Saturday Gardening and Puttering Thread, Wild Things [KT]

Hello gardeners, putterers and daydreamers! Today we have some striking photos of wildlife from The Horde, plus some Big Toys and Moar Orchids!

The photo above is one I have been saving:

Here's a Rose-breasted Grosbeak, usually the first of many delights for bird-watchers in our area in early May. He was perched in a tree right outside my kitchen window. From lizabtha.

By-Tor took some photos at the end of May:

We did some birding today in Orange County today. At the Tucker Wildlife Santuary in Modjeska you can see a variety of hummingbirds.
Canon D50
Sigma 100-300 EX lens
f5.6 at 1/640

Monarch butterfly at San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary, Irvine.
Canon D50, Sigma 100-300EX
f5.6 at 1/500 ISO 320

Recognize the flowers?

Last ones from today's shoot. Black Pheobe,Sparrow,Spotted Towhee,and Anna's Hummingbird.

Big Toys of the Day: Tractors

Jim had asked about tractors. Well, here are some, Jim. Hoping for more.

The old John Deere yard tractor. Under a mimosa.
- freaked

My Kubota: Here it is rigged for some serious bushogging across the creek. Deck is on the ground behind it. I took me about 15 minutes to take the deck off and mount the bucket and bush hog.

Gardens of The Horde

From Lester Rips:

You mentioned how nice it would be to grow orchids outdoors in this week's Gardening Thread. This is possible year round in Costal California and South Florida as well. I grow hundreds of orchids outdoors in the San Francisco Bay Area. Here are a few:
Dendrobium nobile

Sarcochilius falcatus

Laelia jongheana

Cattleya coccinea

Lots of Masdevallias.

What a variety! Hope I got them in the right order.

I had never heard of Masdevallia orchids, so I looked them up.

Masdevallia is a genus of some 350 species usually from cool, misty mountains of the New World Tropics. Masdevallias are best known for their showy flowers consisting of sepals fused into a tubelike structure. Their origins in cool, damp environments make them an excellent choice for cool or coastal climates.

Makes sense that they would grow in the Bay Area. They sound challenging, though. Impressive, Lester.

A few do better at warmer temperatures

Draculas used to be part of the genus. We've seen references to Dracula orchids here in the past. More on them later.

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 01:32 PM

Comments

(Jump to bottom of comments)

1 Oooh..I love the Anna's Hummingbird. Gorgeous!

Posted by: lizabth at June 06, 2020 01:36 PM (L3Rsz)

2 Great photos! Grosbeaks hit my feeder on their way to cooler climes....usually only around for a few days.

Posted by: BignJames at June 06, 2020 01:36 PM (X/Pw5)

3 Thanks for including exposure info on the images! The orchid pictures are stoking my phalaenopsis lust though.

Posted by: kallisto at June 06, 2020 01:39 PM (6GiCM)

4 Ah, gardening.

Nice respite from ... never mind.

We're already harvesting squash, crook neck, zucchini and yellow zucchini.

I had one tomato plant the tomatoes starting turning black on the underside.

Quick Google search and, either a calcium deficiency or inconstant watering. Hmmm.

Well, hit the plant with some Miracle Gro, started making sure I watered regularly, and the tomatoes seem to be doing much better. ( I was trying to go by a soil moisture testing device I have, rather than just watering by eye. It's what I get for trying to improve on what I used to do)

Posted by: blake - semi lurker in marginal standing
at June 06, 2020 01:40 PM (WEBkv)

5 Aren't orchids the largest family/genus/whatever of plants?

Posted by: BignJames at June 06, 2020 01:40 PM (X/Pw5)

6 Inconstant?

Inconsistent.

Posted by: blake - semi lurker in marginal standing
at June 06, 2020 01:40 PM (WEBkv)

7 The bird pictures are outstanding.

Thanks to those who submitted them.

Posted by: blake - semi lurker in marginal standing
at June 06, 2020 01:41 PM (WEBkv)

8 I forgot to mention, we're getting really close to harvesting Anaheim peppers.

We love cooking with those. They have just a bit of heat and are very tasty when grilled with squash.

Posted by: blake - semi lurker in marginal standing
at June 06, 2020 01:42 PM (WEBkv)

9 Lester,
those are gorgeous! Nero Wolfe would be proud of you.

Posted by: Sal at June 06, 2020 01:43 PM (bo8pf)

10 The birds I see in my yard everyday! Phoebes can be annoying but they really eat a ton of bugs including grasshoppers so I love them.

Posted by: keena at June 06, 2020 01:43 PM (RiTnx)

11 Bush hogging is in top 10 things that sounds dirty but is not

Posted by: rhennigantx at June 06, 2020 01:43 PM (u52Jg)

12 My fave pic is the first monarch butterfly. I'll have to show old man the tractors of the Horde.

Posted by: kallisto at June 06, 2020 01:43 PM (6GiCM)

13 Those Mimosas attract really annoying wasps.

Now that I think about it, that also applies to brunch.

Posted by: Dr. Varno at June 06, 2020 01:45 PM (vuisn)

14 You know who's annoying?
Mockingbirds.
State bird and all, but seriously, guy. Give it a rest.

Posted by: Sal at June 06, 2020 01:47 PM (bo8pf)

15 The first bird needs to redo his tattoo.

Posted by: Kilroy wasn't here at June 06, 2020 01:48 PM (2DOZq)

16 blake - semi lurker in marginal standing
at June 06, 2020 01:40 PM
Blossom end rot is very common early in the season, Blake. Do not despair. You can cut it off and eat the rest of the tomato, by the way.

