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Saturday Gardening Thread: Night and Day [KT]

Brookgreen-Gardens peacock.jpg

Happy Saturday, Gardeners and Friends of Gardeners! Well, the Monsoon Season is here in the San Joaquin Valley, which generally means humidity, a few clouds and high temperatures, typically without the threat of flooding common in Arizona and Nevada this time of year. Miserable. It's enough to make me think about gardening at night. The photo above is from another place where it is hot and humid in summer, Brookgreen Gardens near Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Looks like a great place to visit.

My niece and her husband took my brother and sister-in-law there recently. They had a good time. Here are representative photos:

Daytime:

brookgreen2.jpg

Some impressive, distinctive trees there. And they're big on Caladiums at Brookgreen. They planted 60,000 of them in the Live Oak Allee in 2013. Don't know how many there are this year.

If you want to plant some Caladiums at home next year, remember to wait until the soil is warm. Some cultivars are more sun-tolerant than others.

Dusk:

brookgreen4.jpg

Night:

brookgreen1.jpg

More on this interesting place later. Anybody else visited a botanical garden recently? Besides Don in Kansas?

Nelumbo-.jpg

Wildlife in the Yard or Garden

Seamus Muldoon sent in the following:

The Elephant's Hat

I know it's the gardening thread and not the birdwatching thread, but this happened this week and was pretty cool. We have a hummingbird feeder hanging off our deck and have not had very many hummingbirds this year. About 20 ft away is a windchime with an elephant figurine topper. About five days ago I saw a hummingbird hanging around by the windchime. My first thought was that she had mistaken the windchime for the feeder.

20180718_154009.jpg

But on closer inspection I noticed that the elephant was wearing a hat.

I peeked inside and saw a comfy looking empty nest lined with fuzzy material (looks like bits of cottonwood from our cottonwood tree.)

20180718_153959.jpg

Then two days ago I walked by the windchime and the hummingbird was buzzing all around my head. I took another peek and there in the nest was a single egg, about the size of s candied almond or large peanut M&M. We've been watching the momma. She will come and either perch on the edge of the nest, or actually sit down on top for 3-5 minutes at a time, then buzz off, sometimes to the feeder.

I've seen a male ruby throated hummingbird nearby so suspect that this is a ruby throated female.

It will be fun to watch the next week or so to see if the baby hostaes.

20180718_174639.jpg

Please let us know, Muldoon. The hat is more artistic than some modern art I have seen lately.

Edibles, wildlife and more

An update from Cumberland Astro:

1) TOMATOES: They're ripening and we're enjoying a sliced plateful of them with each meal right now.

cumberlandtomat.jpg

2) ALBINO MOURNING DOVE: I saw this in my backyard yesterday and first thought it must be a non-native exotic dove.

Albino Dove - 1.jpg

You can see the woodland path Cumberland Astro made taking off in the background of that photo. Enticing.

It hung around in my yard for a while and upon closer inspection it looks like it is actually an albino mourning dove.

Albino Dove - 2.jpgAlbino Dove - 3.jpg

Denver has another quandary for the Horde this week. (You might recall the under-performing Moron Tomato Plants last week):

I have another issue which the horde might be interested in. I have two apple trees in my backyard and they are the bane of my existence. I have to rake the apples just so that I can mow the grass underneath. Some years the squirrels take a bit of each apple, then throw the rest down. I got a quote to have them removed and new trees put in their place. I feel like an eco-terrorist, but I just hate them. I like the privacy that they provide though, and it would take a few years for replacement trees to fill in the space. So the big question is if I should remove or not. Let's have a poll!

By the way, when I bought the house, my closing docs noted that the windmill and pump were non-functioning and for decoration only.

denverappl.jpg

So, a poll? Or does someone have an outside-the-box idea for Denver's apple trees?

Hank Curmudgeon sent in some motivational and informative reading on composting. First, composting as a simple summer project and second, what to add to a compost pile.

Bugs are A-OK. Animals...not so much. Usually, animals will not be attracted to a compost pile unless there's something in there that there probably shouldn't be. Dairy products, like milk, eggs or cheese are fine in limited quantities, but if used in excess, will cause your compost to smell, which does tend to attract more bugs and animals. Meat products, while they will decompose and add some beneficial nutrients to soil, will attract raccoons and skunks, as well as other undesirable animals. That's never a good idea.

racuun.jpg

At least it wasn't a bear. Actually, I think there might be a few bugs I would rather skip in compost, too.

Hardware and Mechanical Corner

Weasel sent in a photo of WeaselDog on guard duty. It says something when you need a guard for your "riding lawnmower". But WeaselDog looks like he is doing a great job.

weaselgard.jpeg

Gardens of The Horde

Lirio 100 sent the following photo and story about the Asiatic Lilies in her garden:

I was given these three years ago; planted them in my garden and was happy when they came back the next year. Put out five buds and I was waiting eagerly for them to open. Came out one morning and found all five neatly bitten off. I live in an urban area but we do have deer wander by, since the plant wasn't damaged it appears a deer had an early morning snack. I finally got my flowers this year!

