Saturday Gardening and Puttering Thread 2/1/20 [KT]

Hello gardeners, putterers and winter dreamers. Ready for a break? We have some interesting things to share from The Horde today.

From Don in Kansas, today:

Another orchid opened its first blooms this weekend. This one is Cattleya Aloha Apricot. It is more frequently listed as a Sophrolaeliocattleya [SLC], but Sophronitis and most of Laelia recently have been lumped into the Cattleya genus, so it's just a Cattleya now. It's a compact plant, eight inches high including the pot, and the flowers are two-and-a-half inches in diameter.

Those botanists, always re-arranging things. We missed a couple of other orchid posts from Don, too:

Photos from the latest local Orchid Society show. This is a hybrid Cattleya, but there are more:

And this beauty:

Once again, one of my plants opened its first flower on Christmas day. This year it was Coelogyne graminifolia. (Last year was Prosthechea cochleata.)

Follow the link for more orchid photos, which you can embiggen.

The Edible Garden

Time to start thinking about the coming season. Some people already have things growing. Check out the later comments from last week's thread for some tomato recommendations. What are your favorites? Here's Cherokee Chocolate:

Can't wait for tomatoes? Do a little foraging and make nettle soup. Thanks for the recipe, Shanks for the memory.

Gardens of The Horde

A tomato is ripening on last year's plant, in my front yard. Doesn't look especially delicious.

JQ still has something going indoors:

Hi, KT!
My old poinsettia now has fully-formed flower buds and even more color
than in last pic from December. If I don't manage to kill it this
summer, will make effort to 'force' it and have full-flower by next
Christmas. Wish me luck!

Good luck!

The one above looks pretty good, considering it didn't get any dark treatment!

Want to identify this bird of prey for Larro? Seemed to chase off the birds near his feeder in Texas for a while.

Larro also took several photos of the same sunset from slightly different vantage points, using different filters/effects. Which is your favorite?

Don't know why but that last one reminds me of Ghost Riders in the Sky.

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 remain a lurker.

Posted by: Open Blogger at 01:12 PM

Comments

(Jump to bottom of comments)

1 Worst

Posted by: blaster at February 01, 2020 01:14 PM (ZfRYq)

2 Now that the Dems have crowned Donald King, that makes Melania Queen, right? And Don Jr. a Prince?

I might like this royalty business

Posted by: blaster at February 01, 2020 01:15 PM (ZfRYq)

3 Sharp-shinned hawk

Posted by: Pamela at February 01, 2020 01:18 PM (kXGed)

4 My crocus have gotten off to a great start, but the rain of the last few days threaten to swamp the whole flowerbed.
Ugh!!!

Posted by: Diogenes at February 01, 2020 01:18 PM (axyOa)

5 Moar edible plants, pls

Posted by: Miklos, needs something to accompany tasty animals at February 01, 2020 01:22 PM (QzkSJ)

6 We are supposed to get a hard freeze on Tuesday. But today and tomorrow are warm and breezy. Have set up a riding meet up for tomorrow so I should get the Xmas decorations down today plus do the laundry. Maybe someday I'll get organized enough to do laundry during the week so weekends can be more fun.

Posted by: PaleRider is simply irredeemable at February 01, 2020 01:24 PM (n4y+3)

7 Sophronitis and laelia lumped in with all cattleya now, eh?

Makes sense, given the confusion in labeling their hybrids.

I would guessed goshawk due to the banded tail. Flies with great agility through crowded wood lots, rounded wings in flight.

Posted by: Heirloominati, at February 01, 2020 01:25 PM (GC07d)

8 367
Bill Kristol@BillKristol

Not presumably forever; not perhaps for a day after Nov. 3, 2020;
not on every issue or in every way until then. But for the time being
one has to say: We are all Democrats now.

-

"We"? You got a mouse rat in your pocket?

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Tyrannosaur Wrangler at February 01, 2020 01:21 PM (+y/Ru)

OMG, Kristol might literally be suffering from alcoholic dementia? This is way out there. Does he know he is using his outside voice? Who is he playing to? Does he reach into his diapers to see if they are full?