Posted by: KT at June 06, 2020 01:50 PM (BVQ+1)

17 My great producing fig tree for last 12 years has gone up and died on me. Hope Jesus didn't pass by and curse it and I wasn't here to see it.

Posted by: Kilroy wasn't here at June 06, 2020 01:51 PM (2DOZq)

18 blake - semi lurker in marginal standing
at June 06, 2020 01:40 PM
And congratulations on your other veggies, first-timer!

Posted by: KT at June 06, 2020 01:52 PM (BVQ+1)

19 Always wondered why my bush beans needed to be replanted again and again, year after year. Too early? Rotted? Disappeared?

Yesterday I saw the resident song sparrow rooting around and, gulp. Bean seed their.

Beautiful song, though. Mystery solved.

Posted by: Derak at June 06, 2020 01:53 PM (BMFHr)

20 Great photos all. As a youth I was very interested in birding, Peterson's guide etc. Was always interested to see a grosbeak, but for some reason, growing up in MA, never did. Really interesting to see one now. Great shot.

And the Anna's hummingbird. Never heard of that, incredible. Thanks for the effort all of you. The orchid shots, and the work that goes into growing them, excellent. My own efforts on the east coast with orchids, very hit or miss getting them to flower, so I appreciate such vigor.

Posted by: MikeM at June 06, 2020 01:53 PM (sQu0I)

21 The tomatoes are setting fruit and the peas and beans are blossoming.

Our neighbor gave us a bag of crooknecks from the farm. We had veg curry and I made some pumpkin squash muffins & bread.

Waiting impatiently for some okra from them, I hope.

Posted by: Sal at June 06, 2020 01:53 PM (bo8pf)

22 Thief not their

Posted by: Derak at June 06, 2020 01:54 PM (BMFHr)

23 That picture I took of the John Deere is from some I took to put it on Craigslist. I got it running and it works but needs mower deck bearings and I don't want to mess with it.

Posted by: freaked at June 06, 2020 01:55 PM (XfhKA)

24 Waiting impatiently for some okra from them, I hope.
Posted by: Sal at June 06, 2020 01:53 PM (bo8pf)

I would gladly wait a lifetime .

Posted by: Kilroy wasn't here at June 06, 2020 01:56 PM (2DOZq)

25 gf.me/u/wjsw2v 76th aniv of D-Day, never forget.

Posted by: jeff carter at June 06, 2020 01:57 PM (eeyFM)

26 I was too young to appreciate it at the time, but my gramps used to take me to the bird observatory at Cape May Point.
Definitely worth checking out if you're in the area.

Posted by: Dr. Varno at June 06, 2020 01:59 PM (vuisn)

27 19 Always wondered why my bush beans needed to be replanted again and again, year after year. Too early? Rotted? Disappeared?

Yesterday I saw the resident song sparrow rooting around and, gulp. Bean seed their.

Beautiful song, though. Mystery solved.
Posted by: Derak at June 06, 2020 01:53 PM (BMFHr)

I cover most of my planted seeds with either nylon net or mosquito netting until they are pretty well sprouted. I weigh it down with rocks, etc.

We were having a massive mug sale at the Thrift Store, so I bought a bunch, filled them halfway with
Quik-crete and use them as weights. Very handy.

Posted by: Sal at June 06, 2020 01:59 PM (bo8pf)

28 23 freaked - thank God you live far far away. My boyfriend used to take me on excursions to go pick up tractors he found on CL.

Posted by: kallisto at June 06, 2020 01:59 PM (6GiCM)

29 If anybody in the horde wants I'll give it to them if they come after it. Otherwise what do you think? $300?

Posted by: freaked at June 06, 2020 02:00 PM (XfhKA)

30 Sal at June 06, 2020 01:53 PM

I love crookneck squash. They have a different flavor from yellow zucchini.

Nice with butter. And onion.

Posted by: KT at June 06, 2020 02:00 PM (BVQ+1)

31 Anaheims are great peppers.

Posted by: Mr Aspirin Factory at June 06, 2020 02:01 PM (p+9AK)

32 I love it when the Grosbeaks fly in. They have a beautiful song, and that flash of red/white and black is so stunning. Their underwings are red, as well. The female is really gorgeous also, but in shades of brown, tan and white.

They don't stay around too long, but we see them both spring and autumn as they fly through. I've seen breeding pairs about 50 miles north of us.

Posted by: lizabth at June 06, 2020 02:02 PM (L3Rsz)

33 I went out with the sickle and cleared some grass away from the fence, other than that I have not been gardening beyond weeding and raking I have some spots to put plants in but the farmers market has little variety this year. No Thai peppers at all and last year they couldn't give them away. It has been a cold wet Spring as well.
I have what looks like a volunteer melon popping up, so I put sticks down so I wouldn't hoe it up by accident.
I put my compost down where I plan to put corn both because the corn is a heavy feeder, and so I can let volunteer squash pop up between the rows.

The first strawberries are in the market and I saw the first cherries as well. I have to start digging out my canning gear for cherries this year.
I am taking a swing at drying sliced strawberries this year, we will see how well that works.

My watering test for my garden is to go out at daybreak and check to see if the plants are beading moisture along the edges of the leaves. If they are I am good, and if not I really need to water.

