4vOxLvG1Z2Tmnr0_VuZHZ6CFrQiIrShcMGmp5Hm39fz8i7yEbgqo0-3Q500wXK3ZnvR3X_huE/s1600/orionid+radiant.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="363" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnBypoK3JeWc6k7AvurqbYqM3vH7gonck_sSUM8ocHz_pJksOCGyjty-GsmuGTrKbISp4vOxLvG1Z2Tmnr0_VuZHZ6CFrQiIrShcMGmp5Hm39fz8i7yEbgqo0-3Q500wXK3ZnvR3X_huE/s400/orionid+radiant.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span data-offset-key="4b949-0-0" data-reactid=".0.1.0.1.0.0.$editor6.0.0.$4b949.0:$4b949-0-0"><span data-reactid=".0.1.0.1.0.0.$editor6.0.0.$4b949.0:$4b949-0-0.0">To locate Orion in the night sky in the Northern Hemisphere, look to the East - Southeast and locate Orion's belt, which is formed by three bright stars, Alnitak, Alnilam, and Mintaka. These three very large and bright stars are aligned very close together, angling up. From there you can look higher and to the left in the sky for his shoulders which are formed by Betelgeuse and Bellatrix, and his head, marked by Meissa. Look down and to the right to find his knees, Saiph and Rigel, and if you look between his knees and his belt you'll find the spectacular Orion Nebulae. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span data-offset-key="4b949-0-0" data-reactid=".0.1.0.1.0.0.$editor6.0.0.$4b949.0:$4b949-0-0"><span data-reactid=".0.1.0.1.0.0.$editor6.0.0.$4b949.0:$4b949-0-0.0">As your eyes acclimate to the night sky and travel from landmark to landmark in that famous constellation, you should start to see shooting stars emanating from the radiant, which is at positioned just about at the club he holds in his outstretched right arm. (Remember, his right arm is on the left as you look at him... .) It's almost as though he is throwing pixie dust -- okay, <i>star dust</i> - at us. </span></span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="46eh0-0-0" data-reactid=".0.1.0.1.0.0.$editor6.0.0.$46eh0.0:$46eh0-0-0"></span><br data-reactid=".0.1.0.1.0.0.$editor6.0.0.$46eh0.0:$46eh0-0-0.0" />
<span data-offset-key="46eh0-0-0" data-reactid=".0.1.0.1.0.0.$editor6.0.0.$46eh0.0:$46eh0-0-0"></span></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
</div>
<div class="_209g _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="ckgrm-0-0" data-reactid=".0.1.0.1.0.0.$editor6.0.0.$ckgrm">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNybkI7_ODtPO-6wp192mAlfDC3fmjtI88JVJh8Vyy0t08OK-to90VEg90S1RxauAT044bq536xBG69HqjaKksX2Ltq_Gu8hlA1cWVinMxFChMeW1Nepg6m95lH7HEot-LFZKacplju7k/s1600/Orion+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNybkI7_ODtPO-6wp192mAlfDC3fmjtI88JVJh8Vyy0t08OK-to90VEg90S1RxauAT044bq536xBG69HqjaKksX2Ltq_Gu8hlA1cWVinMxFChMeW1Nepg6m95lH7HEot-LFZKacplju7k/s400/Orion+2.jpg" width="365" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo Credit: SouledOut.org ~ Navigating with Orion</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span data-offset-key="ckgrm-0-0" data-reactid=".0.1.0.1.0.0.$editor6.0.0.$ckgrm.0:$ckgrm-0-0"><span data-reactid=".0.1.0.1.0.0.$editor6.0.0.$ckgrm.0:$ckgrm-0-0.0">Note: This early in the fall, Orion is mostly below the horizon in the evening sky. It does not rise high enough above the horizon to be fully visible until midnight or so, and when he first clears the horizon he will look as though he is lying somewhat horizontally. tilted toward his back (to the left). As he rises in the sky and travels along the equator of the sky, he will straighten up. But locating the famous belt first helps to identify the other major stars in the constellation.<br /><br />If you are too tired to stay up past midnight, try catching a glimpse of some shooting stars in the early morning before dawn. Here in California it's completely dark until nearly 7 AM when the sky is just starting to lighten for a 7:20 AM sunrise. </span></span><span data-reactid=".3.1:5:1:$replies10206649261923286_10206649854698105/=10.1:2:$comment10206649261923286_10206649867578427/=10.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.2"><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" data-reactid=".3.1:5:1:$replies10206649261923286_10206649854698105/=10.1:2:$comment10206649261923286_10206649867578427/=10.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.2.$comment-body"><span class="UFICommentBody" data-reactid=".3.1:5:1:$replies10206649261923286_10206649854698105/=10.1:2:$comment10206649261923286_10206649867578427/=10.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.2.$comment-body.0"><span data-reactid=".3.1:5:1:$replies10206649261923286_10206649854698105/=10.1:2:$comment10206649261923286_10206649867578427/=10.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.2.$comment-body.0.$text0/=1$text0/=010">Try looking out at 5:30 - 6 AM.</span><span data-reactid=".3.1:5:1:$replies10206649261923286_10206649854698105/=10.1:2:$comment10206649261923286_10206649867578427/=10.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.2.$comment-body.0.$end/=1$text0/=010">
You should still be able to see it, but follow the path of Orion
across the sky's equator as it rises. It will move across the sky during the night as the Earth rotates, so
look to the south west.</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="8pi9m-0-0" data-reactid=".0.1.0.1.0.0.$editor6.0.0.$8pi9m.0:$8pi9m-0-0"><br data-reactid=".0.1.0.1.0.0.$editor6.0.0.$8pi9m.0:$8pi9m-0-0.0" /></span></div>
<div class="_209g _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="8tnk4-0-0" data-reactid=".0.1.0.1.0.0.$editor6.0.0.$8tnk4">
<span data-offset-key="8tnk4-0-0" data-reactid=".0.1.0.1.0.0.$editor6.0.0.$8tnk4.0:$8tnk4-0-0"><span data-reactid=".0.1.0.1.0.0.$editor6.0.0.$8tnk4.0:$8tnk4-0-0.0">One other famous star that is also visible once Orion is well above the horizon and completely visible in the night sky is Sirius, the brightest star we can see. Follow the angle of Orion's belt downward and Sirius will be in an almost straight line below Alnitak.</span></span></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd1GEFeG8P6MsgarHXVlpQz6P60CZqScWWRgQv06V60EPd8bo6TpOvo2IfA4AbrE_v6uIzwwNxPonQDmqcxCRtGc933vaX146EuB0ZAZaEso3uIY2R6gn1EnjqgyYpUV0-Y3f0fttzAKg/s1600/orion+222.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd1GEFeG8P6MsgarHXVlpQz6P60CZqScWWRgQv06V60EPd8bo6TpOvo2IfA4AbrE_v6uIzwwNxPonQDmqcxCRtGc933vaX146EuB0ZAZaEso3uIY2R6gn1EnjqgyYpUV0-Y3f0fttzAKg/s320/orion+222.jpg" width="208" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo Credit: SouledOut.org ~ Navigating with Orion</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span data-offset-key="adjkc-0-0" data-reactid=".0.1.0.1.0.0.$editor6.0.0.$adjkc.0:$adjkc-0-0"><span data-reactid=".0.1.0.1.0.0.$editor6.0.0.$adjkc.0:$adjkc-0-0.0">Click on <a href="http://www.globeatnight.org/observe_finder.html">THIS LINK</a> for a map that will show the location of Orion from anywhere int he world. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span data-offset-key="adjkc-0-0" data-reactid=".0.1.0.1.0.0.$editor6.0.0.$adjkc.0:$adjkc-0-0"><span data-reactid=".0.1.0.1.0.0.$editor6.0.0.$adjkc.0:$adjkc-0-0.0">EarthSky.org has excellent information about the Orionids <a href="http://earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/everything-you-need-to-know-orionid-meteor-shower">HERE</a> and <a href="http://earthsky.org/tonight/orionid-meteors-are-debris-from-famous-comet-halley?utm_source=EarthSky+News&utm_campaign=b8c4eb6cef-EarthSky_News&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_c643945d79-b8c4eb6cef-394455217">HERE</a>. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span data-offset-key="adjkc-0-0" data-reactid=".0.1.0.1.0.0.$editor6.0.0.$adjkc.0:$adjkc-0-0"><span data-reactid=".0.1.0.1.0.0.$editor6.0.0.$adjkc.0:$adjkc-0-0.0">Check for moon rise and set times <a href="http://www.timeanddate.com/moon/usa">HERE</a>.</span></span></div>
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And for those who want to locate the constellations that are in the evening sky, <a href="http://www.telescope.com/assets/pdf/starcharts/2015-10-starchart_clr.pdf">THIS</a> is one of the best on-line star charts I've seen. Note, however, that Orion is sitting just at the horizon and pretty much out of view during much of the evening.<span data-offset-key="a9skh-0-0" data-reactid=".0.1.0.1.0.0.$editor6.0.0.$a9skh.0:$a9skh-0-0"><span data-reactid=".0.1.0.1.0.0.$editor6.0.0.$a9skh.0:$a9skh-0-0.0"> </span></span><br />
<br />