IMG_0151.JPG

Yay! I love them.

We also received the following photo of an impressive and interesting garden plant that just happens to fit into this week's "night and day" theme:

I look forward to your gardening thread each Saturday.
We planted this Organ Pipe Cactus 20 years ago and these are the first blooms we have seen.

Organ Pipe are:

1) not supposed to be able to handle the cold we get in Tempe AZ; but this one does fine.

2) only bloom at night because they are pollinated by bats; so you only get to see the open blooms in the early morning.

Thanks for the GT!

Please sign me:
Another-lurker



organ pipe bloom.jpg

Thanks for thinking of us. Such an interesting flower form, and interesting details on the plant, too.

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 just want to be a lurker.

Posted by: Open Blogger at 12:47 PM




Comments

(Jump to bottom of comments)

1 Hey! I thought the last thread was a gardening thread?

Posted by: Anonymous White Male at July 21, 2018 12:38 PM (9BLnV)

2 Anonymous White Male at July 21, 2018 12:38 PM

Heh

Posted by: KTbarthedoor at July 21, 2018 12:40 PM (BVQ+1)

3 I take it as a bad sign when the raccoons show up wearing helmets.

Posted by: Cicero (@cicero) at July 21, 2018 12:45 PM (CSNuj)

4 Excuse me, but WeaselDog appears to be a penguin.

Posted by: Cicero (@cicero) at July 21, 2018 12:46 PM (CSNuj)

5 I'm glad that's a hummingbird nest, Muldoon. My first thought was Face-Sized Spider Pod.

And I love the trash panda pic.

I had a cat that liked to nap on top of my compost pile because it was warm.

Posted by: All Hail Eris, She-Wolf of the 'Ettes 'Ettes at July 21, 2018 12:46 PM (gUCYC)

6 Cicero (@cicero) at July 21, 2018 12:45 PM

An animal with a bucket on its head is seldom a calm animal.

Posted by: KTbarthedoor at July 21, 2018 12:47 PM (BVQ+1)

7 Cursed be the ground for our sake. Both thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for us. For out of the ground we were taken, for the dust we are...and to the dust we shall return.

Posted by: Insomniac at July 21, 2018 12:49 PM (NWiLs)

8 I love Cumberland Astro's photo with the flying dove. Has lots of nice elements.

Posted by: KTbarthedoor at July 21, 2018 12:50 PM (BVQ+1)

9 That raccoon has fulfilled his buckethead list.



Jim
Sunk New Dawn
Galveston, TX

Posted by: Jim at July 21, 2018 12:52 PM (QzJWU)

10 It is a job to take care of tall apple trees. I am interested to know what varieties Denver has, if they are identifiable.

Posted by: KTbarthedoor at July 21, 2018 12:52 PM (BVQ+1)

11 Quite a jam-packed garden thread there, KT.

Many years ago, a volunteer peach tree sprouted next to the compost bin.

If I understand grafting etc, this would be from a seed which represents the root stock, not the fruit graft, but even though small with large pits, we had some tasty peaches for a few years.

Milady made a peach pie one year. We had to fight the squirrels and deer for them, of course. And late freezes that nipped them buds.

Neglect and age, no fruit for several years. One fork rotted and feel down. Another fork fell to a windstorm earlier this year. We cut the last one down after that.

Gone now, sad-face. But! Years of peaches for free was pretty neat.

I'm a lazy gardener, so it was my kind of horticulture.

Posted by: mindful webworker of the black thumb webworkers at July 21, 2018 12:53 PM (macz7)

12 Insomniac at July 21, 2018 12:49 PM

Don't I know it, the last few weeks.

Posted by: KTbarthedoor at July 21, 2018 12:54 PM (BVQ+1)

13 I didn't get to see Muldoon's Windchime Elephant-Hat Hummingbird Nest tour with It's a Wonderful Day because I lost the tickets.

Posted by: mindful webworker goes long at July 21, 2018 12:55 PM (macz7)

14 Brookgreen Gardens sounds nice, KT. It's a shame that the closest botanical garden to me is in a perpetual state of disrepair.

Posted by: Surfperch at July 21, 2018 12:56 PM (M+sEY)

15 I have had better luck with my compost heap getting up to temperature and staying there this year. I didn't get to mowing a section of the yard around some young trees for reasons, and wound up cutting the tall grass by hand and throwing it on top of the compost to make a fairly thick cap of thatch.

It apparently keeps the heap moist all the way to the top, and I can water through it and it keeps the heap from losing so much moisture. It has been keeping warm all summer so far.

Posted by: Kindltot at July 21, 2018 12:57 PM (2K6fY)

16 mindful webworker of the black thumb webworkers at July 21, 2018 12:53 PM

The volunteer could have been a seed from fruit of the grafted, good variety and whatever variety pollinated it. Peaches are more likely than many other fruits to give good quality fruit from volunteer seeds. There are even a couple of cultivars you can plant from seed and they will be like the parent tree.

Great story.

