Rainy, cool weather is Downy Mildew weather. So, with all of the rain and flooding in the Southeast over the last few days, it seems to be an appropriate topic.
HOW TO IDENTIFYDowny mildew got its name because when it is sporulating (the fungal equivalent of fruit), the spores make a fluffy white mat on the undersides of the leaves. This Black-Eyed Susan leaf has a terrible infection:
When you turn the leaf over, you can see that it is purple in the infected areas. That's because the fungus really lives on the
inside of the leaf, taking nutrients from the cells. When areas on the leaves turn purple, it is a signal that the chlorophyll and sugars have been used by the fungus.
One of the interesting things about the fungus that causes Downy Mildew is that it is bound by leaf veins. That means that it creates angular leaf spots, like on this Butterfly Bush:
Downy Mildew is a common disease of Roses during the fall and spring. If the infection is bad, the entire plant will quickly defoliate. Cool, foggy and wet weather is the trigger for this disease.
MANAGING DOWNY MILDEWThe best way to control this disease is to keep the leaves dry. Use drip irrigation, if possible. When using sprinklers to irrigate, water early in the day so that the leaves can dry before nightfall.
Plant mildew-susceptible plants in areas where there is good air circulation (this lowers the humidity). And rake up fallen leaves in the winter.
Some varieties are more susceptible than others- so choose strong plants. For example, yellow and white flowering roses are typically more prone to Downy Mildew than other colors.
UP CLOSEI haven't really shown my dorky side in a while and I'm feeling a little repressed. So, I want to show you what the spores look like up close (this is how I identify a fungus). I love this one, because the part that makes the spores (sporangiophores) look like deer antlers! At the tips, round spores are formed:
The spores splash in water droplets from plant-to-plant, causing new infections. Wow, right?
I don't have much leeway in choosing when to go on long rides, so lately I've been doing my "tour training rides" in the rain. The first time getting caught in the rain was an accident: the forecast said no rain, but it lied - and 13 miles from home the downpour began, "baptising" my Sam Hillborne and teaching me a thing or two about how to make a rainy tour comfortable. Since then I have not really been resisting rain, but enjoying the empty roads and the fresh air it brings.
My old "lobsterman yellow" waterproof windbreaker. If you are horrified by the neon, I will explain that I see touring in the rain as different from transportation cycling. The latter is a relatively short, urban ride for me on an upright bicycle, and I wear my regular clothing. If it is raining, I wear my trenchcoat and that keeps me dry. I turn on my lights and that keeps me visible. For long-distance rides, I feel that this is not enough - because I cycle through rural areas where my bike and I blend into the landscape much more than in the city. When it is raining, I am practically invisible to cars traveling at high speeds, and in the daytime lights are not always sufficient. So I feel safer wearing brightly coloured clothing in this context.
Having observed the visibility of other cyclists, I would say that bright yellow and red look especially striking against the green-gray backdrop of woodsy and countryside areas. Other popular colours - like purple, turquoise, pink and green - not as much, even if they are neon.
My lobsterman windbreaker is falling apart from old age, so I am looking for a new rain jacket that is specifically designed for long-distance cycling: long in the back and form-fitting around the torso to prevent billowing. And I'd like it to be red. Haven't had any luck so far, and most of the ones I've tried in bike stores seemed ill-fitting. But I will keep looking and welcome any suggestions.
Just about the only thing saving my sanity during the awful heatwave we are having in Vienna, is the splendid and beautiful Danube. The Danube River and the Danube Canal run through the length of the city, and the bicycle paths along them are extremely useful for travel from one neighborhood to another. The streets of Vienna may be choking with exhaust fumes and the asphalt may be melting from the heat, but the cycle paths by the river are leafy and breezy. And they can take you from the center of town to the serene countryside in as little as 30 minutes!
A couple of days ago, Anna (from 
The Charles Shuder Family plot in North Webster Cemetery, Tippecanoe Township, Kosciusko County, Indiana. It is in the same row as that of his parents, Isaac and Nancy Shuder, and two of his brothers.
