The Daily: 26 May 26

There are still tomatoes in the guest bedroom... We had a frost Friday morning, coincidentally the first 15-hour day of the growing season. Friday's high temperature was 45°F, which is technically warm enough for the nightshades, but they get cranky. Official wisdom says that "irreversible" damage can happen at temperatures below 50° and frost will… Continue reading The Daily: 26 May 26

The Daily: 25 July 25

The Romans had concerns about drought at this time of year. Three very old festivals were grouped together at the end of July to honor deities who presided over watery things. The first was the Lucaria, the clearing of the groves. This was an ancient observance even in Varro's time (116-27 BCE), and little is… Continue reading The Daily: 25 July 25

The Daily: 25 July 2024

The Romans had concerns about drought at this time of year. Three very old festivals were grouped together at the end of July to honor deities who presided over watery things. The first was the Lucaria, the clearing of the groves. This was an ancient observance even in Varro's time (116-27 BCE), and little is… Continue reading The Daily: 25 July 2024

The Daily: 3 July 2024

Things to look forward to... visiting a museum The Dog Days begin today. This is when Sol and Sirius shine together all day long, creating blast-furnace heat. Or maybe that's just carbon... Either way, it is the hottest time of the year in northern climes. My mother keeps calling to tell me the latest and… Continue reading The Daily: 3 July 2024