Posted by: Kindltot at June 06, 2020 02:04 PM (WyVLE)

34 13 Those Mimosas attract really annoying wasps.

Now that I think about it, that also applies to brunch.
Posted by: Dr. Varno at June 06, 2020 01:45 PM (vuisn)

Okay, that's funny.

I know landscapers deride them as trash trees, but I love mimosas. Happy childhood memories.

Mimosa and moonflowers are two favorite scents.

Posted by: Sal at June 06, 2020 02:06 PM (bo8pf)

35 The Cedar Wax-wings came through last week, and cleared the berries off the holly tree.

I want to get rid of the tree, but I like seeing the birds.

I had a GF that lived in the country and I would watch birds from her porch. It helped that she had Western Tanagers, blue birds and various grossbeaks come through.

Posted by: Kindltot at June 06, 2020 02:06 PM (WyVLE)

36 Good afternoon Greenthumbs
Garden is coming along well, still have mini greenhouse up, will take it down soon.
Terrible storms this week wrecked hundreds of trees some very massive were blown over root base and all, other large trees looked like they were blown up as trunks were shattered.

Posted by: Skip at June 06, 2020 02:09 PM (6f16T)

37 You know who's annoying?
Mockingbirds.
State bird and all, but seriously, guy. Give it a rest.
Posted by: Sal at June 06, 2020 01:47 PM (bo8pf)
--------

We had one in our neighborhood. I kept telling the wife I was going to buy an air rifle and shoot the stupid thing.

It either heard my threats or one of our local hawks got it.

Either way, I'm happy.

Posted by: blake - semi lurker in marginal standing
at June 06, 2020 02:13 PM (WEBkv)

38 And congratulations on your other veggies, first-timer!
Posted by: KT at June 06, 2020 01:52 PM (BVQ+1)
---------

thanks, KT!

Posted by: blake - semi lurker in marginal standing
at June 06, 2020 02:14 PM (WEBkv)

39 Mockingbirds are assholes.Somewhat similar -looking cat birds are cool.

Posted by: George Kaplan at June 06, 2020 02:17 PM (bkevu)

40 I know landscapers deride them as trash trees, but I love mimosas. Happy childhood memories.

Mimosa and moonflowers are two favorite scents.
Posted by: Sal at June 06, 2020 02:06 PM (bo8pf)

Same here. I spent some grade school years in Texas.

Posted by: Emmie at June 06, 2020 02:18 PM (clsJu)

41 KT,
Thanks for the thread. The photos are wonderful as usual and the bird photos are spectacular. I really appreciated the camera and shooting specs for the shots.

Posted by: JTB at June 06, 2020 02:19 PM (7EjX1)

42 Attended a Zoom lecture on Thursday sponsored by the School of Permaculture Design in Dallas.

It was about establishing a sustainable chicken flock and the speaker was a hoot. He was a Chicken Evangelist - and it's always so interesting to listen to
someone who's knowledgeable and passionate about their subject.

The school's site is :https://schoolofpermaculture.com/

Worth a look, even if permaculture is not your thing.

Posted by: Sal at June 06, 2020 02:19 PM (bo8pf)

43

We have mockingbirds at our woodlot. Always enjoyed them
Now we have one who's claimed our garden area. I don't mind them at all. Every song they've ever heard, they'll give you.
Temps... we went straight to summer. Nat. weather service said it was 92, my digital read 102 (at noon). Pulled the analog out of the shade and put it in the sun... 110.
OK, 102 it is!

Posted by: MarkY at June 06, 2020 02:20 PM (yE7zg)

44 From Idaho's Treasure Valley, Boise area: I'm taking the opportunity to post early on a wet Saturday. It rained last night - too wet to want to go out and weed. So we decided to sleep in, and bottle our batch of Pre-Prohibition Cream Ale later today.

Dear Horde, what varieties of lettuce do you grow? I'm asking because I'm not satisfied with Buttercrunch. The ribs are very stiff and the leaf is curly, so it's hard to put in a sandwich. And it gets bitter relatively quickly. So I'm looking for new ideas (especially since I just ran out of Buttercrunch seeds, so I'll need new lettuce seeds next year).

I looked back at my last post, and there's not that much that's new. Husband did buy 2 poblano peppers, and an Anaheim, to replace some of the poblano starts we lost to sun scald. The zucchini seeds came up. My midget basil plants are looking OK, and I see some very tiny sprouts from the thyme seeds. The fireweed by the shed started blooming, and the red penstemon put up lots of stems - buds will come soon, I'm sure, and then the hummingbirds! The red raspberries and shelling peas have their first few flowers. If it doesn't rain all day tomorrow, we probably need to go pick a few strawberries.

I've been wondering what some of the plants coming up this year, from last year's "hummingbird attracting flower mix" from Territorial Seed Co. might be - they're quite tall, so I was getting impatient for them to bloom. The flowers haven't opened yet, but from the spurs, it's going to be a humungous larkspur. Wonder what color? - I'll know by next week. I found the bag of saved seeds from the smaller larkspur that grew there last year - I should probably add some of that to any bare areas.

We cut down half our little alfalfa patch, and gave some to the neighbors, and a friend, who keep chickens. We'll cut more alfalfa when they say their chickens have eaten it all.

Under puttering, we've started installing gutter screens. Our silver maple, Jupiter, has been shedding leaves and clogging drains for years, so it's time to tackle this. We finished the section over the garage doors. There's a section over the master bedroom back door, where the patio is, which also has a cement slab. After that, other sections have ladder stability problems (landscape rocks), and the fun of squeezing between barberry bushes (thorns) - wish us safe puttering, if you would.

