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In the Garden
A wasp works wonders for Smyrna figs M
y barely heated greenhouse kept me in fresh figs well into fall, but decreased light and increased cold have made those juicy, ambrosial fruits a mere memory. Now I go to the store and purchase dried figs, to me a totally different fruit: super-sweet, a bit crunchy and, of course, not at all juicy. It’s winter, and plants no longer clamor for attention, so let’s focus on that crunchiness of dried figs. It comes from seeds, which I would never find in my own figs’ fruits. Botanically speaking, those “seeds” are the real fig fruits. What we commonly call a fig “fruit” is actually a hollow stalk whose inner wall is lined with the true fruits. (With that disclaimer off my chest, I’m going back to calling the hollow stem a “fruit” and the crunchy LEE REICH things inside the “seeds.”) Those seeds result from pollination, which is no small feat for what might be thought of as an inside-out fruit. For most kinds of fruits to develop, pollen from a male flower, or the male part of a bisexual flower, must first be dusted onto the female part of the flower. But Smyrna — the most commonly sold variety of dried fig — has no pollen. A WASP IS PRESSED INTO SERVICE Fig pollination is brought about by pressing into service a tiny wasp. Smyrna fig trees were introduced into California in the 1880s, but until fig pollination was understood, all the figlets on California’s first fig trees merely dropped to the ground before swelling. Mediterranean farmers long ago discovered that Smyrna fig trees could be made fruitful by hanging among their branches fruits of inedible, so-called wild goat figs, or caprifigs. The caprifigs supply the needed pollen, which is carried into the developing Smyrna fruits by that tiny wasp. See Figs p. 2D
This undated photo shows fig fruits in New Paltz, N.Y. Depicted here are some of the many varieties of figs that do not have the specialized pollination needs of Smyrna figs, so can be grown over a much wider range, even in New York. From left, top row, are Celeste, San Piero and Brown Turkey. Bottom row, from left, are Bethlehem Black and Kadota. (Lee Reich via AP)
This undated photo provided by The Monacelli Press shows an outdoor dining space at the Viceroy Santa Monica, in Santa Monica, Calif. While cabanas are usually set up poolside for lounging, one could be set up in a backyard with a table and chairs to enjoy outdoor meals. The photo is featured in the book “Hotel Chic at Home” by Sara Bliss. (AP photo)
How to bring By KATHERINE ROTH Associated Press Inspired by the interiors of boutique hotels around the world, author Sara Bliss wanted to share easy and affordable tips on how to bring that style home. In “Hotel Chic at Home” (The Monacelli Press), she tries to capture the transformative power of travel, and that moment in a stylish hotel when you say to yourself, “Why can’t my life be more like this every day?” Bliss, author of seven books including “Exotic Style” and “The Thoroughly Modern Married Girl,” gathers design ideas from innovative small hotels, from Marrakech, Morocco to Palm Springs, California, and talks with some of the designers. She has chapters on subjects including foyers, lighting, dramatic walls and floors, and setting the scene with art. “Even the chicest hotels have the same issues as most homeowners — awkward spaces, cookiecutter architecture, lackluster views or dark rooms,” Bliss writes. “The difference is that hoteliers have figured out how to use design to solve those dilemmas — after all, they have to book every room, every night.” Here are highlights from an interview Bliss gave to The Associated Press:
hotel chic home
This undated photo provided by The Monacelli Press shows the cover of the book "Hotel Chic at Home" by Sara Bliss. (The Monacelli Press via AP) AP: What is it about these hotels that caught your imagination? BLISS: Boutique hotels have become incubators
What’s black & white and saves you lots of
on a budget, while setting an unforgettable mood. It’s a magical mix of feelSee Chic p. 2D
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2D The Mining Journal
Thursday, February 2, 2017
House to Home Mortgage Index 30-YEAR Rate-Fee/Pts.
15-YEAR Rate-Fee/Pt.
High rate
4.375
1
3.625
1
Low rate
3.875
1
3.125
1
Average rate
4.175
1
3.4
1
This graphic represents a Tuesday survey of regional lending institutions. Figures are based on rates at Range Bank, Northern Michigan Bank, mBank, Marquette Community Federal Credit Union and TruNorth Credit Union.