Posted by: KTbarthedoor at July 21, 2018 12:59 PM (BVQ+1)

17 I had a mother Racoon with 4 babies visit this week. They all got away before I could waste them.

Posted by: Ronster at July 21, 2018 12:59 PM (u53ot)

18 Kindltot at July 21, 2018 12:57 PM

Great update for people who know something about compost already.

Posted by: KTbarthedoor at July 21, 2018 01:02 PM (BVQ+1)

19 on the apples, they can be sprayed at the end of flowering, to prevent most fruit. It might take $100 for the backpack sprayer and the chemicals the first year, but that would last for several years, probably. The backpack sprayer is nice for spraying other things, and can get pretty good pressure, useful for a tree using the right spray tip.
I haven't done it, but should work. Probably some You-Tube videos would give better details, but here is one link.

https://tinyurl.com/ycs6kwyg

Posted by: illiniwek at July 21, 2018 01:03 PM (bT8Z4)

20 Nice post!

I enjoyed all the pics and the info on the various plants/animals.

The last botanical garden I visited was in Key West at the West Martello Tower/Fort. It is a nice stroll through a garden of tropical plants and such.

The best part was behind it is a small spur of beach with the tower wall as a back stop which turned out to be a great place to take a dip and relax on the beach as no one wanders down there and the homeless guy sleeping one off against the tower wall did not mind me being there either.

Posted by: Hairyback Guy at July 21, 2018 01:03 PM (EoRCO)

21 I am shocked to learn that Denver's windmill is non-functioning. Heh.

Posted by: KTbarthedoor at July 21, 2018 01:03 PM (BVQ+1)

22 KT#16: volunteer could have been a seed from fruit of the grafted, good variety and whatever variety pollinated it.j

Ah. Thanks for the info.

Posted by: mindful webworker - a seedy kinda guy at July 21, 2018 01:05 PM (macz7)

23 illiniwek at July 21, 2018 01:03 PM

Thanks! Looks like a viable solution to me.

Posted by: KTbarthedoor at July 21, 2018 01:06 PM (BVQ+1)

24 I had a mother Racoon with 4 babies visit this week. They all got away before I could waste them.
Posted by: Ronster at July 21, 2018 12:59 PM (u53ot)

Hey, ya snooze, ya lose. There's nothing cuter than a stuffed raccoon family in your den.

Posted by: Anonymous White Male at July 21, 2018 01:07 PM (9BLnV)

25 I think the elephant hat looks like it belongs on the elephant.

Posted by: KTbarthedoor at July 21, 2018 01:07 PM (BVQ+1)

26 I think I'll take up being compost as a career.

Posted by: Insomniac at July 21, 2018 01:08 PM (NWiLs)

27 mindful webworker of the black thumb webworkers at July 21, 2018 12:53 PM

Peach trees are also fast growers and have a shorter useful life than, say, apple or pear trees.

Posted by: KTbarthedoor at July 21, 2018 01:09 PM (BVQ+1)

28 Praying for the end of time so I can end my time with you

Posted by: Cosmic Charlie at July 21, 2018 01:10 PM (gFFRx)

29 Insomniac at July 21, 2018 01:08 PM

No need to rush.

Posted by: KTbarthedoor at July 21, 2018 01:10 PM (BVQ+1)

30 29 Insomniac at July 21, 2018 01:08 PM

No need to rush.
Posted by: KTbarthedoor at July 21, 2018 01:10 PM (BVQ+1)

At least then I'd be good for something. Enrich the soil, help things grow.

Posted by: Insomniac at July 21, 2018 01:14 PM (NWiLs)

31 Sorry. I'll stop. It's just been extra shitty lately.

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

32 One of my favorite movie quotes is from Raising Arizona:

"Her insides were a rocky place where my seed could find no purchase."

Posted by: For Use on the Gardening Thread and/or the Movie Thread at July 21, 2018 01:17 PM (CWBho)

33 I am swimming in cherries, both sweet and pie, as well as starting to harvest a mammoth load of raspberries.

We live very rural and our garden looks like San Quentin prison, deer, you see. Bears, beaver, everything is a garden menace.
But birds! I love them but not at cherry time as they start to devour cherries before they ripen. I've tried it all, but bird netting is just a downright miserable affair. Owl fakes, bird eyes, flashing tape, just useless waste of money.

This year on a whim, I bought three king sized mosquito nets that are placed over beds. They fit perfect over my 6 year old trees. When the breeze comes up they look like a moving marshmallow man.the birds are pretty frightened of it. But if they get momentarily trapped they can make their way out unscathed. Not so bird netting. it strangles the little hummingbirds and does other damage.

I have for the first time an entire harvest and I am overwhelmed. Pies, jam here I come!

The netting keeps the flies and other bugs off as well, so my trees are so clean and healthy.

I've been gardening for 30 years and I've never heard a soul mention this solution. It works!

Posted by: Derak at July 21, 2018 01:17 PM (/LnUG)

34 Many years ago, a volunteer peach tree sprouted next to the compost bin.

If I understand grafting etc, this would be from a seed which represents the root stock, not the fruit graft, but even though small with large pits, we had some tasty peaches for a few years.