Posted by: Cuthbert the Witless at February 01, 2020 01:26 PM (9dzlp)

9 Burpee has a pea variety supposed to be bred for container gardening, actually called "Peas In-A-Pot", it's described as a dwarf variety growing to 10 inches. My 4 1/2 year old granddaughter likes peas so I've planted some and will see if these can not only be grown in a pot but also under lights. At least something to do until it warms up again!

Posted by: Lirio100 at February 01, 2020 01:27 PM (JK7Jw)

10 Lirio100 at February 01, 2020 01:27 PM
There are some green beans that grow remarkably well in containers, even in relatively low light. Though they are not as productive as when grown outdoors.

Posted by: KT at February 01, 2020 01:31 PM (BVQ+1)

11 ktinthegarden

Very nice thread. Love the sunset pics and Don in Kansas show off those orchids very well.

Thanks.

Posted by: NaCly Dog at February 01, 2020 01:31 PM (u82oZ)

12 Miklos, needs something to accompany tasty animals at February 01, 2020 01:22 PM

You looking to plant from seed or plants?

Posted by: KT at February 01, 2020 01:35 PM (BVQ+1)

13 Posted by: Lirio100 at February 01, 2020 01:27 PM (JK7Jw)

I've had success with these in containers:

https://tinyurl.com/w5lf9q2

Link goes to seed savers.org

Posted by: Evasiveboat42 at February 01, 2020 01:35 PM (Rz2Nc)

14
g'early afternoon, 'rons

Posted by: AltonJackson
If you are finished, unload & show clear
at February 01, 2020 01:36 PM (XtYRN)

15 The lighting in the second photo really shows off the texture of the orchid blossoms.

Posted by: KT at February 01, 2020 01:37 PM (BVQ+1)

16 German Strawberry, a beautiful oxheart.
Big fan of Brandywines for burger season.
I prefer Black Kim amount purples.
Sun Gold are can be a prolific hybrid cherry along w the stand yellow pear cherry.

Some type of Roma for canning, San Mariano and a Polish Linguisa. Pro tip - plant in rows, stakes every few plants, then weave twine or cordage in N out to hold them upright, repeating as they grow. End result is a tomatoe hedgerow. Those flimsy cages are never strong enough to support the weight of the fruit ripening.

Helpful how to video should be easy to find at Johnny's.

Posted by: Heirloominati, tomatoes! at February 01, 2020 01:39 PM (GC07d)

17 I think that is Clint Eastwood squinching in that video.

Posted by: KT at February 01, 2020 01:39 PM (BVQ+1)

18 Overwintering my sword fern, it's starting to look like it misses being outside.

Posted by: kallisto at February 01, 2020 01:41 PM (DJFLF)

19 Want to identify this bird of prey for Larro? Seemed to chase off the birds near his feeder in Texas for a while.

""""""
Red Tail Hawk ? ( totally cheated on that one)

Posted by: runner at February 01, 2020 01:41 PM (PJG7h)

20 No Skip?

Posted by: kallisto at February 01, 2020 01:42 PM (DJFLF)

21 I never could identify Raptors very well. Especially in the juvenile stage. But a sharp shinned hawk is tiny. Sparrow hawk sometimes right? A juvenile Cooper's Hawk would be a larger size, though tough to tell from a pic. I think, a Cooper's Hawk has red eyes, a distinctive characteristic identifier.

Years ago Cooper's Hawk had a bounty on them. Say 150 years ago or thereabouts. By the Audobon Society, no less. The reason was, the blue hairs didn't like their pretty pretty songbirds getting flamed at the feeders.

Posted by: Common Tater at February 01, 2020 01:42 PM (WOjjq)

22 Bill Kristol is a rutabaga.

Posted by: runner at February 01, 2020 01:43 PM (PJG7h)

23 Just got home from work
Good afternoon Greenthumbs

Posted by: Skip at February 01, 2020 01:43 PM (ZCEU2)

24 No green thumb here. Just looking at pics, birds.

Posted by: runner at February 01, 2020 01:44 PM (PJG7h)

25 Better for the Food thread working at a new Williams Sonoma in KoP

Posted by: Skip at February 01, 2020 01:44 PM (ZCEU2)

26 Wondering why my birds of prey are camera shy, some good ones here lately.

Posted by: Skip at February 01, 2020 01:45 PM (ZCEU2)

27 Heirloominati, tomatoes! at February 01, 2020 01:39 PM

Nice tomato list.

