Saturday Gardening and Puttering Thread 5/2/20 [KT]

Hello, gardeners, impatient dreamers and putterers. Got anything going outdoors this weekend?

About the photo above:

These pinkish roses are growing up through the middle of the red rose bush providing a natural background. Very convenient.
It has been a cold and extremely rainy spring here in north Alabama (Zone 7). Not conducive to sitting outside while sheltering in place. Bah Humbug.
Le Garde Vieux

Wee Kreek Farm Girl sent in a piece on 11 things you shouldn't do on World Naked Gardening Day. But it's only advice.

I will not be participating, I live in the desert with lots of spiky, pokey plants. Also not into naked gardening but hey if its your thing, have at it.

How is the weather treating YOUR garden? Conducive to naked gardening yet? Have you even been able to get out and look around, or do some work?

Larro sent in the following from Texas, where the amaryllis are already blooming:

Over in cousin's front yard. I've never seen this many amaryllis! I am jealous!

I like the smaller-flowered ones with multiple blooms for landscaping. Beautiful. The flowers are still plenty big. The giant-flowered ones are great in pots.

Colombia

Last week, we posted information and photos from Colombia, courtesy of rld77. Coffee processing, coffee trees, bananas, aloes, and a waterfall on the farm. You have waterfalls on your farm, don't you?

Well, this week, we have more. How great is this?

Background: The farm, or Finca in Spanish, is around 40 acres. We have two active springs that are our water sources, in addition to the stream where the waterfalls are. Altitude is around 5600' to 6250'. Normal Temperatures year round are about 58F to 78F . Day/night split is 12 hours.
The farm has around 45,000 coffee trees, 100 citrus -- lemons, tangerines, grapefruit, navel and Valencia oranges, several types of avocados, innumerable banana and plantain trees, aloe vera, lots of bamboo, and several other types of exotic fruits.

Wow. Now for the photos.

Highway closest to the farm, taken from a mall in town. Looks Colombian.

Coffee tree with ripe coffee cherries.

A couple of coffee pickers, viewed from afar.

One of the waterfalls on the farm. Amazing.

"Our Flag"

In Colombia! Looks kind of dreamy.

Thank you so much, rld77. We are enjoying the virtual trip to Colombia.

Got any questions for rld77? From either this week or last week?

Critters

We can grow aloes outdoors in parts of the USA, too. CSMBigBird has one:

Seems the hummingbirds dig the Aloe blooms in the spring.

Have the hummingbirds made it to where you live yet?

From Illiniwek:

Giant daffodils planted last fall came up nicely ... geese eating something on the bottom ... red wind blackbird on shore between them.

Puttering

Larro is back in the quilt cave:

This is a small part of a larger quilt made by a process called English Paper Piecing.
There's 5-6 different shapes/colors hand sewn together to make a block, then blocks sewn together...a gob of pieces!
You cut the paper, then the fabric, then fold and glue fabric over paper leaving a 1/4" rollover/seam allowance.
I think this will be a king size.
This is much better than a 5000 piece jigsaw puzzle!!!
Of course, after sewing face together, then add batting, backing, long arm quilting, then sew the binding on.
I think.
I'm almost an apprentice. Almost.

Wow.

Here's a quilt that was just finished by another Texas quilter, a friend. She had put it on hold 4 times because it was such a big project. And it's not king sized. Shown hanging on a fence. Does this kind of thing still count as puttering?

The Edible Garden

Seems the hummingbirds dig the Aloe blooms in the spring.

From Illiniwek:

Found an article in an old book, coupons for food in 1943, might be of interest, as they speak of food shortages.

Ever had canned grapefruit? I'm not too wild about it. Planning on putting any garden produce by this year?

Wee Kreek Farm Girl sent in the following recently:

In our neck of the woods it is garlic scape season, so of course, I harvested and made some garlic scape pesto. Definitely not for date night but delicious all the same. I thought it was a fitting subject since everyone has been talking about herb gardens. Just make it like normal pesto, except don't add any fresh garlic, these are garlicky enough. I think I am going to use some it the pesto to do a take on a caprese salad tonight. I think it will be delicious and also a good thing to eat in a time of "social distancing".

Ever tried it? Potent?

Weeds

Here, it is time to do battle with foxtails, to protect pets. You battling any weeds?

Here, part of a series of weeds people in Florida love to hate. Gardeners elsewhere will recognize the spurge family. But Japanese Climbing Fern is a new weed to me.

Although an attractive plant, its winding vines and feathery leaves quickly grow in, through and over nearby plants. As a true fern, its spores are dispersed by the wind over large areas and purchased pine straw is a possible vector for this noxious weed as it commonly grows in pine forests.

Challenges and control recommendations at the link above.

Gardens of The Horde

Two weeks ago:

I was so excited because they multiplied like crazy from last year. Now this. - NaughtyPine

Hope they recovered. They are lovely even in the snow.

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 01:05 PM

Comments

(Jump to bottom of comments)

1 Garden full of veggies this year! Surviving the lockdown on them.

Posted by: zombie at May 02, 2020 01:08 PM (N9G0H)

2 Mornin' I've been planting what I could find... Not easy in my neck o' the woods... trying seeds I already had... Hope it works... I do have a lot of perennials so it still looks nice... It's the food garden that will be iffy

Posted by: It's me donna at May 02, 2020 01:08 PM (5bxa0)

3 It is official.
I hate weeding!
Otherwise, if the rain lets up, its back to the flowerbeds.

Posted by: Diogenes at May 02, 2020 01:09 PM (axyOa)

4 Naked gardening is about as appealing as naked cooking. Way too dangerous.

Posted by: eastofsuez at May 02, 2020 01:10 PM (U2zca)

5 So far I've got kale, lettuce, potatoes, endive, fennel, mustard greens, chives, cilantro, parsley. Sprouted and growing for the summer harvest: beans, kabocha squash, cucumbers, tomatoes, zucchini!

Posted by: zombie at May 02, 2020 01:10 PM (N9G0H)

6 Good afternoon Greenthumbs
Got my broke tree branches down and planted hot peppers outside and a few tomatos in the greenhouse. Going to leave it up a couple weeks.

Posted by: Skip at May 02, 2020 01:11 PM (ZCEU2)

7 Naked gardening is about as appealing as naked cooking. Way too dangerous.

Posted by: eastofsuez at May 02, 2020 01:10 PM

Dang...did I miss something in the content???

Posted by: Diogenes at May 02, 2020 01:11 PM (axyOa)

8 Yup...sure did...sigh...
Goes looking for coffee.

Posted by: Diogenes at May 02, 2020 01:12 PM (axyOa)

9 One thing about naked gardening: it increases your body's production of Vitamin D. Recently found to be important in resistant to a certain nasty virus.

Posted by: KT at May 02, 2020 01:13 PM (BVQ+1)

10 Not that you have to be totally naked.

Posted by: KT at May 02, 2020 01:14 PM (BVQ+1)

11 zombie at May 02, 2020 01:10 PM
Sounds like a serious start!

Posted by: KT at May 02, 2020 01:15 PM (BVQ+1)

12 Garden is going nuts at Che Blake.

Crook neck, yellow and green zucchini are going crazy, with squash already starting to form.

Tomato plants have plenty of flowers and look to be ready to make some tomatoes.

Strawberry plants have produced a few edible berries, small, but tasty. Only enough to have a couple now and again, not enough for serious eating. These will be struck from the future garden list, most likely.

Anaheim pepper plants look okay, but, not showing signs of forming peppers yet.

Ripped out the last 55' of yard edging and replaced with textured concrete bricks, which looks much better than the original concrete.

Oh, and once things reopen, I expect Lowe's revenues to crash and burn. Currently, they are constantly busy.

Posted by: blake - semi lurker in marginal standing
at May 02, 2020 01:17 PM (WEBkv)

13 My (clothed) gardening project today is the same gardening project I do every day: digging up and squirting Roundup on the God-damned Japanese Knotweed. From April to October I fight the accursed stuff.

