{"id":13494,"date":"2024-08-03T17:38:16","date_gmt":"2024-08-04T00:38:16","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/rocknponderosa.com\/?p=13494"},"modified":"2024-08-03T17:38:16","modified_gmt":"2024-08-04T00:38:16","slug":"critter-in-a-plum-tree","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/rocknponderosa.com\/?p=13494","title":{"rendered":"Critter in a Plum Tree"},"content":{"rendered":"

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\nI have two plum trees with a good crop this year. Two others not so much.
\nThe earliest ripening is Damson (small purple), next will be Shiro (yellow).
\nI’ve been watching the Damson fruit to harvest when ripe, but before the wind blows half to the ground.
\nIn parts of Europe, Slivovitz -fruit brandy\u2013
\n is made from Damson plums.
\n[ see Wikipedia page “Slivovitz ]
\nA simple and cheap drink can be made with a gallon glass container, nearly full of the little plums, a cup of sugar, and a bottle of vodka. Some folks suggest adding slices of lemon peel; some take the pits out. About Christmas time, the liquid will be tasteful and colorful. The year 2020 had a good crop and that is the use they were put to by friend Audrey. I think there will be sufficient plums this year for both of us to make a gallon.
\nWhile inspecting the tree, I found a critter. It was there the next day and gone the third. At least I haven’t found it, but it could still be there.
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\nOn the right edge of the photo there is a pink {not ripe} plum half hidden. Maybe the caterpillar found a cooler place.
\nThe EBRG airport reported 106\u00b0F Friday. Here it did not quite make 104\u00b0. At 9 pm, it in the low 80s. By morning, 70. Saturday has been ten degrees cooler. <\/p>\n

There has been smoke Friday from a grass fire about 20 miles south of me on the hills east of the Yakima River. It is not large and winds have been in my favor until Thursday evening. Now, again the wind is coming from the northwest and likely will clear the air by Saturday morning. Wind out of the northwest was 25 mph at 4:30 pm Saturday.
\nHere is a map of active or recent fires and a photo of the type of stuff burning. The photo shows the Swawilla Fire about 100 miles northwest of Spokane. Nearest to me was 25 miles south and now contained.
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\nThe western US has Cheatgrass \u2013 the yellow\/brown \u2013 and some places under Ponderosa Pines that litter the ground with needles, cones and branches. Under the trees there is more fuel and it all burns hotter. It grows rapidly in the spring, sets seeds, and dies, and burns.
\n “Cheat” was the reason fire got into the vineyard last year. My report is here:<\/p>\n

Cherries on sale & fire<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n