Milady made a peach pie one year. We had to fight the squirrels and deer for them, of course. And late freezes that nipped them buds.

Neglect and age, no fruit for several years. One fork rotted and feel down. Another fork fell to a windstorm earlier this year. We cut the last one down after that.

Gone now, sad-face. But! Years of peaches for free was pretty neat.

I'm a lazy gardener, so it was my kind of horticulture.
Posted by: mindful webworker of the black thumb webworkers at July 21, 2018 12:53 PM (macz7)

I have two peach trees in my back yard. Used to be 3, but drought and disease got one. I feel like they deceived me. We got wonderful peaches the year after they were planted and for 3 years after that. We had to net them because the birds were so voracious. After those initial productive years, we started getting insect pests, funguses, molds, etc., because I hadn't been treating them with appropriate products. Then started studying peach trees and found they are incredibly fragile and susceptible to all sorts of things. You have to constantly treat the trees from the dormant phase, to the pink bud stage, the spring bloom stage, the petal fall to shuck split stage, pre-harvest stage, and post-harvest stage. This year, we had some grey spot and some brown spot that ruined a large percentage of peaches. We ended up only getting about 70 or 80 peaches, and I picked those a little early before they were all effected. I made blueberry and peach jelly with the harvest, but I miss biting into a fresh peach.

Posted by: Anonymous White Male at July 21, 2018 01:20 PM (9BLnV)

35 Insomniac at July 21, 2018 01:15 PM

Hope things improve soon.

Posted by: KTbarthedoor at July 21, 2018 01:26 PM (BVQ+1)

36 There's nothing cuter than a stuffed raccoon family in your den.
Ain't that the truth.

Posted by: Ronster at July 21, 2018 01:27 PM (u53ot)

37 Derak at July 21, 2018 01:17 PM

Sounds like a wonderful idea. If you want to keep your cherry trees at a reasonable size, prune during the growing season instead of when they are dormant. Look up "summer pruning".

Posted by: KTbarthedoor at July 21, 2018 01:28 PM (BVQ+1)

38 Our neighbors have peacocks. They make a racket.
My SiL harvested her first cucumber this morning. She's a cucumber mommy now.

Posted by: Miley, the Duchess at July 21, 2018 01:28 PM (txw6d)

39 Anonymous White Male at July 21, 2018 01:20 PM

Results vary with climate. Nectarines are even worse. If you can find out exactly what the crud is that your peaches get, you may find a better agent to treat your trees with.

Posted by: KTbarthedoor at July 21, 2018 01:30 PM (BVQ+1)

40 Miley, the Duchess at July 21, 2018 01:28 PM

We have neighbors with one peacock. One is enough.

Congratulations to your SiL.

Posted by: KTbarthedoor at July 21, 2018 01:31 PM (BVQ+1)

41 I loved that hummingbird nest! I was never able to see where the hummingbirds at my apartment complex hid their nest.

Also, the Asiatic lilies reminded me that I always planted whatever bulbs I received as a gift in the garden, and there was a nice little collection by the time I had to leave.

Posted by: Miley, the Duchess at July 21, 2018 01:32 PM (txw6d)

42 Muldoon, as a bird grandparent myself, I'd like to congratulate you on your cute little hummingbird egg. That's so exciting.

My baby house wrens fledged last weekend! Didn't get to see any of them go though. But when we went to remove the nest afterwards, it was very clean. I've decide I'd much rather have house wrens than house finches in my hanging baskets. Those finches are little piggies.

Posted by: bluebell at July 21, 2018 01:33 PM (JJZzu)

43 {{{Insomniac}}}

Posted by: Miley, the Duchess at July 21, 2018 01:33 PM (txw6d)

44 Also, the Asiatic lilies reminded me that I always planted whatever bulbs I received as a gift in the garden, and there was a nice little collection by the time I had to leave.
Posted by: Miley, the Duchess at July 21, 2018 01:32 PM (txw6d)
---------
Miley, I did the same. I wish I had thought to dig up the hyacinths I got when my son was born and take them with us when we moved. They came up reliably each year. He's 23 now.

Posted by: bluebell at July 21, 2018 01:36 PM (JJZzu)

45 Raccoons got most of my sweet corn this week, but got one this morning in the box trap. Leo the wondermut had him pretty riled when he discovered him on his morning perimeter sweep. Had to calm the thief down with CCI Troy Landry brand tranquilizers before relocation 3 miles down the road.

Posted by: Edd Zachary at July 21, 2018 01:36 PM (Ddkdj)

46 Miley, I did the same. I wish I had thought to dig
up the hyacinths I got when my son was born and take them with us when
we moved. They came up reliably each year. He's 23 now.



Posted by: bluebell at July 21, 2018 01:36 PM (JJZzu)

I brought some iris from the garden in Sterling. I'll plant them out front at my brother's place.

