Support




Contact
Ace:
aceofspadeshq at gee mail.com
CBD:
cbd.aoshq at gee mail.com
Buck:
buck.throckmorton at protonmail.com
joe mannix:
mannix2024 at proton.me
MisHum:
petmorons at gee mail.com
Powered by
Movable Type





Saturday Gardening Thread: [KT]

Tulip Magnolia April 6 2018.JPG

Happy weekend, gardeners and friends of gardeners! The photo above is from a special person.

I read but have never commented on the garden threads, but I thought this might be a good time to start.

I have a rather large tulip magnolia that is quite magnificent (until the April winds destroy the blooms) and thought I'd share this with the horde!

I do enjoy the pictures of flowers but I have pretty much given up active gardening myself.

Regards
Hrothgar

That tree is impressive. And it is next to an impressive evergreen, too.

Update: I really wanted to show how the evergreen next to Hrothgar's magnolia sets it off, so I decided to pan out a little, from his original photo:

Tulip Magnol.JPG

Owl Updates

They grow up so fast! CaliGirl's update from this week:

The owls are getting big. The mom stays in the nest with them when it's cold. It was in the low 40s. It sprinkled a bit too in the morning.

And she sent videos! Some wing-flapping with Mom:

And mouse-eating:

Wow. Meanwhile, a neighbor friend gave me an owl. Surprised to find it in front of a snapdragon.

IMAG0135.jpg

CaliGirl has also sent some lovely camellia photos, which we will be featuring with photos from other members of The Horde. If you have any trees or shrubs you think are interesting, send in a photo!

Spring Kitchen Gardening and Farming

Special Rhubarb

A good friend sent along this piece on Growing Rhubarb in the Dark. Sounds like it produces superior rhubarb. Would take some space and patience. Not as much constant attention as some crops, I would imagine.

We have mentioned regular rhubarb before. You might recall that it grows on the banks of the Volga River. And that dried rhubarb was once more expensive than cinnamon. Note that the stalks contain malic acid, like apples. Not "malice acid". Don't comment on old threads. Keep the acid jokes on this one. Heh.

Forced rhubarb, which is made to mature in near total darkness, grows at such an alarming rate -- as much as an inch a day -- that it actually makes squeaks, creaks, and pops as it gets bigger. It makes for sweeter rhubarb, growers say, and sick beats.

"I'm not patient enough to sit in the building, but I have heard the noise before. Growing against each other. You really have to listen for it," says Brian French, a fifth-generation rhubarb grower and co-owner of the Lennox Farm in Melancthon, Ontario. . . .

The method of growing forced rhubarb dates back to the early 1800s, and continues in much the same way today. Farmers let the rhubarb grow out in the open for two years, as the roots collect and store calories. Then the plants are transplanted to lightless growing sheds around November, where they continue to grow -- warm, but out of season and in the dark. The rhubarb grows without photosynthesis, which normally makes the plant tough and fibrous. . . . The process also results in deep, red stalks, without the normal green shading.

I have never bee a big fan of rhubarb pie, but I like rhubarb stewed, with a little heavy cream, with or without fresh strawberries. I have noticed that the ends of the stalks near the base have superior texture. Perhaps where the stalks were protected from the sun, as in forced rhubarb?

Do you like rhubarb? How do you like to prepare it?

More on Strawberries

Here's a recipe and light-hearted video showing how to make Easy, Classic Strawberry Shortcake. The new detail here is browned butter.

I'm gonna try it. I would serve the biscuits warm. I would slightly crush the sliced or quartered berries. Maybe spread the warm biscuits with butter. And add more cream. Don't know about ice cream.

From the Spinach Tiger, a crumblier, more traditional shortcake dough. Says you can re-heat the biscuits in a microwave before assembling the shortcakes. This recipe calls for sweetened, whole berries, so I expect that it would be a good one to try with alpine or musk strawberries, which we have discussed recently. Don't comment on old treads.

shortkak.jpg

Or maybe with another type of small, pale strawberry, the pineberry. About the size of a nickel. Different from white or yellow alpine strawberries. Not self-pollinating. This one is planted with a red strawberry for pollination. Could be striking on shortcake in combination with blackberries.

pineberry.jpg

The Spinach Tiger link above also includes recipes for Strawberries and Cream Biscuits (fresh basil from your windowsill garden optional), Strawberry Blueberry Pie and Gluten-Free Strawberry Scones.

Strawberry-Basil-.jpg

Strawberry-Basil Biscuits at a Garden Party

Strawberry-cream biscuits with basil sounds a little odd to me, but if you're growing it, why not try it? I remember a salad with strawberries and mild diakon radishes, which also sounds odd, which was very good. You got any radishes growing?

Timely Tips

Gordon sent along a piece on the Curse of the Bradford Pear. I guess you really shouldn't plant this class of trees where there is enough water for them to grow on their own. They need to be pruned to a central leader. Some cultivars are better than others, if you are in the West.

Doesn't mean you can't plant fruiting pears, though.

It is rose-planting season for some and rose-pruning season for others. Hank Curmudgeon sends a warning that rose thorn punctures are dangerous. Gardening - not for the faint of heart!