Stump of the World and Dr. Lyle work better in my climate than Brandywine, and are similar in flavor. Stump of the World is slightly smallier and zippier.

Of course, there are a lot of different strains of Brandywine.

Posted by: KT at February 01, 2020 01:46 PM (BVQ+1)

28 I usually grow the standard red b/c Old School, but have been very pleased w the pink. Nearly identical flavor. The yellow Brandywine didn't have the same appeal, also did not thrive for me. Will probably try again.

Might experiment with some Russian varietals this year, because different and North Coast.

Posted by: Heirloominati, now I gotta find time to check what I missed last week at February 01, 2020 01:52 PM (GC07d)

29 Re: Bill Krystol- No Bill, you always were a Democrat.

Posted by: Commissar Sexist Snake at February 01, 2020 01:54 PM (I3Rqa)

30 Driving South on Hwy 99W south of McMinnville today I saw a bald eagle perched on a telephone pole.

The Canadian geese are migrating, and the eagles follow them. Once upon a time an eagle siting would have been a reason for people to pull over and look at them, now they overfly quite a bit.

The Egrets are passing through too, so you can see a brilliant white bird in the just sprouting green fields.

Posted by: Kindltot at February 01, 2020 01:57 PM (6rS3m)

31 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. -- Genesis 3:17-19

Posted by: Insomniac - Ex Cineribus Resurgo at February 01, 2020 01:57 PM (NWiLs)

32 I planted a Cherokee Carbon tomato plant last year and was very pleased. It has the same appearance as a Cherokee Purple, and almost the same flavor, but it was more productive. I'm going to plant it again this year. I have room for 6 plants. They'll be: 1) Cherokee Carbon; 2) Sweet 100 Cherry or maybe a Grape tomato; 3) Celebrity; 4) Better Boy; 5) Early Girl; and 6) TBD-probably something I've never heard of before that either dies of disease or surrenders just one or two tomatoes, never to be invited back to my garden again.

Posted by: Cumberland Astro at February 01, 2020 01:58 PM (d9Cw3)

33 Back by popular demand!

Posted by: Insomniac - Ex Cineribus Resurgo at February 01, 2020 01:58 PM (NWiLs)

34 Duty calls.

Love you longtime!

Posted by: Heirloominati, firing up the grill at February 01, 2020 02:00 PM (GC07d)

35 KT, neither the granddaughter nor her older brother are fond of beans. I've gotten them eating cherry tomatoes from my plants (my daughter somehow ended up with a black thumb) and the peas are this year's experiment, easier because one of them will eat the peas and usually the other follows. They both are young enough to be fascinated by the idea of growing something they can eat, so maybe beans will be next!

Evasiveboat, I ordered a packet of those peas, along with a couple of other things. If it goes well maybe I can trust the two with a pot of their own at their house!

Posted by: Lirio100 at February 01, 2020 02:04 PM (JK7Jw)

36 Sure seeming winter is going to be quite mild, and don't believe a whit about global warming. But my mini greenhouse might start getting something in a month, maybe month and half.

Posted by: Skip at February 01, 2020 02:06 PM (ZCEU2)

37 Same old same old at Che Blake, though, I am contemplating cutting back some of our crape myrtles a bit more. We shall see.

KT, as per usual, excellent thread and great pics.

I am looking forward to getting rid of our dingy storage shed in a month or so.

We're going to put in an actual garden shed with wood walls and actual windows, rather than the dark and creepy metal POS we currently have.

Posted by: blake - semi lurker in marginal standing
at February 01, 2020 02:09 PM (WEBkv)

38 No Skip?
Posted by: kallisto

he's hopping and jumping around this thread.