Posted by: Trimegistus at May 02, 2020 01:17 PM (tcJSf)

14 I like my neighbors but I DO NOT want to see them naked.

Posted by: CSMBigBird at May 02, 2020 01:17 PM (xInes)

15 I like my neighbors but I DO NOT want to see them naked.
Posted by: CSMBigBird at May 02, 2020 01:17 PM (xInes)
-------------

I like my neighbors so, no way I'd ever let them see me naked.

Posted by: blake - semi lurker in marginal standing
at May 02, 2020 01:19 PM (WEBkv)

16 I had never wanted to visit Colombia until rld77 sent in photos. And now I can't visit. What an intriguing farm!

Posted by: KT at May 02, 2020 01:19 PM (BVQ+1)

17 I painted a pretty flower.

Anyone want to see?

Posted by: Georgia O'Keeffe at May 02, 2020 01:20 PM (yZAsm)

18 Ok This week --
I'm here If you have coffee. climate, farm questions.
I'll check the posts from time to time--unless my internet
decides to disappear. cheers from Colombia
AND--- Cheers for MIKE FLYNN

Posted by: rld77 with coffee at May 02, 2020 01:21 PM (+sZnm)

19 rld77 with coffee at May 02, 2020 01:21 PM
Good to see you here.

Posted by: KT at May 02, 2020 01:22 PM (BVQ+1)

20 Planted some tulip bulbs around my townhome last fall. This was to be the first spring with bulb flowers....Then someone, neighbor kid or dog, stepped on the best one. Snapped it off at the base. Sigh. But, so far its doing well in a vase. Well, in an old octoberfest sampler glass. Hopefully the flower on the stem will open.

Posted by: Castle Guy at May 02, 2020 01:23 PM (Lhaco)

21 KT, not sure what happened, but all the late season rain we had in the Central Valley seems to have suited the roses.

Our roses almost had more blossoms than leaves and, around town, it appears everyone else had the same thing happen.

Posted by: blake - semi lurker in marginal standing
at May 02, 2020 01:24 PM (WEBkv)

22 The worst kind of weed is rock cress. Why? Because it has explosive seed pods. once they're mature, you just give them the slightest touch, and KABOOM, they explode and shoot out seeds everywhere. OK, that's a bit of an exaggeration, but they POP and cover the surrounding square foot with seeds. Once you've got population of rock cress growing, it;'s almost impossible to exterminate

Posted by: zombie at May 02, 2020 01:24 PM (N9G0H)

23 It has been a cold and extremely rainy spring here in north Alabama (Zone 7). Not conducive to sitting outside while sheltering in place. Bah Humbug.

Le Garde Vieux

I got off to a late start. Planted tree roses in containers on the front porch two weeks ago. Definitely sprouting new growth. Hoping to have flowers by late June.

Posted by: Fox2! at May 02, 2020 01:25 PM (qyH+l)

24 I want to go to Colombia to see the mountains. And I hate heights.

A former student is coming over tomorrow to take the daffodils. She and hubby bought a place with no landscaping, so it's a blank canvas.

In my own front yard, the weeds are winning. I'm going out with the taproot puller after I mow today, but what do I do about violets?

It's supposed to drop to the 40s next week, so no outdoor plans later, let alone nekkid.

Posted by: NaughtyPine at May 02, 2020 01:27 PM (/+bwe)

25 11 zombie at May 02, 2020 01:10 PM
Sounds like a serious start!
Posted by: KT

Forgot to mention: tomatillos, carrots, radishes, cabbage, bok choy, mystery peppers, lamb's quarters, Japanese red celery, Jerusalem artichokes, basil. All planted, starting to sprout.

The tragic part is I hopefully will be taking some delayed overseas trips this summer, and in my absence everything will go unwatered, wilt and die. Oh well! But in case the lockdown continues indefinitely under Herr Newsom, I'm set!

Posted by: zombie at May 02, 2020 01:29 PM (N9G0H)

26 rld77 with coffee at May 02, 2020 01:21 PM
I found it kind of interesting that the temperature stays so constant at your altitude. And it looks like you have water near the crest of hills on your property. Or does water soak in higher to form springs?

Posted by: KT at May 02, 2020 01:29 PM (BVQ+1)

27 I was worried that the lilacs got quick frozen last fall and never dropped their leaves. I checked them yesterday and see new leaf buds. They may be OK after all.

Posted by: Ronster at May 02, 2020 01:29 PM (3nh/+)

28 rid77 thanks for the photos last and this week. As a coffee fanatic its a real treat

Posted by: Skip at May 02, 2020 01:29 PM (ZCEU2)

29 Should add I'm in UA (Upper Alabama), zone 7. Grower said the start shipping to this zone in mid-March. Might have been a bit wet here then.

Posted by: Fox2! at May 02, 2020 01:30 PM (qyH+l)

30 rld77 with coffee, is your farm terraced or do things just grow on the mountainside? Always curious about this because my family name comes from the terraces my ancestors cut and tended in Italian mountains.

Posted by: NaughtyPine at May 02, 2020 01:31 PM (/+bwe)

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 May 02, 2020 01:31 PM (NWiLs)

32 12 Garden is going nuts at Che Blake.

Crook neck, yellow and green zucchini are going crazy, with squash already starting to form.

Tomato plants have plenty of flowers and look to be ready to make some tomatoes.

Strawberry plants have produced a few edible berries, small, but tasty. Only enough to have a couple now and again, not enough for serious eating. These will be struck from the future garden list, most likely.

Anaheim pepper plants look okay, but, not showing signs of forming peppers yet.

Posted by: blake

Where the heck do you live? Arizona? Florida? Where else has enough hot weather this early in the year to have all those hot-weather plants already fruiting? I'm in SF Bay Area, and we've only had a couple weeks of warm enough weather for those kind of plants. Will be mid-summer before they start fruiting.

Posted by: zombie at May 02, 2020 01:31 PM (N9G0H)

33 21 we had in the Central Valley...

Posted by: blake

Ahhh. Where in the valley approximately?

Posted by: zombie at May 02, 2020 01:33 PM (N9G0H)

34 The tragic part is I hopefully will be taking some delayed overseas trips this summer, and in my absence everything will go unwatered, wilt and die. Oh well! But in case the lockdown continues indefinitely under Herr Newsom, I'm set!
Posted by: zombie at May 02, 2020 01:29 PM (N9G0H)

We can help.

Our only demand is that you swear fealty to the coming cyber-tyranny.

Posted by: Walmart Robots at May 02, 2020 01:34 PM (yZAsm)

35 Where the heck do you live? Arizona? Florida? Where else has enough hot weather this early in the year to have all those hot-weather plants already fruiting? I'm in SF Bay Area, and we've only had a couple weeks of warm enough weather for those kind of plants. Will be mid-summer before they start fruiting.
Posted by: zombie at May 02, 2020 01:31 PM (N9G0H)
------------------

Bakersfield.

"Fruiting" is a term someone in the SF area shouldn't lightly toss around.

Posted by: blake - semi lurker in marginal standing
at May 02, 2020 01:34 PM (WEBkv)

36 for dust you are and to dust you will return. -- Genesis 3:17-19
Posted by: Insomniac - Ex Cineribus Resurgo at May 02, 2020 01:31 PM (NWiLs)

*Swiffers and sweeps*

So messy in here.

Posted by: Robert at May 02, 2020 01:35 PM (yZAsm)

37 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 May 02, 2020 01:31 PM (NWiLs)
--------------

By the way, how is the job going? Still trying to do 10 hours work in 8 hours?

Posted by: blake - semi lurker in marginal standing
at May 02, 2020 01:35 PM (WEBkv)

38 It's tough, but doable to sun one's perineum whilst gardening. Don't give up!

Posted by: Mona Charen at May 02, 2020 01:36 PM (gnl1m)

39 Bakersfield.
Posted by: blake

Ah, OK, that explains a lot!

"Fruiting" is a term someone in the SF area shouldn't lightly toss around.