Gardens of The Horde

We have had some pretty warm weather this week, some cold nights, high winds, hail in parts of the Valley, and a day of glory yesterday. How has the weather been treating you and your garden? Anything new going on?

If you would like to send information and/or photos for the Saturday Gardening Thread, the address is:

ktinthegarden
at g mail dot com

Include your nic unless you want to be a lurker.

Posted by: Open Blogger at 12:59 PM




Comments

(Jump to bottom of comments)

1 Good afternoon Snowmen and greenthumbs

Posted by: Skip at April 21, 2018 12:56 PM (aC6Sd)

2 dem owls tho...

Posted by: hogmartin at April 21, 2018 12:56 PM (y87Qq)

3 Trees are starting to flower though temps are hardly in the 60's, but I think they go by hrs of daylight unlike other plants. My Daffys just really came out this week.

Posted by: Skip at April 21, 2018 12:59 PM (aC6Sd)

4 This link isn't about gardening, but it involves the outdoors, trees, and nesting birds.

https://explore.org/livecams/birds/osprey-nest

They have nest cams for a lot of birds. Click the hummingbird nest cam and if the mom is away you will see two chicks. Last year these critters provided this dumb critter with a lot of intertainment. Sadly about half of the chicks from eagles to hummingbirds didn't survive. Nature is not kind.

Posted by: Jake Holenhead at April 21, 2018 01:09 PM (8EJVd)

5 Trump is a jerk and also dislikes s persons of color. He is not welcome in Brattleboro ....

Posted by: Mary Clogginstien from Brattleboro, VT at April 21, 2018 01:11 PM (qM84C)

6 We went through an afternoon tea phase a few years ago and I started making Smitten Kitchen's cream scones. They are great for strawberry shortcake, too.

Posted by: Art Rondolet of Malmsey at April 21, 2018 01:14 PM (S+f+m)

7 Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat food from it all the days of your life. It will produce thorns and thistles for you, and you will eat the plants of the field. By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return.

Posted by: Insomniac at April 21, 2018 01:15 PM (NWiLs)

8 Mr. L and i just came in from edging, mulching, and raking, as well as pruning and fertilizing the roses. The warmer weather has finally arrived, if you can call 60 degrees warm. We landscaped our backyard a few years ago. So much work then but now it is very easy to maintain. Sitting on the patio on a warm summer's evening is the highlight of my week. Other than grass cutting and a little weeding, it all takes care of itself. Plus we have a couple of wren houses to keep us entertained!
Thanks for the gardening thread. It's a real treat to see what everyone is growing!

Posted by: Mrs. Leggy at April 21, 2018 01:15 PM (g32Cf)

9 Took note lots of dead but hung up branches in my trees and a few limbs which are going into neighboring trees which I should take out.
Also my garden tractor isn't working so got new battery, going to replace gas left in it and see if I can get it running, cutting is another problem but get it running first.

Posted by: Skip at April 21, 2018 01:17 PM (aC6Sd)

10
I planted a Bradford Pear at my last house. Loved the tree, perfect for shade and privacy on the deck. After reading that article I assume the new owner of the house had to eventually get it removed. But for nearly ten years it was a great tree.

Posted by: Forgot My Nic at April 21, 2018 01:17 PM (LOgQ4)

11


"I have never bee a big fan of rhubarb pie, but I like rhubarb stewed,
with a little heavy cream, with or without fresh strawberries."

We had a rhubarb patch in our backyard when I was a kid and stewed rhubarb with strawberries was our usual summer dessert (my mom didn't make it with heavy cream, and sometimes I would add a little bit of cottage cheese to it. They went very well together. It was the only way I would eat cottage cheese when I was a child.) And we had homemake rhubarb and strawberry jam all winter long.

Sigh.

Posted by: Donna&&&&&&V sez don't you dare walk the damn pitcher at April 21, 2018 01:19 PM (H80UQ)

12 I want to remind everyone of the 3 rd annual Brattleboro "We Hate Trump" Day parade is less then 2 months away. Please join un us for this festival of lovers of hating TRump .

Posted by: Mary Clogginstien from Brattleboro, VT at April 21, 2018 01:19 PM (qM84C)

13 Jake Holenhead at April 21, 2018 01:09 PM

Thanks for the link. I am amazed that CaliGirl can get those videos of the owls. And special thanks to CBD for formatting them for AoSHQ. Not always problem-free.

Posted by: KTbarthedoor at April 21, 2018 01:20 PM (BVQ+1)

14 My maternal grandparents had rhubarb on the north side of their house. And they had cold storage and other outbuildings. Bet they could have forced some rhubarb.

Posted by: KTbarthedoor at April 21, 2018 01:22 PM (BVQ+1)

15 Forgot My Nic at April 21, 2018 01:17 PM

Bradford Pears are beautiful. But they have a tendency to shatter in storms if not pruned properly. I went to a lecture on pruning street trees once. It's a big deal to prevent Y-crotches in ornamental trees.

Don't think the seedling thing is a big problem in the arid parts of the West. Some relatives of the Bradford Pear are still recommended here. There are some huge old trees in Fresno.

Posted by: KTbarthedoor at April 21, 2018 01:29 PM (BVQ+1)

16 the owls are getting big ... my little chicks have been next to my computer for a week now and are noticeably bigger. I'd planned to wait till next year but Farm and Home had them, so I impulse bought them and the chick paraphernalia ... 2 Buff Orpingtons and 6 Golden laced Wynadottes chirping in a box. (wish I'd included 3 white laced, but oh well).