Posted by: JT at February 01, 2020 02:14 PM (arJlL)

39 Back by popular demand!
Posted by: Insomniac - Ex Cineribus Resurgo

Mister Sunshine !

Posted by: JT at February 01, 2020 02:15 PM (arJlL)

40 Sharp skinned hawk ... looks right. I'd never heard of those. My first thought was Peregrine falcon, but the wider stripes on the tail are different, and fit the images for the sharp-skinned hawk. cool.

Posted by: illiniwek at February 01, 2020 02:15 PM (Cus5s)

41 Sure seeming winter is going to be quite mild, and don't believe a whit about global warming. But my mini greenhouse might start getting something in a month, maybe month and half.
Posted by: Skip

I was outside for hours this AM and man is it damp out there.

It gets in your bones !

Posted by: JT at February 01, 2020 02:17 PM (arJlL)

42 Posted by: Lirio100 at February 01, 2020 02:04 PM (JK7Jw)

Good luck!

Posted by: Evasiveboat42 at February 01, 2020 02:20 PM (Rz2Nc)

43 Made it down to the farm Thursday & Friday. Short trip but great to be there after almost a month. And my tractor is fixed, thank the Lord, Something that controls the fuel injection was the problem.

Posted by: Weasel at February 01, 2020 02:20 PM (MVjcR)

44 The fuel injector connector protector ?

Posted by: JT at February 01, 2020 02:21 PM (arJlL)

45 Have tried a few of the odd looking tomato varieties and think they are pretty good, but then long ago on the garden talk show on PBS a expert once said the worse home grown tomato beats store commercially version.

Posted by: Skip at February 01, 2020 02:21 PM (ZCEU2)

46 44 The fuel injector connector protector ?
Posted by: JT at February 01, 2020 02:21 PM (arJlL)
-----
"Some kind of part" to be exact!

Posted by: Weasel at February 01, 2020 02:22 PM (MVjcR)

47 Taking the wife to the SC orchid show next wkend.....3 days!

Posted by: BignJames at February 01, 2020 02:25 PM (X/Pw5)

48 39 Back by popular demand!
Posted by: Insomniac - Ex Cineribus Resurgo

Mister Sunshine !
Posted by: JT at February 01, 2020 02:15 PM (arJlL)

In the virtual flesh!

Posted by: Insomniac - Ex Cineribus Resurgo at February 01, 2020 02:26 PM (NWiLs)

49 *putters*

*putters some more*

Posted by: Insomniac - Ex Cineribus Resurgo at February 01, 2020 02:26 PM (NWiLs)

50 Still wintry here in NJ, of course. But it was a little dry so I did some watering to keep the roses all happy!

Gorgeous orchids!

I'm not much of an indoor plant person, but one of the kids is, so I bought some lovely planters at last week's auction day. Very A&C, she'll be delighted.

Posted by: CN at February 01, 2020 02:28 PM (ONvIw)

51 That's a juvenile Cooper's Hawk. The Cooper's Hawk has a rounded tail, while the Sharp-shinned Hawk has a square tail. The juvenile Cooper's also has thin dark streaks on the upper breast, while the Sharp-shinned has heavy reddish streaks on the breast. A Goshawk's tail bars are uneven.

Posted by: Paddy O'Furnijur at February 01, 2020 02:30 PM (bNh4G)

52 Posted by: Paddy O'Furnijur at February 01, 2020 02:30 PM (bNh4G)

I think it's a Cooper's too.

Posted by: BignJames at February 01, 2020 02:33 PM (X/Pw5)

53 illiniwek, I thought it was a peregrine falcon also. Glad I didn't put my ignorance on display there.

Posted by: creeper at February 01, 2020 02:38 PM (XxJt1)

54 Went to the dump.

Saw some bald eagles.

Posted by: jsg at February 01, 2020 02:40 PM (M9L1A)

55 54 Went to the dump.

Saw some bald eagles.
Posted by: jsg at February 01, 2020 02:40 PM (M9L1A)
-------
They taste like chicken.

