And it will not top 100 again this week. We’re back to more typical 4th of July weather.
Casualty, one tree, and several bushes which may not recover. We’ll give them til next spring to see if they rebound. Rhodies don’t readily replace leaves once lost.
But at least the egg is through the snake and Montana gets the weather…after Idaho’s stovepipe gets through with it.
while my area has had, over the last three days, 102, 104 and 107 as highs.
That’s a bit of an understatement, rhodies never “replace” leaves. They’ll get new leaves on fresh growth. Here, where the climate is more temperate and depending on the genetics of a variety, we typically see a flush of new growth in late summer or early fall. Otherwise it’ll be next spring. If they drop all the leaves on a branch, cut it off, it’s dead, Jim. There’s no transpiration to draw water and nutrients. Do you happen to know their names?
I’d wait until later before I did that.
(We planted an apricot seedling in the ground, from a pot, early in summer, and it promptly lost all its leaves. We watered it regularly, and the next year it leafed out.)
True, but being deciduous it had an advantage. Also, rhodies have a very fine, fibrous, root system. Too much watering causes fatal root-rot. Given local climate, I always recommend planting in October, as soon as the rains come again. Give them 9mos to get some roots out before the following dry summer (and still water regularly then). This is the west side of the Cascades, not Minnesota. đ Spokane isn’t the best environment for rhodies.
Under sudden severe water stress, rhodies, particularly the evergreen elepidotes, will just drop perfectly good green leaves–transpiration makes them a threat to plant survival–to the point of denudation. While there may appear to be buds on the branch, in my experience they never pop and the branch dies. Better to cut it before it becomes a vector for disease, and a latent bud may be energized without it.
Less severe, and unsightly but not critical, the leaves may get tip/edge dieback. I leave those if there’s still half of more of green leaf, though I may cut or break off the dead material. Another possibility is “sunburn”: necrosis of the interior part of the leaf, the part between the edge and the rib.
Their names are ‘what’s on sale at Lowe’s’ and ‘pink’. But yes, I agree—that’s what we’re hoping for, that spring growth will come back if we can just get them through the summer alive.
Since I didn’t make it to Shejicon IV, nor V (getting a bridge in place of my lower incisors đ , $$$), can you describe them, or post some closeups on Jane’s? “Pink” isn’t exactly what I was hoping for–it implies elepidotes. As a general RoT, “Shaggy barked” elepidotes take somewhat grudgingly to pruning, while “smooth barked” ones go into high dudgeon at mere the sight of shears. If they are lepidotes, more often blue/purple or yellow and including azaleas, then they take pruning enthusiastically. Lepidotes are often (semi-)deciduous and have smaller leaves than elepidotes.
THanks for that info, Paul. I’ll give them a look and take your advice.
…and you’ve also answered a question I had, Paul….thanks.
Checkout the conjunction of Venus & Jupiter this evening in the western sky.
Ninety-ish weather here in Kansas City, which is typical. What is NOT is the haze caused by Canadian wildfires that turned our blue sky brown. Last night’s sunset was brilliant orange through the smoke, and I saw one photo online where there was enough detail to see sunspots.
OT! I used Mr. Brown’s baked mac&cheese recipe, with a few changes, and it came out well. I used the ginger citrus cheese from the grocer with mozzarella to stretch it, half a TBSP of flour rather than the mustard powder, instant milk, chopped reconstituted dried apples rather than onion, and millet rather than macaroni. I think that I’ll try barley next time. The millet is a bit fine grained, (I know that’s a pun, but can’t think of how else to put it),for my taste. The flavor was really good, howsomever!
OT – Tommie? Ginger and Citrus Cheese? Oh, that sounds good! Will have to hunt for that. I’ll also hunt up (Alton?) Brown’s mac and cheese recipe. I don’t have gluten, grain, or allium/onion allergies, but hmm, both your variation and his sound darned good. I’d expect barley would make a very nice version. … Hmm, brown rice (I like Texmati brand) might make an interesting dish with your version, Tommie. But try the barley first.
* Scribbles for grocery list for next week. *
Texmati is my favourite brand. It’s also branded as RiceSelect here in OK. They have a couple of Royal Blend’s that are good as long as you’re not sensitive to gluten. One of the best is a combo of brown and red rice, barley and rye.
Hey, Tulrose, I’ll look for that blend, thanks. I’m due for some more rice, and a grain blend should work for most things. Not sure if they carry the “RiceSelect” brand here, but it’s probable; so much is in common between the two states.
You’ll find it in with the jars with the Texmati Rices and orzo. There’s a couple of different mixtures, one with beans in it. They are all a nice change from just rice.
This reminds me: Fellow fans here have talked about quinoa, but I have only seen it at the store now in the grain/snack bars like granola bars. There’s a brand I’ve seen, chiefly quinoa. A product line from Quaker? Not sure, because I haven’t tried them yet.
However, last time I looked with the other grains (rice, barley, etc.) I didn’t see them. My store has been switching things around like mad lately. I have seen a couple of sections for gluten-free or other special dietary needs. — Where’s my best spot in Kroger’s to look for quinoa to try it? Any food prep instructions for it? — It’s harder lately to snag an employee to ask a question, but I may need to ask for this one.
I seem to recall I tried it once and didn’t care for it. It needs washing, I believe. It should be on the shelves with the bags of dried beans, rice, bulgur, etc. Or you could look for the Bob’s Red Mill products. They are specialty grains, flours, cereals, etc both regular and gluten free. I use his thick rolled oats a lot.