Posted by: Miley, the Duchess at July 21, 2018 01:41 PM (txw6d)

47 Don't know why Raccoons are always coming round here. There is nothing for them to eat. The nearest creek is 1/4 mile away. Should be plenty of food in the creek for them to eat.

Posted by: Ronster at July 21, 2018 01:42 PM (u53ot)

48 31 Sorry. I'll stop. It's just been extra shitty lately.
Posted by: Insomniac at July 21, 2018 01:15 PM (NWiLs)


Well, you can hang out with us. Hopefully we can reduce the sh*t ratio in your life.

Posted by: Emmie at July 21, 2018 01:46 PM (4HMW8)

49 KT! Re summer pruning: my thoughts exactly!

I'm on it!

Posted by: Derak at July 21, 2018 01:47 PM (/LnUG)

50 I know it's the gardening thread and not the birdwatching thread

Birds hang around trees and flowers and shrubs, so yeah they're acceptable on the garden thread.


The goldfinch feeder I put up finally has attracted at least one family. I can't tell if it's more than one, 'cause only one pair and their kids shows up at a time. One of the adult males hopped onto my deck railing, then hopped down to the pink salvia planting and started pecking away. I don't know if he was eating bugs or seeds from the plant.

Posted by: kallisto at July 21, 2018 01:47 PM (kD8Fh)

51 Hummingbirds made a nest on my mom's wind chime as well. Maybe hummingbirds like wind chimes?

Posted by: Emmie at July 21, 2018 01:49 PM (4HMW8)

52 Both thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for us.

Goldfinches love thistle plants. I leave them in my foundation planting for the little darlings. It probably drives the neighbors crazy.

Posted by: kallisto at July 21, 2018 01:50 PM (kD8Fh)

53 My bird netting iirc, is 3/4" and I haven't seen any birds in it. I have it on two rows of grapes so far, need to net two more.

The Frontenac are already at brix 15-20 ... hope to get them to 24 before picking, might even make wine. Had some of the seedless "table grapes" this morning, which was pretty nifty, since I never even pruned them this year. The plan was to in time juice a lot of the fruits, and put them in the 1.5L juice bottles I've saved, and freeze them for a year's supply. Cantaloupe I want to vacuum seal and freeze ... they supposedly are pretty good partially thawed.

the bird eating fruit stories reminded me, I have a little BirdGard device that produce a choice of predator bird sounds. I'd rather not drive off or traumatize the other birds now, but it seemed to work pretty well 15 years ago.

Posted by: illiniwek at July 21, 2018 01:53 PM (bT8Z4)

54 She's a cucumber mommy now.
Posted by: Miley, the Duchess at July 21, 2018 01:28 PM (txw6d)
---

I was going to make a joke about your itinerant guestesses, but modesty prevailed.

Posted by: All Hail Eris, She-Wolf of the 'Ettes 'Ettes at July 21, 2018 01:56 PM (gUCYC)

55 Looks to me like WeaselDog is just saving his energy. You never know when you'll have to have that energy saved up so it's best to husband it carefully.

(Did I mention that it's nap time?)

Posted by: joncelli of the Tribe of the Drunken Moose at July 21, 2018 01:57 PM (1FhAQ)

56 Holy crap, I killed the comments.

Posted by: joncelli of the Tribe of the Drunken Moose at July 21, 2018 02:03 PM (1FhAQ)

57 OT but Kimberly Guilfoyle out at Fox. So, two less reasons to watch Fox News.

Posted by: SteveOReno, as an intelligent person, I self-identify as a Moron at July 21, 2018 02:04 PM (2sCft)

58 Nice thread, ktinthegarden

Those peacocks are a bit brighter than those down the hill from me. Even the foxes leave them alone.

And Weasel, nice tractor. Sure is shiny.

Posted by: NaCly Dog at July 21, 2018 02:05 PM (hyuyC)

59 Damned deer! Taking my usual morning stroll around the garden, I saw something had been busy last night. The blossoms were bitten off the sweet peas, my potted gerberas, and a potted delphinium! There was an incriminating hoof impression in the soil by the sweet peas. Hope it got indigestion from the delphinium.

Posted by: jix at July 21, 2018 02:05 PM (Xx3z8)

60 Denver, keep the apple trees and make the well and windmill functional. For the self-sufencience that is in it.

Use a box attachment to get the apples up.

Your privacy is worth that.

Posted by: NaCly Dog at July 21, 2018 02:07 PM (hyuyC)

61 ktinthegarden , that hummingbird nest and egg are so cool.

Posted by: NaCly Dog at July 21, 2018 02:08 PM (hyuyC)

62 56 Holy crap, I killed the comments.
Posted by: joncelli of the Tribe of the Drunken Moose at July 21, 2018 02:03 PM (1FhAQ)


Shouldn't have mentioned nap time. We're a suggestible bunch.

ZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzz

Posted by: Emmie at July 21, 2018 02:13 PM (4HMW8)

63 Miley

Sterling, VA?

I would like to plant some irises. If you recommend the farm i could start there.