Some old fencing that was in a ditch was too old for cows, but I'm using it for deer fencing up high, and will have rabbit fence below, to enclose the garden area. A nail stick up in a board buried in tall grass found its way through my shoe into my foot in the fencing process ... but no infection. Tetanus shots should be updated every ten years, mine had lapsed 25 years. Google tells me Roses can also carry tetanus.

We are almost 3 weeks behind on soil temps, fruit trees were well leafed out this time last year, but are just starting to bloom now. My long flower border doesn't have weeds, but doesn't have flowers either. I'll give it another week, but may throw down some perennial flower seed and water it in.

Really nice to get back outside with some longer days. Love Hrothgar's huge magnolia, and that nice wood fence adds character and some nice "lines".

cheers to the gardeners ... may our tribe increase.

Posted by: illiniwek at April 21, 2018 01:29 PM (bT8Z4)

17 Also my garden tractor isn't working so got new battery, going to replace gas left in it and see if I can get it running, cutting is another problem but get it running first.

Posted by: Skip at April 21, 2018 01:17 PM


On recommendation of someone here I bought STA-BILL gas stabilizer for my garden tractor. I only put a capful in the tank every time, but the difference is truly amazing. On the very first revolution the engine fires up. I mean in less then one seconds time. All winter long it was just that good. Even in thirty degree temps.

I rate it now as being a must-have item. Skeptical before. Not now.

Posted by: Forgot My Nic at April 21, 2018 01:31 PM (LOgQ4)

18 Donna&&&&&&V sez don't you dare walk the damn pitcher at April 21, 2018 01:19 PM

That does sound like a good way to eat cottage cheese. I had some cottage cheese with strawberries today.

Bet stewed rhubarb and strawberries would be good with custard sauce, too.

Posted by: KTbarthedoor at April 21, 2018 01:32 PM (BVQ+1)

19 Last year, I mentioned, I planted lambs' tongue lilies (Erythonium grandiflorum) under my front window. It flowered last year, and two bloomed this year.

I also dug up some yellow woods violets too, and they are blooming now. I expect them to spread all over, I remember Grandma had a patch in the shade in her back yard.

I also accidentally transplanted a baby poison oak seedling too, apparently. It is near the front door, so I suppose I should dig it out now.


Finally we have wonderful sunny weather! I hope hope hope the bees come out to pollinate my apples.

Posted by: Kindltot at April 21, 2018 01:32 PM (2K6fY)

20 my Mom grew rhubarb in our garden, and had it all to herself since we kids hated it. I should try it as an adult, since I can't even recall what it tastes like. My auto-response is Blech.

Posted by: illiniwek at April 21, 2018 01:33 PM (bT8Z4)

21 I just finished cutting the yard, 3ac or so. Everything is busting out here. Down by and across the creek there are lots of wildflowers, blue, pink, yellow, white, purple, lavender. I don't know what kind except for morning glories, spiderwort, and dandilions .I didn't cut all that but in a month or so I will have to.

Posted by: f'd at April 21, 2018 01:33 PM (UdKB7)

22 Erythonium oregonium, sorry. Granted, they look almost identical.

Posted by: Kindltot at April 21, 2018 01:35 PM (2K6fY)

23 The magnolia photo is cheerful on a grey day in Iowa. Daffodils survived the last snow and when the sun comes out they make me smile. Soil is still too cold to germinate seeds, but the forecast a few days ahead says we will be back to our typical mid 60s. Once we have day or two of that I will be gardening.

For those who garden elsewhere I wish you a bountiful spring.

Posted by: colfax mingo at April 21, 2018 01:36 PM (CTauj)

24 I always thought rhubarb taste was like a cross between celery and raspberrys. We use to pick it and eat it straight away as a kid but don't get it for anything now.

Posted by: Skip at April 21, 2018 01:37 PM (aC6Sd)

25 But they have a tendency to shatter in storms if not pruned properly. I went to a lecture on pruning street trees once. It's a big deal to prevent Y-crotches in ornamental trees.

I think some people have an 'eye' for trimming bad branches when trees are young. I see a branch beginning at an inferior angle, it's snip time. But like children, you form their eventual value when they're still young.

I have a daughter-in-law, space cadet, who I pointed out a bad branch to. Told her eventually that branch is going to get overloaded and break off across her driveway. She said she doesn't care. Yeah, she'll make a great mom someday. Not.

Posted by: Forgot My Nic at April 21, 2018 01:37 PM (LOgQ4)

26 cheers to the gardeners ... may our tribe increase.
=====

Dad was the gardener -- he could stomp anything in and it would grow. I have the black thumb. I think one of my kids may have a hint of my dad's talent and wish she would do more.

Posted by: mustbequantum at April 21, 2018 01:37 PM (MIKMs)

27 Owls eat skunks AND kill people.

http://www.thisiscriminal.com/episode-one-animal-instincts-1-31-2014-2

Posted by: Marooned at April 21, 2018 01:38 PM (8hRlF)

28 Art Rondolet of Malmsey at April 21, 2018 01:14 PM

Cream scones sound wonderful for shortcake. I've always just used extra-short biscuit dough. Sometime in a tart pan.

