(I was looking for an old cartoon we haven’t seen in a while when I ran up on this post, from four years ago this month. I figured I’d share the entire post with you and give you an update: the olive trees didn’t make it. The olive trees didn’t nearly make it.)
Tonight, we’re supposed to get the coolest weather of the season so far in my neck of the woods. It might frost, which would be about on schedule. Remember the olive trees? They’ll be facing their first winter outdoors. I think if they survive a couple of winters, they’ll have a chance. The problem with where I live in Zone 8 (Refer to the above link for a refresher in all that.) is that many tropical and sub-tropical plants—citrus plants for example—would thrive year-round 99 percent of the time, but sooner or later will come that two or three days in winter when the temperature hovers near zero. Then, it’s game-over for many plants that may have been perfectly happy for years. Olive trees could be another example. I’ll keep you posted.
198 responses to “Olive Pits”
Here’s a germane question. What’s a drupe?
And a germane observation. Trusting any single “news” source for *any* information has become an exceedingly risky thing to do.
I like the idea of olive-flavored ice, perhaps as cubes; might give a drink a special aura, if that’s the word. Ripe olives would be subtle in some drinks, and green ones for others. The drinks could be alcoholic or vegetable-based, but I am not so sure fruit-based would be good.
Interesting to contemplate.
Green-olive flavored OJ? No thanks.
A drupe [expect it’s online, but have not looked] is a simple fruit with a stony endocarp housing a single seed. The endocarp is the inner layer of a [often edible] fleshy fruit, but the endocarp is a hard, probably cellulose + lignin coat around the seed. Good examples are some or all members of the Prunaceae: plum, cherry, peach, and also the individual spheres that make up raspberries and such. Those hard bits that stick in your teeth are stones. Botanists don’t like to call those things pits, because pit refers to other structures in flowering plants. Now I’ll go see if Wiki like my definition.
Peace,
Ghost, a stoney subject. The easy answer, peach and all the likewise put together fruits. But there are enough fringe items that I would defer to a better definition from Wikipedia. I think many nuts and berries are included that seem surprising until you learn more about how they grow.
Mark, if my message came across as taking offense from you, then I again must apologize for not communicating more clearly. I do not believe you crafted The Hill’s webpage, sold them advertising, or had editorial control over the final package. And I think the article was an excellent response, from the little I gleaned. The title of the link admitted the request was refused initially, while the body went on to explain that as the situation developed further the policy was adapted. If I had read further, perhaps it would have compared timelines of decisions across the three hurricane incidences as well, I do not know.
c ex-p, I like the way you think. A tipple would be lovely, about now. Apologies to anyone for the mention of alcohol, if that is also required.
A refresh shows, emb responded with the drupe info. as well, with similar result. Cheers.
Afterthought, Ghost, if you had a pun going on germane/germinate/seeds, I missed it. oops
Morphy, no, I didn’t think I had offended you. I was apologizing to anyone I might have accidentally offended in responding to A’s comments. Normally I’m a little more tactful, but I thought if it wanted something thrown back I would give it what it wanted.
It, because Anonymous is just that, without gender.
Mark, makes sense. Yours was followed by Charlotte’s, perhaps I conflated the intended directions by reading to quickly. Acknowledge the gender observation, I was typing along and stumbled at the [s]he ambiguity. Thought I would be sensitive to an assumed-by-me-preference on its behalf. Your distinction makes sense as well.
Well, the woman formerly known as anonymous has been lying in bed napping most of day while being waited on hand and foot (he took me for a manicure and pedicure today). My drains were hyperactive and producing too much surgical discharge so I got chastised by all and put on bedrest.
My personal domestic anti-terrorist made me a delicious chopped salad for lunch and a small steak with fresh peppers, onions and mushrooms plus green salad for dinner. Then cleaned kitchen immediately. All while heavily and legally armed. I love this man.
So do all my female friends along with my male ones but for differing reasons. He has a fan club.
Adrian in Oklahoma, where do you garden? I can’t get rhubarb to grow in Eufaula either.
Someone is going to clean out a garden bed of cucumbers and we are planting some radishes, lettuce, spinach and snow peas in it.
Jackie, seems to me that as far as drainage goes, well Shrek the ogre said, ‘better out than in’. Without knowing better, I’d say it shows you are well hydrated, and there is no blockage. Each is preferred to the opposite status. It is wonderful you receive such attentive care.
