These icicles have formed right outside the living room window, on the duct tape I'm using to brace the wrapped avocado tree against wind. So any illusions we have about it being warmer on the patio are just that -- illusions. It's freezing out there! (It was 27º F when I checked this morning at about 5 a.m. -- roughly -3º C.)
Remember my plan to put a chicken-coop warmer inside the avocado's shroud? Although Amazon told me when I ordered it that I'd have it by yesterday, it has not arrived yet. It's supposed to come today. We'll see. Meanwhile, I went up to the hardware store on the high street and bought a halogen bulb for a spare desk lamp we've had stashed in the closet under the stairs ever since we moved in. I put that lamp as well as my bedside lamp inside the shroud, so at least there's a small source of heat, though it's not much. I think both bulbs together are about 70 watts.
It looks a bit weird and ghostly, doesn't it? The foxes have already peed on the edge of the shroud, thus making peace with it and marking it as their territory.
No one can say I haven't gone to heroic lengths to save this tree. I'm not even sure it's necessary. For all I know, the avocado could withstand temperatures this low. I know there are avocados elsewhere in London that don't get all this coddling. I think the real test will be the snow coming later this week. Hopefully by then the coop warmer will be in place.
OK, I hear you: "ENOUGH ABOUT THE AVOCADO!"
But what else do I have to blog about? Honestly, all I did yesterday was finish "Tramps Like Us" and start another book, Erik Larson's nonfiction account of the sinking of the Lusitania, which I've been meaning to read for ages.
I'm not thrilled to see the U.S. waging war on the government of Venezuela. It brings back memories of Manuel Noriega in Panama, who I've mentioned here before. The Venezuela situation seems very similar, with allegations of narco-trafficking being used to justify the overthrow of a Latin American government. (With the added incentive of Venezuela's oil.) But as The New York Times points out, Noriega was defiant, whereas Maduro at least offered cooperation. Doesn't matter -- we kicked him out anyway.
I suppose we can hardly take the high ground on Ukraine now. How are we any different from Russia, invading a neighboring nation for dubious reasons of our own invention? Granted, Maduro is a dictator and dubiously elected, but Russia said the same about the Ukrainian government. Why is it our role to police Venezuela, especially when most of the illegal drugs being trafficked to the USA are coming through other countries?
But will your precious avocado tree produce any fruit? I gave up on mine. Well the kidnapping went well of Maduro, the world is in a ferment of worry of course. America has become a rogue elephant sadly but without the backing of the American nation though.
ReplyDeleteI may be wrong but I think avocados don't produce fruit until they are five years old or more?
DeleteRegarding Venezuela, it's all about the oil. Everything else is just a smokescreen.
ReplyDeleteRegarding your shrouding of the avocado tree, it's no wonder the neighbours from upstairs got away when they saw what you were doing. They must think that they are living above a mad man's lair.
Thanks for talking about the avocado. I need the distraction. The attack on Venezuela and abduction of Maduro and his wife are frightening developments in Trump administration politics. What next?
ReplyDeleteHere along the south coast my avocado tree did not survive our winter, like yours in was in a pot.
ReplyDeleteI admire you dedication to your avocado, perhaps quite necessary when they are young. I am surprised you can still buy halogen light bulbs, and they will certainly keep the plant warm.
ReplyDeleteI am puzzled about what right the US has to think it can invade an independent country. For all I've heard, seen and read about the invasion, it still seems extraordinary to me. The country may have a corrupt leader, and be breaching international norms, but.....hang on, which country am I talking about
Why do you keep saying "we"? Yes, you are American by birth. Doesn't make you an accessory to an unhinged power seeker on steroids.
ReplyDeleteAs to the avocado: Sometimes one can expend too much energy on the inconsequential.
U
I'm with you on the avocado coddling - I would try to save it too. It gives you pleasure all year so it is a natural response to try and save it from being frozen to death.
ReplyDeleteWendy (Wales)
This avocado has the upper hand. Or twig. And people banging on about V when the real news is the Jack Smith testimony, V being a Wag the Dog distraction, are playing the regime's game.
ReplyDeleteIt does indeed look ghostly.
ReplyDeleteOf course I can not offer a qualified opinion on the Venezuela situation, but I can say it makes me imagine what would happen if Trump saw something in Germany that he wanted, and claimed to be his by some weirdly constructed "right", and would send troops to attack Berlin and kidnap Friedrich Merz? (He'd be welcome to take Merz away, but it wouldn't be right.) As far as I can tell from what I hear and read, it's all about the oil; I'm totally with YP on that. And fortunately, Germany doesn't have oil.
It's oil and money and power; nothing to do with drugs or terrorism. Every words from Cankles' mouth is a lie.