Posted by: Weasel at February 01, 2020 02:41 PM (MVjcR)

56 That bird is clearly a Decepticon.

Posted by: BeckoningChasm at February 01, 2020 02:42 PM (l9m7l)

57 53 illiniwek, I thought it was a peregrine falcon also. Glad I didn't put my ignorance on display there.
Posted by: creeper at February 01, 2020 02:38 PM (XxJt1)
-------
Hi creeper! That's never stopped me!

Posted by: Weasel at February 01, 2020 02:42 PM (MVjcR)

58 Nope. Not a peregrine falcon. Tail stripes are wrong. But close.

Posted by: creeper at February 01, 2020 02:43 PM (XxJt1)

59 I thought the bird was a turbot charged burrowing goby

Posted by: REDACTED at February 01, 2020 02:44 PM (rpxSz)

60 50 I bought some lovely planters at last week's auction day. Very A&C, she'll be delighted.
Posted by: CN at February 01, 2020 02:28 PM (ONvIw)

A&C?

Posted by: m at February 01, 2020 02:44 PM (7juvc)

61 Skip-

Did you work today ?

Posted by: JT at February 01, 2020 02:45 PM (arJlL)

62 60: Arts & Crafts period (1880-1910) and at 5 dollars for 3 it was a steal

Posted by: CN at February 01, 2020 02:47 PM (ONvIw)

63 Hay, Weasel! It was just a moment of temporary sanity. Don't expect to see it that repeated any time soon.

But that bird can be a peregrine falcon if it wants to. Isn't that the way things work now?

Posted by: creeper at February 01, 2020 02:48 PM (XxJt1)

64
But that bird can be a peregrine falcon if it wants to. Isn't that the way things work now?
Posted by: creeper at February 01, 2020 02:48 PM (XxJt1)
----------
That bird is clearly transitioning!

Posted by: Weasel at February 01, 2020 02:50 PM (MVjcR)

65 Auctions are great fun for me. We're not talking Christie's here, just local estate sale type stuff in an old factory building. I've scored some nice outdoor concrete planters as well as wrought iron furniture for the patio. I'm always stunned by what people are willing to part with.

Posted by: CN at February 01, 2020 02:50 PM (ONvIw)

66 The Canadian geese are migrating, and the eagles follow them.

Do the eagles just follow the Canadas chronically, or do they consider them to be lunch?

Posted by: Fox2! at February 01, 2020 02:51 PM (qyH+l)

67 62 60: Arts & Crafts period (1880-1910) and at 5 dollars for 3 it was a steal
Posted by: CN at February 01, 2020 02:47 PM (ONvIw)

Aha! Thanks.

Posted by: m at February 01, 2020 02:51 PM (7juvc)

68 chronically = chronologically

Posted by: Fox2! at February 01, 2020 02:55 PM (qyH+l)

69 I think the bird is a Mississippi Kite, Ictinia mississippiensis. We have them here in SE TX

Posted by: Patti O'Table, oxidizing slowly at February 01, 2020 02:55 PM (lfuNc)

70 Do the eagles just follow the Canadas chronically, or do they consider them to be lunch?
Posted by: Fox2! at February 01, 2020 02:51 PM (qyH+l)

They hunt them. You can see them sometimes on one, having lunch.

Eagles hunt a number of ducks and geese and salmon, of course, but they do go after the geese because they are pretty much the only predator that can.

The farmers put bald eagle looking decoys in the grass seed fields to keep the geese away.

Posted by: Kindltot at February 01, 2020 02:57 PM (6rS3m)

71 Heirloominati, now I gotta find time to check what I missed last week at February 01, 2020 01:52 PM
You might want to try Cosmonaut Volkov if you live in a cool summer area.

Luscious here as an early tomato.

Posted by: KT at February 01, 2020 02:59 PM (BVQ+1)

72 Big great horned owl in the tree across the street yesterday. Heidi got a great photo with her phone. Today I'm learning how to trim our paddle cactus that started with 3 pads and is now a beautiful monster.