And everybody stay safe out there, from all sorts of harms - I'm carrying hot, everywhere I go. (And praying for the safety of one of our former 4-H students, ID National Guard, who's been called to DC.)

Posted by: Pat* at June 06, 2020 02:21 PM (2pX/F)

45 I like Mockingbirds. Had a pair nest here many years ago. Thought that was neat.

Posted by: Ronster at June 06, 2020 02:21 PM (IHpbl)

46
And the settings on the camera... not digital?
I have such a hard time shooting with the zoom, that I have to mount it, and use a remote to trigger.
Rarely q

Posted by: MarkY at June 06, 2020 02:22 PM (yE7zg)

47 I saw a white butterfly around the cabbages today. Cabbage fly. Never really thought it before but there you go. The yellow ones are corn flies. We don't have any corn, but sometimes have corn flies.

Posted by: freaked at June 06, 2020 02:22 PM (XfhKA)

48
dang... rarely quick enough to get a bird, bee or butterfly.

Posted by: MarkY at June 06, 2020 02:22 PM (yE7zg)

49
freaked... $300 seems fair. The seat's not worn, nor the peddle. How'd you get bad bearings so soon? Mowing tall stuff a lot?

Posted by: MarkY at June 06, 2020 02:24 PM (yE7zg)

50 Not too much to report at Chez JTB. The one notable is the tomato plants. The seedlings are thriving. They are bush types and already have yellow blossoms. Getting a regular supply of cherry tomatoes would be great.

Posted by: JTB at June 06, 2020 02:24 PM (7EjX1)

51 My high voltage rose is blooming. The blossoms are beeutifull.

Posted by: Ronster at June 06, 2020 02:27 PM (IHpbl)

52 I would gladly wait a lifetime .
Posted by: Kilroy
----------

ISWYDT

*fist bump*

I mean, I'm an unreconstructed Southerner, I should live for okra, but...no.

Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at June 06, 2020 02:28 PM (u/mHG)

53 Hog producers in Minnesota have been hit hard by the virus. The huge plants that deal with thousands of hogs per week shut down when a few hundred employees got the bug. The farmer that ships 100 hogs every four weeks cannot just park them. He has 100 piglets coming in two days for that space. And no one has the capacity to process 10,000 hogs per week. The only solution is to kill and bury them.

But a little country meat market decided they could take 90 per week. It is just a drop, but it is something. A few weeks ago we ordered two finished hogs at $300 each. We intended to donate one to a food shelf. But lo, the food shelf we are familiar with won't take meat they did not buy themselves. And we were told that each bundle would take up 21 cubic feet of freezer space.

So the meat market agreed to pass our second bundle (190 pounds cut and wrapped) to the next person in line. We drove 100 miles to get ours last Saturday. Nice folks, but the wife is really bad at math. The actual volume was between 5 and 6 cubic feet.

The wife made smothered chops at my request. Oh boy an inch thick and tender. So good.

And then on Tuesday I was doing work in an unlooted CVS. I met a very engaging Benedictine brother, a member of a new community in the area. His group has a food shelf and damn well would welcome 190 pounds of pork goodness. He even said he would test some of the meat himself, just to be sure it was wholesome.

So we are on the waiting list again. I will keep the pork belly from hog 2 because I have a smoker and I can make bacon. Not very garden but it beats whining about our mayor and the riots.

Posted by: Gordon at June 06, 2020 02:29 PM (njAfo)

54 I am going out today in the heat to do Phase 2 of the shed: staining.

Something knocked over the top of the cement birdbath. No critters hurt, but I need to stop skipping arm days!

Also, I had no idea how pretty radish flowers are... or that tgey just keep growing higher, adding flowers at each joint.

Posted by: NaughtyPine at June 06, 2020 02:31 PM (/+bwe)

55 The local sarvisberries are ripe and ready to be picked. Taste somewhat like blueberries. Our sour cherries are also ripening, and drawing bears.

Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at June 06, 2020 02:31 PM (u/mHG)

56 Almost forgot, last few days in between t-storms been seeing Lantern Flys, only little black with white dots bugs and much slower before they get older, bigger and faster.
Kill them, kill them all.

Posted by: Skip at June 06, 2020 02:33 PM (6f16T)

57 "$300 seems fair. The seat's not worn, nor the peddle. How'd you get bad bearings so soon? Mowing tall stuff a lot?"

It's about 40 years old. The seat does have a tear on the other side.
Variator type drive and a heavy frame and motor. Not like the stamped things they make nowadays.

Posted by: freaked at June 06, 2020 02:34 PM (XfhKA)

58
Orchids?

Nasty things.

Posted by: General Sternwood at June 06, 2020 02:34 PM (EGyGV)

59 Ronster,

Looked it up- that's a beautiful rose! I have one David Austin "Crown Princess Margareta" that's slowly establishing itself- worth the wait.

Posted by: Sal at June 06, 2020 02:35 PM (bo8pf)

60 Pat, I like the red leaf lettuce, it is sweeter, more pliable, has bigger leaves and doesn't bolt and get bitter as quickly. I can't tell you what kind I have in the garden since it is all volunteer, all the lettuce I planted on purpose failed to grow.

We eat rice and pickled daikon and various other things wrapped up in lettuce leafs during the summer so having a big foldy leaves is important.