Posted by: KTbarthedoor at April 21, 2018 01:39 PM (BVQ+1)

29 s. We use to pick it and eat it straight away as a kid but don't get it for anything now.

Posted by: Skip at April 21, 2018 01:37 PM (aC6Sd)

We would sometimes pick rhubarb stalks and eat them, but we'd coat them with sugar first. Not the healthiest snack!

Posted by: Donna&&&&&&V sez don't you dare walk the damn pitcher at April 21, 2018 01:40 PM (H80UQ)

30 I love when the gardening thread becomes the food thread!

Posted by: sinalco at April 21, 2018 01:40 PM (yODqO)

31 KT, Thanks for another great gardening thread. I love the videos of the owls, real and abstract.

I need to learn more about that rhubarb grown in the dark. I always liked rhubarb even as a kid. My Quebecoise farm girl grandmother used a lot of rhubarb in season in pies and stewed. The stewed was delish on ice cream. I wish I knew if their farm used that grow in the dark method. Alas, there is no one left to ask.

Posted by: JTB at April 21, 2018 01:41 PM (V+03K)

32 30 I love when the gardening thread becomes the food thread!
Posted by: sinalco at April 21, 2018 01:40 PM (yODqO)

Us too!

Posted by: Deer Everywhere at April 21, 2018 01:42 PM (J7NdS)

33 illiniwek at April 21, 2018 01:29 PM (bT8Z4)

Thanks for the update. A friend posted a photo of her pet chickens, and I had considered posting it here. They all have names. Don't know if a "chickens of the week" feature would work here.
Heh.

Posted by: KTbarthedoor at April 21, 2018 01:43 PM (BVQ+1)

34
Thanks for the update. A friend posted a photo of her pet chickens,
and I had considered posting it here. They all have names. Don't know
if a "chickens of the week" feature would work here.
Heh.
=====

Pet Thread is right after this one.

Posted by: mustbequantum at April 21, 2018 01:44 PM (MIKMs)

35 Rhubarb comes up early and is a good source of vitamin C. It was a good thing to have in the frozen north before the days of inexpensive oranges et al available all year long in the grocery. I'm too lazy to do a lot with ours but I do enjoy a rhubarb pudding.

Posted by: PaleRider, simply irredeemable at April 21, 2018 01:45 PM (84F5k)

36 Kindltot at April 21, 2018 01:32 PM

So nice to hear about those natives taking root. But by all means, dig up that poison oak. Heh.

Posted by: KTbarthedoor at April 21, 2018 01:45 PM (BVQ+1)

37 The cabbage plants we put in last week have survived so far. (When you have my gardening ability, every day with live plants is a miracle.) Even the near freezing night temperatures didn't stop it from some growth. Don't know if they will ever get to be slaw or kraut, as heaven intends for cabbage, but we are a week closer.

Posted by: JTB at April 21, 2018 01:51 PM (V+03K)

38 Mom grew rhubarb, back in the day. She made rhubarb pie once in a while. Not my fave, but good enough for a kid's sweet tooth.

For silly fun, brother and I would each get a rhubarb stem and bite into it, to see who could go longest without making the pucker-face. Yeesh, sour!


Posted by: JQ at April 21, 2018 01:51 PM (yD/Pf)

39 Thanks for the thread KT, another week of lovely pictures and interesting info.

Posted by: PaleRider, simply irredeemable at April 21, 2018 01:52 PM (84F5k)

40 >>>Hank Curmudgeon sends a warning that rose thorn punctures are dangerous.

Word.

Posted by: Poison at April 21, 2018 01:52 PM (/qEW2)

41 yeah, chickens and gardens go together, but I suppose that means fencing off the lettuce and some other items. I'll probably keep them till they are old and not butcher them for supper, since they'll achieve a degree of pet status.

Posted by: illiniwek at April 21, 2018 01:54 PM (bT8Z4)

42 I had rhubarb pie once.




True story.

Posted by: eleven at April 21, 2018 01:55 PM (+lOpA)

43 I do say raspberries, not sugared up raspberries, it does have a sour taste.

Posted by: Skip at April 21, 2018 01:56 PM (aC6Sd)

44 Posted by: eleven at April 21, 2018 01:55 PM

Yeah, once is enough for many folks.

I've never craved rhubarb pie.

Posted by: JQ at April 21, 2018 01:57 PM (yD/Pf)

45 The only pie that really needs to exist is peach pie.


Also Boston Cream pie. And Key Lime pie.

Posted by: eleven at April 21, 2018 02:00 PM (+lOpA)

46 Well, it finally stopped raining and got dry enough to mow n weedwhack.

Still too windy to spray, dangit.

Posted by: JQ at April 21, 2018 02:02 PM (yD/Pf)

47 I may keep the poison oak. I'm not bothered much by it and I dislike visitors.

A moat won't work here in town.


Posted by: Kindltot at April 21, 2018 02:03 PM (2K6fY)

48 >>>Curse of the Bradford Pear

I say Lestrade old chap, why don't you allow me to look into the Baskerville matter and you can go see what this chap Bradford is on about with his pear.