<span data-offset-key="a9skh-0-0" data-reactid=".0.1.0.1.0.0.$editor6.0.0.$a9skh.0:$a9skh-0-0"><span data-reactid=".0.1.0.1.0.0.$editor6.0.0.$a9skh.0:$a9skh-0-0.0">Comparing the photo (left) and the diagram below, note the change in the angle of the belt stars, which you might confuse with the nebulae that makes up the dagger. I always orient the belt first and then it's easy to identify the other prominent stars of the constellation.</span></span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ3uBpecPDfIaxHoAEsdgN5P-9ZxCOiuwutQyjqvE-95oXFstT9dCQ2XoEEvkDV9i1bmKYIvB_yzDEKQwIBymwXHv14MZjOg3UzuXwWkjxDDEUxBW9Oe_iV_JU0WAMkaK7BaVQNGAu9D4/s1600/orionbisque.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="536" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ3uBpecPDfIaxHoAEsdgN5P-9ZxCOiuwutQyjqvE-95oXFstT9dCQ2XoEEvkDV9i1bmKYIvB_yzDEKQwIBymwXHv14MZjOg3UzuXwWkjxDDEUxBW9Oe_iV_JU0WAMkaK7BaVQNGAu9D4/s640/orionbisque.gif" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo Credit: SouledOut.org ~ Navigating with Orion</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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</div>
Cathy and Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11985161421939096681noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1306667106050601639.post-89652617516614053712015-10-15T15:31:00.000-04:002015-10-26T00:36:01.216-04:00Five Planets Visible in the Sky <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj25RxMi40Fgsvr4o6yXLO68Z-DoL5I60-UC2guau3q1u5J04W-HUdVvoXt-9qgEpMSgD5GoO-9hMKpeJxrdMduiQZSD4rvr3SeSwY4qKUr7vEsmYL4hvykeRkR-2knKh1kYt0MPfuL3Xw/s1600/Moon+and+Saturn+-+October+2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj25RxMi40Fgsvr4o6yXLO68Z-DoL5I60-UC2guau3q1u5J04W-HUdVvoXt-9qgEpMSgD5GoO-9hMKpeJxrdMduiQZSD4rvr3SeSwY4qKUr7vEsmYL4hvykeRkR-2knKh1kYt0MPfuL3Xw/s400/Moon+and+Saturn+-+October+2015.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Illustration Credit: Earthsky.com</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Tonight and tomorrow, the evening sky presents an excellent
opportunity to see Saturn. Tonight, you can look for it low in the
southwest sky, just to the left of the moon. You should be able to see
it without any optics, but a good pair of binoculars or even a modest
telescope will provide a feast for the eyes as you should be able to see
Saturn's rings!<br />
<br />
The <i>Earthsky.org</i>
article linked <a href="http://earthsky.org/tonight/see-saturn-after-sunset-and-mercury-before-sunrise?utm_source=EarthSky+News&utm_campaign=846ca87c13-EarthSky_News&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_c643945d79-846ca87c13-394455217">HERE</a> gives instructions for locating Mercury, Mars,
Venus, and Jupiter as well. Since the moon is a very small waxing
crescent, visibility will be best tonight, good the next two nights as
the crescent gets larger and brightens the adjacent sky.<br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOwMfuwridYb5di8xTfiJwnOLy4vVZ0txCRZwptgqegnPoAnS6w5ObF83B2aRHFe7pcYgHUwGVJy562bd10lJtLCW3_IRtOaN6Nbsumt7OC5TD4aKaUdP59T_w8NIFf9zTTG5tXiRRQMU/s1600/Moon+and+Saturn+-+October+2015+-+Planets+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOwMfuwridYb5di8xTfiJwnOLy4vVZ0txCRZwptgqegnPoAnS6w5ObF83B2aRHFe7pcYgHUwGVJy562bd10lJtLCW3_IRtOaN6Nbsumt7OC5TD4aKaUdP59T_w8NIFf9zTTG5tXiRRQMU/s400/Moon+and+Saturn+-+October+2015+-+Planets+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Illustration Credit: Earthsky.com</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Planets like Saturn shine steadily; they don't twinkle the way stars do. The other bright object that you are likely to encounter in this area of the sky is a reddish star, Anatares, the heart of Scorpius. <br />
<br />
Antares should definitely appear reddish in your telescope and it twinkles enthusiastically. It will be to the left of Saturn, with Saturn almost at the mid-point between Antares and the Moon. If you don't get to view the night sky before the weekend, on Saturday you'll find Antares directly below the moon and Saturn way to the right, forming a triangle. <br />
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Four other planets brighten the pre-dawn sky. The<i> Earthsky.com</i> article gives excellent tips for locating Jupiter, Mars, Mercury, and Venus <a href="http://earthsky.org/tonight/all-five-visible-planets-in-october-2015-night-sky">HERE</a>. Mars and Jupiter will be next door sky-neighbors this weekend. They will be the closest they'll be for our viewing for the next three years on Sunday just before dawn. <br />
<br />
Jupiter will appear to continue to slide under Mars in the night sky over the weekend. It will be worth getting up early to see... they won't be this close again until 2018.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2Rh1IX0dPNcztkBqDTXFkBmKukMITezQA1jQvUzSfsNHyvZAU9zLlVe_mx7EQaupKXdUC2jrJzjIKt63djHvLRAGZCnaDmr5zDd-KUiKY5_sBBLy_Jj6P-OgVGE2XwwbUljkb_Nf47Sk/s1600/Moon+and+Saturn+-+October+2015+-+Planets.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2Rh1IX0dPNcztkBqDTXFkBmKukMITezQA1jQvUzSfsNHyvZAU9zLlVe_mx7EQaupKXdUC2jrJzjIKt63djHvLRAGZCnaDmr5zDd-KUiKY5_sBBLy_Jj6P-OgVGE2XwwbUljkb_Nf47Sk/s1600/Moon+and+Saturn+-+October+2015+-+Planets.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Credit: Earthsky.org Mars and Jupiter as they will appear early Sunday morning</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://earthsky.org/tonight/see-saturn-after-sunset-and-mercury-before-sunrise?utm_source=EarthSky+News&utm_campaign=846ca87c13-EarthSky_News&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_c643945d79-846ca87c13-394455217" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><br /></a>Cathy and Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11985161421939096681noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1306667106050601639.post-76472499339199900882015-09-26T22:00:00.000-04:002015-09-27T03:28:13.017-04:00The Magnificent Moon - Part 2<h2>
<i><b>Moonrise, Sunset, and Lunar Eclipses</b></i></h2>
<h2>
<i><b> </b></i></h2>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9N-rBbSpX7gDcg-nVHGKr9WsfKpxCDpV4fy5LaPOSfo4WUmx7El_LdtO-Cn1J_fjk5TFtyO_T8diCC3iJq3V4zTmKgaVOJ9MrQaHWEiYVb04BSacy8R986jDx514mbtGwQKh5PYZ16Gg/s1600/Supermoon+9-27-15++08.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9N-rBbSpX7gDcg-nVHGKr9WsfKpxCDpV4fy5LaPOSfo4WUmx7El_LdtO-Cn1J_fjk5TFtyO_T8diCC3iJq3V4zTmKgaVOJ9MrQaHWEiYVb04BSacy8R986jDx514mbtGwQKh5PYZ16Gg/s400/Supermoon+9-27-15++08.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A spectacular sunset. We only see this brilliant display when there are clouds!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
This month we experience not just a gorgeous <i>supermoon,</i> tomorrow evening (Sunday, September 27th) the Full Moon will also undergo a complete or Total Lunar Eclipse. What could be more exciting for an astronomy buff!<br />
<br />
The sunset this evening was truly glorious... just enough thin clouds were scattered across the sky to capture and reflect the last red rays of the sun as the Moon rose over the hills behind our home.<br />
<br />
The Sun set at 7:01 PM here in Northern California and dusk was gorgeous with red and purple ribbons crisscrossing the sky in the west.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir_oE4NOoETGh0bPtuHtStYfrcwOPajcMzcRUzgZ5ctH8sWVbnPaVTSU8J4QZdv_z6xU8jZiYdsJVfPWpRf2_HaPfIBg0ns3VMqfeLccJ64u0_zCQyhQYgqxoPvNRnQH17CDgT0Un2cqs/s1600/Supermoon+9-27-15++21.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="251" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir_oE4NOoETGh0bPtuHtStYfrcwOPajcMzcRUzgZ5ctH8sWVbnPaVTSU8J4QZdv_z6xU8jZiYdsJVfPWpRf2_HaPfIBg0ns3VMqfeLccJ64u0_zCQyhQYgqxoPvNRnQH17CDgT0Un2cqs/s400/Supermoon+9-27-15++21.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I loved the way the moonlight was reflected on the clouds.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Moonrise this evening was at 6:15 PM, just before sunset and the Moon was well over the horizon and visible over the hills when I first spotted it opposite the sunset. I took some truly magical photos between 7:15 and 7:30 PM of both the moonrise and this evening's gorgeous sunset. The Moon will continue to rise in the sky, getting to its peak or passing over the "meridian", shortly after midnight. It will set in the morning at 7:39 AM.<br />
<br />
Early risers can see the nearly full, huge supermoon drift toward the horizon and then hover briefly as it sets in the morning sky shortly after the sun rises at 7:02 AM.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAmg9T23efDsIqnWaw1DvgmpZeJjcjuQWbO-3yzGFjbfz3mF4WfJSZt58URBXS2ay5lbH85O4pOXvsnlKH8hsrbvl0iH7fLaUIPmmcDgQznurjRG7tAemSQi3C7RKnr4xYAouOPbOEj5U/s1600/Supermoon+9-27-15++10.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAmg9T23efDsIqnWaw1DvgmpZeJjcjuQWbO-3yzGFjbfz3mF4WfJSZt58URBXS2ay5lbH85O4pOXvsnlKH8hsrbvl0iH7fLaUIPmmcDgQznurjRG7tAemSQi3C7RKnr4xYAouOPbOEj5U/s400/Supermoon+9-27-15++10.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The moon at dusk, shortly after sunset.</td></tr>