Posted by: Kindltot at June 06, 2020 02:37 PM (WyVLE)

61 Sal,
I looked up the "Crown Princess Margareta" and it is a very pretty rose.

Posted by: Ronster at June 06, 2020 02:40 PM (IHpbl)

62 Trying to decide .... there's a one-of-a-kind nursery in our area. They offer varieties you won't find anywhere else. The owners are sweet people of the hippy persuasion.

Last time I checked, they were requiring masks. I've been very selective about who I will wear masks for. I sympathize with businesses that are required to require masks to be allowed to open. I do not know if they are in this category or if they are getting their Karen on.

Posted by: Emmie at June 06, 2020 02:40 PM (clsJu)

63
I saw Big Foldy Leaves open for The Wallflowers at the Cow Palace back in '94.

Posted by: IllTemperedCur at June 06, 2020 02:40 PM (EGyGV)

64 Thanks so much for the bird pics, KT. No Anna's hummingbirds around here, but we do have Black Chinned and Ruby Throated hummingbirds. Our showiest bird is the painted bunting. He and his mate show up every year in late spring, visit our feeder regularly, and then disappear when (I'm guessing) the young have fledged. Breathtaking bird.

And we have LOTS of mockingbirds. Easy to remember their Latin name: mimus polyglottos.

Posted by: Art Rondelet of Malmsey at June 06, 2020 02:42 PM (fTtFy)

65 nice pics ...the rose breasted grosbeaks are heard more than seen around here. Great song.

https://tinyurl.com/y8h5lll3

those are milkweed flowers with the monarch (I think) ... but mine get a lot of little bugs on them ... none of them are flowering around here yet.

The black flies are bad still here, I just ordered some Sawyer picaridin (active ingredient) spray, since 40% deet doesn't seem very effective. And I wear a head net over my MAGA cap most of the time. Hotter drier weather by end of June usually gets rid of most of them.

Posted by: illiniwek at June 06, 2020 02:45 PM (Cus5s)

66
Had to go look at the plot on my wife's computer, Pat.
We have our second planting going of Little Gem Butter type, and Simpson of the leaf type. Both have been good so far, but we'll see how they handle June temps in the 100's.

Posted by: MarkY at June 06, 2020 02:47 PM (yE7zg)

67 So we are on the waiting list again. I will keep the pork belly from hog 2 because I have a smoker and I can make bacon. Not very garden but it beats whining about our mayor and the riots.
Posted by: Gordon at June 06, 2020 02:29 PM (njAfo)

It's gardening. Bacon-gardening!

Posted by: NaughtyPine at June 06, 2020 02:47 PM (/+bwe)

68 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 June 06, 2020 02:47 PM (NWiLs)

69 I saw Big Foldy Leaves open for The Wallflowers at the Cow Palace back in '94.
Posted by: IllTemperedCur
------

I saw them open for Elephant Ear, the Fairground, Atlanta, '92.

Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at June 06, 2020 02:48 PM (1554F)

70 Genesis 3:17-19
Posted by: Insomniac
-------

So...how does that apple taste now?

Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at June 06, 2020 02:49 PM (1554F)

71
"The local sarvisberries"
We call them serviceberry, or Juneberry, but same critter. My wife and I picked a full gallon from our oldest one, and left the rest to the birds.
Succulent jam!

Posted by: MarkY at June 06, 2020 02:50 PM (yE7zg)

72 I have lots of swallows flying around. I think they catch insects on the fly. They are not mud daubers. Maybe tree swallows.

Posted by: Ronster at June 06, 2020 02:50 PM (IHpbl)

73 Those look like the bossy disapproving flowers in Alice in Wonderland.

Posted by: All Hail Eris, She-Wolf of the 'Ettes 'Ettes at June 06, 2020 02:52 PM (Dc2NZ)

74 "The local sarvisberries"
We call them serviceberry, or Juneberry, but same critter. My wife and I picked a full gallon from our oldest one, and left the rest to the birds.
Succulent jam!
Posted by: MarkY
------

*That* is a lot of picking.

Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at June 06, 2020 02:53 PM (pbStR)

75 Last time I checked, they were requiring masks. I've been very selective about who I will wear masks for. I sympathize with businesses that are required to require masks to be allowed to open. I do not know if they are in this category or if they are getting their Karen on.
Posted by: Emmie at June 06, 2020 02:40 PM

I have been a couple places between a rick and a hard place. Need the business of both Karens and normal folks. My dealership has a note that those who don't gave a mask can get one at the service counter. Official policy, I suppose.

I went for a walk and had a sidewalk brunch - no mask - and returned. Wore a mask around an elderly couple, but when they left the waiting room, the other customer and I took off our masks. Service folks didn't mind; the mechanics aren't wearing them in the pit. But still official policy.

Posted by: NaughtyPine at June 06, 2020 02:53 PM (/+bwe)

76 Genesis 3:17-19
Posted by: Insomniac
-------

So...how does that apple taste now?
Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at June 06, 2020 02:49 PM (1554F)

LOL!

And a big hello, Insom.

Posted by: NaughtyPine at June 06, 2020 02:54 PM (/+bwe)

77 I just wanted to brag that my tiny flower patch won a yard beautification award (and a gift card at Dollar Tree).

*preens*

It's easy when your neighbor's weed-choked no man's land makes yours look like Giverny. It may have helped that I fertilized their triffid-sized, thorny dandelion.

