Chitedze Agricultural Research Station

The research station has been operating quite some time
from what I understand. The size of these trees
seems to bear that out.

The tower at the main complex is to the right

of the trees, and you can see a man walking along
the road for a comparison.


The gardener who takes care of our area does
a nice job with the roses.

Still rainy season

It is raining every two or three days still. The maize should
do well this year. The maize (corn) is similar to what
we grow in the US, except that it is white corn and
goes to feed people.

The crows, however, are different. They have a ring of white
feathers around their neck and down their chest. They act the
same as US crows do, except that they love to bathe
in the hotel fountain.

I took my camera to work a couple of days ago. These are taken
about seven in the morning. The roads are full of people
going to work, kids going to school, etc. Most
people walk most places, the lucky few get to ride.

The guys at left are driving cattle to graze and
the guys at right have a bike-load of kindling
wood. Most people still cook with wood and
buy it a few sticks at a time.

It is cheaper than electrical hookups, plus Malawi
has a power station down for repairs, and is
not producing enough for demand, now.
Most of us have an hour a day without
electricity. It also plays havoc with computer
and cell phone connections.

New Malawi Pictures

I am in a hotel for a few days while househunting. It is very nice,
and the grounds are beautiful. We are in the rainy season,
and everything is lush and green.

ICRAF is located on Chitedze research station, just outside Lilongwe.
The grounds are also pretty, and we are surrounded by research
plots and mango trees.

Snow on Spring

Did I say that it could still snow?

Yes, spring can turn to winter in a day (and for a day)!

Snow on the forsythia.

I will travel to Malawi on Sunday, so postings will be scarce
for a few weeks(then there will be postings from Malawi).

Fully Spring

Well, spring has stopped peeking around corners, and is finally walking on public sidewalks. Fruit trees all over town are in bloom, and thousands of bees are tumbling happily
through the blossoms.

It took a bit of patience to get a photo of a happy bee.

It was warm the day before all the blossoms opened. Yes, this temperature is legit, but it is from the warmest corner of the east face of the house.

More spring in Texas

More warm weather, more flowers! This geranium
sits on the east side of the house, and the brick
captures a lot of heat
daffodils next door


peach buds ready to burst

Yes, I know, I promised pictures from Malawi. Whenever we get the
travel delays worked through, I will post pictures from Malawi, I promise!.