Posted by: Iris at July 21, 2018 02:14 PM (6lKe4)

64 I am officially drafted to do the yard work at the parents house until we get them transferred to community living. I'm certainly not a gift to horticulture. Here's hoping I don't Sherman the yard and garden.

Posted by: Headless Body of Agnew at July 21, 2018 02:18 PM (e1mEI)

65 Great garden stories. The elephant hummingbird egg is fabulous.

Posted by: Mrs. JTB at July 21, 2018 02:19 PM (V+03K)

66 Fen, if Fen the Younger is rally interested in math, he might seriously want to to look at construction/engineering,architecture.

I'm in the construction industry and I know of what I speak.

An absolute fortune is being and will continue to be made going forward.

Maybe not in your particular area but it is danged sure happening elsewhere. And you don't have to be hemmed up in an office or lab all day.

Truckloads of money being made. Legally even.

Just a thought.

Posted by: weirdflunky at July 21, 2018 02:19 PM (lT+xq)

67 Weirdflucky, can you tell me more, please? I am trying to decide what direction to go for a graduate math degree and would like to prepare myself for something useful even though I will use the degree mostly for teaching at the college level.

Posted by: Emmie at July 21, 2018 02:21 PM (4HMW8)

68 My dad had advised that I go into architecture due to my interest in math and art, but I thought it was a desk job. Unfortunately, I cannot work full-time at a desk anymore.

Posted by: Emmie at July 21, 2018 02:23 PM (4HMW8)

69 Traps will soon be set in the yard. A large groundhog or several groundhogs have visited and eaten produce. They sure can move quickly. Witnessed one climbing a four foot chainlink fence.

Posted by: Mrs. JTB at July 21, 2018 02:24 PM (V+03K)

70 Posted by: Mrs. JTB at July 21, 2018 02:24 PM (V+03K)

My BF shot the groundhog that was plaguing his yard. I'd told him to leave it alone since the fox was probably going to get him. But BF got to it first.

Posted by: kallisto at July 21, 2018 02:30 PM (kD8Fh)

71 Shooting the groundhog is not possible on a quarter acre lot. This critter is bigger than the red foxes around here. Now there was a coyote on the neighbor's porch a few weeks ago. Perhaps Wiley Coyote will meet the Grumpy Groundhogs.

Posted by: Mrs. JTB at July 21, 2018 02:35 PM (V+03K)

72 Well, you can hang out with us. Hopefully we can reduce the sh*t ratio in your life.
Posted by: Emmie at July 21, 2018 01:46 PM (4HMW

Ratio maybe. Absolute volume, probably not. Things just keep getting worse and there isn't anything I can do. I feel utterly defeated and helpless.

Posted by: Insomniac at July 21, 2018 02:36 PM (NWiLs)

73 It's a battle in my garden this year. Neighbors tree fell on my tomatoes crushed 3 plants and the starlings, squirrels, possum and raccoons are taking bites out of just about everything else. Best year to date for my asparagus though, so there's a good side to it all. Plus an excuse to buy a light for my pellet rifle. Way too many people around here to shoot anything bigger.

Posted by: dartist at July 21, 2018 02:36 PM (K22Va)

74 the neighbors put a huge showercap-like covering over their tree every year.

Posted by: concrete girl at July 21, 2018 02:37 PM (BVthB)

75 I have apple trees in my side yard. The mocking birds get on them and then the squirrels will tote some off. I have yet to be able to east any of the apples because by the time they are ripe the bugs, squirrels, and birds have already ruined all of them.

Posted by: Vic We Have No Party at July 21, 2018 02:45 PM (mpXpK)

76 I ID'd a couple of local wildflowers. We get a bunch of Bee Weed in the horse pens that I leave for the bees. There is also a bush form of morning glory that grows wild around here that has pretty purple flowers. I think one or more of the horses decided it tastes good as we had some in the horse pens in the past but now I only see it when I ride the neighborhood. Now if I could ID the ground cover that I'm seeing a bit of. It is burr and sticker free and survives in the sand pens; I would see if the seed can be bought if I knew the name of it.

Posted by: PaleRider, simply irredeemable at July 21, 2018 02:48 PM (3oVps)

77 Uh Oh did I break the blog?

Posted by: PaleRider, simply irredeemable at July 21, 2018 02:57 PM (3oVps)

78 PaleRider. You need to get a copy of "Weeds of the West". It has helped me identify a lot of weeds.

Posted by: Ronster at July 21, 2018 02:59 PM (u53ot)

79 PaleRider, it seems that you wouldn't want your horses eating any relatives of morning glory.

Well, maybe it's just the seeds that are poisonous.

Posted by: Emmie at July 21, 2018 03:03 PM (4HMW8)

80 Nood! With Wieners!

Posted by: The boy that cried "Nood!"

Posted by: SteveOReno, as an intelligent person, I self-identify as a Moron at July 21, 2018 03:05 PM (2sCft)

81 https://www.reneesgarden.com/products/morning-glory-bush-blue-ensign

Bush morning glory seeds

Posted by: Emmie at July 21, 2018 03:06 PM (4HMW8)

82 Thanks Emmie. I am pondering planting some of the bush morning glory in the non horse areas. It is ornamental in bloom and it survives on its own in the sandy soil around here.