Posted by: Cannibal Blob at February 01, 2020 03:00 PM (hmgiv)

73 Also broccoli has taken off.

Posted by: Cannibal Blob at February 01, 2020 03:01 PM (hmgiv)

74 Nood pets.

Posted by: olddog in mo, uckfay ancercay at February 01, 2020 03:01 PM (Dhht7)

75 You might want to try Cosmonaut Volkov if you live in a cool summer area.

Posted by: KT at February 01, 2020 02:59 PM (BVQ+1)

I read Cosmonaut Vodka. Huh.

Posted by: Cannibal Blob at February 01, 2020 03:02 PM (hmgiv)

76 Thanks for your great work, KT!
Beautiful orchid photography!

I'm thinking the onion slips should be in the ground by now, (or quickly) and I usually would have already started peppers, tomatoes, and maybe some herbs; get them up by placing in a south sunny window until it is past your last freeze.
Thanks for the Cooper Hawk info- I searched it out and found a match to verify.
Take time to enjoy the day, 'cause it's a great one!

Posted by: LaRro at February 01, 2020 03:03 PM (10GNe)

77 I mostly see red-tailed hawks here, but I have seen Cooper's hawks a few times, and maybe one Peregrine falcon.

A couple times I've been out when hawks have swooped down on my chickens ... they have never gotten one, and the red-tailed don't seem interested, though my chickensd often hang out under the porch ... maybe they watch the skies, idk. Learning exact details for identification is not my strong suit ... ha.

Posted by: illiniwek at February 01, 2020 03:04 PM (Cus5s)

78 N. Indiana, here. One tomato I plant every year is Juliet. A 'saladette' type, like a small roma. Crack-free and stay nice on the vine after ripening. I think they go around 2 ounce or so. Usually my first tomato out of the garden. I find they have a great balance of sweetness to real tomato flavor. Great for pico de gallo, eating fresh or on salad. They produce tons of fruit right up to the frost.

Posted by: Cicero Kaboom! Kid, at February 01, 2020 03:10 PM (Vy7tf)

79 Locally, my narcissus and daffodils are starting to put out the first buds, and the neighbors Witch Hazel is blooming, so it is time to start looking for what I want to do this year in gardening.

I like the Cherokee Purple tomatoes for the flavor, but they are a bit marginal here, it takes a good hot summer to get a good yield. I also like the Willamettes and Siletz since they were bred for this area, so they take up the difference.
I am looking at the Indigo rose and the black Krim, since who doesn't want to eat black tomatoes! I do find the flavor is more pronounced with the darker tomatoes than with the tomatoes I grew up with

However, I think I have about 12 Quarts of tomato juice in the pantry still, so I better get cracking on drinking and cooking with it before harvest.

I will be planting Kentucky Wonder string beans again, since they turned out so well, and I suspect I will be pickling dilly beans with them this year.
I put down garlic where my compost was, and with luck that will come up this year, and I always plant chili peppers.

I need to clear an area and get ready to till to plant lettuce and put in the potato hills. What seems to grow best here are the yellow potatoes.

One thing that I have discovered over many years is that the plants I put at the corners of the garden plot NEVER do well. I am not sure if this is a watering issue, or if there is too much competition with the lawn. I may plant basil on the corners from now on.

Posted by: Kindltot at February 01, 2020 03:14 PM (6rS3m)

80 Should get outside and do some offering to Gaia

My basil always seems to do well wherever its planted

Posted by: Skip at February 01, 2020 03:23 PM (ZCEU2)

81 Beautiful orchids! The photos at Don's page are gorgeous, too.

This week I switched from the corn-based birdseed to sunflower seeds. The reduction sparrows and uptick in nuthatches and cardinals has been amazing. But the main thing is that the chickadees like sunflower seeds. They're my favorites.

Posted by: NaughtyPine at February 01, 2020 03:35 PM (/+bwe)

82 Genesis 3:17-19
Posted by: Insomniac - Ex Cineribus Resurgo at February 01, 2020 01:57 PM (NWiLs)

YAY!!!

It's not the garden thread without it.