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The vivid colors of this evening's sunset bode well for tomorrow's weather. It's an old wives tale and a total fallacy that dust or pollution makes a sunset prettier. In truth, vivid, colorful sunsets occur when the air to the west is clear and since that air will be over you the following morning, it almost always signals good weather for the following day.<br />
<br />
Tomorrow's moon will rise at 6:56 PM, peak and turn full at 7:51 PM where we live on the West Coast and at 10:51 PM on the East Coast. During this time, we will be privileged to see a total lunar eclipse (see details for viewing below).<br />
<br />
On a side note, all full moons bring with them higher than usual tides, but when the Moon is at perigee -- that is, at its closest point to Earth -- the tides are even higher. This is generally only a problem if it happens coincidentally at a time when a strong end of summer storm brings high winds and high waves. Then serious beach erosion and damage to critical dunes can occur. The New England seacoast is no stranger to these problems.<br />
<br />
<h3>
<i><b>Understanding a Lunar Eclipse </b></i></h3>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
What makes this month's full moon is that it coincides with a complete or total eclipse that will occur with moonrise on Sunday evening, September 27th. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
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A lunar eclipse occurs when a full<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"> moon is </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">in direct alignment with the Earth and the Sun with the Earth in the center and the Sun and the Moon on opposite sides of the Earth. <br /><br />Most months, at the time of the full moon, the Moon's orbit is tilted with respect to the Earth and Sun and it passes above or below the point at which the three celestial bodies would be in an essentially straight line. About every 6 month, conditions may be right for a lunar eclipse but it can only be seen when the full moon rises at or after dark in the part of the world that is viewing the Moon over the horizon. We are fortunate that that will happen tomorrow night (September 27th) and the eclipse will be visible throughout the entire Western Hemisphere and portions of the eclipse will also be visible in much of Europe and western Africa. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Where we live in Northern California, the penumbral eclipse will begin before moonrise and we will not see it as the Moon will still be below the horizon. The Moon will rise at 6:56 PM and the eclipse will be almost full at that point. It will reach maximum fullness at 7:11 PM and the total eclipse will last until 8:23 PM. The partial eclipse (as the Moon passes out of the Earth's dark shadow) will end roughly an hour later (9:27 PM) and the penumbral phase of the eclipse will end at 10:22 PM. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilEjOp3ZSgJdupJQjMM1igCSkxJ3e-2ERpcdP0kd-yNb4u92Sfc1S0IgFaign89vayKmaqb3HaZHC-hlb8D6qiekVoaqb3CIoU7g3GZOy5zf1d5jQ_N1BNzh_eg5ndVIUhCQmD6veKdk4/s1600/Infographic.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilEjOp3ZSgJdupJQjMM1igCSkxJ3e-2ERpcdP0kd-yNb4u92Sfc1S0IgFaign89vayKmaqb3HaZHC-hlb8D6qiekVoaqb3CIoU7g3GZOy5zf1d5jQ_N1BNzh_eg5ndVIUhCQmD6veKdk4/s640/Infographic.png" width="416" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Credit: http://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/total-lunar-eclipse-info.html</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">This <i>Infographic</i>, from Timeanddate.com, shows the positions of the Sun, Earth, and Moon during a total lunar eclipse as well as the distribution of the shadows formed by the Earth as it block's the Sun's rays. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The shadow cast by the Earth is cone shaped. and when the </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Moon passes into the Earth's shadow, it passes into the lighter shadow - the penumbra - that extends out from the circumference of the Earth. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">When the Moon moves directly behind the Earth, it is in full shadow, the umbra or darkest part of the shadow. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">After a period of about an hour or so of "totality", where the Moon is in deep shadow behind the Earth, it continues to move through its orbit and once again enters the penumbra. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">During the time that the Moon is in total shadow, it is still visible, but appears vividly colored, often a coppery or red color. In order to be able to see this phenomenon, you must be on the side of the Earth oriented toward the moon, actually in the umbra, where it will be night time. If you are geographically on the side of the Earth facing the sun, it will be daytime, the moon will be behind the Earth, and you will be unable to see the eclipse (except on TV or the computer!). <br /><br />The best place to view the eclipse is where you have a good view of the horizon as the Moon is rising in the East. The Sun will set in the West at almost the same time that the Moon is rising in the East. You may be able to see another vivid sunset opposite the spectacular rise of the Moon on the opposite side of the sky. Followers of the blog can check in here for my own photographs of the Moon throughout the evening.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">References:</span></b></i></span> </div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://earthsky.org/">EarthSky.org</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/total-lunar-eclipse-info.html">TimeandDate.org - Lunar Eclipse</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/total-lunar-eclipse-info.html">Time and Date Lunar Eclipse Infographic</a></span></div>
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<br />Cathy and Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11985161421939096681noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1306667106050601639.post-19485172781006071372015-09-19T17:00:00.004-04:002015-10-26T00:45:10.630-04:00The Magnificent Moon - Part 1<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbbM3tNvrDg-kg2hpfcFMJ9SqpBbkHtMtIfDnnKKcOVGp3dDcpdWx30y7aobp4brApxlhH30DE4kgLZoVu8K46eSRo_KTq7VicGCE57cH79h_9DRZ5noNr0k12MBFK-JRn3TK6LqnhKrY/s1600/IMG_9245.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="357" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbbM3tNvrDg-kg2hpfcFMJ9SqpBbkHtMtIfDnnKKcOVGp3dDcpdWx30y7aobp4brApxlhH30DE4kgLZoVu8K46eSRo_KTq7VicGCE57cH79h_9DRZ5noNr0k12MBFK-JRn3TK6LqnhKrY/s400/IMG_9245.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">July's full moon, with clouds dancing across the sky.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h3>
The Magnificent Moon </h3>
<br />
This is a special time for astronomy buffs. It began in July, when we had an extra full moon in the summer season - two full moons in the month of July. The first was at the beginning of the month (July 2nd) and the second occurred on July 31st. <br />
<br />
This rare phenomenon, called a "Blue Moon" happens every
once in a ... blue moon. We last saw a blue moon in August
2012. It occurs every three to four years and it happens when there are four full moons in a season. <br />
<br />
Because the lunar cycle is 29.5 days in length, when there is a "blue moon", typically there will be two full moons in a given calendar month: the first full moon early in the month, usually on the first or second day of the month, with the next full moon occurring on or before the last date of the sa<span class="text_exposed_show">me calendar month. This latter definition, popularizing by a 1946 article in <i>Sky and Telescope</i> magazine, was officially corrected in 1999 to reflect the association of a Blue Moon with a season.</span><br />
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We are also in the period of the Supermoons. Supermoons happen when a full moon is at its closest point to the Earth
during the full moon phase, making it appear unusually large. Last
summer we saw several spectacular Supermoons. Although August's Supermoon was impressive, the next Supermoon, which occurs on September 27th, is going to be beyond
spectacular since it will also feature a total lunar eclipse.<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%;"><b> </b></span></span><br />
<h3>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Full Moons and Their Names</b> </span> </span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Many cultures,