The whole region has been fruiting since the early '70s.

Posted by: zombie at May 02, 2020 01:36 PM (N9G0H)

40 38 It's tough, but doable to sun one's perineum whilst gardening. Don't give up!
Posted by: Mona Charen at May 02, 2020 01:36 PM (gnl1m)

That's where the photovoltaic panels are.

Posted by: Insomniac - Ex Cineribus Resurgo at May 02, 2020 01:37 PM (NWiLs)

41 Wife planted a cuc in a pot in the solarium. I see it has lots of blossoms and even a couple baby cucs.

Posted by: Ronster at May 02, 2020 01:39 PM (3nh/+)

42 26 rld77 with coffee at May 02, 2020 01:21 PM
I found it kind of interesting that the temperature stays so constant at your altitude. And it looks like you have water near the crest of hills on your property. Or does water soak in higher to form springs?
Posted by: KT at May 02, 2020 01:29
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
KT--- The 60 to 80 temp range is due to proximity of the equator combined with the altitude. In this area, water seems to be fairly plentiful. We have One spring that is developed, meaning it is our main water source. We have legal rights to another that is Above the farm and is piped across the upper road. We have 3 undeveloped springs that I put special plantings around to protect, and then there's the stream with the waterfalls.

Posted by: rld77 with coffee at May 02, 2020 01:39 PM (vZF8k)

43 By the way, I never pay a cent for any of my seeds. I get them all at "seed banks" or "seed libraries" or "seed exchanges." All around here are groups/nonprofits that set up these little libraries where people can donate and/or "borrow" seeds -- at no cost. Sometimes they have almost no selection, but sometimes it's like a full-fledged seed store. Only have to visit the seed libraries a couple times a year to really stock up. (And I donate my extras too, to be fair.) One doesn't always have total control over what is available, so you ick and choose crazy plants and see what grows. An interesting way to do it! Gotten all sorts of excellent plants I would never have otherwise known about or chosen, that all did well.

Posted by: zombie at May 02, 2020 01:41 PM (N9G0H)

44 I have this stuff that looks like lambs ear, but has a tall, purple flower on it. I completely neglect it, but its spreading along the base of the fence. Its definitely robust because it dies back each year after the freeze but it comes back. Any ideas what it might be?

Posted by: CrotchetyOldJarhead at May 02, 2020 01:41 PM (Ds0hh)

45 30 rld77 with coffee, is your farm terraced or do things just grow on the mountainside? Always curious about this because my family name comes from the terraces my ancestors cut and tended in Italian mountains.
Posted by: NaughtyPine at May 02, 2020 01:31 PM
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mostly just mountainside here, but with an eye toward planting and practices that limit erosion. There are a couple areas that were terraced due to landslides.

Posted by: rld77 with coffee at May 02, 2020 01:44 PM (7PuN0)

46 No load.

Looks like I get a couple of extra days off.

Posted by: Robert at May 02, 2020 01:45 PM (yZAsm)

47 I love the waterfall. Always dreamed of having property with plenty of water. It will never happen.

Posted by: Ronster at May 02, 2020 01:46 PM (3nh/+)

48 Got our first salads last week with the leaf lettuce that is going great. Picked and washed immediately in cold water, dried, add cherry tomatoes, minced onions and a dash of raspberry balsamic vinegar. Delish! And so refreshing.

The store bought produce like tomatoes and berries has been unusually good this winter and spring. That helps since we have a imited garden this year.

Posted by: JTB at May 02, 2020 01:48 PM (7EjX1)

49 My neighbors probably would not appreciate me gardening nakey. We don't even have fences

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at May 02, 2020 01:49 PM (KZzsI)

50 By the way, how is the job going? Still trying to do 10 hours work in 8 hours?
Posted by: blake - semi lurker in marginal standing
at May 02, 2020 01:35 PM (WEBkv)

More like 12-14 hours. In 12-14 hours. It's going really well. Busy AF, which is how I like it. I'm getting adapted to the pace, but I need to make sure I carve out time for myself and my interests too. Like the vast majority of working lawyers, I have a predisposition toward workaholism.

Posted by: Insomniac - Ex Cineribus Resurgo at May 02, 2020 01:49 PM (NWiLs)

51 Been married 50 years today. We will celebrate by SIP.

Posted by: Ronster at May 02, 2020 01:52 PM (3nh/+)

52 More like 12-14 hours. In 12-14 hours. It's going really well. Busy AF, which is how I like it. I'm getting adapted to the pace, but I need to make sure I carve out time for myself and my interests too. Like the vast majority of working lawyers, I have a predisposition toward workaholism.
Posted by: Insomniac - Ex Cineribus Resurgo at May 02, 2020 01:49 PM (NWiLs)
-----------

Cool.

Posted by: blake - semi lurker in marginal standing
at May 02, 2020 01:53 PM (WEBkv)

53 Naked gardening and chain link fences don't go together. Besides, at my age and shape I could probably make some bucks from people paying me to get dressed.

Posted by: JTB at May 02, 2020 01:55 PM (7EjX1)

54 We're eagerly waiting to get bids from subs, so we can move ahead with getting the house built. Meanwhile I'm daydreaming about what I'm going to plant, and all of the vegetative propagation in my future.
Something flowered today, and the back yard is very perfumed. It's not honeysuckle, but still somewhat cloying.
Publius has the garden almost ready for planting. It's about 150' x 100' and he's got the wire to set up the electric deer fence. We're getting a new well drilled this month and will have a faucet near the garden. I'm psyched - last summer was very hot and dry, and between the deer and drought, wasn't much of a yield except for a short burst in late summer/fall.

Posted by: Miley, the ~~Duchess~~ - Hydroxy Chloro Queen and Bat Soup Nazi at May 02, 2020 01:55 PM (rCwaK)

55 51 ... Ronster,
Happy anniversary!

Posted by: JTB at May 02, 2020 01:56 PM (7EjX1)

56 Been married 50 years today. We will celebrate by SIP.
Posted by: Ronster at May 02, 2020 01:52 PM (3nh/+)

Congratulations and happy anniversary Ronster(s)!!

Posted by: CrotchetyOldJarhead at May 02, 2020 01:56 PM (Ds0hh)

57 I'd make a pretty good garden happy Buddha.

Posted by: Count de Monet at May 02, 2020 01:56 PM (q1Pj5)

58 I'm still about #twoweeks from getting anything into the ground. The radishes have jutted quickly from their peat pots and I am starting to see a few stems protruding from various peppers.

Getting started indoors is a must in N.E. Ohio because it isn't until Mid-May that you are safe from frost. I should have started the seeds about a week+ earlier, however.

Posted by: Slapweasel at May 02, 2020 01:56 PM (Ckg4U)

59 We're eagerly waiting to get bids from subs

Didn't realize you and publius were into that sort of thing.

Posted by: Insomniac - Ex Cineribus Resurgo at May 02, 2020 01:57 PM (NWiLs)

60 Slappy Anniversary, Ronster.

Posted by: Slapweasel at May 02, 2020 01:58 PM (Ckg4U)

61 Boom! Nice work KT!

Posted by: CrotchetyOldJarhead at May 02, 2020 02:00 PM (Ds0hh)

62 51 Been married 50 years today. We will celebrate by SIP.
Posted by: Ronster at May 02, 2020 01:52 PM (3nh/+)

Congrats, Ronster!

Posted by: Insomniac - Ex Cineribus Resurgo at May 02, 2020 02:00 PM (NWiLs)

63 CrotchetyOldJarhead at May 02, 2020 01:41 PM
You talking silvery felted leaves? How tall? There are a couple of different genera that are called "lamb's ears".

Posted by: KT at May 02, 2020 02:00 PM (BVQ+1)

64 Ronster a milestone many never see, congratulations

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

65 Didn't realize you and publius were into that sort of thing.

Posted by: Insomniac - Ex Cineribus Resurgo at May 02, 2020 01:57 PM (NWiLs)

It's not easy with social distancing, I tell ya.
Hey Insomniac! Congrats on the new job!
Hey Slap! I'm surprise you put radishes in peat pots. I usually seed them in the ground directly. I like those pale long ones.