Posted by: Sherlock Holmes at April 21, 2018 02:04 PM (/qEW2)

49 I can rhubarb, and it needs lots of sugar to keep it palatable.

I will warn you all, it was always considered a "spring tonic" since it had Vitamin C, and if you aren't used to eating it for the season, will give you runs like green apples or plums.

I just remembered that Grandma raised rhubarb behind her garage and kept them in black plastic surrounds in the Spring. I thought it was to make them taller, but it might have been to keep them more tender.

Posted by: Kindltot at April 21, 2018 02:08 PM (2K6fY)

50 Saw a clever meme on Facebook this week: Upload of spring aborted. "Not available in your area".

Even felt that way here in the Central Valley a couple of days this week. Changeable weather. And wind!

Posted by: KTbarthedoor at April 21, 2018 02:08 PM (BVQ+1)

51 The only pie that really needs to exist is peach pie.
Also Boston Cream pie. And Key Lime pie.
Posted by: eleven



Gentlemen prefer apple.

Posted by: Jason Biggs at April 21, 2018 02:09 PM (/qEW2)

52 Kindltot at April 21, 2018 02:08 PM

Sounds like your Grandma knew what she was doing.

Posted by: KTbarthedoor at April 21, 2018 02:10 PM (BVQ+1)

53 I just picked up a couple of books from the library on using herbs for health. "Medicinal Herbs" by Rosemary (how appropriate) Gladstar, and "Alchemy of Herbs" by Rosealee De La Foret. Haven't had a chance to look at them yet but they get a massive number of five star reviews on Amazon.

I'm hoping for some historical uses of herbs, growing and processing tips, and how they may help with health.

I'm not sure where I'm going with this, if anywhere. But I always have an interest in how things were done on the frontier and herbs and plants were a regular part of their medicine.

Posted by: JTB at April 21, 2018 02:11 PM (V+03K)

54 Howdy from WeaselAcres! I just finished three days running a chainsaw and brush cutter and am happy to report I didn't lose any body parts.

Posted by: Weasel at April 21, 2018 02:13 PM (KsZvG)

55 51 ... "The only pie that really needs to exist is peach pie.
Also Boston Cream pie. And Key Lime pie.
Posted by: eleven


Gentlemen prefer apple."

AHEM!! Pecan pie!

Sometimes I wonder about you people. :-)

Posted by: JTB at April 21, 2018 02:16 PM (V+03K)

56 WA Weekend Wildlife Report:
3 bunnies
1 garter snake
1 coyote
2 lizards

Posted by: Weasel at April 21, 2018 02:16 PM (KsZvG)

57 AHEM!! Pecan pie!

Sometimes I wonder about you people. :-)
Posted by: JTB at April 21, 2018 02:16 PM (V+03K)



Just don't pronounce it "peekin". That's weird.

Posted by: eleven at April 21, 2018 02:21 PM (+lOpA)

58 Weasel, Congrats on accomplishing so much without loss of any anatomy. Too bad you couldn't just shoot down the undergrowth. It would be more fun.

Posted by: JTB at April 21, 2018 02:21 PM (V+03K)

59 KT, sorry, but this is a 12 minute video presentation by a lady in Southern Brazil (Minas Gerais I think) who makes baskets out of corn husks.

It is all in Portuguese, and I get about one word in 10, but she goes through what she does it, and how she learned to do it, and says a couple of times that she grew up working and her hands are no longer pretty and ladylike.

I do love the handwork stuff, and she has a lovely smile.

https://youtu.be/XAO8jdWGt8M

Posted by: Kindltot at April 21, 2018 02:23 PM (2K6fY)

60 Thanks JTB. About a month ago I invited a shooting buddy down and he brought his Uzi. We actually felled a few small trees with it.

Posted by: Weasel at April 21, 2018 02:26 PM (KsZvG)

61 "AHEM!! Pecan pie!

Sometimes I wonder about you people. :-)
Posted by: JTB at April 21, 2018 02:16 PM (V+03K)

Just don't pronounce it "peekin". That's weird."

Not a chance. I learned it as 'pee-cahn', accent on the second sylable. My dad (I inherited his pie gene) would come out of his grave if he heard me say 'peekin'.

Posted by: JTB at April 21, 2018 02:27 PM (V+03K)

62 I like to say peekin because it is funny. But where I am from, there is only one way to say it if you want to get on with others. That is puh-con.

Posted by: quint at April 21, 2018 02:33 PM (n13/j)

63 60 my ranch foreman uses 12 gauge slugs to trim high branches. Works pretty well.

Posted by: Drc at April 21, 2018 02:33 PM (vZ0KM)

64 Would rather have fruit pies but didn't grow up with pecans, mostly apples around here.

Posted by: Skip at April 21, 2018 02:36 PM (aC6Sd)

65
Back acreage mowed for the first time this year. If I waited another week it would have been trouble.

The cattle egrets were very happy. These are Gulf Coast birds that follow livestock and eat the bugs turned up by their hooves. So to them I'm just a big, fast-moving horse.

Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at April 21, 2018 02:41 PM (YqygQ)

66 WA Weekend Wildlife Report:
3 bunnies
1 garter snake
1 coyote
2 lizards
------
Is that what you ate???

Posted by: lin-duh at April 21, 2018 02:41 PM (kufk0)

67 i feel like taking a nap....

