We Found the Answer

On November 20, I was wondering about this mystery plant we had growing in the pathway. Well, on Monday we cut off a large branch and went to the Ag Office. They sent us to the Farm Bureau where there was a master gardener. Three employees gathered around and speculated and then they called in one more. The consensus is: Datura ferox or the common name is Fierce Thornapple. I certainly agree with the fierce part because of those spiky sharp pods.

This is not a desirable plant to have around and is poisonous. As you can see we chopped it down and put it in the garbage. They asked that we put it there instead of the green waste. Now there is no chance of it reseeding. The seed was probably brought here by a bird or was in one of the bags of commercial bird seed that we buy. It is also in the same family of plants as the Loco Weed found in the mid-west. We don't need any Loco Weeds here... we are pretty loco all on our own!

At their request, we left the branch we brought with them. It is rare around here and they did not have a live specimen. Now they do!

So... now we all know... Fierce Thornapple. Who would have thought?

What is This?

I don't know what this plant is that came up as a volunteer by the fence. At first I thought it was a sunflower. It had rather thick dark green leaves. But then it got bushy and grew wide instead of tall.

The flowers are white and never fully opened wide before this strange looking pod developed at the base of the blossom.

They are sharp, very sharp and look like a prickly hand grenade. I sure would like to know what plant this is and where it came from.

I think we will take pictures down to the Ag office and see if they can identify this wicked looking thing!

Apples to Apples

Apples are falling off the tree. They are ready to be made into apple sauce, dried apples or apple pies. Today I made all three. I started with the dried apples.

This handy dandy tool peels, slices and cores. It makes this whole process a lot faster. I filled up the drier with apples first, then made a big kettle of apple sauce. I saved about eight of the best apples and used them for an apple pie.

I'm sorry I didn't get pictures of the pie but by that time I had really run out of steam! I was DONE with apples for the day!

The Trap

Nature works in such amazing ways. A spider has made a web on the ground to catch something to eat. I wonder how many hours he had to work to get a web of that size. There is a hole in the very middle with a little tunnel going down. I guess he is down there just waiting for some unsuspecting little bug to make the wrong step.

Broccoli at Sunrise

The early morning sun poked over the hill to shed its rays on all the little Broccoli plants that are only a few weeks old. This is the "Arroyo" of Arroyo Grande and is at sea level. The soil is rich and dark and we have seen it flooded a couple of time from heavy rain in the 14 years we have lived here.

These fields are in constant production and they average four crops each year. Plow, plant, harvest... over and over, and over again. They rotate crops between broccoli, celery, cabbage, bok choy and many different kinds of lettuce. I can't remember these fields laying fallow. Well, maybe when they were flooded, but only until they were dry enough to plow!

Seagulls Fishing

This Sea Gull dropped his lunch. Was it a fish or a clam?

Leaf on Rocks

The Japanese Maple is shedding its leaves. A sure sign that our winter is upon us.