Posted by: PaleRider, simply irredeemable at July 21, 2018 03:15 PM (3oVps)

83 vanilla extract on some frozen vegies (I used corn) ... groundhogs couldn't resist.
I had some mowing down my soybeans, I'd step on my porch about 100 yards away and they'd duck for cover. They seem thick this year.

Posted by: illiniwek at July 21, 2018 03:45 PM (bT8Z4)

84 Wow, Weasel has a sweet tractor!

Posted by: Chris M at July 21, 2018 03:50 PM (6XZdO)

85 Late (again) to the gardening thread... but here is my NYS update:

Lettuce is still producing. I am amazed considering how hot it has been. The mustard greens are also doing very well. The spinach shot up too fast and tasted awful. It is long gone.

Beans are finished. Next year? Runner beans!

Peas are finished. Next year? More peas (yum!)

The cabbage looks beautiful and is coming along nicely.

The cucumber plants have looked horrible all season. That is odd since cukes have always grown wild here. The positive is the plants are producing, just not as much as normal.

My tomato plants look good, but for how long? NYS gets a lot of tomato blight, so I have to contend with that every year (only reported in one spot right now, but I know it is coming) https://usablight.org/map I have harvested a TON of cherry tomatoes, and now waiting on the Romas.

The peppers are crazy-productive this year. Since I switched to container gardening and the bunnies cannot get them, they decided to reward me with an ample crop. Hubby is making a lot of soup, we are freezing, and apparently, pickling peppers too.

The Brussels sprouts are surviving the heat and have little sprouts. Not sure how they will turn out, but so far, so good.

And now I am off to harvest...

Posted by: Ann at July 21, 2018 04:00 PM (e59uY)

86 From Idaho's Treasure Valley: First, HELP! Anyone good with canning syrups and jellies? We thought we'd made blueberry syrup, and put it into bottles, some of which have those metal collar gizmos that flip the lid onto the top and cinch it down (don't know what they're called). Unfortunately, we have jelly down in there, not syrup. Most online advice is for when you *want* jelly, but *get* syrup, not the other way round, which is our problem. The little online advice I could find, says to put it in a hot water bath. We got one up to 165 F, and were afraid the glass would break since they're not canning-jar, heat-rated glass, so we stopped. Plus, will the heat make the jelly even stiffer? - we don't know. The other method is to put it in a microwave, which we can't do because of the metal. Anybody have any ideas? Stick a bamboo skewer in, and wiggle it around in there to loosen it up, then try the water bath, maybe?? (From now on, even if we're making syrup, it goes into half-pint jelly jars!!)

Turns out 2 zucchini plants are too much for 2 people who only like eating zucchini occasionally... (Still working on squishing squash bugs and their eggs.)

One butternut squash plant is dead, the other looks sickly. I put both 5-10-10 crystals and iron powder on it (leaves too pale), and hope it will survive.

All the pea vines have been cut off, and piled up by the compost. I don't want them all in one layer in the compost, so I'm waiting for a bunch of grass clippings to mix between layers - but high temperatures over 95 are keeping the grass from growing much, no matter how much irrigation water we pile on.

Last Sunday, I washed over 600 green beans (yeah, I actually did count as I went) - husband snapped them - I processed them - only amounted to like 4 pounds... lots more bean season still to go...

We tested 2 ears of corn on Wed. - not ready yet.

The tomatoes are blushing, but none ready yet - we have Roma, Big Boy, and heirloom Nyagous. The basil plants are looking great, so the tomatoes better hurry up!

I just peeked under the cantaloupe vines, and found the first fruits formed!

I dug the purple potatoes, the ones that started from a few tiny bits I found in a box in the garage. Got 3 small potatoes, which is still more than we started with. Today I emptied 2 of the cloth pots with Yukon Golds, since the plants were dead - I'm disappointed with the yield, no more than about 6 large potatoes' worth from each bag.

I hardly ever pay attention to the various pepper plants, but today, husband harvested a bunch of pepperoncini peppers. I do see fruits on the poblanos, jalapenos, and bell peppers.

Some crazy tree trimming went on this week. We were at our usual indoor range, teaching our Monday night class, when a small rain shower went by - at least we *thought* it was a small shower. It must have been a squall here, though - when we got home, there were 3 large branches down in our yard!, 2 sweet gum and a silver maple. Spent about 4 hours on Tuesday morning, doing the cleanup - cutting up what we could for firewood, putting some on our future burn piles, and carting the rest off to the dump.

Posted by: Pat* at July 21, 2018 04:33 PM (2pX/F)

87 Ann at July 21, 2018 04:00 PM

Thanks for the great report. I recommend that you not switch to ALL runner beans. Early beans, late beans. Runner beans as in Scarlet Runners are really different. They produce in cool weather, so you may not get a crop til fall even if you get flowers all summer. If you want to talk varieties, we can.