Posted by: All Hail Eris, She-Wolf of the 'Ettes 'Ettes at June 06, 2020 02:56 PM (Dc2NZ)

78 My very long comment on the birds and Pat*'s report didn't go through. Youare all spared a do-over. Have a great weekend, everyone!

Posted by: NaughtyPine at June 06, 2020 02:56 PM (/+bwe)

79 I have a Kubota BX2660 similar to the one in the photo above. I really need to get a brush hog for it and/or a finishing mower. The bucket is currently detached and in my garage but only takes a few minutes to re-attach. I mowed about 3 and half acres yesterday. Yard looks nice. Now, need to plant the string beans and we're done with the planting until late summer when the potatoes go in.

Posted by: Martini Farmer - Civilly Disobedient at June 06, 2020 02:57 PM (3H9h1)

80 I'm envious of people who ca grow orchids outdoor.

My lilac bushes have spent their blooms, and now its the honeysuckles turn. Gold, red, and pink and yellow. And my hostas are jammin! My peonies and roses all have buds.

Posted by: CrotchetyOldJarhead at June 06, 2020 02:57 PM (NZbXf)

81 It's easy when your neighbor's weed-choked no man's land makes yours look like Giverny. It may have helped that I fertilized their triffid-sized, thorny dandelion.
Posted by: All Hail Eris, She-Wolf of the 'Ettes 'Ettes at June 06, 2020 02:56 PM

Congratulations! Send pics!!

Posted by: NaughtyPine at June 06, 2020 02:58 PM (/+bwe)

82 NaughtyPine at June 06, 2020 02:31 PM

And you can eat those pretty radish blossoms if you want. The seed pods, too, if you catch them at the right stage, before they get woody.

There are some varieties of radishes bred just for edible seedpods. Some people eat them with beer.

Posted by: KT at June 06, 2020 02:59 PM (BVQ+1)

83 Great photos today!

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at June 06, 2020 02:59 PM (dLLD6)

84 It seemed to me the local song birds and owls have been noisier and more active this spring but wasn't sure. Perhaps I'm just paying attention and my new hearing aids (which are fantastic) allow me to hear more of them. Mrs. JTB assures me they are livlier than usual, especially the owls. That might explain why we've seen no sign of mice this year.

Posted by: JTB at June 06, 2020 03:00 PM (7EjX1)

85 Ronster at June 06, 2020 02:50 PM

You have swallows, we have a spare dog in the neighborhood. Darling little thing. Staying in the neighbor's front yard. Afraid of our garden kitties.

I think he ran away from a home where he was neglected.

Posted by: KT at June 06, 2020 03:02 PM (BVQ+1)

86 Congratulations! Send pics!!
Posted by: NaughtyPine at June 06, 2020 02:58 PM (/+bwe)
----
It's just a small bed of mostly purple flowers at the moment. I'll wait for the black pansies and hollyhocks to bloom; then it will be très Goth!

Posted by: All Hail Eris, She-Wolf of the 'Ettes 'Ettes at June 06, 2020 03:02 PM (Dc2NZ)

87 And you can eat those pretty radish blossoms if you want. The seed pods, too, if you catch them at the right stage, before they get woody.

There are some varieties of radishes bred just for edible seedpods. Some people eat them with beer.
Posted by: KT at June 06, 2020 02:59 PM (BVQ+1)

Really? That is Awesome! I might do tgst to the smaller one.i want to see how tall and flowery the other one gets.

BTW do rhubarb get more than one flower, or is it indicative of the roots needed to be divided?

Posted by: NaughtyPine at June 06, 2020 03:02 PM (/+bwe)

88 Just got back from my beach walk.
Saw a bald eagle and his mate taking turns ripping apart a dead baby seal. There were loads of people taking pictures from the bulkhead.

Circle of life.

Posted by: nurse ratched at June 06, 2020 03:03 PM (U2p+3)

89 But still official policy.
Posted by: NaughtyPine at June 06, 2020 02:53 PM (/+bwe)

NaughtyPine, whenever I go out, I tell the personnel that they don't need to wear a mask for me. They often say, "Whew! Thank you!" and pull their hot, silly mask down.

Posted by: Emmie at June 06, 2020 03:04 PM (clsJu)

90 17 My great producing fig tree for last 12 years has gone up and died on me. Hope Jesus didn't pass by and curse it and I wasn't here to see it.
Posted by: Kilroy wasn't here at June 06, 2020 01:51 PM (2DOZq)

LOL! I've observed that fruit trees of any kind never seem to live all that long, I used to have 2 wonderful little apricot trees, both gone now.

Posted by: Tom Servo at June 06, 2020 03:04 PM (trdmm)

91 I noticed some small sparrow like birds on the feeder out front this morning so I was watching them when I noticed the bill was shaped like an X. Crossbills. Never noticed them before. Pretty cool.

Posted by: CrotchetyOldJarhead at June 06, 2020 03:05 PM (NZbXf)

92 NaughtyPine, whenever I go out, I tell the personnel that they don't need to wear a mask for me. They often say, "Whew! Thank you!" and pull their hot, silly mask down.
Posted by: Emmie at June 06, 2020 03:04 PM

The clerk at the dealership, like me, gets headaches from masks. She was safely behind plexiglass.