Posted by: NaughtyPine at February 01, 2020 03:42 PM (/+bwe)

83 Two types of birds of prey:

1. Eats the neighborhood kittehs.
2. Does not eat the neighborhood kittehs.

Posted by: NaughtyPine at February 01, 2020 03:44 PM (/+bwe)

84 Two types of birds of prey:

1. Eats the neighborhood kittehs.
2. Does not eat the neighborhood kittehs.

Lol, so true...

When we had Great Horned Owls in the 'hood, there were no kittehs roaming about.

Now, there are quite a few kittehs and we haven't seen any GHOs around for a couple of years.

Posted by: JQ at February 01, 2020 04:03 PM (gP/Z3)

85 Thanks for posting my silly ol' poinsettia again, KT.

Doesn't matter to me that it isn't Christmas anymore, I'm just happy the plant survived.

-----

Today's puttering:

Finally got the Christmas lights taken down! The wind is my friend *for once*-- after drying out the garlands enough for mold-free storage.

Posted by: JQ at February 01, 2020 04:09 PM (gP/Z3)

86 62. Yes that is definitely a steal!

Posted by: kallisto at February 01, 2020 04:16 PM (KNycr)

87 86 62. Yes that is definitely a steal!
Maybe you could send a picture to KT. We could do a whole thread about containers and indoor/outdoor gardening ideas.

Posted by: OldDominionMom at February 01, 2020 05:09 PM (dH/BH)

88 I'm always stunned by what people are willing to part with.
Posted by: CN at February 01, 2020 02:50 PM (ONvIw)

I've been trying to declutter and for things that have some value I prefer to sell them, I figure theres a decent chance they'll be used that way; you never know if an SA or Goodwill store is going to figure something is not worth storing and put it right in the dumpster.

Posted by: PaleRider is simply irredeemable at February 01, 2020 06:02 PM (n4y+3)

89 From Idaho's Treasure Valley (Boise area): I'm still scrubbing apple debris off the garage floor, the remains of the cider project. (All the hard cider has now been bottled.) The worst spot, where the last potato bag with the greatest number of rotten apples sat, I'm saving for last - that will get done this coming week.

My current indoor project is pulling the leaves off stems of my dried oregano, and grinding them with a mortar and pestle. Later I'll work on my dried thyme and sage.

I took advantage of nice weather Thursday, and turned the soil in 2 of the 6 changeable raised beds.

For anyone who wasn't reading last year: Husband and I built 12 raised beds. The 6 closest to our paddock get planted with something different every year. Four of the 6 closer to the house don't change - 1 asparagus, 2 strawberry, 1 herb bed. The other 2 beds were for blueberries, but there are just 3 struggling bushes left now, and we gave up buying replacements for the ones that died. One of those beds had the hummingbird-attracting flower mix and chamomile grown in it this past season. The other has some chives, and usually gets planted with small things like radishes and carrots. Still on the to-do list, remove all the dead flower stalks from the hummingbird flower bed - wait until the chives come up, and try to turn the soil around them. (Last year I grew some cilantro in the blueberry/chive bed, and I do believe some of it might still be alive!)

Today was another nice day. Other than me getting back to the garage floor soaking and scrubbing project, we cut down some red raspberry canes, and pruned the probably-Jonathan apple tree. Those two poor apple trees have just awful shapes, since the former owners apparently didn't do *anything* as far as pruning and shaping. We're just doing triage... We had to hurry to do this pruning because the trees already have little leaf buds.

I'd been mentioning we were short on moisture this winter. Lately it's been cloudy, and we have had some rain - probably more of that than snow, this season! But there are a few cold days predicted for early this week, so we'll see if any snow turns up.

Posted by: Pat* at February 01, 2020 06:52 PM (2pX/F)

90 As always, an interesting update, Pat*. I wonder when you have any time to sleep!

Goid luck with the last bit of garage.

Posted by: NaughtyPine at February 01, 2020 07:17 PM (/+bwe)

91 That's a Cooper's hawk. For some strange reason we call them sparrow hawks. Those things are deadly. They eat all the quail.

Posted by: CaliGirl at February 02, 2020 11:41 AM (7bcfy)

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