Are you talking about Late Blight? There are a few resistant tomato cultivars now. Not many.

Posted by: KTbarthedoor at July 21, 2018 04:45 PM (BVQ+1)

88 PaleRider, simply irredeemable at July 21, 2018 02:48 P

When you say "bee plant" do you mean Cleome serrulate? Navajo spinach? I grew that one year. It volunteered the next. Kind of a pretty little plant.

Posted by: KTbarthedoor at July 21, 2018 04:57 PM (BVQ+1)

89 Pat*, thanks for the report.

Who gets your extra zucchini?

Posted by: KTbarthedoor at July 21, 2018 04:58 PM (BVQ+1)

90 KTbarthedoor, yes, I found the name bee weed with pic that matched what we have a few days ago and Navajo Spinach is one of the common names that came up when I verified my memory with a duck search on the name. Its like a 2-2.5 foot bush.

I should take some pics of the ground cover and see if the horde can identify it. It is spreading some on its own with my selective weed spraying but its nice enough I would maybe buy some seed.

Posted by: PaleRider, simply irredeemable at July 21, 2018 05:10 PM (3oVps)

91 Just wanted to see if this Name fits ....


Hmm ... we'll hold on a second.

Pat ! it sounds like u got ur hands full. I have never canned a single thing in my life (gen y.5 is da worst). Good luck though!

I know u will have tomatoes and basil for a while
And more tomatoes and basil
Then just basil
They go so well together I sometimes just picked the tomatoes almost red but still green and then sliced them and popped in the broiler with salt and basil and maybe some rhyme it really is a good snack and if u want have need to impress u can add cheese and other goodies I know this sounds like fried green tomatoes cause when I first did it I was like "I don't think I liked that movie as a teenager and I know I didn't like tomatoes then" .. but after I became calorically aware ( this is a process where u teach ur body not to crave dense caloric foods but the old stuff / yes I just made it up just now - and I have to renew it every time I get back on the wagon --- I wouldn't call it FASTING however sometimes i just it once a day and drink coffee with whatever milk I want but no 48 hour fasting crap! My body was not designed for that and my brother benched 315 when he was 16 and teaches mhuay tai) it was almost the perfect snack and I soon did not even need the cheese. Just the green firm tomatoes - firm enough so they wouldn't wilt under the broilers added salt pepper pop in sprinkle basil pop out - dice and spread over a salad or just to snack on ... maybe dip in a salsa or humus. If pulled out soon they can bear the weight of any chip!

Oh my I did Digress there didn't I. Please excuse me while I excuse mysel.

Posted by: I am John Brennan head me ROAR at July 21, 2018 05:19 PM (IT+uc)

92 Posted by: KTbarthedoor at July 21, 2018 04:45 PM (BVQ+1)

Thanks for the runner beans tip, that is wonderful! Looks like they'd be great for a second planting.

Yes, the tomato late blight in NYS the last few years has been horrible. That there is only one reported county right now is as good as I have seen in many a year. I do not grow potatoes so do not know how late blight has impacted that crop the last 10 years or so.

Posted by: Ann at July 21, 2018 05:31 PM (e59uY)

93 Who gets the zucchini? Anybody I can persuade to take it! No takers so far... Tomorrow I'll use a box grater to shred the ones in the refrigerator, do a quick parboil, and freeze the stuff. I can make zucchini bread, and "zatkes" out of it.

Posted by: Pat* at July 21, 2018 11:10 PM (2pX/F)

94 Container garden:

We harvested the first ripe tomato last weekend, getting one or two slicers every couple of days now plus a snack-sized portion of cherry types. (Seven pots total.) Yum!

Zucchini(2)and acorn(1)squashes transplanted successfully into the big pots we took broccoli from... we may have zukes by next week or so. Will train acorns up and along the deck railing.

Mexican sunflowers now about a foot tall and branching out.


Ran out of daylight today-- but got the peatmoss, pots, rooting hormone and sand dragged out for my next attempt at propagating the clematis montana via semi-hardwood cuttings. (Our neighbor wants a couple for "screening out the hot, setting sun" on her deck. Well, this is just the thing for her situation.) I'd like a few extra to grow along the back fence for privacy, too.

Peppers aren't going so great, even though we've had plenty of hot weather. Oh, well. They're cheap enough at the store if I decide to make salsa. Plants are attractive, though.

Any harvest we get is a *plus* no matter how much time and $ I've spent on soil, pots, etc. Especially tomatoes-- just can't get that same flavor at the store!


Posted by: JQ at July 22, 2018 12:43 AM (yD/Pf)

95 Brookgreen gardens is stunning. I spent 2 days there a few year ago. Took almost 1000 pictures.

Posted by: Susan at July 22, 2018 08:59 AM (+ZK/F)

96 Some Birds will build their nests in odd locations like in the O in a Dollar Tree signi once watched a sparrow breaking up a bit of a Hambuger bun

Posted by: Spurwing Plover at July 23, 2018 02:03 AM (FLiOE)

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