Posted by: Miley, the ~~Duchess~~ - Hydroxy Chloro Queen and Bat Soup Nazi at May 02, 2020 02:02 PM (rCwaK)

66 Congrats on your anniversary, Ronster!

Posted by: Miley, the ~~Duchess~~ - Hydroxy Chloro Queen and Bat Soup Nazi at May 02, 2020 02:02 PM (rCwaK)

67 Thanks Miley! It's going really well, and they've even paid me!

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

68 Naked gardening is about as appealing as naked cooking. Way too dangerous.
Posted by: eastofsuez at May 02, 2020 01:10 PM (U2zca)

Wait for Naked Welding Month!!!

Posted by: Mr Cicatrix at May 02, 2020 02:03 PM (WyVLE)

69 And yeah I would love to have waterworks around, even just a stream. I grew up on 40 acres and in the front yard was a pond with a stream fed by a spring. The pond had some fish and frogs in it until a heron showed up one day and ate them all

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at May 02, 2020 02:04 PM (KZzsI)

70 Yeah, I'll never see a 50th anniversary. But that's OK. Almost everyone I've ever dated or been married to is dead. That's why it's good that Publius is a younger man. Heh.

Posted by: Miley, the ~~Duchess~~ - Hydroxy Chloro Queen and Bat Soup Nazi at May 02, 2020 02:04 PM (rCwaK)

71 rld77 with coffee at May 02, 2020 01:44 PM
I have heard (from a friend) that there are many, many kinds of potatoes in Colombia. What are the veggies like?
I imagine that some of the squashes we grow around here would be very susceptible to mildew in Colombia.

Posted by: KT at May 02, 2020 02:05 PM (BVQ+1)

72 KT, I sent you an email with a photo.

Posted by: CrotchetyOldJarhead at May 02, 2020 02:05 PM (Ds0hh)

73 "Hey Slap! I'm surprise you put radishes in peat pots. I usually seed them in the ground directly. I like those pale long ones."
-Posted by: Miley, the Duchess - Hydroxy Chloro Queen and Bat Soup Nazi at May 02, 2020 02:02 PM (rCwaK)

Well, I had one-hundred forty-four peat pots, so... *shrugs*

Posted by: Slapweasel at May 02, 2020 02:05 PM (Ckg4U)

74 Thanks Miley! It's going really well, and they've even paid me!
Posted by: Insomniac - Ex Cineribus Resurgo at May 02, 2020 02:02 PM (NWiLs)
--------------

So, did you recognize what is was when you first saw the check, or were you puzzled by this strange piece of paper with odd markings on it?

Posted by: blake - semi lurker in marginal standing
at May 02, 2020 02:05 PM (WEBkv)

75 Thanks Miley! It's going really well, and they've even paid me!

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

{{{{Insom}}}} What are you going to buy to treat yourself with some of that paycheck?

Posted by: Miley, the ~~Duchess~~ - Hydroxy Chloro Queen and Bat Soup Nazi at May 02, 2020 02:05 PM (rCwaK)

76 rld77,

What does a coffee plant with ripe beans smell like? I'm assuming not like fresh roasted beans.

Posted by: Jake Holenhead at May 02, 2020 02:06 PM (P1GvV)

77 Congratulations, Ronster!

Posted by: KT at May 02, 2020 02:07 PM (BVQ+1)

78 I'll never see a 50th anniversary either. Life often doesn't go how it's "supposed" to. But that's often the big lie, isn't it? That life is supposed to go a certain way. You do certain things, provide certain inputs, and life is supposed to give you certain things in return. But that's bullshit. Life is fluid, unpredictable and uncertain. All you can do is be prepared to face the challenges head on.

Posted by: Insomniac - Ex Cineribus Resurgo at May 02, 2020 02:07 PM (NWiLs)

79 I check out some forums dealing with 18th century. I've been seeing more references than usual to growing heritage fruit and veggie seeds lately and where to find them. No idea if the interest will last but it could be an unintentional benefit of this BS stay at home stuff. It makes people want to be more self-sufficient, at least if they already garden.

Posted by: JTB at May 02, 2020 02:08 PM (7EjX1)

80 So, did you recognize what is was when you first saw the check, or were you puzzled by this strange piece of paper with odd markings on it?

Posted by: blake - semi lurker in marginal standing
at May 02, 2020 02:05 PM (WEBkv)

It's all direct deposit now anyway. Though I hadn't seen a move upward in my bank account like that in a long time. I almost wept with joy when I checked my account balance.

Posted by: Insomniac - Ex Cineribus Resurgo at May 02, 2020 02:09 PM (NWiLs)

81 The cat bounded down the steps when I brought my coffee out here, then realized to her horror that the kids next door are playing in their pool. She's been banging on the door to go back in. She hates to share her back yard with other people.

Posted by: Miley, the ~~Duchess~~ - Hydroxy Chloro Queen and Bat Soup Nazi at May 02, 2020 02:09 PM (rCwaK)

82 Naked gardening is about as appealing as naked cooking. Way too dangerous.
Posted by: eastofsuez at May 02, 2020 01:10 PM (U2zca)
-----
"You got poison ivy on your what?"

Posted by: Captain Obvious, USS Lone Fire at May 02, 2020 02:10 PM (4o2K3)

83 It's all direct deposit now anyway. Though I hadn't seen a move upward in my bank account like that in a long time. I almost wept with joy when I checked my account balance.
Posted by: Insomniac - Ex Cineribus Resurgo at May 02, 2020 02:09 PM (NWiLs)
------------

Again, congratulations.

Oh, by the way, announcing your new job on April 1 was a masterstroke. Well done.

Posted by: blake - semi lurker in marginal standing
at May 02, 2020 02:11 PM (WEBkv)

84 >>>But that's often the big lie, isn't it? That life is supposed to go a certain way.

Ain't it the fucking truth. At the same time, it can be full of lovely surprises.

Posted by: Miley, the ~~Duchess~~ - Hydroxy Chloro Queen and Bat Soup Nazi at May 02, 2020 02:11 PM (rCwaK)

85 Life is fluid, unpredictable and uncertain. All you can do is be prepared to face the challenges head on.
Posted by: Insomniac - Ex Cineribus Resurgo at May 02, 2020 02:07 PM (NWiLs)
-----
You can declare yourself a winner at any time, though.

Posted by: Captain Obvious, USS Lone Fire at May 02, 2020 02:11 PM (4o2K3)

86 -Posted by: Insomniac - Ex Cineribus Resurgo at May 02, 2020 02:09 PM (NWiLs)

*fist-bump*

Posted by: Slapweasel at May 02, 2020 02:12 PM (Ckg4U)

87 51 Been married 50 years today. We will celebrate by SIP.
Posted by: Ronster at May 02, 2020 01:52 PM
---------------------------------------------------------------------------Happy Anniversary!! I' found 4 waterfalls so far. But there's a lot of areas It so steep with really heavy foliage, --just can't get there, and can't see.

Posted by: rld77 with coffee at May 02, 2020 02:13 PM (xbcdY)

88 No outside gardening around here yet. Still too cold.

Posted by: Ronster at May 02, 2020 02:13 PM (3nh/+)

89
Hello, all. My baby holly trees are FINALLY showing signs of growth -- some little whitish bud-like things that look like they might turn into leaves. I was getting ready to give them a good talking-to. Maybe discuss replacement plants if they didn't get their asses in gear.

Posted by: Blonde Morticia at May 02, 2020 02:13 PM (G51Gf)

90 {{{{Insom}}}} What are you going to buy to treat yourself with some of that paycheck?
Posted by: Miley, the Duchess - Hydroxy Chloro Queen and Bat Soup Nazi at May 02, 2020 02:05 PM (rCwaK)

{{{Miley}}}

Hookers and blow. The rest I'll probably just waste.

