Saturday Gardening and Puttering Thread, November 7, 2020 [KT]

Hi, everybody! Ready for a little break in the garden? Neal in Israel sent us a series of photos of pomegranate blossoms, fruits and a plant. The lovely blossoms above are an example.

Shalom
Most of the items I've sent to you have shown plants which are not native to the Land of Israel, so I thought it would be nice to also present a native.
The pomegranate is one of the "Seven Species" mentioned by Moses in the description of the Land of Israel included in his valedictory speech to the people of Israel, as they prepare to cross the Jordan and enter the Land:
For the LORD thy God bringeth thee into a good land ... a land of wheat and barley, and vines and fig-trees and pomegranates; a land of olive-trees and [date] honey.
Deuteronomy, Chapter 8, verses 7-8 (link)

The Edible Garden

Edible pomegranates grow on trees/bushes which can reach 2-3 meters in height. Our pomegranate is a decorative dwarf variety. The original plant produced several offspring in its pot in our city garden, and since being transplanted into the ground here in Bat Hefer, the original small family has continued to grow through self seeding. The pomegranate "grove" is now about 70 cm high and 110 cm wide. Offspring from the plants growing in front of our house have also appeared around the corner of the house in the backyard
The plants bloom and fruit throughout the spring/summer season. Thus you can see all the stages - from flower bud to mature fruit, on the plants at the same - as illustrated in the series of photos attached.

We have two varieties of edible pomegranates. The flowers are not as ruffly as Neal's, but the bushes are much bigger. We are between varieties right now. Just finished harvesting the first tree.

Wish List for Next Year's Tomatoes

Time to start getting your tomato wish list together for next year. Do you have a recommendation for The Horde?

Does Arkansas Traveler fit your climate? I grew it one year here in Central California. Mild, pink, medium-sized. Big plant. On the late side.

An excellent tasting tomato with a great balance of sweet and tart flavors, these 8 oz round pink-red tomatoes grow on vigorous vines. Arkansas Traveler was developed by the University of Arkansas and was released in 1968. It has some disease resistance and is known for being able to produce in adverse growing conditions of high heat, humidity or drought. Indeterminate.

90 Days. Bred at the University of Arkansas by Joe McFerran as an updated version of the region's famously high quality pink tomatoes. Pink fruits are rough, medium-sized, about 6 oz., with an excellent, creamy, mild flavor.

Arkansas Traveler, The Tomato

Arkansas Traveler, The Music

Edible Landscaping

Here, striking Dragon Kale add some drama to a decorative ornamental arrangement.

Puttering

Yesterday, we changed a light switch. I am grateful for copper wire. And needle nosed pliers. Have you done any household repairs lately?

Gardens of The Horde

Here in the Central Valley of California, it rained a little overnight. Hope it rained on the fires, too. My Tropical Milkweed is flopping over the sidewalk some. I think it is Silky Gold. We don't seem to be the the Monarch migration path, and it's past the season, anyway, but the flowers are still kind of nice in the fall.

How is the weather treating your yard or garden?

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

ktinthegarden
at that g mail dot com place

Include your nic unless you want to remain a lurker.

Posted by: Open Blogger at 01:02 PM

Comments

(Jump to bottom of comments)

1 4y635v35

Posted by: Blonde Morticia at November 07, 2020 01:03 PM (G51Gf)

2 Good afternoon greenthumbs

Posted by: Skip at November 07, 2020 01:03 PM (9sWOw)

3
I don't believe it. Anyway, see my post towards the end of the last thread. Ta-ta for now!

Posted by: Blonde Morticia at November 07, 2020 01:04 PM (G51Gf)

4 Tomaters.

Posted by: Robert at November 07, 2020 01:07 PM (1Yy3c)

5 Been working on a 40 foot multi branch that broke off a pine tree. Been through 2 tanks on my chainsaw and still not all cut up.
I might actually get every Anaheim peppers I grew this year from my plants, 1 left on and it's starting to ripen as well.

