Welcome back to Field Notes!
November 1, 2024
November is Native American Heritage Month, and the Friday following Thanksgiving Day is "Native American Heritage Day." According to the U.S. Department of the Interior Indian Affairs website, National Native American Heritage Month is a time to celebrate the traditions, languages and stories of Native American, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian, and affiliated Island communities; and to ensure that their rich histories and contributions continue to thrive with each passing generation. Each year the Department of the Interior selects a theme for the year. The theme for 2024 is "Weaving Together Our Past, Present and Future."
November 3, 2024
We've had a drop in temperature here in the Bay Area, and a few nights of rain - has the rainy season started? To combat the chill, we're pulling out our favorite fall recipes and filling the house with wonderful smells of good, hearty food. Sometimes (but not often enough, I'm told) a batch of home-made cookies also contributes to the delicious fragrance.
Roasted vegetables - destined for a delicious soup |
Cottage pie - full of tasty ingredients |
November 5, 2024
Aunt Char is heading back to Alaska! I dropped off my jet-setting aunt at the airport today. She is heading to Alaska to spend time with her sister, brother-in-law, and nephew (my mom, dad, and brother). November may seem like an usual time to visit Juneau Alaska, but it is a great time to be warm and cozy inside—catching up on the latest news, reading good books, watching movies and shows, and starting a little online holiday shopping. For its small size, Juneau has a lot going on during the fall, such as musical programs, cultural events, plays, and lectures at University of Alaska Southeast (UAS). Plus, the scenery is beautiful, with or without a dusting of snow.
Alaska Airlines on the tarmac in Juneau, Alaska |
November 8, 2024
The wind has been blowing hard for the last couple of days, and the garden is a mess! Leaves, dried stems and seed pods, and small tree limbs are everywhere. Time for some clean up, but it seems fruitless to start until the wind has blown itself out! We're chipping away at clean up anyway, one section of the garden at a time, but may need professional help! Despite the windy mess, the days are beautiful, with blue sky and radiant sunshine. The temperature is warmish during the day and much cooler at night.
The side yard - what a mess! |
November 11, 2024
A California Buckeye that grows up by the reservoir is laden with large seeds (click on the photo for a better look). California Buckeye is indigenous to California and has important ethnobotanic uses as a medicine, food, and fishing tool for California tribes. The USDA California Buckeye Plant Guide provides interesting information about the tree, including how to plant from seed. All parts of the plants are poisonous, including the seeds, so they should be planted with caution. Still, the plant provides seasonal interest, and the seeds are eaten by the California ground squirrel.
California Buckeye (Aesculus californica) |
November 14, 2024
Our landscape maintenance crew is coming tomorrow for an end-of-season clean up of the new landscape. My husband and I have pulled out some of the most obvious weeds, but want professional help for other end-of-season tasks. Today I harvested some grasses and seedheads that might make interesting fall or Thanksgiving arrangements.
Plant material foraged from the landscape |
November 17, 2024
Thank goodness for professionals! We hired our landscape company's maintenance team to clean up the yard, and perform end-of-season tasks. I took notes to see what they removed and what they left in the garden to overwinter. The weeds and annuals are gone, and plants and shrubs are groomed and trimmed up.
End-of-season clean up! |
November 20, 2024
Turns out, the Bearded Flatsedge mentioned in Field Notes for October is an invasive species in our area. We've never had one in our garden before, so it was a surprise to find it. We pulled the plants so they won't get a foothold in the garden (but enjoyed having the chance to observe them while it grew)!
Invasive Species - Bearded Flatsedge |