Posted by: Insomniac - Ex Cineribus Resurgo at May 02, 2020 02:14 PM (NWiLs)

91 Mom says she will catch up with the gardening thread later, as she is working in the garden now.

I tried to explain that she's doing it wrong, but she was having none of it.

Posted by: hogmartin at May 02, 2020 02:14 PM (t+qrx)

92 Happy Anniversary Team Ronster!

Posted by: Diogenes at May 02, 2020 02:14 PM (axyOa)

93 CrotchetyOldJarhead at May 02, 2020 02:05 PM
I didn't get the email.

Posted by: KT at May 02, 2020 02:15 PM (BVQ+1)

94 When Hurricane Ike flooded my property here in 2008, the contamination of the soil was so catastrophic that for years, it could barely even grow weeds.

I'm either going to have to scrape off the top eight inches of "dirt", and bring in real soil and sod, or conversely..

Maybe I'll put in a nice crop of Astroturf? I can put some contours into the underlying dirt, and make putting greens in the front, back and side yards.

See, that's my version of a Green Thumb.

Jim
Sunk New Dawn
Galveston, TX

Posted by: Jim at May 02, 2020 02:15 PM (QzJWU)

95 Colombia is a lovely place, I was there umpty years ago.

Tejo is the national sport. Broadly stated, it involves drinking beer, throwing rocks and sometimes explosives are involved.

Posted by: Kindltot at May 02, 2020 02:16 PM (WyVLE)

96 76 rld77,

What does a coffee plant with ripe beans smell like? I'm assuming not like fresh roasted beans.
Posted by: Jake Holenhead at May 02, 2020 02:06 PM
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
No smell really. There are two beans inside every Coffee Cherry. The REAL aroma is when the coffee if in bloom.
To me it seems like a weaker aroma oh a honeysuckle tree.

Posted by: rld77 with coffee at May 02, 2020 02:17 PM (TbCqB)

97 Hookers and blow. The rest I'll probably just waste.

I like the way you think. Also congrats on the job. I know you were getting depressed.

Posted by: Ronster at May 02, 2020 02:17 PM (3nh/+)

98 Oh, by the way, announcing your new job on April 1 was a masterstroke. Well done.
Posted by: blake - semi lurker in marginal standing
at May 02, 2020 02:11 PM (WEBkv)

Thanks!

Posted by: Insomniac - Ex Cineribus Resurgo at May 02, 2020 02:17 PM (NWiLs)

99 86 -Posted by: Insomniac - Ex Cineribus Resurgo at May 02, 2020 02:09 PM (NWiLs)

*fist-bump*
Posted by: Slapweasel at May 02, 2020 02:12 PM (Ckg4U)

Right back atcha, brother!

Posted by: Insomniac - Ex Cineribus Resurgo at May 02, 2020 02:18 PM (NWiLs)

100 How is the weather treating YOUR garden?

Today is the first warm enough, growing day of the year. Anything you planted before Thursday was probably ripped out by the wind.

Posted by: t-bird at May 02, 2020 02:18 PM (oBAbT)

101 Jim, have you tried drip irrigation? They developed it in Israel, in part, to work around the saline contamination in the soils.

Posted by: Kindltot at May 02, 2020 02:18 PM (WyVLE)

102 "Maybe I'll put in a nice crop of Astroturf? I can put some contours into the underlying dirt, and make putting greens in the front, back and side yards.
See, that's my version of a Green Thumb."
-Posted by: Jim at May 02, 2020 02:15 PM (QzJWU)

Worked for the Brady Bunch... *shrugs* ...and they didn't even golf.

Posted by: Slapweasel at May 02, 2020 02:18 PM (Ckg4U)

103 Blonde Morticia at May 02, 2020 02:13 PM
Do you know if your holly trees are boys or girls?

Posted by: KT at May 02, 2020 02:18 PM (BVQ+1)

104 84 >>>But that's often the big lie, isn't it? That life is supposed to go a certain way.

Ain't it the fucking truth. At the same time, it can be full of lovely surprises.
Posted by: Miley, the Duchess - Hydroxy Chloro Queen and Bat Soup Nazi at May 02, 2020 02:11 PM (rCwaK)

It can be. Trouble is, if you're dedicated to the proposition that life is suppose to go a certain way - as I was - you can miss a lot of opportunities and good surprises. Took me a really long time and a lot of shitty life events to finally figure that out.

Posted by: Insomniac - Ex Cineribus Resurgo at May 02, 2020 02:20 PM (NWiLs)

105 51 Been married 50 years today. We will celebrate by SIP.
Posted by: Ronster

SIP = Shooting Irritating People?

Posted by: zombie at May 02, 2020 02:20 PM (N9G0H)

106 rld77 with coffee at May 02, 2020 02:17 PM

Thanks!

Posted by: Jake Holenhead at May 02, 2020 02:21 PM (P1GvV)

107 I like the way you think. Also congrats on the job. I know you were getting depressed.
Posted by: Ronster at May 02, 2020 02:17 PM (3nh/+)

Thanks, Ronster! Long term unemployment is absolutely miserable and demoralizing, especially if you're a dude.

Posted by: Insomniac - Ex Cineribus Resurgo at May 02, 2020 02:21 PM (NWiLs)

108 rld77 with coffee, thank you for sharing the pictures. It's a lovely farm! I have the urge to come pick coffee cherries for about two hours.

Posted by: Emmie at May 02, 2020 02:21 PM (2YQBZ)

109 SIP = Shooting Irritating People?

That, or sheltering in place.

Posted by: Ronster at May 02, 2020 02:21 PM (3nh/+)

110 rld77 with coffee

What is your favorite fruit? Talk of all those exotic fruits interests me.

And how do the avocodos differ from each other?

Posted by: KT at May 02, 2020 02:22 PM (BVQ+1)

111 I have been at a loss on what to do about gardening. I want to grow some things and planned to put in a couple of small beds. But I also need to sell property and move. I've already bought potting soil for the beds.

It dawned on me that I could do what I used to do, back when I lived in a travel trailer and moved a bit. I grew things in milk carton crates and laundry baskets, with a plastic bag liner. You can pick them up and move them but the soul is deep enough to get a pretty good crop. I was planning on greens and maybe potatoes. I have 12 plastic laundry baskets from Walmart. I have someone coming over to cut the grass so will have them mive the potting soil to the back yard. I think this will be fun.

Posted by: Notsothoreau at May 02, 2020 02:22 PM (Lqy/e)

112 Also congrats on the job. I know you were getting depressed.

Posted by: Ronster at May 02, 2020 02:17 PM (3nh/+)

"Getting"? "GETTING"???
He was the poster boy for depressed.
Now of course, he's just another working stiff. How long will it take before he's bitching about having to work extra hours?

Posted by: Miley, the ~~Duchess~~ - Hydroxy Chloro Queen and Bat Soup Nazi at May 02, 2020 02:22 PM (rCwaK)

113 SIP = Shooting Irritating People?

For the Cap'n Kristol cucks, Sipping Intermittent Penis

Posted by: Insomniac - Ex Cineribus Resurgo at May 02, 2020 02:22 PM (NWiLs)

114 Love the pictures and words about your finca, rld77. So pretty and green. And thanks for that beautiful flag.
The red and pink roses together are so lovely. A perfect living bouquet, LeGarde.
Thanks for bringing this to us each week, KT.

Posted by: AlmostYuman at May 02, 2020 02:23 PM (lAE4B)

115 Hummingbirds have arrived near Spokane, WA where I'm visiting. At least one male calliope and a couple of females. Several nights ago a deer, I think it was a deer, came by and ate the flowers off the tulips and it emptied a bird seed feeder I'd filled the day before.

Posted by: Jake Holenhead at May 02, 2020 02:24 PM (P1GvV)

116 71 rld77 with coffee at May 02, 2020 01:44 PM
I have heard (from a friend) that there are many, many kinds of potatoes in Colombia. What are the veggies like?
I imagine that some of the squashes we grow around here would be very susceptible to mildew in Colombia.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------
KT-- when the market in town gets back in full swing, I'll send you some Photos from there. People here have no idea about canning because they have fresh fruit and veggies year round. There are so many edible things here that people up north have never seen before or even heard of that it's unbelievable.