That sounds like a grand garden, and I wouldn’t be bothered much by the missing rhubarb.
“I didn’t get a harumph outa that guy!” Mel Brooks as the GOVernor, Blazing Saddles
The strange connections my mind makes. Rhubarb is a term for the background crowd noise that an audience expects from a large group of people. A scene is not staged right, it feels wrong, if a large group is silent. Mel Brookes directed Blazing Saddles. And while I don’t know for sure, I like to think that line was a crossover ad lib by the director from in front of the camera. The talent involved went with it, and gave Mel a nice payoff line. Or the boring version is the scene was written that way. It was developed out of previous dialog in either case.
Mark in TTown:
You echo my thoughts about the troll. We didn’t need that crud in here in the previous administration, and we don’t need it now.
Good morning.
Jackie, it’s very wet out there this morning. Hope you and Ghost don’t have to come to Tulsa. I know how bad those roads when it’s raining.
Never heard of National Taco Day before. Anyway, here’s a list of places with deals for the day: http://www.al.com/news/index.ssf/2017/10/national_taco_day_2017_deals_f.html#incart_river_home
Obviously a common problem: https://scontent-dft4-3.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/22195730_10155996814814734_6257327176372379803_n.jpg?oh=5fd31a7a907f533069d0353530c22f8f&oe=5A428A81
No hands? No problem:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bZJSy96wcrw
It’s true that I don’t feel the need to be anonymous, but unfortunately many people are determined to work against their own interest. They will listen to nothing but faux news. I’ve given up on pointing out the obvious. Hopefully some people are thinking about what’s happening these days. Ok, grab your guns and fire away.
Jerry: Some are what my nephew described as the “unpersuadables”. Sadly, he was talking about his mother.
I’m reasonably sure that all of us here in the Village are as “woke” as we care to be/desire to be, so, yes, let’s do give it a rest. Preferably, a permanent one.
It rained lightly most of the night in Eufaula, but according to the Red-Yellow-Green Picture Machine (aka Weather Radar) most of the precipitation in the area is north of us now. And fortunately, our only planned trip today is to carry Dickens to the pet groomer.
The output of Jackie’s surgical drains did decrease markedly yesterday when she was was less active. That is a Good Thing, as I hope drainage will decrease to the point that the drains can be removed at her next post-op surgeon visit next Monday. Although I do not mind tending to them (I kiddingly remind her everyday that she is lucky to have the least squeamish person she has likely ever known looking after her), the longer the lines stay in, the greater the possibility of a related infection.
The new part-time housekeeper has been a great help, both with helping Jackie and whipping the place back into shape. She has known and liked Jackie for some time, and she seems to like me OK, too. As Jackie says, I seem to be building a new fan club…or as I call it, a “harem”. ?
? = 🙂
Ain’t tablets great? 🙁
Ghost, it’s turning into a regular toad-strangler here in Tulsa. Good thing the 3 of you aren’t traveling far today. Hope it’s dry Friday. Got to go to the main VA hospital in Muskogee to get my new CPAP.
Mark: Two of the most helpful “buttons” in these time is the “mute” button and the “Scroll” button. Find something offensive, scroll right by it. Hear something offensive, mute it.
We had a dignified and calm discussion on one of my Facebook friend’s wall. Someone with an impressive education said something rather vile and he asked “How could someone post something like that?” My suggestion was lack of self control and/or censoring. I have had many unpleasant thoughts about some people. Some were dear friends and others in the media. But my Mom & Dad always taught me to take a deep breath and if a response is necessary, take your time and try to evaluate all of the repercussions. Well no one has killed me in a fit of rage (yet) so I must be doing something right!
That’s what I enjoy about this blog. If someone says something nasty or stupid. SCROLL! But we been good little kiddies for the most part. Love to all….
On another note, the State of Michigan seems to have found a possible cost saving idea to help improve our infrastructure. In the span of 1 week two different bridges have been hit by trucks, forcing the State to knock both down.
http://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/2017/09/28/bridge-brighton-rebuild-truck-crash/711552001/
Here is the second one:
http://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/detroit-city/2017/10/04/75-junction-closed-bridge-demolition/732004001/
Steve, down South it’s more often barges knocking river bridges askew. Or train derailments.
And I hear you on the two buttons. Believe me, I do!
A story of friendship and service:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jpoaig7YGBE