Posted by: NaughtyPine at June 06, 2020 03:06 PM (/+bwe)

93
KT, good point.
We found out that small turnips are pretty much radish-like. So we ate as we thinned.
On "big iron"... look up a Traxcavator. Bought mine as I was building our house. Used it to trench in water lines, French drains, etc.. after done.
I mostly don't use the backhoe, but the old 931 still will load dirt and chips just fine.

https://tinyurl.com/y8erl6aa
(Not mine, found it online)

Posted by: MarkY at June 06, 2020 03:07 PM (yE7zg)

94 I forgot to say: not wearing mask.

Posted by: NaughtyPine at June 06, 2020 03:07 PM (/+bwe)

95 40 of the World's Weirdest Flowers:

https://tinyurl.com/y7gdsonx

Number six will blow you away!

Posted by: All Hail Eris, She-Wolf of the 'Ettes 'Ettes at June 06, 2020 03:09 PM (Dc2NZ)

96 Outside is a non mask wearing for me, second out the door of a mask place its off.

Posted by: Skip at June 06, 2020 03:09 PM (6f16T)

97 Waves to Emmie, I don't have much growing right now, my outside faucet is broken and running to the cellar to turn the water on and off gets old really fast. I do love all of your pictures and gardening stories though.

Posted by: Debby Doberman Schultz at June 06, 2020 03:10 PM (a4EWo)

98 76 Genesis 3:17-19
Posted by: Insomniac
-------

So...how does that apple taste now?
Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at June 06, 2020 02:49 PM (1554F)

LOL!

And a big hello, Insom.
Posted by: NaughtyPine at June 06, 2020 02:54 PM (/+bwe)

Kinda mealy and not very good. And a big hello to you too!

Posted by: Insomniac - Ex Cineribus Resurgo at June 06, 2020 03:12 PM (NWiLs)

99 PET NOOD IS UP

Posted by: Skip, the guy who says NOOD at June 06, 2020 03:14 PM (6f16T)

100 After wading through all the garbage throughout the week, the Pet Thread, Garden Thread and Gun Thread is just what the soul needs.....

Posted by: Sua Sponte at June 06, 2020 03:16 PM (cdNcj)

101 Hello, Debby! Yes, if we aren't personally gardening right now, it's still nice to dream!

Another shout-out: honeyberryusa.com sent us some lovely cherry bushes. They arrived just as they were breaking dormancy and burst into leaf and bloom just after planting.

Posted by: Emmie at June 06, 2020 03:16 PM (clsJu)

102 NaughtyPine at June 06, 2020 03:02 PM

I would go by the size of the plants in deciding when to divide rhubarb. I would probably cut the flowers off before they set seed to send more energy to the roots. Throw them away after admiring them. They are likely to be toxic.

Posted by: KT at June 06, 2020 03:21 PM (BVQ+1)

103 Certainly not normally needed until July but thankfully have my rain barrel that has a spigot on it. Used it a few times to flush toilets last few days.
Going to go take down the greenhouse. Plan to put it back up by October.

Posted by: Skip at June 06, 2020 03:26 PM (6f16T)

104 When I was younger, much younger, we lived outside of Denver. Every year we were in the middle of what they called monarch butterfly migrations. It was awesome. Hundreds of thousands of them, couldn't see a break. Surrounded by beauty and gentleness.

Posted by: idlan at June 06, 2020 03:29 PM (Z++LQ)

105 In her gardening book, Pat Welsh offers a bunch of tips but not all work well. She loves to talk about using an innoculum for beans. I always did that to the tune of nine bucks a pack but last year I did an experiment and did half with and half without. They both were the same! So this year I didn't bother and the beans are looking just fine.

Posted by: keena at June 06, 2020 03:29 PM (RiTnx)

106 It started as a trickle, then more, then the entire sky and yard filled with them.

Posted by: idlan at June 06, 2020 03:31 PM (Z++LQ)

107 We had several rose breasted grosbeaks this year. Usually, they're only around for a few days on their way to higher elevations, but this year they stayed around almost three weeks. I took dozens of pictures. They are so beautiful.

Posted by: windbag at June 06, 2020 03:56 PM (sDEZT)

108 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.....haven't seenya in a coupla weeks...I thought a normal person bit ya on the neck or sumpin'....

Posted by: JT at June 06, 2020 03:59 PM (arJlL)

109 The flowers that the Monarchs are enjoying are narrow leaf milkweed - asclepias fascicularis.
My son used to work at Tucker Wildlife Sanctuary and now works at the San Joaquin Marsh.

Posted by: Paddy O'Furnijur at June 06, 2020 04:01 PM (bNh4G)

110 Ok...

My driveway is between 75 and one hundred feet long.

There's a little strip of dirt approx 1-1 and a half feet wide along the chain link fence that separates us from the neighbor.
This year, at the far end, I dug up the dirt to plant flower seeds at the far end, for the 1st 3 sections of fence.

I dug up mostly dandelions, and I think they have roots all the way to China.

Posted by: JT at June 06, 2020 04:08 PM (arJlL)

111 At the house end, I have 2 types of mint plants.

20 years ago, somebody gave me 2 half dead mint plants (I forget who- sorry) and JEEPERS did they take
off .

Every year, some old timer would ask me "Can I take some of your mint plants" and I'm like "sure, help yourself". I haven't seen him this year, so I wonder what happened to him ?

Posted by: JT at June 06, 2020 04:17 PM (arJlL)

112 Past the mint plants, I have a strawberry plant.

Years ago, I bought strawberry seeds, (don't ask me where) and they are TINY.