Posted by: rld77 with coffee at May 02, 2020 02:25 PM (aMK94)

117 Thanks for all the congrats. I got a late start at 26 years old.

Posted by: Ronster at May 02, 2020 02:26 PM (3nh/+)

118 Congrats, Ronstercouple!

---

Mowed and trimmed at Dad's place yesterday... Found a bunch of empty beer cans in a secluded corner!

The mess wasn't there last Friday, and the spot is out of sight of main entry, so I could not have noticed it during my brief visits between then and yesterday.

Considering putting up a trail cam or something. Don't have the $ for full-blown security system and will be selling the house later anyway.

On the plus side, the blackberries and sumac are looking droopy since last Friday's spraying. (die mf'ers, die!)

Posted by: JQ at May 02, 2020 02:27 PM (whOIk)

119 I planted some of those wave petunias for Richard's mom last year. One of them, a pale yellow, actually survived the winter. Very impressive.
Now I see that there are a bunch of petunias seedlings coming up in one of the planters. I'll have to move them when I replace the flowers this month. Gotta see what they are. I had a combo in there, one of which was a black petunia called Black Magic. They were quite beautiful.
The trailing vincas also survived. I shouldn't have been surprised, but I was. Those will have to go into another pot. By midsummer they're overrun by the wild morning glories anyway.

Posted by: Miley, the ~~Duchess~~ - Hydroxy Chloro Queen and Bat Soup Nazi at May 02, 2020 02:29 PM (rCwaK)

120 Belated congrats to Ronster.

Posted by: blake - semi lurker in marginal standing
at May 02, 2020 02:30 PM (WEBkv)

121 Congratulations Ronster! It will be 40 for this August.

Posted by: Jewells45 at May 02, 2020 02:31 PM (dUJdY)

122 *for us

Posted by: Jewells45 at May 02, 2020 02:32 PM (dUJdY)

123 Hey Jewells!

Posted by: Miley, the ~~Duchess~~ - Hydroxy Chloro Queen and Bat Soup Nazi at May 02, 2020 02:33 PM (rCwaK)

124 Hey Miley!!

Posted by: Jewells45 at May 02, 2020 02:34 PM (dUJdY)

125 Afternoon, Greenthumbs and Gargoyles!

After I chillax with a movie I'm going to finally plant my leggy flower seedlings. Hope they thrive in all this sun we've been enjoying lately.

Technically it's a week before optimum planting time, but I'm bored and willing to roll the dice.

Posted by: All Hail Eris, She-Wolf of the 'Ettes 'Ettes at May 02, 2020 02:36 PM (Dc2NZ)

126 110 rld77 with coffee

What is your favorite fruit? Talk of all those exotic fruits interests me.

And how do the avocodos differ from each other?
__________________________________________________
Well Fruit here is incredible. We have a navel orange tree that the flesh on the orange is red to purple. Those are so good!
We do not sell ANY of those.
Avocados are pretty diverse. We have Hass that are the size of a small pear, to an OLD variety that are the size of Muskmelons. I'm still finding things on the farm that show up. I'll send more picture and descriptions later on.

Posted by: rld77 with coffee at May 02, 2020 02:37 PM (TbCqB)

127 I may get lost in Youtube for awhile, folks. Once I start those garden hack videos, time flies

Posted by: Miley, the ~~Duchess~~ - Hydroxy Chloro Queen and Bat Soup Nazi at May 02, 2020 02:37 PM (rCwaK)

128 I'm trying the "put the base of the Romaine Lettuce in the water" -technique and I already have about 1.5" of growth from the center of the lettuce.

I don't know all of plants, for which, that would work but I know potatoes are easy.

Perhaps I'll try celery next.

Posted by: Slapweasel at May 02, 2020 02:41 PM (Ckg4U)

129 Now of course, he's just another working stiff. How long will it take before he's bitching about having to work extra hours?
Posted by: Miley, the Duchess - Hydroxy Chloro Queen and Bat Soup Nazi at May 02, 2020 02:22 PM (rCwaK)

Extra hours are pretty much baked in the cake so hopefully a good long time.

Posted by: Insomniac - Ex Cineribus Resurgo at May 02, 2020 02:42 PM (NWiLs)

130 I mean, I'll just drop the potatoes in the ground, but the other stuff is a mystery to me.

Posted by: Slapweasel at May 02, 2020 02:42 PM (Ckg4U)

131 The tomatoes and pepper are hardening on the porch. Many of both have fruit. That's the benefit of the pot grow lights for ya. Today I picked up a yard of compost to be divided among the beds, and tomorrow I will broadfork them. The wife is worried that we will have frost next weekend so no planting yet.

It is amazing how much heavier a yard of garden material gets each year. But this compost is really nice. It comes from the Minneapolis composting program and the raw materiel is yard waste and food scraps. I had to drive 25 miles, but at $23 for the compost and $24 to rent a trailer, I consider it a bargain, and it is very unlikely to be contaminated with Grazon.

Posted by: Gordon at May 02, 2020 02:43 PM (aa9hc)

132 My purple Iris are up, had no idea of that.

Posted by: Skip at May 02, 2020 02:43 PM (ZCEU2)

133 Beautiful place in Colombia ... and the climate is so perfect. I'd worry about the politics of a foreign country, but then again, Illinois is run by the Chicago commie mob, so no place is perfectly safe.

I have one spring by the creek, but a few "seeps" that I'm addressing with drain tile. Digging down about three feet I was hitting some rock, there was a garden hose amount of water pouring down, which I followed uphill past the wet spot ... everything appears dry further up the slope, so it is interesting how the geology works in such mysterious ways.

cheers to all the growers ... finally some warmer weather ...

Posted by: illiniwek at May 02, 2020 02:44 PM (Cus5s)

134 Extra hours are pretty much baked in the cake so hopefully a good long time.
Posted by: Insomniac - Ex Cineribus Resurgo at May 02, 2020 02:42 PM (NWiLs)

I did not receive a piece of cake.

Posted by: hogmartin at May 02, 2020 02:45 PM (t+qrx)

135 This is a pretty interesting channel. It's a vegetable farm in South Korea.

https://youtu.be/lGhbJhFVyDs

Posted by: Notsothoreau at May 02, 2020 02:46 PM (Lqy/e)

136 134 Extra hours are pretty much baked in the cake so hopefully a good long time.
Posted by: Insomniac - Ex Cineribus Resurgo at May 02, 2020 02:42 PM (NWiLs)

I did not receive a piece of cake.
Posted by: hogmartin at May 02, 2020 02:45 PM (t+qrx)

I guess metaphors go right over your head...

Posted by: Insomniac - Ex Cineribus Resurgo at May 02, 2020 02:46 PM (NWiLs)

137 Really starting to green up. The Irises and day lilies are really taking off. The clematis we planted along the back trellis are looking so so.

We'll see.

Posted by: jsg at May 02, 2020 02:46 PM (Tp+pw)

138 My GF gets bundles of those green onions, trims them down from the top, and sticks the bases in water to grow more.

She keeps the bundled rubber-banded together, and sticks a chopstick through the bundle to suspend it in the glass of water so the roots don't touch the bottom. They give a couple more growths before they get droopy and she uses them for soup or something.

Posted by: Kindltot at May 02, 2020 02:47 PM (WyVLE)

139 I did not receive a piece of cake.
Posted by: hogmartin at May 02, 2020 02:45 PM (t+qrx)

Cake is a lie

Posted by: Kindltot at May 02, 2020 02:48 PM (WyVLE)

140 Dammit I left 1/2 of a blueberry pie at work friday.

I am verklempt.

