tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5549306427964459740.post2240081768382062328..comments2023-12-23T05:14:34.273-05:00Comments on Wit's End: Pillage, Plunder & Pollute, LLCGail Zawackihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01800944469843206253noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5549306427964459740.post-26124371051191430762012-04-19T10:57:28.601-04:002012-04-19T10:57:28.601-04:00From An Appalachian Tragedy, p. 113. The Story of ...From An Appalachian Tragedy, p. 113. The Story of Mast:<br /><br />"Mast is the collective term forest ecologists use for all the different kinds of nuts from woodland trees that accumulate on the ground and are used for food by the creatures of the forest...By any measure, Appalachian ast should be bountiful, even without the chestnut. However, such is not the case. As the impacts of air pollution have taken their toll on the health of the forest over the years, mast production has steadily decreased. In some areas it is down by between 50 and 80 percent. This not only reduces the food supply for mast-dependent animals, but also greatly reduces the regeneration of mast-producing trees..."<br /><br />The same can be said for trees and shrubs that produce edible seeds and fruits.Gail Zawackihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01800944469843206253noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5549306427964459740.post-11535404389554949792012-04-19T10:46:24.795-04:002012-04-19T10:46:24.795-04:00Since I have everyone running around checking thin...Since I have everyone running around checking things in the yard, an update. The first maple seeds to drop here in Evanston IL were tiny and the seed head was empty. Now bigger seeds are dropping, mostly in clusters but also singly. There's something in there. In my inexpert opinion it's mush and not a viable seed. Yes, they are profuse and no, I cant recall seeing anything like this profusion before.<br /><br />Conifers of many types are forming too many cones and malformed cones and any seasonal schedule for that is gone.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5549306427964459740.post-44915227698621137262012-04-18T19:11:31.655-04:002012-04-18T19:11:31.655-04:00Another hit for the farmers, Brian:
http://agaler...Another hit for the farmers, Brian:<br /><br />http://agalert.com/story/?id=4098Gail Zawackihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01800944469843206253noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5549306427964459740.post-23652331689513261312012-04-18T10:55:21.444-04:002012-04-18T10:55:21.444-04:00The maple "helicopter" seeds have also d...The maple "helicopter" seeds have also dropped in my neighbor's woods here in northern Ohio, all very small. <br /><br />Last year, our area had both a D1 moderate drought[1] and a record-breaking annual rainfall.[2]<br /><br />On March 18, I removed the snow blade from the tractor, which was unused on the lane all winter, and I mowed grass around the farm here -- 2 days before astronomical winter was officially done. And now all the fruit and grapes have been frozen out multiple mornings.[3]<br /><br />It's really weird. <br /><br />I can almost hear the little girl's prophecy[4] about that which will "scratch you out, and end your world."<br /><br />-Brian<br />_____________<br />[1] Corn crop wilts under heat, drought: Extreme weather follows cold, wet spring<br />www.foxtoledo.com/dpp/news/local/corn-crop-wilts-under-heat-drought<br /><br />[2] Toledo rainfall eclipses record<br />www.toledoblade.com/local/2011/12/22/Toledo-rainfall-eclipses-record.html<br /><br />[3]"It’s been a nail-biting spring for farmers"<br />www.freep.com/article/20120414/NEWS06/120414018/grapes-michigan-frost<br /><br />[4] Apocalypto - Little girl scene <br />www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ou0sNvL6k0Brian Bowmanhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=syKykpqoCz8noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5549306427964459740.post-20593559521886616312012-04-17T20:42:46.257-04:002012-04-17T20:42:46.257-04:00I can't wait to check out some seed pods; I ha...I can't wait to check out some seed pods; I hadn't thought of this, either, Anon. Ditto, Yikes!Mossyhttp://www.gwenet.orgnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5549306427964459740.post-46546548844320100812012-04-17T13:56:31.980-04:002012-04-17T13:56:31.980-04:00I think they are calling for cool wet weather in t...I think they are calling for cool wet weather in the NE coming up next.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5549306427964459740.post-48689872546018751962012-04-17T13:22:42.980-04:002012-04-17T13:22:42.980-04:00PLovering...it is very very dry. Not good.PLovering...it is very very dry. Not good.Gail Zawackihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01800944469843206253noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5549306427964459740.post-25148091274823858592012-04-17T13:11:18.574-04:002012-04-17T13:11:18.574-04:00So far in 2012, Northeastern US states are sufferi...So far in 2012, Northeastern US states are suffering moderate to severe drought ... averaging 50% less rainfall, because HAARP is intercepting moisture laden jet streams in the far west for later release into severe storms up and down the Mississippi River Valley, thus robbing the eastern states of their fair share of Mother Nature's rain water. Plainly said, the drought in the East is no accident.PLoveringhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04027992777731735792noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5549306427964459740.post-78589608595959354772012-04-17T07:11:11.380-04:002012-04-17T07:11:11.380-04:00Yikes anon, I have noticed small-sized acorns but ...Yikes anon, I have noticed small-sized acorns but it never even occurred to me to look at other seeds. I will check around today.<br /><br />Around here the maples are making enormous amounts of seeds, which they did last year and if I recall the year before. It seems odd for even very young trees to make so many seeds but since I wasn't really paying attention before I can't remember if it was always that way.<br /><br />Yesterday however, I went to the Chester Shopright mall which has maybe 20 or so stores. Since the last time I was there they have replaced every single tree - about 1000 of them! Must have cost a pretty penny.Gail Zawackihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01800944469843206253noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5549306427964459740.post-73085849690008907082012-04-17T06:46:15.303-04:002012-04-17T06:46:15.303-04:00Talking about plowing and folly:
"The task o...Talking about plowing and folly:<br /><br /><i>"The task of this book is to show that our soil problems have been to a considerable extent psychological; that, except for our sabotage of nature’s design for growth, there is no soil problem."</i><br /><br />Plowman's Folly<br />Edward H. Faulkner <br />University of Oklahoma Press, 1943Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5549306427964459740.post-46338828459049037842012-04-16T22:32:19.063-04:002012-04-16T22:32:19.063-04:00Just read 91 pages. Will finish tomorrow.
The spr...Just read 91 pages. Will finish tomorrow.<br /><br />The spring leafout here near Chicago does not look good. Every tree is very much thinner. The maples are shedding their helicopter seeds in green clusters that have no seeds within. Last years catalpa cigars have finally dropped and they have no seeds within the pod either. It does look like the stored energy of the trees nears exhaustion. Imagining the future is very hard.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com