When Tenzing Norgay and Edmund Hillary reached the summit of Mount Everest in May 1953, a courier named Ten Tsewang Sherpa ran 200 miles to the British Embassy in Kathmandu to deliver the news. A few weeks later, he died. Outside's contributing editor, Peter Frick-Wright, went to Nepal to meet his family, figure out what happened, and tell his extraordinary story. [Article may be paywalled]
Strongly considering collecting seeds and planting these around trees as revenge on squirrels for digging up seedlings and stealing fruit. 😈… 🐿️🐿️🐿️😱☠️
@jblue@plants
This is my best shot of the closely related Macroglossum stellatarum. (in Dutch: "kolibrievlinder" => 'hummingbird butterfly'). (also member of Sphingidae family)
Not an award-winning photo either🤭 .
Mit anderen Menschen in den Bergen hoch über den Tälern solche Momente zu teilen ist einfach einmalig. Der Sonnenuntergang ließ mich die Stille genießen ☺️ 😍
Meine heutige Strecke: Hofgarten - Kaiserswerth #Düsseldorf#Wandern#Hiking. Jetzt unterwegs mit der U-Bahn zur Pempelforther Str., wo es für mich los geht
Aralia spinosa, devil’s walking stick: leaf buds and mature leaves are edible. Buds taste like broccoli/brussel sprouts (w/o bitterness), leaves taste like salad green + asafoetida. Dried berries give me slight allergic reaction but ppl use it as a pepper substitute.
@johntimaeus@plants I collected the berries in winter after they were mostly dried. It says online that they are safe after cooking so I microwaved a few berries but still got a mild allergic reaction: slight itchiness on contact so I spit them out.
I kinda wanted to make a wall of thorns as revenge on squirrels and to keep ppl from stepping on the front lawn/native plant space but none of the seeds I cold-stratified germinated. Oh well.
Itchiness on contact is a very good warning. I got some peppervine berries accidentally (the vines intertwined with grape). Bit into one, great flavor, perfectly sweet. Fortunately remembered the count to thirty before swallowing rule. Oxalic pins and needles started around ten.
The #Drakensberg#Mountains, meaning '#Dragon Mountains' in #Afrikaans, are the #highest mountains in #SouthAfrica, ranging up to 3,482 m (11,422 ft) in height.
In #isi-Zulu the language of the #Zulu People, they are called " #uKhahlamba ", the 'barrier of spears'. They are located in the eastern part of South Africa, running for some 1000 km (600 mi) generally southwest to northeast, with a northwesterly bend forming the northeastern border of #Lesotho with South Africa.
They are drained on the west by the Orange and Vaal #rivers, and on the east and south by a number of smaller rivers, the Tugela being the largest. The #range thus separates KwaZulu-Natal Province from Free State #Province, looming over the nearby coast of #Natal.
But don't let the formidable names put you off. Cosy inns, characterful #hotels and #wonderful#wayside pubs create an ambience of comfort and country homeliness in the shadow of the High Berg. The nearest major city to the Drakensberg is #Pietermaritzburg and #Durban is a drive of only a few hours away.
It's a popular #hiking destination. There are lots of lovely day #walks and the more #energetic could hike out for a few days or even a few weeks. The Drakensberg Traverse is quite difficult, but for those who have the time, inclination, energy and equipment, this 300km (180 mile) hike is a challenge and a delight.
New #introduction post on changing instances: Hi all! I'm an English professor at a university in southwest #Japan. I've lived in #Fukuoka about half my life now. I'm married, with 3 grown stepkids and EIGHT grandkids, all living within a couple hours drive. I love walking and #hiking, playing #TTRPGs, #nature#photography, #dogs, #literature, #scienceFiction, and more. I've been on Mastodon for about 2½ years. Nice to meet you!