including the Chinese, Celtic, Old English, and Native American tribes have
given names to each monthly full moon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Moon
phases and cycles allowed early cultures to keep track of the seasons and they
served as a calendar of sorts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The best known names for the monthly
full moons originated with the Algonquin tribes who lived in New England and
westward through New York to Lake Superior. The European settlers adopted the
Native American habit of naming the moons and invented some of their own names,
all of which have been passed down through subsequent generations.<br />
<br />
Every full moon had many names, depending on the culture and North American
Indian tribe, but the following list are some of the most common.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><i><b>January:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Wolf Moon </b></i><br />
<br />
The January full moon was named for the </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">howling
of wolves that can be heard echoing in the cold winter air. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some tribes also referred to the January full
moon as the Snow Moon.</span><i><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></b></i><br />
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<i><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">February:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Snow Moon, Hunger Moon</span></b></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The February
full moon was most popularly called the Snow Moon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A few tribes referred to the January moon by
this name but historically, the winter snow fall peaked in February, accounting
for the name. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Another common name, the
Hunger Moon, referred to the very difficult hunting conditions that resulted
from harsh weather and the decreased population of animals that were a source
of food during the long winter and which became more scarce by the end of the
season.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br />
<i><b><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">March: <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Worm Moon, Sap Moon, Lenten Moon</span></b></i></span></div>
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The March snow melt softened the ground revealing earthworm activity, an early and
important sign of spring.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In New England
especially, the running of the sap in the maple trees gave rise to the name the
Sap Moon. Early Christian settlers often referred to it as the Lenten Moon,
since the last moon of winter generally preceded Easter.<br />
<br />
<i><b><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">April: The Pink Moon, Egg Moon, Fish
Moon, </span>Sprouting Grass Moon</b></i><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"></span></span></div>
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Among the first spring flowers to appear are the pink wild ground phlox which
cover the meadows and fields in early April, hence the name, the Pink Moon. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Other common names reflected other early signs
of spring.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Birds built nests and began
to lay eggs (the Egg Moon), fish woke from hibernation and began to procreate
as well (the Fish Moon), and the greening of pastures was welcomed with the
name the Sprouting Grass Moon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br />
<i><b><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">May:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Flower Moon, Corn Planting Moon,
Milk Moon</span></b></i><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Prolific spring blooms are credited
for the most popular name for May’s full moon, the Flower Moon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Corn was planted in May (Corn Planting Moon),
and spring calves meant more cows producing milk for the first time (Milk Moon).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><b><br />
<i><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">June: <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Strawberry Moon, Rose Moon</span></i></b><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Strawberry crops peak mid-June and
the Strawberry Moon is one of the few moons that is virtually universal among most
cultures and tribes in North America and Europe. However, more recently it is also referred to as the Rose Moon since rose blooming peaks this month as well in the Northern Hemisphere. <br />
<br />
<i><b><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">July: <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Buck Moon, </span>Thunder Moon</b></i><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br />
The Buck Moon gets its name from the velvety antlers that buck deer begin
growing in July. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In New England, frequent
late afternoon thunderstorms made the name the Thunder Moon popular.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
<br />
<i><b><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">August: The Sturgeon Moon, Grain Moon,
Red Moon</span></b></i></span></div>
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The Sturgeon Moon takes its name from the freshwater sturgeon, an important
food fish that was in season in the month of August. The hazy August skies
often resulted in a reddish tinge to the moon, prompting the name, the Red
Moon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And summer grain harvests are
reflected in the name the Grain Moon.<br />
<br />
<i><b><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">September:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Harvest Moon</span></b></i><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Although many vegetable and grain
harvests occur earlier in the summer, most of the staple foods and those foods
such as root vegetables which were stored for winter use were harvested in
September.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Harvest Moon had a practical value as
well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With the days becoming shorter and
shorter, the Harvest Moon enabled farmers to work late into the evening
harvesting crops. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The name Harvest Moon relied
less on the calendar and more on the timing of the autumn equinox, which occasionally
falls in October. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br />
<i><b><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">October: <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hunter's Moon</span></b></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br />
After a summer of grazing and feeding, deer, pheasant, partridge, and another
wild game are ready for hunting and eating. The fall hunting season inspired
the name for the Hunter’s Moon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br />
<i><b><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">November: <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Beaver Moon</span></b></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br />
The Beaver Moon was so named for the beavers who would be trapped for their
furs which provided warmth during the cold New England winters.</span></div>
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<i><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br />
<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">December: <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Cold Moon, Long Night Moon</span></span></b></i></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><br />
The long cold winter nights inspired names for the December full moon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Cold Moon no doubt speaks to the cold
December nights and the winter solstice, which is the longest night of the
year, lends its name to the Long Night Moon.</span><br />