Posted by: lin-duh at April 21, 2018 02:43 PM (kufk0)

68 you know you are at AOP when someone drops the first UZI reference in a pie discussion.

Posted by: quint at April 21, 2018 02:45 PM (n13/j)

69 60 F here in NW WI and we are all losing our minds!! Been doing chores outside in shorts and T-Shirt. Just last weekend we got ~14" of snow.

Posted by: Muad'dib at April 21, 2018 02:45 PM (AIXgy)

70 JTB--look up:

The Complete German Commission E. Monographs: Therapeutic Guide to Herbal Medicines

It's a bit outdated now (late 1990's) but these monographs actually discuss tests done on herbal medicines and their effects.

Posted by: Lirio100 at April 21, 2018 02:46 PM (JK7Jw)

71
Sophisticated Europeans pronounce it "pee-sans," you silly barbaric Americans.

*sniffs haughtily*

Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at April 21, 2018 02:46 PM (I1w2Y)

72 yeah, you guys probably call ketchup cat-sup too.

Posted by: quint at April 21, 2018 02:48 PM (n13/j)

73 Gardening? Really?

Posted by: Cosmic Charlie at April 21, 2018 02:49 PM (PUmDY)

74 My WA weekend wildlife report:
One bunny
One raccoon
Two squirrels
One hawk

Oh.
One squirrel.

Posted by: Diogenes at April 21, 2018 02:50 PM (0tfLf)

75 Peçan. Voici.

Posted by: Steve and Cold Bear at April 21, 2018 02:50 PM (/qEW2)

76 list of most iconic French pies

......

fin

Posted by: quint at April 21, 2018 02:53 PM (n13/j)

77 well there is French Silk but in France it is just called Silk.

Posted by: quint at April 21, 2018 02:54 PM (n13/j)

78 Ok, it's here.

Posted by: Steve and Cold Bear at April 21, 2018 02:56 PM (/qEW2)

79 Lirio100, Thanks for the reference. There's always more to learn.

Posted by: JTB at April 21, 2018 02:56 PM (V+03K)

80 Also my garden tractor isn't working so got new battery, going to replace gas left in it and see if I can get it running, cutting is another problem but get it running first.

Posted by: Skip at April 21, 2018 01:17 PM
--------------------------------------------------


On recommendation of someone here I bought STA-BILL gas stabilizer for my garden tractor. I only put a capful in the tank every time, but the difference is truly amazing. On the very first revolution the engine fires up. I mean in less then one seconds time. All winter long it was just that good. Even in thirty degree temps.

I rate it now as being a must-have item. Skeptical before. Not now.

Posted by: Forgot My Nic
------------------------------


I endorse the message.
Started using Sea Foam last year in the new 2 cycle blower and my old lawn tractor. The old tractor runs better - idle is almost level now - and the 2 cycle still starts. That's a 1st for me.

Posted by: gNewt at April 21, 2018 02:58 PM (/wcVO)

81 s that what you ate???
Posted by: lin-duh at April 21, 2018 02:41 PM (kufk0)
-----
Nah. Ham and cheese sammiches.

Posted by: Weasel at April 21, 2018 03:01 PM (KsZvG)

82 well there is French Silk but in France it is just called Silk.

Posted by: quint at April 21, 2018 02:54 PM (n13/j)
-------------------------------------

soie de la France?

Posted by: Boots at April 21, 2018 03:06 PM (EBwPV)

83 I love the tree Hrothgar, it's gorgeous.

Posted by: CaliGirl at April 21, 2018 03:22 PM (2DYau)

84 I have one rhubarb plant, it grows year round. I let my friends take the stalks.

I never liked rhubarb pie.

My mom told me when she was young she would eat rhubarb dipped in sugar as a treat.

Posted by: CaliGirl at April 21, 2018 03:26 PM (2DYau)

85 Can you grow ramps in So Cal? Can never find them even in specialty stores. Wondering if we're just too warm here.
Got all my seeds and vegetables in today finally! Exhausting but so much fun.

Posted by: keena at April 21, 2018 03:28 PM (RiTnx)

86 I have 2 flowering crab apples, gorgeous for a couple of days and pretty ugly the rest of the year. Bag worms attack it relentlessly and I am constantly at look out for them. Usually I cut them out and destroy them with extreme prejudice.

Posted by: Skip at April 21, 2018 03:29 PM (aC6Sd)

87 The crews planted two rows of tomatoes, some onions and some melons.

I got out there after they had finished. They planted the tomatoes too close together again.

Oh well, beggars can't be choosers.

Posted by: CaliGirl at April 21, 2018 03:30 PM (2DYau)

88 Kindltot at April 21, 2018 02:23 PM

Don't apologize. Great video.

Posted by: KTbarthedoor at April 21, 2018 03:36 PM (BVQ+1)

89 keena at April 21, 2018 03:28 PM

I don't think ramps are a Southern California thing. Actually, I don't even think they are a Western thing. Think "Chicago" before there was a city there.

Posted by: KTbarthedoor at April 21, 2018 03:40 PM (BVQ+1)

90 CaliGirl at April 21, 2018 03:30 PM

Hope you get some good tomatoes.