Above, this undated photo provided by The Monacelli Press shows the Casas Del XVI in the Dominican Republic. The space is a great example of how to make a bold color statement work for real life. The conversation-starting poppy red hue avoids being overwhelming by pairing it with shades of brown. The photo is featured in the book “Hotel Chic at Home” by Sara Bliss. Below, this undated photo provided by The Monacelli Press shows detail of a bathroom in the Unicorno Garden Suite at the Borgo Santo Pietro hotel in Tuscany, Italy. Accessories specifically designed for a bathroom tend to be cold and clinical. But in this charming Italian hotel, romantic and elegant accessories like art, curtains, and lighting add warmth to the space. (The Monacelli Press via AP)
Ch ic from 1D
This Dec. 6 photo shows a house for sale in Coral Gables, Fla. U.S. home prices marched steadily higher in November, pushed up by healthy demand for homes and a shrinking supply of available properties, according to information released Tuesday in the Standard & Poor’s CoreLogic Case-Shiller 20-city home index. (AP photo)
US home prices rise 5.3 pct. amid solid demand, tight supply By CHRISTOPHER S. RUGABER AP Economics Writer WASHINGTON — U.S. home prices marched steadily higher in November, pushed up by healthy demand for homes and a shrinking supply of available properties. The Standard & Poor’s CoreLogic CaseShiller 20-city home index, released Tuesday , rose 5.3 percent, slightly faster than October’s gain of 5.1 percent. So far, home sales have remained healthy even as mortgage rates have risen, suggesting homebuyers are trying to lock down purchases before rates increase further. Americans bought existing homes at the fastest pace in nearly a decade in November. Yet the number of homes for sale has fallen to a 17-year low, fueling bidding wars in many cities. Prices in Seattle jumped 10.4 percent in November from a year earlier, the biggest gain among the 20 cities tracked by the index. Portland followed with a 10.1 percent gain. Denver reported an 8.7 percent increase. The Case-Shiller index covers roughly half of U.S. homes. The index measures prices compared with those in January 2000 and creates a three-month moving average. The November figures are the latest available. Svenja Gudell, chief economist at housing data provider Zillow, said some relief from higher prices may be on the horizon. Rising mortgage rates and a leveling off of rents in many cities could cool demand for
Figs
from 1D
The wasp is called Blastophagus, and her work is called caprification. Blastophagus’ eggs, as many as 600 in a single fruit, develop inside the caprifigs. At certain times of year, which correspond with caprifig fruit development, male wasps awaken, fertilize still-sleeping female pupae, and then die without ever leaving the caprifigs. Female wasps emerge soon after, just when the male caprifig flowers are shedding pollen. As the wasps wend their way out of the caprifigs, they inadvertently pick up pollen.
THE WASP IS TRICKED Once outside a caprifig, Ms. Blastophagus begins searching for an unpopulated caprifig in which to deposit her eggs, and here is where human trickery
homes in the coming months, potentially slowing price gains. The flattening of rents could also encourage developers to build more single-family homes rather than apartment buildings, which would provide more choices to potential buyers. “These emerging trends could start impacting the market in time for the busy spring and summer home shopping season, and bear watching,” Gudell said. Sales of both new and existing homes slipped in December after posting solid gains in November. But the number of Americans signing contracts to buy homes climbed last month, a sign that sales may soon increase. A signed contract is usually followed a month or two later by a closed sale. Steady job growth and modest wage gains have helped fuel a rebound in home sales and prices following the housing bust that began in late 2006. Home prices nationwide began to rebound in 2012 and by some measures fully recovered to their pre-recession levels in September. Low mortgage rates have been critical to the recovery. The average 30-year fixed mortgage fell below 4.5 percent in 2011 and averaged just 3.65 percent for all of last year. They have risen since the election as investors have pushed up interest rates on expectations of faster growth. The 30-year fixed averaged 4.19 percent last week, mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said, up from 4.09 percent the week before.
intervenes. Caprifigs, which are grown in separate orchards, are gathered just before the female wasps see daylight and are hung among the branches of Smyrna fig trees. Ms. Blastophagus doesn’t know a caprifig from a Smyrna fig, so she works her way into the Smyrna fig’s eye. Unfortunately for her, the shape of Smyrna fig flowers makes egglaying impossible. Fig pollination occurs as she frantically moves from flower to flower trying to lay eggs. Eventually, the poor wasp dies from exhaustion. Most of the dead wasps are digested inside developing fruits, but you’ll occasionally find an intact one if you look closely. Of course, enough colonized caprifigs are left among the caprifig trees to perpetuate the wasp species. DISBELIEF GIVES WAY TO DELICIOUS FIGS
Given the intricate and synchronized relationship between the two plants and an insect, it’s no wonder that a couple of decades elapsed before Californians were able to harvest their first ripe Smyrna fruits. At first, the idea of caprification was considered preposterous, the hanging of caprifigs in the trees mere peasant superstition. Horticulturalist Dr. Gustave Eisen reported that he was “hooted down and some of the mob whistled” when he announced, at a horticultural meeting in 1887, his findings on caprification. Fortunately for those of us who live where the climate is not conducive to caprification, many varieties of figs bear fruit without any pollination whatsoever. But for dried figs, Smyrna is one of the best. For better or worse, my figs, which are delicious fresh but not dried, are also seedless.
ing both transported and at home, and there are plenty of ideas that can easily be adapted at home. One of the things I love about these hotels is that they are pretty fearless in their design choices. We could all get more comfortable with the idea of having confidence in our design choices. AP: Is it important to stick to a single theme throughout when planning a design redo at home? BLISS: Mixing up inspiration from Africa and France and Morocco is perfectly OK. It’s coolest when it’s organic and reflects things you love.. Big, crazy design ideas are
sometimes too fun to talk yourself out of — and they’ll always be memorable and meaningful. AP: Can you suggest some quick and affordable ways to add glamour to a room? BLISS: Cubes painted shiny gold would glam up any room as side tables. And for walls, I love dark colors. So many of the hotels I visited feature a beautiful dark space lit by in the candlelight evenings. If painting an entire room is too much, employing stencils or graphics, even on a single surface, like a wall or ceiling, can have big impact. AP: Any suggestions for making garden spaces more inviting? BLISS: Consider colorful blankets or poufs, and
also eye-catching cabanas to create an inviting seating area. And lining up lanterns with tiny candles inside makes everything look magical, especially at night. A row of lanterns along walkways or at entrances, or even along tables as a centerpiece, really sets the mood. AP: What about jazzing up powder rooms? BLISS: For bathrooms, you always want to have fresh flowers and maybe a votive or two, and fragrant little soaps. A fabulous and unexpected light fixture can instantly transform a bathroom into a memorable space. Consider a crystal chandelier, framed art or velvet curtains. Be brave. Don’t be afraid to go for that extra dash of glamour.
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