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<h3>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: xx-small; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">The Phases of the Moon</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: xx-small; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"> </span></h3>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">As the Moon orbits around the Earth, part or all of it is blocked from our view by its relative position to both the Earth and the Sun. One half of the Moon -- the side facing the Sun -- is always illuminated by the Sun. The light we see is not generated by the Moon; it is the Sun's light reflecting off the Moon. <br /><br />The part of the Moon that is in shadow during the phases of the Moon is the portion of the Moon that is not illuminated by the Sun. The Moon is not being shadowed by the Earth. That only happens during a Lunar Eclipse, when the Moon passes through the Earth's shadow. [That will be explained more fully in The Magnificent Earth - Part 2.]<br /><br />When we view the Moon, we are seeing the Moon from an angle that forms between the Earth, Moon and Sun as the Moon revolves around the Earth. Although the side of the Moon facing the Sun is always illuminated, if we are positioned parallel to the Moon, for example, we will only see the half of the illuminated side of the Moon facing us. That is a Quarter Moon. </span><i></i><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">When the Earth, Moon and Sun are in a straight line, we either see all of the Moon or none of the Moon. If the Moon is between the Earth and the Sun, we see none of the illuminated side of the Moon - which ias . That is the "New Moon". </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">At the time of the New Moon, the Moon is between the Earth and the Sun and it rises and sets with the Sun and it's path across the sky during the day is obscured by the Sun's glare. M</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">ost months, the Earth, Moon, and Sky are not lined up in a perfect line; if they were, we would have a Solar Eclipse. In fact, that rarely happens, and even when it does, it is only visible at certain points on the Earth. For a Solar Eclipse to occur, the line-up has to be exact and totality occurs only along a very narrow plane. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">The Moon's orbit is elliptic in shape and tilted with respect to the Earth's. Because of the elliptic shape of the Moon's orbit, even when the Moon is between the Earth and Sun, it is rarely close enough to the Earth to be large enough to fully block the Sun and place the Earth in shadow. More often than not, at the New Moon, the Moon is in close proximity to the Sun but instead of obscuring the view of the Sun, the Sun's brilliance obscures our view of the Moon.<br /><br />This is the best time of the month to sky watch and to look for different celestial features. Without the Moon's light, reflected from the Sun, you can see the sky in greater detail. Meteor showers that occur during the New Moon or Waxing or Waning Crescents are much more dramatic than those that occur during the Full Moon, when the light from the Moon can make it difficult to see all but the brightest shooting stars.<br /> </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAb_xAiehtey43XgJTdJZsXJgfvdM_pDmdFg04xvMDGw0-KS-s6eSXZXeND0kPM0z0CnmwyvHhq3L3uFgt6Xb6fzbNSJREFzZAx_LiW7e-TM7ZN0adF9j-rp8nYsI0ApX940kGEkxWuKc/s1600/Waxing+Crescent+Wiki.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAb_xAiehtey43XgJTdJZsXJgfvdM_pDmdFg04xvMDGw0-KS-s6eSXZXeND0kPM0z0CnmwyvHhq3L3uFgt6Xb6fzbNSJREFzZAx_LiW7e-TM7ZN0adF9j-rp8nYsI0ApX940kGEkxWuKc/s400/Waxing+Crescent+Wiki.jpg" width="256" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image credit: Wikipedia.com</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">As the Moon proceeds through it's orbit around the Earth, more of the illuminated side is revealed as the Waxing Crescent. The Waxing Crescent is the sliver of the right side of the Moon that gradually increases in the days following the New Moon. Each night, the left edge gradually gets larger until the entire Moon is revealed at the Full Moon. <br /><br />At the quarter point, the First Quarter shows the Moon as a semicircle extending from that right side of the Moon. Between the First Quarter and the Full Moon, we see more of the Moon revealed along that left edge and as it bulges into something akin to an oval, that phase is referred to as the Gibbous Moon, or Waxing Gibbous,</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">If you are looking at the Moon through a telescope, the best time and place to look at the landmarks on the moon is along the edge of the shadow, where the craters and other landmarks are heavily shadowed and stand out dramatically. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Especially at the time of the Gibbous moons, you can see many of the landmarks very clearly. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeVxTT5f3Xx8K0aBwf4chYG9eUCZub3S5IlbXL_hAOCptRf7qEjECs_X7CfdQXj5No5gwXJFvXYFPRnuy5uP_S3Vr7xG6FgjQDpAEDggnmb2z7eLauMyhy77306n45N1Pnmlqs1cVmjog/s1600/2015-09-19_11-32-11.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeVxTT5f3Xx8K0aBwf4chYG9eUCZub3S5IlbXL_hAOCptRf7qEjECs_X7CfdQXj5No5gwXJFvXYFPRnuy5uP_S3Vr7xG6FgjQDpAEDggnmb2z7eLauMyhy77306n45N1Pnmlqs1cVmjog/s640/2015-09-19_11-32-11.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">L: First Quarter (Credit: Telescope.com) R: Waxing Gibbous (Credit: Earthsky.org)</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN3jUrCgE97BnRkFl-zaZ7cqQaUJma6SjQgDZRYA1ID6mnCBHvmWQGNQ6zuJNtp43nRczWl9vLWX97flv76gmIXyI7Ddmg3u7RtKPxHO9oGNsO6wHRCyzxdIsXXCUYdefRWBwlAGQskdE/s1600/IMG_9247.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN3jUrCgE97BnRkFl-zaZ7cqQaUJma6SjQgDZRYA1ID6mnCBHvmWQGNQ6zuJNtp43nRczWl9vLWX97flv76gmIXyI7Ddmg3u7RtKPxHO9oGNsO6wHRCyzxdIsXXCUYdefRWBwlAGQskdE/s200/IMG_9247.JPG" width="198" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">July, 2015, American Canyon, CA</td></tr>
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<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">The Full Moon occurs when the Earth is between the Moon and the Sun, with the Sun fully illuminating the visible surface of the Moon. The alignment is approximate; if they are in an essentially parallel line, we have a Lunar Eclipse. [The next Lunar Eclipse will occur on September 27th and will be discussed in the next post, The Magnificent Moon - Part 2.] </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Just as with the New Moon, the line up is skewed enough (actually, by about 180 degrees) due to the Moon's elliptical orbit so that the side of the Moon facing the Sun appears to be fully illuminated by sunlight and visible to us on Earth. So even when we are seeing a Full Moon, the Moon that we see is not entirely round, although it appears that way to us on Earth.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">We actually see only about half of the truly full moons in the Northern Hemisphere, since the other half are below the horizon at night. But for several days on either side of the nearly "Full Moon", the reflected sunlight from the moon provides an adequate source of light for people to navigate and work outside, often with minimal or no other illumination. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5J2VuKzy7AddjDaUnq3DyqeawKbXXsKLNz1kOJmPq8myWjQQ0QmkTER7auYGL_8jSAgPtAd3X_3L-Jllxj4LEP9Ok_TrwIdI_XwLFyZfNTNMLHcY0HPFOUcE7d3gORyoX_pLRsmonAl8/s1600/waning+gibbous+day+earthsky.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5J2VuKzy7AddjDaUnq3DyqeawKbXXsKLNz1kOJmPq8myWjQQ0QmkTER7auYGL_8jSAgPtAd3X_3L-Jllxj4LEP9Ok_TrwIdI_XwLFyZfNTNMLHcY0HPFOUcE7d3gORyoX_pLRsmonAl8/s200/waning+gibbous+day+earthsky.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo Credit: Earthsky.org</td></tr>
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Fo<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">llowing the Full Moon, in the waning phase of the Moon, the Moon follows the same sequence it did in the waxing phase, but in reverse order, of course. The Full Moon evolves into the Waning Gibbous and about a week later, we see the Third Quarter or Last Quarter Moon, and the Waxing Crescent. As the Moon waxes, it waxes in the opposite direction of the waning Moon. The left side of the Moon remains fully illuminated and the shadow forms and increases from the right side. <br /><br />The Waxing Gibbous and Last Quarter moons often rise very late, after midnight, and therefore sets quite late, often after dawn. It's not unusual to see the Waxing Gibbous and Last Quarter moons in the morning sky.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg1BS5NW4x8e-ECM1WW5pp7r3VL7LOWoGG7JsMSJyRhfvZf9McZ43krvJyVxy0XmF5egh0Q4Cw4QEWchvcLoKWpt3g2i_qZPWG_FIsXDY3Yo5h0-K_TkiNnT6vNW4ExizYMhe1lBh4O54/s1600/2015-09-19_13-25-31.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg1BS5NW4x8e-ECM1WW5pp7r3VL7LOWoGG7JsMSJyRhfvZf9McZ43krvJyVxy0XmF5egh0Q4Cw4QEWchvcLoKWpt3g2i_qZPWG_FIsXDY3Yo5h0-K_TkiNnT6vNW4ExizYMhe1lBh4O54/s640/2015-09-19_13-25-31.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Waning Gibbous Moon and Last Quarter Moon (Credit: EarthSky.org) and Waning Crescent (Credit: Fullmoonphases.com)</span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;">In the next blog post, we'll look at what happens during a Lunar Eclipse, and what to expect when we see the next Total Lunar Eclipse that happens in conjunction with September's Supermoon in a little over a week from now.</span><br />