I think strawberry season here in the Valley will be a little longer than normal. Hot weather is holding off. I think the varieties they grow around here for the local market are higher in moisture than the ones grown nearer to the coast for shipping around the country.

They sure spoil fast.

You learn where growers plant the tastiest cultivars when you try different markets.

Posted by: KTbarthedoor at April 21, 2018 03:44 PM (BVQ+1)

91 "June strawberries" come on way before June here.

Posted by: KTbarthedoor at April 21, 2018 03:44 PM (BVQ+1)

92 ramps are an Appalachia thing...

Posted by: lin-duh at April 21, 2018 03:50 PM (kufk0)

93 KT,
I don't know which varieties of strawberries we grow.

I remember when chandlers were all the rage.

I just tasted some of our Driscoll strawberries and they were really sweet.

I also had some of the huge strawberries with stems for dipping and they were really good too.
Our friends grow in Oxnard and they do those specialty berries.

Posted by: CaliGirl at April 21, 2018 03:54 PM (2DYau)

94 92 ramps are an Appalachia thing...
Posted by: lin-duh at April 21, 2018 03:50 PM (kufk0)

I had to do a search, I heard the word ramps but I couldn't remember what they were.

I probably heard the word here on the garden thread.

Posted by: CaliGirl at April 21, 2018 03:55 PM (2DYau)

95 ramps are an Appalachia thing...
Posted by: lin-duh at April 21, 2018 03:50 PM (kufk0)


It is a Korean thing too. You can either use them as flavoring (bouquet garni) or chop them fine for inclusion in cooking.

Posted by: Kindltot at April 21, 2018 03:58 PM (2K6fY)

96 Baby Owls look like they are getting ready to Fledge.

And Hrothgar, love the tree.

Posted by: prof disarray, gumdrop gorilla channel at April 21, 2018 04:29 PM (Ze9kt)

97 SUCCESS! Got tractor started and worked fine, power take off wasn't staying on last year so thought it could be the safety switch which I had to replace once before.

Posted by: Skip at April 21, 2018 04:45 PM (aC6Sd)

98 And Japonica bushes are flowering, didn't notice them until today. They are at the end of the house

Posted by: Skip at April 21, 2018 04:47 PM (aC6Sd)

99 Not much to report on the Che Blake shrubbery, other than the bedding plants are bedded and some stuff that was languishing has been moved to areas that, if they grow, great, if not, on to something else.

The Tulip Magnolia is incredible.

Thanks Hrothgar!

My ex-wife used to make an extremely good rhubarb/apple crisp.

I don't work with rhubarb because I got tired of the arguments.

Thank you, KT for the gardening thread, Great stuff.

Posted by: Blake at April 21, 2018 05:18 PM (WEBkv)

100 I had two oak trees felled because their feeder roots were playing hob with my patio. One tree revealed a small hollow chamber that would probably have doomed it decades from now when I won't be even a memory. I fill it with bird seed for the chipmunk tribe that digs cunning tunnels here and there. The squirrels drop by but can only gain the food out by sticking their paws down inside, whereas the chipmunk(s) can enter and eat at leisure. I think it is fair compensation for digging holes for bulbs that sadly collapse the chambers where they do their thinking and procreating.

Posted by: Jerry Jay Carroll at April 21, 2018 05:42 PM (SYCeT)

101 The cattle egrets were very happy. These are Gulf Coast birds that follow livestock and eat the bugs turned up by their hooves. So to them I'm just a big, fast-moving horse.
Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at April 21, 2018 02:41 PM (YqygQ)

Boy. Do I have a story there...

One day.

Posted by: golfman at April 21, 2018 05:48 PM (If3tB)

102 We have pee-can trees in our yard and Mrs f'd make the best pee-can pie.

Posted by: f'd at April 21, 2018 06:09 PM (UdKB7)

103 We have pee-can trees in our yard and Mrs f'd make the best pee-can pie.
Posted by: f'd at April 21, 2018 06:09 PM (UdK

Make note. This is how you do it.

Posted by: Golfman at April 21, 2018 07:32 PM (cJcew)

104 I am going to try to type my report for the Treasure Valley of Idaho, using iPages, on Friday evening, without using any potentially questionable punctuation which might cause an error message when I paste it onto AoS.

I neglected to mention my indoor vegetable starts last week. Today, Friday, husband and I had to transplant two tomatoes out of their styrofoam cups, and into thirty two ounce yogurt containers. We also moved one poblano pepper start from a peat pellet into a styrofoam cup. Earlier this week, he started up five cantaloupe seeds, and two each of zucchini and butternut squash. We have moved up to a larger kitty litter pan to hold all this. If we have to transplant any more tomatoes into yogurt containers, which we will, we are going to have to use both litter pans, and I do not know if we will need to buy another grow light. And we have not even started cucumber seeds yet.

We received word that the irrigation will be turned on this weekend. This makes us very happy. Monday will be spent testing the system zone by zone, and we have around twenty zones. My raised beds desperately need water. I carried buckets of water out to the strawberries and asparagus, along with the rest of the seeds I planted already, but we still keep losing asparagus spears to dehydration. We did at least get to eat the first harvest of asparagus, six whole spears between us, on Sunday.

