Arizona Chickens

[squeakyballs]

Well, I'm certainly no expert, having had my apples (Fuji, Anna, Golden Dorsett) for only a year; you guys have more experience with them than I. Good questions Kev, I have the same ones. I was wondering what was going to happen myself, even after that terrible stretch of freezing temps, my apples still have most of their leaves! That really surprised me. There are some yellowing, but if they didn't fall after several nights below 20 degrees I wonder if they will. Interestingly, yesterday I looked at the apples at our big nursery here in Tucson and they don't have any leaves. Maybe it's because they're in pots? I actually meant to ask someone there about it, but forgot. Mahonri, that's interesting that yours didn't drop it's leaves but still produced. I was thinking back to Kev's problem with it last year and wondering if mine would do the same. Maybe not? This might be worth a call to the County Cooperative Extension. I'll bet someone there will know. I'll check tomorrow.

As an aside, my Arctic Star nectarine still has most of it's leaves! All the other stone fruits lost their leaves long ago, but this one is still going strong. Weird.

I planted two apple trees last year as an experiment, a Fuji and a Pink Lady. Dave Wilson Nursery has an article about how they might not need as many chill hours as previously thought, so we thought we'd give them a try. Our Fuji apple has lost all but half a dozen leaves, but the Pink Lady is still green and happy.

Mahornri's comment gives me hope for the Pink Lady. Gallo, I hope you call! I'd love to know what they say.

From the article:

Fuji: "Once thought to require high chill, Fuji has proven itself as a reliable producer throughout the low-chill southwest. We now rate it at less than 500 chill hours and for all practical purposes it should be considered in the 200 to 400 hour range."

Pink Lady: With a chilling requirement similar to Fuji at 200 to 400 hours, Pink Lady has proven itself throughout the southwest from the cool costal zones to the hottest deserts.

http://www.davewilson.com/homegrown/all_tom/tomPicks.html

 

[Gallo del Cielo]

I was dimly aware of that project, but after reading those pages I really regret not having gotten a few of those trees.

 

[cluckin_crazy]

I want to use a nipple waterer this time around... Does anyone have some I can buy?

 

[City farm]

Ok I did try a different way to cut & paste a photo with no luck..
Does anyone know that app for iPhone?

 

[Mama Hen Chris]

Mama Hen Chris, Lovely family! It seems so unusual that you've known your DIL since she was a baby, especially in modern times with such large cities and folks moving around so much. The chances of them ending up together seem so small.

Thank you G. Met my future dil when we lived in Simi Valley, CA. My son and her older sister started Kindegarten together. Samantha was just under a year old and Lauren was about 19 months old. We moved back to AZ in 94 right before the Northridge earthquake. We all kept in touch and but the kids didn't see each other often. They eventually moved to AZ and Michael and Samantha became good friends. Between school and dating others, they got together and the rest is history.

Found a couple pics of them.
Taken in Simi Valley

future sister-in-laws






Stephanie and Little Samantha, Michael and Little Lauren
Who knew then??


a visit to AZ ..seems they pose this way in every pic

 

[Arizonachicken]

Mama Hen Chris: that is such a neat story! Thanks for sharing!

 

[Mahonri]

OK, it's happened for the fourth time now.

About every three days, my FBCMarans lays TWO eggs at a time. Usually one that's hard shelled and dark and I'm guessing the 2nd is soft shelled and light.

Anyone ever heard of anything like this?

 

[rufus]

Well, this afternoon I was putting together a potato tower. It is a way of growing potatoes in old tires, bales of hay, bags or boxes. I saw it done on Youtube, so I thought I would try it. I tried to raise potatoes in the ground last year. I buried 14 potatoes and got back one, plus a real potato like rock. So, I figure I am down 13 potatoes.

Anyway, as I was working on the project, suddenly feathers started to rain down on me. I looked up, and there about seventy foot above in my Aleppo Pine a Harris hawk was plucking a pigeon. It took about an hour to complete the meal.

It looks like they are back for another winter. No free ranging now.

 

[Mama Hen Chris]

Mama Hen Chris: that is such a neat story! Thanks for sharing!

You are welcome...Michael and Samantha will be married 2 years this June. Michael will be finished with his 4 years in the Navy in March and home for good. He decided not to reenlist as he hurt his spine in different incidents being an aircraft mechanic. Samantha is a kindegarten teacher at Manzanita elementary school.

 

[Gallo del Cielo]

Quote:
That was such an incredible story, it seems like the odds of them ending up together were even smaller than I imagined! My brother was an aircraft mechanic in the Air Force for nearly 30 years before retiring from the military. That occupation is surprisingly tough on the body; he's a mess. And how sweet is it that Samantha is a kindergarten teacher!?!