I was GONNA plant them along the driveway but I was holding them in my hand and I sneezed and ALL the seeds are in one spot.

Last year, I was getting BEE-YOOTIFUL strawberries, and I would look and say, "one more day, and I'm gonna eat that one"

But a rabbit always beat me to them.

Posted by: JT at June 06, 2020 04:30 PM (arJlL)

113 THIS year, I have the plant encased in wire, so the rab can go fish.

Posted by: JT at June 06, 2020 04:31 PM (arJlL)

114 I came on here to ask a question.....is it too late to put up a hummingbird feeder in SE Penna ?

Do the hummingbirds stick around or do they go to Vegas or something ?

Posted by: JT at June 06, 2020 04:34 PM (arJlL)

115 Tap tap tap......is this thing on ?

Posted by: JT at June 06, 2020 04:35 PM (arJlL)

116 JT - the bunnies are smart, they actually know when the fruit is at peak ripeness/sweetness.

Posted by: kallisto at June 06, 2020 04:35 PM (5ZRXN)

117 Paddy O'Furnijur at June 06, 2020 04:01 PM
Thanks. That's specific!
Didn't look like the kind of milkweed that is normally sold in the marketplace.

Posted by: KT at June 06, 2020 04:36 PM (BVQ+1)

118 Yeah ?

And I know when its time for WABBIT STEW !

Posted by: JT at June 06, 2020 04:36 PM (arJlL)

119 re: hummingbirds - I don't think it's too late. I have a plant they like, it won't be in full flower for a couple weeks. They always show up for that.

Posted by: kallisto at June 06, 2020 04:38 PM (5ZRXN)

120 JT at June 06, 2020 04:34 PM
Try it! Don't think there are that many species of hummingbirds in the East, but don't know why they would all need to spend the summer in the same place.

Don't you have flowers and aphids in the summer in your town?

Posted by: KT at June 06, 2020 04:39 PM (BVQ+1)

121 keena at June 06, 2020 03:29 PM
Once the bean innoculant is in the soil, might not make much difference.

Also, if your soil is nitrogen-rich, might not make much difference. The innoculant aids in nitrogen uptake from air.

Posted by: KT at June 06, 2020 04:44 PM (BVQ+1)

122 KT at June 06, 2020 04:36 PM
You're welcome!

Posted by: Paddy O'Furnijur at June 06, 2020 04:45 PM (bNh4G)

123 Eris - I have a container gardening book from England, saw a plant in there I'd never heard of: 'Black Grass'. I don't have its sciency name, it's a short ornamental.

Posted by: kallisto at June 06, 2020 04:46 PM (5ZRXN)

124 idlan at June 06, 2020 03:29 PM
That monarch migration sounds magnificent!

Posted by: KT at June 06, 2020 04:47 PM (BVQ+1)

125 I've started back yard birding. Have about 30 species in the yard each year, from red shoulder Hawks and barred owls, woodpeckers, warblers, Jay's and hummingbirds.

But, regarding that first picture, it sharea initial with Ruth bader ginsburg. That cannot stand

Posted by: f2000 at June 06, 2020 04:47 PM (IIUCn)

126 88 Just got back from my beach walk.
Saw a bald eagle and his mate taking turns ripping apart a dead baby seal. There were loads of people taking pictures from the bulkhead.

Circle of life.
Posted by: nurse ratched at June 06, 2020 03:03 PM (U2p+3)

Thanksgiving 2018
Me (on phone with youngest): Guess what I'm doing.
YD: What?
Me: Making an apple pie and watching a hawk eat a
dove in the middle of the street.
YD: Well, you do you, Tiny Town...

Posted by: Sal at June 06, 2020 04:50 PM (bo8pf)

127 JT at June 06, 2020 04:34 PM
Try it! Don't think there are that many species of hummingbirds in the East, but don't know why they would all need to spend the summer in the same place.

Don't you have flowers and aphids in the summer in your town?
Posted by: KT

Oh great, a quiz !

I wouldn't know an aphid if one came up and propositioned me.

Ok, I'll try it. Thanks !

Posted by: JT at June 06, 2020 04:58 PM (arJlL)

128 Also, if your soil is nitrogen-rich, might not make much difference. The innoculant aids in nitrogen uptake from air.
Posted by: KT

Speaking of nitrogen, my buddy and I were talking and he mentioned that once it rains, our plants will get noticeably bigger.

It rained, and they did !

Rain imparts nitrogen in the soil.

Posted by: JT at June 06, 2020 05:02 PM (arJlL)

129 I planted my garden 2 weeks ago, and at first, our local weatherperson would say "its gonna rain, its gonna rain, the sky is falling, the sheriff is near" and....NUTHIN'.

Meanwhile, my plants are lying on their sides with their tongues hanging out.....

So, I water my garden every day or every other, depending....

Posted by: JT at June 06, 2020 05:08 PM (arJlL)

130 I'm hopeful it stops raining a few days.
Ended up just taki ng off plexiglass and foam sides and top of my greenhouse. Just have to crawl under to get into some of the plants.

Posted by: Skip at June 06, 2020 05:13 PM (6f16T)

131 Its supposed to be nice the next coupla days.

I hafta make a new rear gate for my garden.

Posted by: JT at June 06, 2020 05:16 PM (arJlL)

132 JT at June 06, 2020 05:02 PM
Yes, rain has extra nitrogen if it comes with lightning.

Posted by: KT at June 06, 2020 09:01 PM (BVQ+1)

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