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<b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">References</span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">http://aa.usno.navy.mil/faq/docs/moon_phases.php</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">http://earthsky.org/moon-phases/new-moon</span></div>
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Cathy and Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11985161421939096681noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1306667106050601639.post-44328116343470054842015-08-31T02:41:00.000-04:002015-08-31T02:42:05.984-04:00Elusive NeptuneNeptune, the eighth and farthest planet from the sun passes closest to the Earth today in its orbit around the Sun. The third largest planet, Neptune is unique among planets in that it's the only planet that can never be seen with an unaided eye.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiohHSkA85rWSUj98T0X8od9GEfwPPhAuCyiiY9wHS_7g_2xIHz3pGK3F4oqqr73ZVO6dvpZiRSIj8RdPMKtKnrd2H9YPoJmR0ww2hCswTB7rWnujO6ccq9pB6486_e9ijCNIw1t_LiQ_E/s1600/Neptune+Astronomy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiohHSkA85rWSUj98T0X8od9GEfwPPhAuCyiiY9wHS_7g_2xIHz3pGK3F4oqqr73ZVO6dvpZiRSIj8RdPMKtKnrd2H9YPoJmR0ww2hCswTB7rWnujO6ccq9pB6486_e9ijCNIw1t_LiQ_E/s400/Neptune+Astronomy.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Position of Neptune in Aquarius. Credit: Astronomy.com</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
While the other planets may appear as dim to bright spots among the stars, coasting along so deep into the far reaches of the Solar System, even when its orbit brings it to its closest point to Earth, Neptune is still only visible as a dim speck, even with the help of binoculars or a telescope. And even then, it can be elusive. It is so much dimmer than the dimmest stars in the sky, it's often only spotted if one is fortunate to have a an area free of sky pollution in which to sky watch and is familiar enough with the stars in the surrounding area to recognize it.<br />
<br />
Over the next couple of days, our planet Earth's orbit will pass directly between Neptune and the Sun. Looking at the three on edge, they will appear with their equators in line across the Solar System. This alignment is referred to as <i>opposition </i>– opposite the sun in
Earth’s sky - that planet is the closest it will be to the Earth for the year. Typically, the planet will shine brightly and be easy to <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3oNJ9P7bOtDqHymN2oAoGBt4qFUtW2eIZ21MMzKj-6y1EZWT0uJJ__jTVyW9-1FmmWWThtXq95WWHLllqV8SgtCUYwfN5nb2xyV2HvuD5o2U7cC-2fGyA8lYFV2p_0seepSX3LWxVUjo/s1600/Neptune+in+Aquarius.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3oNJ9P7bOtDqHymN2oAoGBt4qFUtW2eIZ21MMzKj-6y1EZWT0uJJ__jTVyW9-1FmmWWThtXq95WWHLllqV8SgtCUYwfN5nb2xyV2HvuD5o2U7cC-2fGyA8lYFV2p_0seepSX3LWxVUjo/s320/Neptune+in+Aquarius.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Locating Neptune in Aquarius Credit: EarthSky.com </td></tr>
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Neptune's opposition will occur on September 1st and on that night, the planet will rise in the east around sunset, climb to its peak in the sky by midnight, and then set in the west around sunrise. <br />
<br />
The best way to locate Neptune is to first find the constellation Aquarius (The Water Carrier). Spatially speaking, it's closer than the constellation and should appear in front of it. Then you need to consult a detailed Star Cart so that you know all of the stars that are ordinarily visible in that area. Then look for that dimmest of specks that doesn't belong. <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><i><b> Facts About Neptune:</b></i></span><br />
<br />
A Neptonian Day is about 18 hours, with the ice giant spinning like a dervish on its axis.<br />
By contrast, it's year - the time to orbit the Sun - is roughly 165 Earth years. <br />
It's the stormiest planet with wind speeds that break the sound barrier. <br />
Eventually, it's strong gravitational pull will destroy its moon, Triton. <br />
It appears as a <br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpQWeuZHif-KsJq8UkxB93inGYhj8U_-nbfLs-0FVHP4vEa5Q-qATtX46jEwJW5-JahGJ-vRp2nI-0sudDFjxPA4pUo2hqHk0ZzcT3yRaL33rxPzNu0pZKmoMeysv_OXGC0_zkQcA7yiU/s1600/neptune+voyager.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpQWeuZHif-KsJq8UkxB93inGYhj8U_-nbfLs-0FVHP4vEa5Q-qATtX46jEwJW5-JahGJ-vRp2nI-0sudDFjxPA4pUo2hqHk0ZzcT3yRaL33rxPzNu0pZKmoMeysv_OXGC0_zkQcA7yiU/s400/neptune+voyager.gif" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Neptune as photographed by Voyager 2 Credit: EarthSky.com</td></tr>
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In 1989, the Voyager 2 spacecraft flew past Neptune and sent back the first close-up images of the planet and its moons, now numbering a total of nineteen. It's the only spacecraft to ever have visited the planet. Additional images of Neptune have been provided by the Hubble Space
Telescope and some of the larger ground-based
telescopes.<br />
<br />
The Voyager 2 flyby revealed Neptune appearing as a bright, azure blue planet with a deep blue spot not unlike Jupiter's red spot. The blue color is due to the presence of methane in its outer atmosphere. Planetary "color" is a function of reflected light from the Sun. When the Sun's light hits the atmosphere, the methane absorbs the light in the red spectrum and reflects back the blue light, giving the planet the appearance of a bright blue orb. <br />
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i><b>References:</b></i></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i><b>EarthSky</b></i> http://earthsky.org/tonight/neptune-comes-closest-to-earth-for-the-year-on-august-31</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i><b>Wikipedia </b></i> https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neptune</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i><b>Space Facts </b></i> http://space-facts.com/neptune<br /><i><b>Universe Today </b></i> http://www.universetoday.com/21591/color-of-neptune/ </span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i><b>Astronomy </b></i>http://www.astronomy.com/observing/sky-this-week/2015/08/august-28september-6-2015</span>Cathy and Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11985161421939096681noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1306667106050601639.post-58178106929631583222015-07-11T12:01:00.000-04:002015-07-11T12:01:54.341-04:00Fire: A Potentially Deadly Consequence of the Drought <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5atfQNo3RvKx675GWnGdXu5NY7NIdRMYoRZrl3O3ZTz3xbwZd5UhYjJgc57a00j54WooZoBUAQ048dTzUBNjd9gkCCo6Rr7W7SLguIt5wKnkVq2xH4N0Btj4jzKL00UdF79nvdBHmSfA/s1600/IMG_9295.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5atfQNo3RvKx675GWnGdXu5NY7NIdRMYoRZrl3O3ZTz3xbwZd5UhYjJgc57a00j54WooZoBUAQ048dTzUBNjd9gkCCo6Rr7W7SLguIt5wKnkVq2xH4N0Btj4jzKL00UdF79nvdBHmSfA/s400/IMG_9295.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grass and brush fires are often spread even more quickly by brisk winds.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
With the severe drought that we are experiencing in California, wildfires are a constant threat. South of us, in both the Central Valley and in San Diego County near where Steve's brother David lives, large brush fires have burned tens of thousands of acres of meadow and forest land and damaged and in some cases destroyed homes and personal property. <br />
<br />
With water at a premium, firefighting is challenging and consumes critical water stores from an already severely depleted supply. Berkeley was one of several cities and towns that cancelled municipal fireworks events due
to concerns about fire and the amount of water - an expensive commodity
these days - it would take to hose down areas that would be at risk for
igniting or to fight a fire if one erupted. Here in American Canyon, the fire engines and firefighters stood ready to respond to any incidents stemming from the city's fireworks display.<br />
<br />
On the night of the 4th of July, a wind-fueled grass fire that involved
