My phone says it's 33º F out there right now -- just a hair above freezing. I brought in the pelargoniums and the citrus, as I mentioned yesterday, but the avocado is on its own. We didn't even cover it, gambling that the temperature wouldn't dip below freezing, and I don't think it has -- certainly not in the comparatively cozy concrete recesses of our patio. I guess this will test my theory that the avocado can handle a light frost.
We need to cover it tonight, though, because temperatures are going to get colder before they warm up again. Covering that plant is a pain. For one thing, it's about 12 feet tall, but also it's dark by the time we get home from work (and it's dark now) and we'll be out there thrashing around with a sheet without the benefit of sunlight. The new upstairs neighbors haven't witnessed this show yet. Should be entertaining for them.
I also brought in the pumpkins/squashes that have decorated our front porch for the past month or so. I think I'm going to bake them this weekend and see how they cook up. I don't know what kind they are and I'm not even 100 percent sure they're edible, but I don't think they'd kill us in any event. I can probably tell when I cut them open whether they'd taste good or not.
I had strange dreams involving rescuing animals -- a kitten that somehow turned into a frog, and leapt into the brush on the swampy lakefront of my stepmother's house in Florida. I must be mentally preparing to go home for Christmas in December.
(Photos: From my walk to work yesterday morning.)
We are looking to -5⁰ C even here in the west by Thursday....minus a few degrees for windchill..and a further 5 degrees lower in the Highlands.
ReplyDeleteIt is fun playing with shadows at this time of year isn't it
I must admit, I am never jealous of your weather up in Scotland!
DeleteThere was a frost here ( about 30 miles North of Steve for those who don't know!) last night......shed roofs were white when I first looked out (8am) and the open part of our lawn was frosty. The dog will have his coat on for the first time this winter!
ReplyDeleteIt's definitely dog-coat weather!
DeleteIt is chilly here but, it seems, not quite as cold as down there for a change.
ReplyDeleteYour photo perfectly captures the essence of a cold winter morning.
I love the long shadows at this time of year!
DeleteIf it's just over freezing, that's about 1 degrees. That is cold. Our November weather is unseasonably cool, and quite wet. Spring rains are known here, but usually earlier. The lighting in the first photo is good.
ReplyDeleteEveryone's weather seems a bit shifty these days, whether part of climate change or just natural fluctuations.
DeleteWinter does seem a little early, always a shock but then there is always the big spend for the forthcoming festival to look forward to. Joy!
ReplyDeleteYeah, I'm surprised it's this cold this early. Not looking forward to the big spend! LOL
DeleteI was misled by the title of this blogpost. I thought you were going to be writing about the long thin South American country that is west of The Andes. Have you advised the upstairs family to get their camera phones ready for this evening's show - starring Laurel and Hardy?
ReplyDeleteOr maybe the bean stew?
DeleteAs someone who used to raise pumpkins, squash and ornamentals as a business, my guess is that just cooked up plain, they will be fairly bitter tasting and require a fair amount of sweeteners to enjoy. Pumpkins and squash exist that are much more palatable but they are generally not seen on doorsteps as decorations.
ReplyDeleteWell, I think these were meant to be eating squash and I simply used them as doorstep decorations!
DeleteI love how the low sun and long shadows in your photo makes it look like a chilly day.
ReplyDeleteThe only pumpkins and squash that aren't edible are the ones called gourds, they are usually small and odd shapes. I used to grow them for selling for winter decoration - long time ago now.
I don't think these are gourds, as large as they are.
DeleteFirst frost here too and we spent the best part of yesterday moving pots indoors - I supervised proceedings. Will you roast the pumpkins, sliced with some garlic and spices maybe?
ReplyDeleteI'll probably bake them, puree them and season with butter and brown sugar. That's my usual way of eating winter squashes.
DeleteI think I might enjoy a video of you and Dave fighting the avocado tree. I mean, it wouldn't be funny if it was me and Carlos, but ....
ReplyDeleteHa! Actually I wound up doing it solo this morning. Not a very entertaining video. (Which I didn't make anyway.)
DeleteFrost here yesterday and this morning, followed by bright sunshine. I really must try eating pumpkin one of these years.
ReplyDeleteBe sure to get an eating pumpkin as opposed to a carving pumpkin. The carving ones are really only food for cows!
DeleteThose pictures look cold. Is it possible to set up some sort of drapery rod system where you simply draw a drape across when it is going to freeze?
ReplyDeleteWell, I've considered somehow attaching the plant covering to the house, so the tree has the benefit of an exposed warm wall. But I haven't done it yet! There are engineering questions to be dealt with!
DeleteThe pumpkins may make a good soup with plenty of seasoning. I expect Dave will know. Getting chilly here, too, all the plants need to be indoors to survive now.
ReplyDeleteOh, soup is a good idea! I hadn't thought of that.