Posted by: Skip at November 07, 2020 01:07 PM (9sWOw)

6 I harvested some saffron last week. Now if I can remember to use it before I lose it. Tiny little buggers.

Posted by: Emmie at November 07, 2020 01:07 PM (4JM5Y)

7 I nooded.

Posted by: m at November 07, 2020 01:11 PM (Li1iO)

8 Emmie at November 07, 2020 01:07 PM
Yay! Don't lose it. Valuable stuff!

Posted by: KT at November 07, 2020 01:11 PM (BVQ+1)

9 I had a dwarf pomegranate tree. I cut it down several years ago but it keeps sending shoots up. I guess i needed to dig it out...

Posted by: lin-duh at November 07, 2020 01:12 PM (UUBmN)

10 Ornamental pomegranates are used a lot in commercial landscaping around here. There are some lovely ones. In addition to red and orange, there are salmon and striped ones that somewhat resemble roses or camellias.

Posted by: KT at November 07, 2020 01:18 PM (BVQ+1)

11 sorry to interrupt

news outlets are reporting that Biden is President-elect

Posted by: DB- just DB. at November 07, 2020 01:19 PM (iTXRQ)

12 Neal's pomegranate blossoms are a lovely color. Ours are bright orange, which I think is the standard.

Posted by: KT at November 07, 2020 01:20 PM (BVQ+1)

13 I have pomegranate seeds from trees at the ancient wall of Babylon. Palm seed too.

Posted by: CSMBigBird at November 07, 2020 01:20 PM (xInes)

14 KT Was thinking getting time for a report card on gardens in a few weeks, maybe everyone could grade how theirs went this past year. in a

Posted by: Skip at November 07, 2020 01:20 PM (9sWOw)

15 In southeast Michigan leaf season is in full swing. Leaf season as in "time to start picking them up" if you have a fair amount of trees in your area. Some folks wait until all the leaves are down but for us the job would be too big to finish before the snow flies.

This year we've had a very colorful leaf season and the leaves are coming down a week or 10 days earlier than in the past several years. 20 or 25 years back we'd be all cleaned up by Thanksgiving. In the past several years it's been cold snowy December before we've been done, so we're glad to see an earlier leaf fall.

Maybe it's that global warming. Not only can it make for rainier rainstorms, droughtier droughts, but it can also make leaves fall later in the year and earlier too.

Posted by: George V at November 07, 2020 01:22 PM (U2Tva)

16 I can definitely say whatever I bought that was supposed to be a beefsteak (at 2 different nurseries) is not on the recommended list. Awful. The worst. Tiny golf ball sized solid seed nasty.

In fact, I got a lot of dogs to grow, probably because when I was buying plants was the peak of the lockdown here in CA. So the proper nurseries were shut down, I had to go to the hardware/nurseries at home despot and ace. Only one pepper plant was correct. Totally blew the cucumbers (any recommendations there?).

I used to love a small hybrid determinate golden tomato, the name escapes me. I haven't seen it for years, but I guess it's been over 20 years since I grew it. Also liked the zebra heirloom, or whatever they call it now. Brandywine is still a favorite, but it seems to be favored by the vermin as well.

Posted by: clutch cargo at November 07, 2020 01:22 PM (8B6Ng)

17 Very nice pictorial on how pomegranates grow.

They are delicious and super healthy too!

Posted by: kallisto at November 07, 2020 01:25 PM (DJFLF)

18 hiya

Posted by: JT at November 07, 2020 01:26 PM (arJlL)

19 Just pulled the last of the daikon radishes for use in a boiled dinner. Would not plant again.

Also ate the last of the bag-ripened tomatoes. Definitely not bothering with my own tomatoes next year.

Other than that, mowed the lawn with "recycling" mode instead of bagging leaves. Today very few people are burning leaves,.