ReplyDeleteI actually enjoy the Avocado Saga - keep it coming! My boss is (potentially) trapped in Aruba because planes were grounded because of Venezuela. And my cousin's daughter was trapped in the airport & couldn't leave on her honeymoon. Not to mention the very real world consequences. Ugh.
ReplyDeleteLovely icicles. I don't even know what to say about the evil one wagging the dog in Venezuela. I guess he thinks it will make people admire him? The sad thing is there are people who will.
ReplyDeleteThe spelling of "icicles" baffles me. I always have to look it up.
ReplyDeleteThere- that's how profound I am today.
I believe your avocado will live. You are doing everything you can to ensure that.
My take is on my blog. This wasn't about narco-trafficking. It was only ever about Venezuela's oil and Trump's wet dreams of getting even richer and and proving to the world and himself that he is one of the most powerful men on the planet. What does he care about the people of Venezuela when he doesn't care about Americans or that Maduro was a brutal dictator. Trump admires brutal dictators.
ReplyDeleteAs for the avocado, saving the foliage won't matter if the roots freeze and you haven't included the pot in the shroud as near as I can tell.
Actually, the shroud is wrapped around the pot too, in several layers, all the way to the ground. It's just hard to tell from the photos.
DeleteI've thought the same thing about Venezuela/Ukraine. We are being just like Russia, which is a scary thought. It's not our right to take them over. It's all about the oil and the money. And diverting from Epstein and Jack Smith. I love how the shroud looks on the avocado but makes sense what Ellen said about keeping the pot warm. I'd wrap that too -- if you have any bubble wrap, insulation, spare blankets, something. But it's looking pretty safe to me.
ReplyDeleteThere are way too many questions about the whole Venezuela invasion. Just when you think we've reached the peak of outrageous government actions, they go even higher. I wonder who is really in control of things in Washington.
ReplyDeleteI love how ghostly the avocado tree looks with the added glow of the lamps.
A previous neighbor and immigration attorney married a woman from V.
ReplyDeleteShe talked about pervasive corruption and was very happy to leave the country. I met most of her family when they visited. Brother an architect and cousin a police chief. They were well connected and lived a good life but knew how to play the game.
What is going to happen next in V?
The avocado is destined to a good life. It looks safe, secure, warm and ghostly.
It reminds me of Chile and President Allende. The US government takes what it wants and makes up excuses for what it does. trump wanted the oil, full stop.
ReplyDeleteI hope the tree survives:)
If the rest of the year goes like the first three days, I'll be reading a LOT this year! 🙄 I've only read two Larson books, but have several I still want to read, Thunderstruck in particular.
ReplyDelete... yes, definitely weird and ghostly!
ReplyDeleteAll the best Jan
What's the difference between a chicken coop warmer and electric heater?
ReplyDeleteCold where I am too.
Could be an art installation.
I’m not real keen on removing people from power from countries whose citizens can’t or won’t either. But perhaps it might encourage a country to depose our president.
ReplyDeleteI will say the difference with Russia/Ukraine is that Russia is seizing territory and not just removing a leader. Of course this isn’t over and the U.S. may very well seize territory in the form of oil refineries. The only thing certain is that the U.S.’s world standing is reduced again if it was even possible.
Those shrouded plants are very ghostly indeed. I've been known to cover my cyclamen (which are annuals here) so that they don't get too cold. So, I would do the same thing. As well as oil, Trump is trying to deflect attention from the Epstein files. Also, does anyone really believe he's in charge? He's dementia ridden, not very smart and NO kind of planner. This is Stephen Miller and the architects of Project 2025 behind this. Trump is an easily manipulated figurehead. It reminds me of that Star Trek episode with the Nazi planet--"led" by a dying Starfleet officer who was just a prop.
ReplyDeleteSpot on. Sadly
DeleteI share your despair over the Venezuela attack and kidnapping, Trump can bluster all he wants about why, but we all know he wants the rights to the oil and damn the rest of us. Us being everybody else in the world.
ReplyDeleteI love the icicles photo! I think the two lamps will keep the avocado going, but hope the chicken coop heater arrives. Beware those who stand and watch and as soon as the delivery truck leaves, swoop in and grab whatever was delivered. It's happening a LOT, here as well as everywhere else.
Would it make you feel any better to know that our overnight forecast is for -15C (5F) with a windchill making it feel like -24C (-11F)? I'm wrapped in a blanket even with the heat on, and my feet are still cold! It's all relative, though. I know your temperatures are usually much milder, and that's what makes the difference. I hope your avocado survives. If not, you've done your best.
ReplyDeleteYour avocado tree will love you forever with all this molly-coddling. Your neighbours though, being freaked out on a regular basis by the changing ghostly apparitions in your garden, will not. ;-)
ReplyDelete