Wally World even carries it these days. And I’m stuck here with only 2, yes 2, grocery store chains that are at all convenient. Wal-Mart, their Neighbourhood Markets, and Reasors out of Tahlequah. There is 1 Targe store that I occasionally go to for certain things but that’s it. THe specialty grocers like Whole Foods are just too out of the way for a quick trip to get something for dinner.
bcs – You might have to check in the “Organic Foods” section to find the quinoa.
Aha! Thank you both!
WOT, but Sharon Lee mentioned CJC’s work on her LJ blog:
“The very first CJ Cherryh book I read was Hunter of Worlds, in 1977. I finished it, and immediately flipped to the front and started reading again. Those who complain that we’re throwing them into the deep end of the pool without a life jacket with the Liaden Universe(R) have obviously never read Cherryh. She starts the story, and she expects you to keep up. I, personally, love that approach (see Liaden Universe(R), above). We are, after all, reading a science fiction story, usually including aliens, there’s no reason at all to expect that we’ll understand everything — or even anything. She’s written extensively; some books are more thinky than others, but not one of them holds your hand.”
She is not in favor of spoon-feeding readers. Earlier last month, reread all the Foreigner books, and later last month and this am in the process of rereading all the Liaden books. Each read-through I find things I missed, associations I should have made but didn’t, connections I ought to have made but didn’t. AHA! moments are my favorites. . .
Back OT, what is Washington State doing with the SW’s hot weather? (not that we particularly want it back, mind you. . .) I think we got some of your rain and coolth this spring. We could do with more. Sorry about the Rhodies. Hope they recover.
This being the start of the presidential campaigns, I suspect I might know the source for those massive quantities of hot air you have been getting . . .
I saw that blog. A fan had commented that he’d never read CJC.
Hah! Thereâs a mini-mini item on its way today to Wiishu and Pooki by way of Mama Jane and Mama CJ. Iâd expect it should arrive by the end of next week.
Some time over the weekend, I will have a new bit up for Augie and crew, and possibly for Robby.
Chondrite said to watch my mail. It will likely be next week before it reaches me, but last time it arrived sooner than I wouldâve expected. Apparently, that seagull delivery service makes pretty good speed.
mmmm. WE shall warn Wiishu and Pooki.
There will likely be something upcoming at a future date. The size was smaller than I’d anticipated, and so I have this feeling of obligation for more of a gift than that. đ But when I do, I want it to be something especially suited and fun for you both and for the two house-elves.
BTW, a catnip “carrot” and a catnip…well, it was purple and conical and intended to look like a vegetable…were such a big hit with my two cats that you may want to seek those out at your local pet store or on Amazon. The purple whatsits has been through so much now that I’m replacing it. I had to get two, because Mr. Assertive wanted to steal it from Mr. Non-Assertive, and the latter gentleman deserves his enjoyment too.
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@ Chondrite ~ Oh, wow! The care package arrived much sooner than I’d expected, in today’s mail. The wool was *very* interesting, though I’m not sure what to do with it. Impressive and good looking and useful.
The item for Robby is fantastic! Gorgeous! In fact, so nice that I expect it will be a quilt or blanket for him, rather than a security blanket. When I next get pictures of Robby, I’ll have him with it! He’ll be impressed. I sure was.
Traditionally, ‘security blankets’ are smaller than full-size, like a crib blanket or quilt. Maybe Robby’s blankie ought to be more like large-washcloth-size, so he can tote it around easily. I will have to think on this.
Zorro loves anything with feathers on the end of a string that I can flick around for her. Her favorite thing presently is a tuft on a string attached to a stick; she will drag that into the bathroom and hide it in the bathmat, then try madly to dig it back out. We refer to the feather-string-stick as ‘fishing for kitties.’ Junior prefers to get his kicks out of a catnip-sprinkled piece of carpet.
Sounds like they are liking home life! (As opposed to outdoors or in library stacks.)
I haven’t gotten the new blanket and Robby together yet. We’ll see how he does, size-wise, when I get photos.
What I’d seen online for doll quilts/bedding for these guys and girls is approximately a hand towel size or a bit larger for a quilt or blanket or sheets, and probably a washcloth-sized cotton repurposed for pillowcases. Not sure what size would work best for a kid’s security blanket. Er, one that I had when I was older was, I think, an old fuzzy bath towel. Not sure what the size/proportions would be for a baby blanket or security blanket that might make it to a young kid around Kindergarten age, plus or minus a year or so. (That’s about where I’m guessing Robby is, though I’m learning that in the doll world, there’s a lot more variation for imagination.) (The other 18 inch dolls seem to go anywhere from teenager down to toddler, near as I can tell, depending on how the owner/parent sees their doll’s personality.) (The Kidz n Cats, like Robby, seem to be mostly young elementary to older elementary age, but the American Girl/Boy dolls seem to be placed as older. Go figure.)
Hmm, I’ve found a Hawaiian shirt pattern, but the few crafter-made Hawaiian shirts are more kids’ sport shirts than Hawaiian shirts.
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Aside: I saw a really incredible “felted needlework” (?) cat on Etsy, while looking at maybe-much-later items for Robby. The cat was beautifully realistic. But it didn’t list a size, and the price was…probably worth it for the detail, but not what I’d feel comfortable paying until I am doing way better off than now. (It was priced at almost $400 US.) The craftsperson / artist apparently specializes in that kind of detrailed doll needlework, and is based in Japan. Whew! But beautiful. I didn’t see if they were posable, jointed, If so, the price would be more understandable, But the level of work that it looked like had been put into the little cat (and a dog separate) was incredible. I’ve seen examples of fine-gauge knitting or needlework and of lace/doilies that were similar.