Posted by: NaughtyPine at November 07, 2020 01:26 PM (/+bwe)

20 I was able to successfully eradicate the yellow jacket nest in my landscaping.

We called in the professional, who sprayed the sevin concentrate liquid onto the nest. Markedly reduced activity over the next three or four days.

They came back, stronger than ever.

I waited until about an hoir after sundown, temp was in the upper 40s. Dressed up in thick layers with no exposed skin.
, and raked the debris, leaves and other stuff away from the nest entry hole and roughly for about a 2 foot radius around it.

Went inside and let them chill for another hour or so.

Poured about a cup of gas down the hole and lit it off. Stood about eight feet away and squirted charcoal lighter fluid on the nest to keep the fire going for another half hour. Was entertaining hearing the angry little pest buzzing into the fire to sting it and popping from the heat.

Next morning, dressed up again and dug out the nest hole to expose the honeycomb. It was in a cavity roughly 10" x 14" x 8" filling it completely. Not too many yellow jackets left, but the honeycomb was chock full of unburned larva some of which were actively hatching and crawling around. It would have recovered had i not dug it out.

Used my shovel to chop the honeycomb into small chuncks, soaked it in gas and burned it using charcoal lighter fluid to keep it burning until everything was just ash.

Did not get stung, and no longer have a yellow jacket nest in my front landscaping.

Posted by: BifBewalski AOS Moron at November 07, 2020 01:27 PM (VcFUs)

21 Dusty Miller is a plant that thrives in almost any condition. I planted it this year for the first time and that thing has made it through drought, blistering heat and this early cold spell we had about a week ago.

Still going strong.

Posted by: kallisto at November 07, 2020 01:28 PM (DJFLF)

22 13 I have pomegranate seeds from trees at the ancient wall of Babylon. Palm seed too.
Posted by: CSMBigBird at November 07, 2020 01:20 PM (xInes)

That is incredibly cool.

Posted by: NaughtyPine at November 07, 2020 01:28 PM (/+bwe)

23 20 - Damn. Those little bastards persevere.

Posted by: bear with asymmetrical balls at November 07, 2020 01:30 PM (H5knJ)

24 I read about a tomato variety used for sauce in Calabria called costoluto fiorentino and picked up some seeds from growitalian.com that I'll try along with my usual san marzano's. Great seed site btw.

Posted by: dartist at November 07, 2020 01:30 PM (+ya+t)

25 The ad below the thread says I should put potatoes in the dishwasher for surprising results. I suspect there is not adequate light in there.

Posted by: Gordon at November 07, 2020 01:30 PM (RtI0W)

26 Very nice photos. I've always enjoyed pomegranates and I like the Biblical quote too.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at November 07, 2020 01:30 PM (WkPC9)

27 Maybe it's that global warming. Not only can it make for rainier rainstorms, droughtier droughts, but it can also make leaves fall later in the year and earlier too.
Posted by: George V at November 07, 2020 01:22 PM (U2Tva)

In my area, everyone burns them. It's obnoxious when we have a fresh beautiful day and the windows must stay shut because it looks like smog.

I hope you're enjoying the unusually warm weather.

Posted by: NaughtyPine at November 07, 2020 01:31 PM (/+bwe)

28 Posted by: BifBewalski AOS Moron at November 07, 2020 01:27 PM (VcFUs
I have a nest that is accessed in the crack between two sidewalk squares in the front of my house. I don't have the option of digging up the pavement and flamethrowing. I'll probably just block the crevice with liquid concrete or something.

Posted by: kallisto at November 07, 2020 01:32 PM (DJFLF)

29 I regret my OT post

fwiw, I think flowers are nice

Posted by: DB- just DB. at November 07, 2020 01:33 PM (iTXRQ)

30 dartist at November 07, 2020 01:30 PM (+ya+t)

I think that's where my cousin gets his seed for red garlic.