Some of my potatoes have sprouted, but they need the irrigation water too.
A friend came by on Wednesday to pick up some red raspberry starts.

The front crabapple is now blooming prettily, mostly on the lower half. My front sidewalk tulips are beginning their show, and there are about ten of them now. I do so love the gold ones with red flame at the lower center and the edges. The blue and white hyacinths have started to droop. Out back, the hyacinths have already been cut down, the daffodils are about half faded, and there are some tulips open.

Dandelions have been sprayed, several times. I raked out more of the mess of needles under the ball shaped long needle pine, and I think that job is done for this year.

The Damned Sycamores have been demoted to Annoying Sycamores. This is how that happened. My neighbor has the flu, plus he needed to go on a plane trip. My husband mentioned to his wife that he would mow the lawn while they were gone. Husband reported to me that he could not mow around their gigantic backyard willow due to the debris it had thrown down. I said I would go over to rake it up. Husband warned me it was a huge mess. And oh momma, it was a very huge mess. I decided I would focus on the area right behind their patio, so at least they would not trip as they went out their back door. I left a huge pile near the tree, and at best I only raked a third of the mess. I think that one tree made more mess this winter than all four of my sycamores did. So now the willow becomes a Damned Willow, and my sycamores are only Annoying Sycamores. I hope this story is amusing, which it might be, unless you also own a messy willow tree.

In other news, we are still working on training our rifle class students toward their state competition on the second weekend in June. We think we will be bringing home some medals from that.
And husband and I will be attending a Project Appleseed event this weekend. I am typing this early because I do not know how exhausted we will be by the time we get home tomorrow. Judging by past Appleseed Saturdays we have attended or worked at, we will just manage to set up coffee and clothes for the next morning, shower, and fall into bed.

PS I have just eaten a slice of cherry pie, YUM, that I brought home from a restaurant in Notus, Idaho, and for all I know it may be the only restaurant there, because the town sign says it has all of five hundred thirty one residents.

Posted by: Pat* at April 21, 2018 10:38 PM (2pX/F)

105 Skip at April 21, 2018 04:47 PM

Thanks for the reports. And you could send in a photo of your Japonica bushes.

Gotta run for a while.

Posted by: KTbarthedoor at April 22, 2018 10:36 AM (BVQ+1)

106 Jerry Jay Carroll at April 21, 2018 05:42 PM

Seldom do we find a gardener so thoughtful toward cute little rodents.

Posted by: KTbarthedoor at April 22, 2018 04:37 PM (BVQ+1)

107 Pat* at April 21, 2018 10:38 PM

Your report turned out great! No conflicts with Pixy.

Seems a little late for you to be getting your irrigation water turned on if you are already losing asparagus spears. Hope they do better next year.

Posted by: KTbarthedoor at April 22, 2018 04:44 PM (BVQ+1)

(Jump to top of page)






Processing 0.02, elapsed 0.0242 seconds.
14 queries taking 0.0081 seconds, 115 records returned.
Page size 78 kb.
Powered by Minx 0.8 beta.



MuNuvians
MeeNuvians
Polls! Polls! Polls!

Real Clear Politics
Gallup
Frequently Asked Questions
The (Almost) Complete Paul Anka Integrity Kick
Top Top Tens
Greatest Hitjobs

The Ace of Spades HQ Sex-for-Money Skankathon
A D&D Guide to the Democratic Candidates
Margaret Cho: Just Not Funny
More Margaret Cho Abuse
Margaret Cho: Still Not Funny
Iraqi Prisoner Claims He Was Raped... By Woman
Wonkette Announces "Morning Zoo" Format
John Kerry's "Plan" Causes Surrender of Moqtada al-Sadr's Militia
World Muslim Leaders Apologize for Nick Berg's Beheading
Michael Moore Goes on Lunchtime Manhattan Death-Spree
Milestone: Oliver Willis Posts 400th "Fake News Article" Referencing Britney Spears
Liberal Economists Rue a "New Decade of Greed"
Artificial Insouciance: Maureen Dowd's Word Processor Revolts Against Her Numbing Imbecility
Intelligence Officials Eye Blogs for Tips
They Done Found Us Out, Cletus: Intrepid Internet Detective Figures Out Our Master Plan
Shock: Josh Marshall Almost Mentions Sarin Discovery in Iraq
Leather-Clad Biker Freaks Terrorize Australian Town
When Clinton Was President, Torture Was Cool
What Wonkette Means When She Explains What Tina Brown Means
Wonkette's Stand-Up Act
Wankette HQ Gay-Rumors Du Jour
Here's What's Bugging Me: Goose and Slider
My Own Micah Wright Style Confession of Dishonesty
Outraged "Conservatives" React to the FMA
An On-Line Impression of Dennis Miller Having Sex with a Kodiak Bear
The Story the Rightwing Media Refuses to Report!
Our Lunch with David "Glengarry Glen Ross" Mamet
The House of Love: Paul Krugman
A Michael Moore Mystery (TM)
The Dowd-O-Matic!
Liberal Consistency and Other Myths
Kepler's Laws of Liberal Media Bias
John Kerry-- The Splunge! Candidate
"Divisive" Politics & "Attacks on Patriotism" (very long)
The Donkey ("The Raven" parody)
News/Chat