DeleteThe shadows are always so long this time of year, it does make the light golden though. Hope your avocado survives.
ReplyDeleteI'm encouraged by how well it did last year. As long as we don't have a truly dreadful winter, with lots of snow, I think we should be OK.
DeleteWe've had a shift in the weather here too. Not as much as yours of course but 10 to 15 degrees cooler than just a week ago. And rain, we have rain again this morning.
ReplyDeleteWinter is coming, as they say on Game of Thrones.
DeleteInteresting mental preparation for a visit to Florida. Sure, cook the squash. It probably won’t kill you! The long shadows are beautiful.
ReplyDeleteI can always cook it and throw it out if need be!
DeleteI will be interested to know if those squash look to be bakeable. Some squash are grown simply to be ornamental. Let us know!
ReplyDeleteGood luck with the avocado. You know, I don't think I have one avocado seedling at the moment. Weird.
That IS weird! I guess they get killed off each year by freezes?
DeleteI love the contrast of the brown leaves to that beautiful red one!
ReplyDeleteI hope you actually have a more positive mental preparation for traveling to the States!
Roast the pumpkins, taste, and if they are edible ... mash with butter and cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice! Dave will know the best way to fix them!
Dave isn't too crazy about the idea because they've been sitting on the doorstep for a month. But it's no different than having them sitting in a root cellar, right?
DeleteRight! Chris from Boise, squash aficionado.
DeleteWhat a weird dream! I wonder what your new neighbours will say when they watch you thrashing around with a sheet in the dark.
ReplyDeleteThis morning was frosty but beautiful. I was lucky to be working from home and check out for an hour to walk with my friend.
They'll think I'm a crazy American up to no good!
DeleteMy neighbor down the street planted her little avocado tree in the front flower bed. It freezes down to the ground every winter but so far keeps coming back. Of course it only gets about four+ feet tall every year but I'm amazed that it comes back at all. You could probably top yours without harming it, make it easier to cover.
ReplyDeleteWe did top it for years when we kept it inside because it would get too tall for the ceiling. But now that it's an outdoor tree I want it to grow to its heart's content! I'm sure if it froze back it would come up from the roots, but I'd hate to lose all that beautiful growth.
DeleteI had this vision of your upstairs neighbors flinging a sheet into the air & it landing in just the right way on the avocado plant. It could happen!
ReplyDeleteWe've actually considered asking the neighbor if we can drop the sheet from their terrace! It would be a lot easier!
DeleteIt's chilly here, too, but it's supposed to be in November.
ReplyDeleteGood luck with covering the avocado plant. I like The Bug's suggestion of getting the new neighbors to help from above! :)
A community effort!
DeleteIt's starting to get cooler here. We're soon going to be in the 40s for highs and 30s for lows. Time to put on my snow tires! 12 feet tall, that would be difficult to cover indeed.
ReplyDeleteThat's pretty much where we are now, for this week, at least. I think it's going to warm up again after Friday.
DeleteFrost damage depends on a few things. How long the temperature stays below freezing, the temperature of the soil. On the other hand I wouldn't gamble with it. I'd cover it.
ReplyDeleteThat's what I think, too. Why risk it?
DeleteEither that or you're getting signals about another animal in your life. How are the new neighbors? Quiet? Good ones? After the Russians, where could you go but up? Good luck with the avocado.And yes, cold here, too.
ReplyDeleteThe new neighbors have been fantastic! Not a lick of trouble.
DeleteLove that red leaf!
ReplyDeleteIt caught my eye with the sun coming through it.
DeleteYes a chilly start to the day.
ReplyDeleteI do like your first photograph ...
All the best Jan
Thanks, Jan! It's a chilly-looking picture, isn't it?
DeleteThe photo album is fascinating - I couldn't help looking for more. I found this: http://ssmaritime.com/RMS-Otranto-1925.htm. Quite a story and maybe a way to narrow down the conditions in which those pictures were taken. One thing leads to another.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the link, Nan! It looks very interesting and I will check it out! Glad you liked the pictures.
DeleteWinter light is so different. Between the starkness of winter and the light change, photos take on darker shades and shadows.
ReplyDeleteDo you need to use a step ladder to cover the avocado tree? 12 feet is a tall tree.
I use a chair, but yes, I have to elevate myself! And then I use something like a rake to lift the cover over the top.
DeleteGiven the size and the entertaining thrashing needed you probably should have covered the avocado last weekend during the daylight hours. I love that first photo with the long shadows and low sunlight.
ReplyDeleteYeah, probably, but I hate to have the cover on it any longer than necessary, as the plant does better long-term with unfettered light and air.
DeleteThat is one hella long shadow!
ReplyDeleteThat bend in the road always produces interesting photos at this time of year. I'm sure I've taken similar pictures in years past!
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