Posted by: kallisto at November 07, 2020 01:34 PM (DJFLF)

31 I have a nest that is accessed in the crack between two sidewalk squares in the front of my house. I don't have the option of digging up the pavement and flamethrowing. I'll probably just block the crevice with liquid concrete or something.
Posted by: kallisto at November 07, 2020 01:32 PM (DJFLF)

That's a challenge. If you're in an incorporated municipality, make the city pull the sidewalk up and eradicate them as a punlic health and safety hazard?

Otherwise, rent a BobCat, and pull the sidewalk up well after sundown, but dress appropriately so they cannot get at you.

For entertainment, you could melt a big chunk of aluminum and pour it down the crack. No way they survive that.

Posted by: BifBewalski AOS Moron at November 07, 2020 01:36 PM (VcFUs)

32 Thanks, Neal, for the lovely photos. Pomegranate is one of my favorite trees. We had one in my favorite childhood home, so very nostalgic.

Been harvesting the herbs before the frosts hit. I just pulled up the licorice basil- I don't like licorice, so not sure why I planted that, but the bees were happy- and the other one that didn't do well.

Planted some chard for the winter. Discovered chard pesto, which is delicious, so I plan to use it right along and freeze a bunch as well.

Mostly just tidying up and getting ready for the leaf fall- a big deal for us now since we have 11 trees instead of one...

On the puttering side, I made a new batch of lemon balm oxymel, and gave half to my sister, who is a fan. And I made calendula salve and cedar balm from infused oils made earlier.

Trying to decide on a color to paint the metal folding chair in the garden.

Several quilts in the works, which I can get back to since I finished this for the oldest granddaughter.
https://tinyurl.com/yywk84h6

Why, yes- I am the best Mimi in the world...

Almost forgot- I loved the Black Krim tomatoes I planted this year. Very, very tasty.

Posted by: Sal at November 07, 2020 01:37 PM (KTdeA)

33 Neal . . . Absolutely terrific photos of the pomegranate's different stages from bloom to fruiting . . . first time I've seen that sequence, and it's also the first time I've seen the flower of the pomegranate . . . Great job!

Posted by: Dr_No at November 07, 2020 01:39 PM (mu5GU)

34 KT - I will never forget you and may God bless you.

God willing we may run across some day (same state)

The media knows what they are doing.

As I screamed 10 years ago:

THE MEDIA IS THE ENEMY

Not the parties (yes they are) but the immediate threat.

Know you know. Record accordingly

I could not have screamed any louder and be taken seriously.

In fact, I pushed the envelope a tad over.

This is my Penance.

Much Love,

Forgive me

Posted by: 20201107 at November 07, 2020 01:39 PM (onnpB)

35 So, to mulch leaves or not to mulch leaves?

In my little area of Canada, our yard has several maple trees and a few other trees that she'd a lot of leaves. I've always just munched them, into the first week of December.

I see my neighbors mow the lawn and bag the leaves and dump them for collection. I'm guessing It's for aesthetic reasons. Nice green lawn.

Many of my relatives are farmers, so the mulching will continue, despite the light layer of brown on the grass.

Posted by: Stateless Infidel at November 07, 2020 01:42 PM (v2c9/)

36 Clutch Cargo at November 07, 2020 01:22 PM
Gold Nugget is a determinate cherry name I remember. There's also a Golden Girl and a new "patio" something or other that won an award.
Of course, the indeterminate 'Sun Gold' and 'Sun Sugar' are more famous.

For cucumbers, I like Summer Dance for heat resistance, but there are some other good hybrids out there, too. I still have to trellis, no matter the variety.

Posted by: KT at November 07, 2020 01:43 PM (BVQ+1)

37 I have a nest that is accessed in the crack between two sidewalk squares in the front of my house. I don't have the option of digging up the pavement and flamethrowing. I'll probably just block the crevice with liquid concrete or something.
Posted by: kallisto at November 07, 2020 01:32 PM (DJFLF)

That's a challenge. If you're in an incorporated municipality, make the city pull the sidewalk up and eradicate them as a punlic health and safety hazard?