Posted by: jsg at May 02, 2020 02:50 PM (Tp+pw)

141
No smell really. There are two beans inside every Coffee Cherry. The REAL aroma is when the coffee if in bloom.
To me it seems like a weaker aroma oh a honeysuckle tree.
Posted by: rld77 with coffee

========

I always wonder how people got the idea to roast these things, grind them up, and brew them. Same for chocolate, what a complicated process to get delicious cocoa beverages -- mixed with milk of all things. Same for lots of grains. Pick them, grind them, add water, bake...and yeast, whoever thought of adding that and for what reason?

Posted by: Blonde Morticia at May 02, 2020 02:50 PM (G51Gf)

142
Blonde Morticia at May 02, 2020 02:13 PM
Do you know if your holly trees are boys or girls?
Posted by: KT

=======

Hmm, I don't. I suppose that's important?

Posted by: Blonde Morticia at May 02, 2020 02:51 PM (G51Gf)

143 KT, my Holly bush has flowers and berries. Bisexual?

Posted by: Ronster at May 02, 2020 02:52 PM (3nh/+)

144 ..."Same for lots of grains. Pick them, grind them, add water, bake...and yeast, whoever thought of adding that and for what reason?"
-Posted by: Blonde Morticia at May 02, 2020 02:50 PM (G51Gf)

It is simultaneously the greatest gift and the greatest curse of Man. ...everything could be just a little better.

Posted by: Slapweasel at May 02, 2020 02:53 PM (Ckg4U)

145 Did someone say cake?

Posted by: Robert at May 02, 2020 02:54 PM (1Yy3c)

146 Congrats Ronster and Insomniac. Thanks for the lovely peek at a Columbian coffee farm rld77. Lovely pictures all around. I thought about buying a few seeds in TSC the other day but the sticker shock put me off which is good cuz I never have time for gardening. I'm trying to catch up with pruning trees and decluttering this year so that if I end up moving in a year or three it won't take months and/or $$$$ to get the place sold.

And if things get desperate I should have a couple acres of Bee Weeds, AKA as Navajo spinach that I could 'harvest' for green food. They've been volunteering in the horse paddocks. My reward for taking out the nasty nasty goat head burrs that crowded out the last noxious weeds.

Posted by: PaleRider is simply irredeemable at May 02, 2020 02:56 PM (T9Hmo)

147
And congrats, Ronster!

Posted by: Blonde Morticia at May 02, 2020 02:57 PM (G51Gf)

148 I always wonder how people got the idea to roast these things, grind them up, and brew them. Same for chocolate, what a complicated process to get delicious cocoa beverages
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
We owe a lot to the old hunter/gatherer cultures. Here for example, there are still things to be learned from Indian tribes

Posted by: rld77 with coffee at May 02, 2020 02:59 PM (TbCqB)

149
We have a shortage of straw hereabouts. Too wet last fall, so the farmers who care didn't bale, cause of the weeds.
Started to do the whole garden with wood chips. Painfully laborious (literally, for me). Wife had all the top sites bookmarked, showed us how it's done, etc.
(We're rich in wood chips, BTW).
THEN, she finds a source for straw about an hour drive's south.
So the cool season crops will have chips for a few years, the warm season get straw.
Let's see if anyone notices!

Posted by: MarkY at May 02, 2020 03:00 PM (jCbpN)

150
Oh, laborious cause the fence doesn't accommodate the Bobcat skidsteer. Dump outside, wheel it in, spread it down the walking paths.

Posted by: MarkY at May 02, 2020 03:02 PM (jCbpN)

151
Also, hand pollinated the pawpaws, cause we have no flies, and am mowing around the Dutch white clover for the bees. Just now flowering.

Posted by: MarkY at May 02, 2020 03:03 PM (jCbpN)

152
Which Indians, rld77?

Posted by: MarkY at May 02, 2020 03:03 PM (jCbpN)

153
It is simultaneously the greatest gift and the greatest curse of Man. ...everything could be just a little better.
Posted by: Slapweasel

=========

With crazy-ass experimentation like that, I can only imagine how many hominids died over Recipes Gone Wrong. How much oleander, poison oak and ivy, hemlock, etc got consumed in primitive culinary science?

"Thad, you eat this stuff"

...

"Thad?"

...

"This stuff no good"

*dumps stuff into fish tank, which suddenly clears up*

Posted by: Blonde Morticia at May 02, 2020 03:04 PM (G51Gf)

154 "digging up and squirting Roundup on the God-damned Japanese Knotweed. From April to October I fight the accursed stuff."

it's pretty hard to get all the rhizomes ... probably better to spray and let the herbicide work for a week or more. They say fall is a better time to spray a systemic that gets into the roots, the time when plants are storing nutrients for winter.

Round-up (or generic glyphosate concentrate is cheaper, same stuff) ... should kill it, but there may be better options. 2-4D has the advantage that if some gets on the grass, it won't kill it. The invasives must be defeated ... bush honeysuckle is the worst one around here.

Posted by: illiniwek at May 02, 2020 03:05 PM (Cus5s)

155
Blonde Morticia
Wit

Posted by: MarkY at May 02, 2020 03:05 PM (jCbpN)

156
Illiniwek, If I showed a pic of my woods, you'd be embarrassed for me.
I try to kill one acre of bush honeysuckle a year, but then I have the seedling from all those other acres I cleared before.
The day I die, the honeysuckle takes over again.

Posted by: MarkY at May 02, 2020 03:07 PM (jCbpN)

157
And I wish we could show contemporary pics.

Posted by: MarkY at May 02, 2020 03:11 PM (jCbpN)

158 You all inspired me to try planting my sprouted pepper seedlings. They have the first true leaves and the weather is rainy but warm for the next week so they should be OK.

I need to go out and spread slug bait though, or the slugs will eat the peppers sure as they ate my melon seedlings.

Posted by: Kindltot at May 02, 2020 03:13 PM (WyVLE)

159 Pet thread is nood.

Posted by: Teresa in Fort Worth, Texas at May 02, 2020 03:16 PM (VqNuf)

160 The Goth Garden is being planted! Let them be un-Goth and thrive in the sun.

Posted by: All Hail Eris, She-Wolf of the 'Ettes 'Ettes at May 02, 2020 03:21 PM (Dc2NZ)

161 I have to say that I had never heard of the English Paper Piecing style of quilting. I was introduced to quilting as a child, but I believe that I am only getting a tiny inkling of the types of quilting that have been developed over the years.

Beyond the social "gathering around the quilting frame" style of quilting that I grew up with, my aunt had a giant quilting machine. A lot faster than the intricate types of quilting above.

Posted by: KT at May 02, 2020 03:23 PM (BVQ+1)

162 152
Which Indians, rld77?
Posted by: MarkY at May 02, 2020 03:03 PM
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
There are more tribes here than most would believe. I ran into one tribe on the west coast that had only 2 people that spoke Spanish.

Posted by: rld77 with coffee at May 02, 2020 03:33 PM (AQTJc)

163 Notes to Ronster and Blonde Morticia.
"KT, my Holly bush has flowers and berries. Bisexual?"
There are a few bisexual hollies, but most are either male or female. Both males and females make flowers, but only females make berries.

Most females will not make berries unless there is a male plant nearby. There are exceptions. The flowers look different on male and female plants.

Posted by: KT at May 02, 2020 03:33 PM (BVQ+1)

164 Sorry I'm so late here, but I wanted to mention that I followed the link in last week's gardening thread to the story about growing plants from vegetable scraps. I had 5 shriveled green onions in the crisper, so I followed the instructions, cut off the stem just above the white section, and put them in a jar of water. Then I put them under the grow lights where the rest of my plants are incubating.

Well, in just one week, one of those onions has grown over 3 inches! This is going to be a new thing for me; I always end up throwing away a few green onions out of a bunch because they dry out or wilt. Now I can grow new ones from old!

Posted by: Dr. Mabuse at May 02, 2020 03:35 PM (ONV/f)

165 159 Pet thread is nood.
Posted by: Teresa in Fort Worth, Texas at May 02, 2020 03:16 PM (VqNuf)

Nood pets!

Giggity giggity giggity!

