Marlis's WunderBlog

Last Updated: 6:54 PM GMT on October 11, 2009 — Last Comment: 8:51 PM GMT on October 11, 2009

	Rice Harvest in the Ebro delta

Posted by: Marlis, 6:52 PM GMT on October 11, 2009

this year I happened to be in the Ebro delta several times during the rice harvest. The weather was good and it looks like most of the rice is in the bins now-
Unlike in the old days where the planting and harvesting was done with manual labor, almost all the work is now done with modern equipment- adapted to the terrain and the condition of the fields- which is mostly wet and muddy....
this year it looked even muddier than last year- possibly because of several heavy rains prior to the harvest..

The combines run on partial caterpillar tracks- the mud is easily 2 to 3 ft deep, so good traction is important.

rice in the Ebro delta

Updated: 6:54 PM GMT on October 11, 2009

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	higs and lows

Posted by: Marlis, 5:50 PM GMT on October 05, 2009

Weatherman, I hope this is WRONG:Thursday NightScattered Clouds. Low: 16 °C . Wind WNW 14 km/h . FridayClear. High: 26 °C . Wind North 14 km/h . Friday NightHaze. Low: -491 °C . Wind SSW 14 km/h . SaturdayHaze. High: 24 °C . Wind WNW 18 km/h . Saturday NightHaze. Low: -999 °C . Wind NW 18 km/h . SundayClear. High: 26 °C . Wind NW 18 km/h . Sunday NightHaze. Low: -999 °C . Wind NW 14 km/h . this weeks forecast- all my favorite cities show the same extreme temp...

Scilla autumnalis

narcissus

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Updated: 5:52 PM GMT on October 05, 2009

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	long summer

Posted by: Marlis, 7:41 AM GMT on July 14, 2009

this year the summer started in May- and be haven't had a real break from the heat-.Last week the temps dipped down to a nighttime low of 21C and boy did it ever feel nice.....anything below 30C during the day feels not too bad.The crops are ripe early this year.In places the farmers are prohibited to use combines because of the danger of fire- large area of wheat have been burnt in the Lerida area.The farmers look out for thunderstorms with hail which could damage ...

Updated: 7:44 AM GMT on July 14, 2009

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	climate changes

Posted by: Marlis, 2:15 PM GMT on June 20, 2009

climate change is always a good conversation topic - in Canada where I lived for many years, it was THE conversation topic- period. People's lives depended on accurate forecast- traveling during a blizzard is almost suicidal... for farmers it meant a 'make or brake' situation, year after year.When we moved to Spain, I soon found out that people out in the country also are tuned to the weather and climate- .Prolonged droughts.... even the olive trees started to suff...

sunrise today

tonight's sunset

who let the genie.....

storm cell

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Updated: 2:16 PM GMT on June 20, 2009

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	Ebro Delta

Posted by: Marlis, 3:14 PM GMT on June 19, 2009

I visited the Ebro delta a few days ago and had a look at the rice crops. Many fields are still under water, but the draining has begun. The Ebro delta is one of the important rice growing areas in Spain. Farmers are growing about 12 different kinds of rice- 8 of which are local varieties.The fields are cultivated in early spring, seeding happens in and around May. Rice is now seeded, rather than planted as in the old days.The fields must be flooded and drained seve...