Otherwise, rent a BobCat, and pull the sidewalk up well after sundown, but dress appropriately so they cannot get at you.

For entertainment, you could melt a big chunk of aluminum and pour it down the crack. No way they survive that.
Posted by: BifBewalski AOS Moron at November 07, 2020 01:36 PM (VcFUs)

There's oodles of entertaining videos on youtube getting rid of those crappy things in a variety of places. I believe there's a couple where they were under the foundation of a house. So worth a check to see if there's some useful info.

And yes, I believe there's one where they were treated to molten metal.

Posted by: clutch cargo at November 07, 2020 01:43 PM (8B6Ng)

38 Thinking every year family makes right after Thanksgiving Christmas wreaths for graves of family members. Lately my uncle decided to just buy early Christmas trees but wonder if my pine I am cutting up would last that long to be used.

Posted by: Skip at November 07, 2020 01:46 PM (9sWOw)

39 @ 31 . . . My favorite solution for things like that is found using industrial chemicals. A visit to a local industrial supply shop should be able to furnish you with a couple gallons of things like xylene, toluene, heptane, etc. When I found ant nests, I use a broom handle that was poked into the top of the mound to create a 'V' in the center. That, in turn, created much ant activity and Ant Larva Rescue Team efforts. While they were scurrying hither and fro, I poured the Industrial Chemical du Jour into the nest. It's best if you use a chemical that's (a) heavier than air when it evaps, and (b) chills the nest as it evaporates. Never had another problem with a nest after it received that remedy . . . just a thought.

Posted by: Dr_No at November 07, 2020 01:46 PM (mu5GU)

40 Gold Nugget is a determinate cherry name I remember. There's also a Golden Girl and a new "patio" something or other that won an award.
Of course, the indeterminate 'Sun Gold' and 'Sun Sugar' are more famous.

For cucumbers, I like Summer Dance for heat resistance, but there are some other good hybrids out there, too. I still have to trellis, no matter the variety.
Posted by: KT at November 07, 2020 01:43 PM (BVQ+1)

Thanks, I'll check those. I just remembered the name (I think) it was Husky Hybrid. Medium sized slicer, super meaty and sweet/mild.

I used to do a killer sandwich with those, roast yellow bells, and grilled chicken breast with homemade mayo on a croissant. Called in the gold rush. I'm getting fatter just thinking about it.

I really need to get my bell pepper game on this year. I grew in a raised flower bed as a last-minute thing, but have lots of property to put to use - it's all freaking lawn.

And rocks. Rocks with a little dirt between them. River rocks. Everywhere. But, I better get to work on it right now, because that might be my only source of food once Newsom closes all the stores!

Posted by: clutch cargo at November 07, 2020 01:49 PM (8B6Ng)

41 Heading outside to try to get the last of some vine that has attached itself to a few pines and cedars. Thought i got it all, but this morning i can see the leaves of it creeping over the (overgrown) honeysuckles and a lilac bush.

It's kind of pretty now, the leaves are a brilliant reddish color, but it attaches and chokes the tree/bush.

Posted by: My life is insanity at November 07, 2020 01:52 PM (Z/jzm)

42 30
dartist at November 07, 2020 01:30 PM (+ya+t)

I think that's where my cousin gets his seed for red garlic.

If you grow from seeds it's a great site to experiment with new veggies. I've had great luck with them.

Posted by: dartist at November 07, 2020 01:56 PM (+ya+t)

43 It's kind of pretty now, the leaves are a brilliant reddish color, but it attaches and chokes the tree/bush.
Posted by: My life is insanity

First thought is Virginia Creeper Vine... it grows quickly, but can be subdued by cutting to the ground and 'painting' the stump with undiluted brush killer concentrate.

Here are pics:

https://preview.tinyurl.com/y233tz5s

Posted by: JQ at November 07, 2020 02:00 PM (09wCi)

44 Clutch Cargo at November 07, 2020 01:49 PM

Husky Gold was the best-tasting of the "Husky" line of dwarf indeterminate tomatoes. You might still see it from time to time, but rarely.