320 acres in Vacaville threatened 200 homes. It was completely
contained, however, and a teenager was arrested on Friday and charge
with causing the fire. Some news reports attribute the cause of the fire to illegal fireworks. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJkT6b19Tjmg1SZHWTQkLPrEGNxjY-PMZRaFKKFj9F_HFXkbD_uhLCuv3QtjWyg8NBwJJ00IHku5hgXTqTKE13yf5ezNhVxPTDbARh1WNSFfmDF2cbETdaXf3GK43bt7PyO_eGVZT3UCs/s1600/IMG_9232.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJkT6b19Tjmg1SZHWTQkLPrEGNxjY-PMZRaFKKFj9F_HFXkbD_uhLCuv3QtjWyg8NBwJJ00IHku5hgXTqTKE13yf5ezNhVxPTDbARh1WNSFfmDF2cbETdaXf3GK43bt7PyO_eGVZT3UCs/s400/IMG_9232.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The hills were a verdant green in early spring. Lack of rain has killed the grass.</td></tr>
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Tonight we had our first (and I'm hoping only) fire scare. Behind our apartment complex is open space. A railway and road run past, and beyond that are hills that border the valley. They were green in the early spring but with the drought, the grass has dried so the hills are covered with dry grass, weeds, and brush that is a dull wheat color. <br />
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Despite the publicity and stern warnings from the police department, kids have been lighting off fireworks and we've all been concerned about the potential for a fire being ignited.<br /><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I looked out of the sliders and was shocked to see thick brown smoke.</td></tr>
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At about 7 PM this evening, I was watching TV and resting when a helicopter flying close by overhead caught my attention. I looked out through the sliders and was shocked to see dense, gray-brown billowing smoke coming from one of the hills nearest the complex. I grabbed my cameras and headed upstairs to get a better look from the landing. <br /><br />A grass fire was moving very quickly across a field behind the ruins of an old cement and basalt plant. The plant has been abandoned since the 1970's but the city has been considering a plan to develop the area and the historic buildings into a town center. I'm not sure where they are in the process, but the buildings are considered historically important, and would make a unique and interesting city center, no matter how the city planned to develop the area.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilQtiDx7Tpu_5YOtfbuPbBKC9QIPaNvyfl3_kjMFTpGNmNQwag260F1lapWItMMiSDnz8mGgewLYJyNrhGou6LvIseGuLuIKuVl6CuV2j27YRYMDxXwXBKDwnCV7lH-gPm4DDdtPB8wVs/s1600/IMG_9288.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilQtiDx7Tpu_5YOtfbuPbBKC9QIPaNvyfl3_kjMFTpGNmNQwag260F1lapWItMMiSDnz8mGgewLYJyNrhGou6LvIseGuLuIKuVl6CuV2j27YRYMDxXwXBKDwnCV7lH-gPm4DDdtPB8wVs/s400/IMG_9288.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A California Highway Patrol helicopter alerted me to the fire.</td></tr>
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The helicopter bore the markings of the California Highway Patrol and at the point that I became aware of the fire, the American Canyon Fire Department was already on scene. As I watched, more fire trucks and firefighters arrived. They quickly brought the flames under control and remained on scene until at least 8:30 PM, when I finally went back inside. At that point, I could still see two trucks (out of a total of at least four plus an emergency response vehicle) present and several firefighters carefully walking the burned area, but the fire trucks had begun to leave so clearly they were wrapping up the scene.<br /><br />Distressing to me was that just a short time after all of the fire safety staff cleared the scene, I heard some kids out in the back parking lot of our apartment complex firing off rockets and other fireworks -- totally illegal and very risky given the amount of easily combustible dry grass. Especially after a fire so close, one would have thought that their parents would use some common sense. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2IVlcYdNQZdllPxScqDX0nGjZ079ba7iMc9GK0Fw51Kn9ABL9vB-RGSS6WOcUV5zYq4haVTSkIitan_Y7mew1gA-hvcS12is5Oq7v4GGM4RPJmEejsanLrxtoknCERRq6RFhr4yDljsU/s1600/IMG_8991.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2IVlcYdNQZdllPxScqDX0nGjZ079ba7iMc9GK0Fw51Kn9ABL9vB-RGSS6WOcUV5zYq4haVTSkIitan_Y7mew1gA-hvcS12is5Oq7v4GGM4RPJmEejsanLrxtoknCERRq6RFhr4yDljsU/s640/IMG_8991.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption">The area at the back of the complex where the fire broke out. The garages extend from the fence that separates the property from the railroad tracks beyond. The low buildings, rotunda building, and silos are all part of the abandoned cement and basalt factory. The fire spread across the grassy expanse beyond the buildings.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSD8oVxDpj2SGwY4CGnmO-kUlovn7O8y4mHvLhhxirLEG0jw4EVPaW8JIa3pKf0T9v3Yy_Pww6mG6SR4vi_OjXX3zIM4BsiE55qxev_eU13EGi3xbOlvhP2-Zp-k01UB5sI3JR3LfaSYo/s1600/IMG_9347.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="344" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSD8oVxDpj2SGwY4CGnmO-kUlovn7O8y4mHvLhhxirLEG0jw4EVPaW8JIa3pKf0T9v3Yy_Pww6mG6SR4vi_OjXX3zIM4BsiE55qxev_eU13EGi3xbOlvhP2-Zp-k01UB5sI3JR3LfaSYo/s640/IMG_9347.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Three of at least four fire apparatus that responded to the fire.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX8Ek9oe0jralAXY5UolAFx72v4GVsUuqxG2_FKo6xbMlGU8Bcajyups7Jmqraux1FUwjHDcisgWxSGXftvrg-BCDPDyBznX_QWLCUdIOU55-7Su19QBO0K5akaTB16102ens6_0RJ-8s/s1600/IMG_9265.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="382" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX8Ek9oe0jralAXY5UolAFx72v4GVsUuqxG2_FKo6xbMlGU8Bcajyups7Jmqraux1FUwjHDcisgWxSGXftvrg-BCDPDyBznX_QWLCUdIOU55-7Su19QBO0K5akaTB16102ens6_0RJ-8s/s640/IMG_9265.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Firefighters controlling the spread of the mostly grass fire.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJRqO2l_4B6XLyuKuphOr1MjNAX42YS6oTsrqWr05g6q4zEuf3Eo5-UsrPLXRhFP7Vkxdxg7a33jaiFFQ1OWkiWoBQaivsSg4amLUmhp4mU-KieVw3Koc8GT0Kl8fwYqnfCVGMzYe6Iwk/s1600/IMG_9266.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJRqO2l_4B6XLyuKuphOr1MjNAX42YS6oTsrqWr05g6q4zEuf3Eo5-UsrPLXRhFP7Vkxdxg7a33jaiFFQ1OWkiWoBQaivsSg4amLUmhp4mU-KieVw3Koc8GT0Kl8fwYqnfCVGMzYe6Iwk/s640/IMG_9266.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXGnU2WUyYcrNEfjbGBL6FvF8FpZRt66koX9hOVzn7T_E6Vxs5OatW9ixoEPjQyqe_B5QWaCk_1yI1CoffkdpVXuGZsZVP4xN7UtE2uarB9HRGAmvR5NWy2DW4KgAx3FPMacvZovjK3og/s1600/IMG_9283.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="414" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXGnU2WUyYcrNEfjbGBL6FvF8FpZRt66koX9hOVzn7T_E6Vxs5OatW9ixoEPjQyqe_B5QWaCk_1yI1CoffkdpVXuGZsZVP4xN7UtE2uarB9HRGAmvR5NWy2DW4KgAx3FPMacvZovjK3og/s640/IMG_9283.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption">I watched as fire moved across the field. These fires often spread quickly when fueled by the strong winds that are typical of this part of the valley.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyKkNtIo4SK6Tg2ciSMlhl7tu2RWJmwl0sU1DwSN5fc52PbzwGDWyrboy8J8zzRxFvHO_wquM0G3KoOOT2mhoFxriX-tDNH-JKTVj3_iKPpiyEsXUvbReB9FoQasyQMtrf_EphF8H1uhg/s1600/IMG_9307.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyKkNtIo4SK6Tg2ciSMlhl7tu2RWJmwl0sU1DwSN5fc52PbzwGDWyrboy8J8zzRxFvHO_wquM0G3KoOOT2mhoFxriX-tDNH-JKTVj3_iKPpiyEsXUvbReB9FoQasyQMtrf_EphF8H1uhg/s640/IMG_9307.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption">Firefighters extinguish the fire at the leading edge where it was spreading across the field. They had this area of the fire out within minutes.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD2eDbuMDU0B0ty5obLSW31dOcLLt6n6zEYzE5LJsxKp2Ve0SaJ86zL_FIbk_y50HT5JnNCXttvuhGGSkNf5mJjsFoDtA2hCGCeWFsGXd_CWIsXpg8PZdIpYMdL5zrjKTPaGuI8JGB_DA/s1600/IMG_9308.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD2eDbuMDU0B0ty5obLSW31dOcLLt6n6zEYzE5LJsxKp2Ve0SaJ86zL_FIbk_y50HT5JnNCXttvuhGGSkNf5mJjsFoDtA2hCGCeWFsGXd_CWIsXpg8PZdIpYMdL5zrjKTPaGuI8JGB_DA/s640/IMG_9308.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The field behind the abandoned buildings where the grass fire broke out.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-xhzcXoPJn1NbiUluDP-DadciRYUbBpPG6d3tUDXbzINidRr-5OskDkGZgCstlboDV2PM3iED88TFEAZZTMkc7-Waaf3zdkF9S15dyBZ-8R7AN6qXDo6I_Eejh55DL-CgggDDw0cA4DA/s1600/IMG_9339.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-xhzcXoPJn1NbiUluDP-DadciRYUbBpPG6d3tUDXbzINidRr-5OskDkGZgCstlboDV2PM3iED88TFEAZZTMkc7-Waaf3zdkF9S15dyBZ-8R7AN6qXDo6I_Eejh55DL-CgggDDw0cA4DA/s640/IMG_9339.