permaculture

[Lisa Rollens <rollens@fidnet.com>]

Oh my, Lawrence....this just goes to show differences in different parts of 
the country.  Serecia is all over the place here in the Ozarks, mostly 
started by plantings by the road workers.  We all hate it and try desperately 
to get rid of it.  Like you said, it takes over a field, and, even tho it 
does fix N2, it is mostly worthless for grazing, except for goat pasture.  As 
a matter of fact,  I was just talking to a neighbor about Bermuda grass, and 
wondering if it would crowd serecia out.  Bermuda grass is very valuable here 
because all the other cool season grasses go dormant in the heat and droughty 
conditions.  My animals would have starved this summer without patches of 
Bermuda here and there in the fields!!  NOBODY here would ever consider 
planting serecia!!!  Just goes to show you......

Lisa



On Sep 30, 2011, at 8:54 PM, Lawrence F. London, Jr. wrote:

> 
> Interesting observations in the field and forest - during late afternoon 
> walkabout.
> 
> 1) Control of invasive Bermuda Grass is possible using interplanting
> or overseeding of lespedeza, maybe sericea lespedeza, a perennial:
> "Sericea lespedeza spreads primarily by seeds. The method of seed 
> dispersal is probably by animals." (wind or runoff).
> This is a wonderful plant. It can take over a field as it provides 
> fertility through fixation of atmospheric nitrogen. It will outcompete 
> many plants that become problems for farmers or gardeners, i.e. Johnson 
> grass, Bermuda grass, redroot pigweed, winter ryegrass, fescue grass, 
> crabgrass and many other "weeds" (compostable). It has done this for me
> in a large field I have left fallow and I am grateful for it. I think I 
> have it from a deliberate planting I made a long time ago. I bought a 
> bag of sericea lespedeza and spread it over about .5 acre. It is 
> extremely hardy resisting cold, heat, prolonged rainfall and drought.
> It will thrive in poor, dry, compacted, unfertilized soil where you 
> often find Bermuda growing. I am watching an unwanted patch of Bermuda 
> disappear within an ever spreading stand of Lespedeza.
> 
> 2) As I was looking at the new lespedeza sprouts I noticed a large, 
> spreading spider web nearby, spanning the entire forest opening into a 
> small glade. It was some unidentified harmless brown spider, lovely to 
> look at. I focused my flashlight on bright beam on the web and saw the 
> spider very busily walking around the web. I then noticed that it was in 
> the act of spinning the web itself. I have never seen this before.
> It seems that, after connecting the long strands attached to nearby 
> branches all to a central point in the web, have laid a coarse series of 
> concentric spirals out to the web edges then, as I watched, started 
> inward, filling in the gaps with more rings in a more closely spaced 
> pattern. It was also interesting to note that the very central thee 
> inches of the web were made of thinner silk laid in very closely spaced 
> rings. It seemed to be a part of the web specially designed to attract 
> and catch prey as it had a small glob of white silk at the center of 
> this highly flexible section which, with the slightest wind or 
> vibration, would wobble in and out and vibrate, possibly looking like an 
> insect to some other unsuspecting predator. This section was so soft and 
> flexible that anything touching it would become immediately ensnared to 
> provide food for the host.
> 
> 3) Flashlight:
> (I have one of these and would not be without it - cheaper knockoffs are 
> a waste of money, Surefires always work when needed - a must have for 
> waling at night during poisonous snake season (now and until mid to late 
> October for me). Play it safe and never be wothout a good flashlight 
> when walking outside at night, and the brighter the better.
> reliable
> bright (200 lumens)
> durable (indestructable and waterproof)
> highly versatile and functional
> standard required gear for folks in poisonous snake country
> Best bargain going:
> Surefire  6XP Pro
> http://www.surefire.com/6PX-Pro
> Price:  $115.00
> Specifications        
> Max Output    200     .0      lumens
> Low Output / Runtime  15      .0      lumens / 45 hours
> Tactical Runtime*     2       .0      hours
> Length        5       .20     inches
> Bezel Diameter        1       .25     inches
> Weight w/Batteries    5       .2      ounces
> Batteries     2
> Description
> 6PX-B-BK
> The 6PX Pro's high-efficiency LED—virtually immune to failure since 
> there's no filament to burn out or break—provides two light output 
> levels: a brilliant, penetrating, perfectly pre-focused 200-lumen beam, 
> and a 15-lumen low-output setting that lets you greatly extend the 
> runtime per set of batteries, an invaluable option when you find 
> yourself miles from civilization. Press the tailcap switch for 
> momentary-on low, press further to click constant-on low, return to off 
> and press or click on again within two seconds for high. The 
> high-strength aerospace aluminum body is smoothly sculpted for a 
> comfortable, secure grip and is hard anodized to military specifications 
> for extreme resistance to scratches, abrasion, and corrosion. A 
> polycarbonate micro-textured reflector delivers a comparatively wider 
> beam with generous peripheral light. We also make a polymer-body version 
> of this light, the G2X Pro, and a single-output version with a tactical 
> tailcap switch, the 6PX Tactical.
> Features
>     Virtually indestructible LED emitter regulated to maximize light 
> output and runtime
>     Two output levels—high for maximum light, low for extended runtime
>     Precision micro-textured reflector creates smooth, optimized beam
>     Tough polycarbonate window resists impact
>     High-strength aerospace aluminum body, Mil-Spec hard-anodized for 
> extreme durability
>     Dual-output tailcap click switch—press for momentary-on low, click 
> for constant-on low, return to off then press or click again for high
>     Weatherproof—O-ring and gasket sealed
>     Includes high-energy 123A batteries with 10-year shelf life
> 
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