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

45 20201107 at November 07, 2020 01:39 PM
Yes, it seems so at this moment.

Posted by: KT at November 07, 2020 02:10 PM (BVQ+1)

46 Not at el farmo again this weekend, and it may be a few more before I get down there. Sad.

Posted by: Weasel at November 07, 2020 02:17 PM (MVjcR)

47 I watch Hoss Tools' Youtube channel. In one of their recent shows, they mentioned that seeds might not be as available next year as they were this year. So, shortages. If you see seeds you want for next year, you might want to go ahead and get them.

I've already bought my seeds for next year mostly, but I'm thinking of getting a few extra just-in-case seeds.

Posted by: G. Gnome at November 07, 2020 02:18 PM (OQcPl)

48 I liked my Ashleigh tomato, big, meaty slicer, not a heavy producer but they were quality, thin skin and the first crop of the season was seedless too.

Posted by: KarlHungus at November 07, 2020 02:18 PM (OpkeL)

49 Virginia creeper will kill an oak tree. I live in a neighborhood with 100-year oaks and the house behind mine lost a big tree because they let the Creeper take it over. I pull it off my oaks whenever I see it.

Posted by: skywch at November 07, 2020 02:19 PM (Y/Ps0)

50 Well... Gardening is going to be more important then ever now, media just called it for biden and the celebrations are starting. Start being more self sufficient because the heavy hand of government is coming...

Posted by: KarlHungus at November 07, 2020 02:25 PM (OpkeL)

51 Media "calling the election" means exactly Jack and Squat.

Electoral College votes on December 14th. It ain't over 'til it's over.

More:

https://preview.tinyurl.com/y34qr32n

------
My poinsettias look like they'll bloom in time for Christmas this year. Yay!

Posted by: JQ at November 07, 2020 02:31 PM (09wCi)

52 Puttered on a 2 8inch cottonwwod stump yesterday that the idjit tree cutter-downers left at 28 inches above the ground instead of the 8 inches my stump grinder wants.

Im whooped. 20 inch saw was barely enough for that job.

Posted by: Doctor Frazier Crane at November 07, 2020 02:32 PM (n/szn)

53
bangs side of the blog as dust and glitter drifts about

Is it working now?

Media blitz?

Posted by: humphreyrobot at November 07, 2020 02:33 PM (pB6Gt)

54 Celebrity was our best tomato the last two years. Most disease resistant, anyway.
Brandywine is a nice heirloom. Definitely not an eating tomato, but great for sauces, cause they're hugeous.
Marketmore 76 was our cucumber last few years. Unbelievable producer...
We are rarely buying plants anymore cause of poor quality control. Nothing worse than planting out your jalapenos (as an example) and discovering you have NO jalapenos about a month too late.
Cleaning out the garden this weekend. I intend to till, spread the chopped up leaves, till again, then a few loads of manure on top... till again. Too much trouble to plow with my trip bottom plow.
There should be a market for okra stalks. I've seen trees with smaller root systems.

Posted by: MarkY at November 07, 2020 02:36 PM (SK3B4)

55 I love seeing all the pictures from the "real" gardeners. I am a complete amateur. I need to look for beginner gardener website. I planted cherry tomatoes but they grew all over the place. It didn't occur to me until late in the season that maybe you are supposed to keep them trimmed back?

And I have raised beds built into the hill in my backyard, but they didn't drain properly (I had mushrooms growing under the leaves of plants) so I'm dreading empytying them out and adding a layer of gravel.

Posted by: Iris at November 07, 2020 02:37 PM (6lKe4)

56 Chopped up tree leaves, I mean. All the garden debris goes into compost piles or burn piles.
My wife read somewhere that one shouldn't compost tomato plants, so I just cook them.