Posted by: Robert at May 02, 2020 03:37 PM (1Yy3c)

166 I have 2 onions and a celery growing from the compost pile, first it ever worked.

Posted by: Skip at May 02, 2020 03:38 PM (ZCEU2)

167
Most females will not make berries unless there is a male plant nearby. There are exceptions. The flowers look different on male and female plants.

Posted by: KT

======

Thanks for that info!

Posted by: Blonde Morticia at May 02, 2020 03:38 PM (G51Gf)

168 Speaking of growing food from scraps, I just stuck in the bottom of an onion a couple of days ago. Last year I planted several and got the largest onions I've ever grown. Only other thing planted are peas by planet on Easter. It's a little cool in Northern Illinois to put the rest of the stuff in yet.

Posted by: Farmer at May 02, 2020 03:49 PM (TtbKS)

169 From Idaho's Treasure Valley, Boise area: I asked my neighbor who works for a seed company, when to put the early corn in - he said "now" - so 4 rows, 80 feet, of early corn is in. I'll wait 2 weeks to plant the midseason variety, another 80 feet. I planted basil seeds, and fill-ins for shelling peas and spinach. I probably ought to add fill-in lettuce seeds after I finish typing - so far, I've got just 3 sprouts from 8 feet of row! Indoors, I started 6 each cantaloupe and watermelon seeds.

Husband had already gotten the corn patch irrigation network set up - and he added a row behind the corn patch for "excess" tomatoes and poblanos. I did plant 2 store bought Romas in a raised bed, but we have 4 other Romas (2 from our seeds, 2 from S.Lynn's gift seeds), 2 cherry tomato 'Indigo Blue Berries', and 2 plants that I already planted that were a gift from our neighbor (varieties 'Beefsteak' and 'Legend'). And there are 8 surviving poblano starts!

My experimental pot of Miner's Lettuce is finally sprouting - I look forward to seeing if I can get it to grow well here. It reminds me of one of the very few things I miss about CA - the wild plants and flowers that I learned so many of the names of. And it's edible, too.

Husband got an irrigation line built to serve the 3 new apple trees as well. All of them have some leaves and flowers, so it looks like they're settling in nicely.

I thought my first bed of strawberries was being too optimistic by having some flowers, but now the second bed is doing the same, so I guess I might have some fruit by late May.

We discovered the burrowing critters (voles?) have been active under the alfalfa patch... Husband has tried smoke bombs, and flooding them out. I don't know if we've gotten them yet - we have to see if there's been any new digging.

My "official Holland, MI Dump tulips" are fading slowly, and the crabapple has lost most of its white petals. For consolation, I have lilies of the valley (what an amazing scent those flowers have!), and my row of 51 blooming lilacs. In one of my raised beds, which started with blueberries but last year had a hummingbird-attracting mix, I now have 2 large lupines about to flower. Last year, those grew leaves but never flowered, so I'm glad they made it through the winter so I could see them flower. I just hope some Scarlet Sage comes back, because that's what the hummingbirds liked best.

We had a storm Thursday afternoon, with a little thunder and lightning, and a lot of wind. The Annoying Sycamores out front took that as license to shed tons of sticks... so before next Tuesday (mowing day), I'll have to pick up a lot of sticks.

Happy Beltane to all!
* * *
Everybody remember - we are strong.
We are rough 'n' tough *Americans*!
We can improvise, adapt, overcome.
We can build over, build under, build around.
We will make plans to endure - then we will make plans to be greater than before!

For now, buy locally - later, vacation locally (in your state or in the USA) - help your neighbors - and "Remember, remember, when comes November!", which politicians turned into dictators when given power over you!

Posted by: Pat* at May 02, 2020 04:04 PM (2pX/F)

170 The quilts are glorious. Thanks for sharing.

Posted by: Mrs. JTB at May 02, 2020 04:23 PM (7EjX1)

171 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

Hiya Mr. Sunshine !

Posted by: JT at May 02, 2020 04:35 PM (arJlL)

172 Here in Kenosha, in SE Wisconsin, we've had our first warm day this spring - high in the 60s, which feels torrid after our usual chilly spring - made even chillier by our proximity to beautiful Lake Michigan.

Last week, I planted a pear tree. It's espaliered, and I'm going to train it to run along the fence at the north end of my property. I've had it with climbing a ladder to pick fruit and prune my trees!

Yesterday, I put out some herbs: sage, lavender, tarragon, thyme, and arugula (what the Brits call "rocket"). Normally, I put out parsley too, but last year's parsley plant survived the winter, much to my amazement. I also cleared out some waste ground by the garage and put in some strawberries. I've never had much luck with maintaining a strawberry bed, but I'm determined to give it one more try before I hang up my spade and trowel for good. And I dragged out the chipper-shredder and turned the 2019 Christmas tree into mulch.

Today, I uncovered the cold frames: in one, lots of tender lettuce and spinach, ready to eat, while in the other the peas and green onions are doing very nicely. The bed of asparagus I started last year has popped the first spears of the season. This year, we'll have only a few, but in the future, with care, it should yield plenty of tasty sparrow-grass. And the raspberries I moved into the back garden are thriving; with luck, we'll have plenty of berries to go with our home-made ice-cream some June and July.

This afternoon, I planted half a dozen each of cauliflower and broccoli, a cantalope, and some potatoes. Tomorrow, the peppers and eggplant go into the ground. The tomatoes and basil will have to wait a bit, until I'm sure that the really warm weather is here. Also, I have an apricot on order, and will be planting that later this summer. It the favorite fruit of my wife, the lovely and gracious Annalucia, so it's the least I can do to please her.

God, I love this time of year!

Posted by: Brown Line at May 02, 2020 05:06 PM (S6ArX)

173 Mr. Cicatrix, you made me laugh out loud.

Posted by: WeeKreek Farm Girl at May 02, 2020 05:41 PM (7KwJg)

174 Came back in to play catchup. Congratulations on the first paycheck, Insom.

Pat, I miss lily-of-the-vally and dahlias. My soil is not conducive to them. I have tulips from Holland, MI that survived and have doubled. They began to unfurl today, so that every time I walked by, they had changed.

I spotted my first bumblebee - and first wasp. I have a list of things I need to get, including about five more bags of mulch and some weedkiller.

The shed and deck didn't get cleaned today.

Posted by: NaughtyPine at May 02, 2020 05:57 PM (/+bwe)

175 Thanks again for the update, Pat.

I always check back to see what you've been up to.

Posted by: blake - semi lurker in marginal standing
at May 02, 2020 07:34 PM (WEBkv)

176 Last year was excellent for arched cattle panels-vine crops. Water leaking weed barrier and burlap coffee beans bags to cut and hang the heavy fruits on the cattle panels with S hooks. Gardening and bounty so easy it might just be made illegal. Volcanic ash and light nitrogen was an excellent booster too. Could it get any better/easier ? planting or harvesting.

Posted by: ron n. at May 02, 2020 07:40 PM (om5HK)

177 Shallots and garlic are doing great. I'll mince the garlic when finished in a food processor and freeze. Just cut off a chunk to use in cooking. Should last all year. I might dry some shallots. I had a sample jar from Penzeys and they seemed to work ok.
I have an abundance of lettuce already and the laying hens are loving the snacks. Tomorrow we butcher 10 Cornish cross to freeze some and can others. Carrots (seed from last years plants) are about 1" high. I did onions from seed. They are taking forrrrreverrrrr to grow. The blueberry bushes are loaded with flowers. My favorite, tho we have rasp and black berry bushes. Mmm. Triple berry pie in the future.

Posted by: S.Lynn at May 02, 2020 09:42 PM (yVIR+)

178 Ron N,

How about some pictures of your arch gardens?

Posted by: Gordon at May 02, 2020 11:05 PM (aa9hc)

179 With a great many grand kids and a very hectic year, last year. I didn't take any pictures of the garden. Sorry Just starting planting this year in Iowa.

Posted by: ron at May 03, 2020 12:45 AM (pV+cI)

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