The old fashioned grapes are in such a sad state, but they are alive. I'm considering pruning them way back this winter. Some YoYo used barbed wire for the vine support. It's rusty and dangerous. The posts are rotten and falling apart. I believe that by remedying the mess, it will enhance the value of the property. May have to sacrifice the blackberries and persimmons, but it's all concentrated in a 3 foot strip along our property line.
Found a couple blueberry branches stripped of leaves - not sure what happened there. Moth larva? Also, may have had some animal in the berries. Monday they were fine - yesterday, one side of one of the bushes is practically without berries and numerous branches broken down. Deer? Raccoons? The dogs don't eat them ...
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| I will admit to a bit of puzzle-mania. This one's a doozie! |
I tried taking some cuttings to make another blueberry bush from the one that makes the bigger berries. No idea if it is going to work at all, but giving it a shot. I have no idea what the names of each of the plants are and I would like at least one more like that one, not only to look neater in the yard (filling in the gap from one that didn't make it through Jill's puppyhood) and if I live long enough - to enjoy!
I am also going to try to make some more flowering almond and hibiscus. Nothing lost if they don't make it and I seem to have nothing but time. This stuff doesn't appear to take any effort. Something to do.
I hope you are all having a great week, continue on!
Could have been a deer.
ReplyDeleteMy thoughts, the dogs maybe caught wind of them before they got them all. When we had the pear tree, they came and cleaned up a lot of the windfall.
DeleteI would also say deer or raccoons beat you to your harvest. You gotta be fast in nature I guess! :-)
ReplyDeleteThis is the first time anything touched it, even the birds hardly touch them. Maybe 'the word' is getting around. Ha Ha!
Deletei could use some good tree-limb trim-up around here. another day... good luck w/ blueberry wine.
ReplyDeleteWe could use a regular service for the big trees, they are getting out of line. I figured that blueberry wine was worth a trial anyway, never know, it might work just fine. I believe I will have to buy wine yeast though.
DeleteI think of my sister when I see a puzzle like this .. she loved working on puzzles and always set aside time right after the Christmas chaos to do so. But then her eyesight got to bad for them. Oh, so you make your own wine? I'll bet that is really good. I bought my first blackberries in ages (about a week ago) from Farmers Market... they were freshly picked that morning. But they got moldy in just days.. is that normal? I left a small bowl out and they were covered in mold by morning and the ones in the fridge molded a couple of days later. But they were soooo good.
ReplyDeleteYes, I made a few batches when we had our first crops after we moved in. Mmm good, but I was on medication then and wasn't supposed to drink. I am like a kid - smell it and I get light headed. :-)
DeleteAlmost any berry will mold like that, I would think. No tough skin, maybe? They are out in the open the whole time they are growing. Wash them and eat them or freeze for later. I still have some blackberries in the freezer ... guess what I'm thinking. ;-)
At least you can be sure the berries weren't treated with artificial preservatives. Because they are very soft and sweet, berries don't keep well so should be eaten within a day. That's probably why so many people make jams with them, it's a preservation method.
DeleteWhen you take the cutting dip them in honey it helps them to strike. Sounds like you have lots of ideas. Hopefully you get those students to help with the hard work xx
ReplyDeleteI had some growth hormone to dip the ends. I am getting all sorts of ideas, you know - the spirit is willing but the flesh has a hard time keeping up.
DeleteI'll have to wait with the clean-up. There are grapes on those old vines and I have a near empty freezer. ;-)
My mom and her sibling just love doing jig saw puzzle. I never got into them when I was younger. But this winter my Aunt Lilly and worked on one and actual I enjoy doing it.
ReplyDeleteCoffee is on
I'm really enjoying doing these puzzles. They only go to around 250+ pieces, but that's plenty, the pieces are so small. It is a nice quiet pastime and very relaxing.
DeleteDon't sacrifice the persimmons, offer them for sale, with the buyer having to dig them up and remove them.
ReplyDeletePersimmons are rich in Vitamin A, necessary for eye health and a perfectly ripe persimmon is very easily digested, making it one of the best early baby foods, when first introducing solids.
Oh, really? I didn't know. The fruit is either way out of my reach or on the ground rotting. Impossible to get at until I get the blackberries out of there. Thanks for the info. I don't know anyone who actually harvests the fruit.
DeleteI love them, the season here is very short and by the time I notice them in the shops it's almost too late. I just cut the fruit in half, take out the seed and scoop the flesh with a spoon.
DeleteI agree with your assessment "yo yo". Who uses barb wire for a plant support? Sounds treacherous.
ReplyDeleteBlackberry wine making sounds interesting. I have never made any type of wine so I don't have a clue but when you have the berries why not give it a try? Or have you made wine in the past and are experienced in making wine?
We used to do a lot of puzzles and got away from it for some reason. We are headed to the lake this weekend and just yesterday decided to pick up a puzzle because the forecast is calling for rain. Not much to do at the lake on a rainy day so a puzzle would come in handy.
I never tried blackberry wine, but I have the frozen berries and it's worth a shot. Of course, I've never tried blueberry either, haha. I have made wine, experienced - in a novice sort of way. The wines were good.
DeleteEnjoy your time at the lake, rain or shine!
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ReplyDeleteI think you're correct that it would make your property more valuable if you spruced it up. It sure is hard when we get older like I am and the heat here doesn't help any. I always loved yard work and now mine is about limited to from eight to nine in the late afternoon. Usually have other things to do in the morning.
ReplyDeleteYou are right, we have to take little bites of of that heat at a time. It does help when the humidity is way down, otherwise, just opening the door and looking out, is a bad thing.
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