Quotes of the Day

"In this climate of serious issues, I am not going to go to bat over internal disputes in the berry community."

- Oregon state legislator Vicki Berger, whose bill to make the marionberry the official berry of Oregon was retired after a blackberry farmer complained.

"One would think this would be easy. Nothing in this process is easy. Ever."

- Ms. Berger again, quoted for truth.

Zah?

"someone save the contras for come to usa in mi"

I have no idea what this person was looking for in Google, but they found my blog.

All we got around here are asphalt sunfish

Man finds 53-pound grass carp on his lawn.

You thought that land shark thing was a joke, didn't you? Nope. They are very rare outside of their southern coastal ranges, but a land shark was recovered as far inland as Pittsburgh. Biologists suspect it was a pet released into the wild when it got too large to handle.

Grass carp are harmless to adults, but large specimens may pose a threat to smaller pets and toddlers. Grass carp prefer well-maintained lawns, so parks and lawns with crabgrass and dandelions are safest.

Dandelions, clover and other common flowering plants will attract the lovely, tiny blossom minnow. Look out for spawning season in late April, when shoals of blossom minnows sometimes writhe their way across suburban flowerbeds.

Even the most urban dweller can keep their eyes open for the asphalt sunfish. This common, hardy fish shimmers an attractive blue-green and makes good eating. (Baltimore and DC residents are advised not to eat locally-caught asphalt sunfish due to the risk of elevated lead levels.)