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption">The fire extended across the expanse behind the abandoned buildings. Multiple firefighting units brought it quickly to a standstill.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO5iff_-h9SGsH3Y4kKm8TIknE5zBPydJargM1aTR2ZdeC9R9F3-q9OaS-yKZU8PzPj4bn0rx-kBoX8xufQqWyM05dJ0qkxo6K7IQ5M0L7B_4GH-nqHwSGYe9sAXfFWl62nIus4S-CJNA/s1600/IMG_9348.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="440" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO5iff_-h9SGsH3Y4kKm8TIknE5zBPydJargM1aTR2ZdeC9R9F3-q9OaS-yKZU8PzPj4bn0rx-kBoX8xufQqWyM05dJ0qkxo6K7IQ5M0L7B_4GH-nqHwSGYe9sAXfFWl62nIus4S-CJNA/s640/IMG_9348.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The sun was beginning to set as the firefighters wrapped up their efforts and inspected for any remaining flames or embers.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv77F9on-8LxcVs7hj2bjQrdw9nIUtRtvPKyaJ49bBOk1skol4DABKAZErLDBNG47_hyjWQTXny0XQyWCV0j3AhUf_JFU-aUP71JtIKPhabb4ci-imhZy6mpbIpyiXq4DP-l47SV5uO00/s1600/IMG_9340.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv77F9on-8LxcVs7hj2bjQrdw9nIUtRtvPKyaJ49bBOk1skol4DABKAZErLDBNG47_hyjWQTXny0XQyWCV0j3AhUf_JFU-aUP71JtIKPhabb4ci-imhZy6mpbIpyiXq4DP-l47SV5uO00/s640/IMG_9340.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption">Firetruck leaving, moving past the rotunda building. The buildings are covered in graffiti. Hopefully they will be restored one day and be the centerpiece of a new city center.</td></tr>
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<br />Cathy and Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11985161421939096681noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1306667106050601639.post-6560369548619683482015-06-20T15:52:00.000-04:002015-07-01T15:52:59.754-04:00Green Onions<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzpjKJLVPQWx5UeVew9yIgpkIDorzpSzMUKzhdcw4G-NKVNqO7Tmk9o1PwZG852l99u0X1qXda6me1JeBqw3-CSlEGHDAKV3kH-V734AS039XluGzyriFns3xI9PA-D8OTxe2KZefqMjc/s1600/IMG_8424.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzpjKJLVPQWx5UeVew9yIgpkIDorzpSzMUKzhdcw4G-NKVNqO7Tmk9o1PwZG852l99u0X1qXda6me1JeBqw3-CSlEGHDAKV3kH-V734AS039XluGzyriFns3xI9PA-D8OTxe2KZefqMjc/s400/IMG_8424.JPG" width="400" /></a>Recently, one of favorite recipe sites,<a href="http://allrecipes.com/"> <b>All Recipes.com</b> </a>posted this <b><a href="http://dish.allrecipes.com/save-money-diy-fresh-green-onions/?ms=1&utm_source=dish&utm_medium=nlrn&utm_campaign=diy-green-onions&prop25=165785002&prop26=RecipeNotes&prop27=2015-04-27&prop28=MainStory&prop29=Link_1&me=1&eaid=6934772">amazing tip</a></b> about scallions, known as green onions or spring onions.<br />
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Steve loves green onions in salads and sandwiches and so I decided to try it. My biggest frustration is that the bunches of green onions we buy often wilt in the refrigerator (despite storing them in a special container designed for them).<br />
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I decided to try the tip and I was pleased by how well they sprouted and grew. This weekend, we planted them in our herb container. I often wished that I could just cut them as I need them. ..... Now I can. ;)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf_WEmQkzmbfNJKd3XhXL9MtkYBAMYlJM2AVoS_5nw4xAWom61qEWOUVGDp34qeG16xHBkWsbEcaJAHJMAgAF2zAevTn5rJ7QNDgSJi2lQYOjbHgRD1B-wXdjn8vsTQd8v7a4X8tNOW4M/s1600/IMG_8427.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf_WEmQkzmbfNJKd3XhXL9MtkYBAMYlJM2AVoS_5nw4xAWom61qEWOUVGDp34qeG16xHBkWsbEcaJAHJMAgAF2zAevTn5rJ7QNDgSJi2lQYOjbHgRD1B-wXdjn8vsTQd8v7a4X8tNOW4M/s640/IMG_8427.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Day 3</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGP9mYPLfOIrVsJG2_WyB2BiL60pjNNYLnpIAfPyUv-U0VZp_9elaGPD6cv4gcA611hPYv5FdrmLFGFBN0EaKgj8vPV6kN-4-ERD3JUQFguJju3RmoGE0VKP1Se8Jgpw7mR-1WDonSxmI/s1600/IMG_8709.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGP9mYPLfOIrVsJG2_WyB2BiL60pjNNYLnpIAfPyUv-U0VZp_9elaGPD6cv4gcA611hPYv5FdrmLFGFBN0EaKgj8vPV6kN-4-ERD3JUQFguJju3RmoGE0VKP1Se8Jgpw7mR-1WDonSxmI/s640/IMG_8709.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Day 15</td></tr>
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<br />Cathy and Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11985161421939096681noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1306667106050601639.post-88474119674321485152015-06-01T15:36:00.000-04:002015-07-01T17:34:48.944-04:00Memorial Day - Honoring the Veterans in American Canyon<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgga5_rXWnWecQo8o5je7hyphenhyphenbXf9n_8b_x73OZ26p-PjfTt43QZvVeIUA5UKvaQc8RkApx6LrqVJP8ybH2vJBpJ0ZCqmqC15R39dt93Xofw3dGpSmO6BSg59kCmFj2qDeHVDXlzLheUwB8s/s1600/Mem+Day+2.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgga5_rXWnWecQo8o5je7hyphenhyphenbXf9n_8b_x73OZ26p-PjfTt43QZvVeIUA5UKvaQc8RkApx6LrqVJP8ybH2vJBpJ0ZCqmqC15R39dt93Xofw3dGpSmO6BSg59kCmFj2qDeHVDXlzLheUwB8s/s400/Mem+Day+2.jpg" width="400" /></a>Steve and I attended the Memorial Day ceremony at Veterans Memorial Park in American Canyon. The park is located just about a mile from our home along a country road that parallels busy route 29. Several members of the U.S. Army raised the flag. A blustery, windy day, Old Glory's stars and stripes rippled and waved in the stiff breeze.<br />
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There were the usual speeches and observances that one ordinarily encounters at these events. Some local musicians sang some patriotic songs, and members of the VFW Post #11099 presented flags and flowers that they placed on the granite memorial.<br />
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I was pleased to see how well-attended the ceremony was. The true meaning of Memorial Day often gets lost in the crush of barbecues, swim parties, and beach expeditions.<br />
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We arrived early to be able to get seats and while we were waiting, Steve and I reminisced about the Memorial Day ceremonies of our childhood. I remembered going to Worcester to see the parade in front of City Hall. Soldiers in uniform marched solemnly, and tanks and large guns separated the battalions. There were marching bans, boy scouts and girl scouts, and many politicians.<br />
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I recalled one particularly unseasonable Memorial Day when it was overcast and chilly, threatening rain. My mother hustled my sister and me into sweaters and coats and made us drink warm milk "to keep you warm". Someone gave us little flags and we were chastised every time our arms sagged -- the flag always had to be held upright. It was impressed on me, and to this day I hold it dear, that the flag is the symbol of our country and should always be treated with the utmost respect.<br />
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Below are scenes from the ceremony held this past Memorial Day in American Canyon.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbw86ATMzblJm5bO1i-E8F01sMJxx3qN8qbO-zXr_deF67osZQ21WBXvCbEL01A4Qf-gmOS6hTcYrSysIz6aiJ8gxyROIFyAPwDR9t3GJsKtES05EUBZrjWK73mYtVhyPTnbm5vVKfi44/s1600/Mem+Day+4.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbw86ATMzblJm5bO1i-E8F01sMJxx3qN8qbO-zXr_deF67osZQ21WBXvCbEL01A4Qf-gmOS6hTcYrSysIz6aiJ8gxyROIFyAPwDR9t3GJsKtES05EUBZrjWK73mYtVhyPTnbm5vVKfi44/s640/Mem+Day+4.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The flags are raised as the Star Spangled Banner is sung.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipCBil54kny7VMWS62qkzbTKi5nneN_cMpnJrI3M4Y_ncwklTdz5AcYpXd2-LzrBAUoQ4HkXmHt2LkX2wKU4tZfRXM8-iRI-6UQW7N__c0RRrJyaQaXu5eZP_VGAZ3bQNtYLRwLLU0KI4/s1600/Mem+Day+6.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipCBil54kny7VMWS62qkzbTKi5nneN_cMpnJrI3M4Y_ncwklTdz5AcYpXd2-LzrBAUoQ4HkXmHt2LkX2wKU4tZfRXM8-iRI-6UQW7N__c0RRrJyaQaXu5eZP_VGAZ3bQNtYLRwLLU0KI4/s640/Mem+Day+6.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Members of the VFW present flowers, a flag and a wreath which they placed on the memorial (below).</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBgz_XsV4DmudH4W0efesvkkm2VKXnEQ7etgldwlryXZ8zgmTz0URF8B4LKH2yQaB7ifgBhSD18iTjs3XdCFG8xwMX4VY9a3tY6MZ5EoORfjeQtfLDxqXa6PbMfwe89xhtCMtVaK9xz30/s1600/Mem+Day+9.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBgz_XsV4DmudH4W0efesvkkm2VKXnEQ7etgldwlryXZ8zgmTz0URF8B4LKH2yQaB7ifgBhSD18iTjs3XdCFG8xwMX4VY9a3tY6MZ5EoORfjeQtfLDxqXa6PbMfwe89xhtCMtVaK9xz30/s640/Mem+Day+9.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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<br />Cathy and Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11985161421939096681noreply@blogger.com0