Posted by: MarkY at November 07, 2020 02:40 PM (SK3B4)

57 49
Virginia creeper will kill an oak tree. I live in a neighborhood with
100-year oaks and the house behind mine lost a big tree because they let
the Creeper take it over. I pull it off my oaks whenever I see it.

I've been fighting those and other vines my whole life around here. They'll come in and drag you out of bed if you don't keep up with them.

Posted by: dartist at November 07, 2020 02:40 PM (+ya+t)

58 If Biden supporters pull off this scam.......... Who will really be running this country is the question ?????????????

Posted by: James at November 07, 2020 02:42 PM (nOJDr)

59 James, Valerie Jarrett will be back to burn the country down.

Posted by: Mars at November 07, 2020 02:47 PM (26sO9)

60 Electoral College votes on December 14th. It ain't over 'til it's over.

The idea is to get it cemented in the public's mind that Biden won, so when the votes show Trump actually won, no one will believe it and he'll have "stolen" Biden's "win." That's what they're doing.

Posted by: BeckoningChasm at November 07, 2020 02:50 PM (l9m7l)

61 The idea is to get it cemented in the public's mind that Biden won, so when the votes show Trump actually won, no one will believe it and he'll have "stolen" Biden's "win." That's what they're doing.
Posted by: BeckoningChasm at November 07, 2020 02:50 PM (l9m7l)

God I pray you're right. These aren't the typical democrats we're dealing with.

Posted by: Good Morning, Sunday Morning at November 07, 2020 02:52 PM (uJDKt)

62 My headline:
Press claims, without evidence, that Biden has won the election.

Posted by: Brett at November 07, 2020 03:02 PM (lXfyM)

63 The idea is to get it cemented in the public's mind that Biden won, so when the votes show Trump actually won, no one will believe it and he'll have "stolen" Biden's "win." That's what they're doing.

I concur with this analysis!

Posted by: JQ at November 07, 2020 03:05 PM (09wCi)

64 Well it's not Virginia Creeper. It has a leaf set that are even pinnate, with very fine teeth on the edges. Green in the summer and turned a dark pinkish red now.

In fact, I'm not even sure it's the same vine as the one on the pine trees! That one is all dead now, so i can't compare the leaves, but i think those looked more maple like. Lol.

This one is looking like an entire shrub base. And it's in between two honeysuckle that have been here for as long as my parents have owned this place. (1963) and even weirder, there is chicken wire encircling the base!

This is a line of lilacs and honeysuckles that are near the back lot line, but not belonging to us. At one time my grandma lived in the house who's yard butted up to ours. Dad used to take care of them until grandma died and her house was sold. He had cut an arch between them and put in a stone path so we could get back and forth to grandma's.

After she died, he let the bushes grow and made a flower garden in front of the line. It has daylillies and hydrangeas so it's pretty thick and i never noticed the chicken wire before!
I've been searching online but i can't find a match yet.

Posted by: My life is insanity at November 07, 2020 03:56 PM (Z/jzm)

65 Good reliable tomatoes that I enjoy every year are Celebrity, Cherokee Purple, and Sweet 100. My "recommend against" are anything with "Beef" in the name (sickly and no production) and anything with "Sun" or "Heat" in the name (zero flavor.)

Posted by: Cumberland Astro at November 07, 2020 04:30 PM (d9Cw3)

66 Posted by: My life is insanity at November 07, 2020 03:56 PM

Hmmm. Chicken wire around it, presumably for protection when it was first planted? Trumpet vine has even-pinnate and lightly serrated leaves, but you didn't mention flowers... and it would've been near the top of any search, so guessing that's not it, either.

Good luck identifying!

But if you want to kill it, my above advice stands. Wouldn't want to use a spray if it's near desirable plants.

Posted by: JQ at November 07, 2020 04:31 PM (09wCi)

67 Thanks, JQ.

Not sure it's mine to kill. If I remember correctly the lot line is just before the bushes, so would belong to the people who now live in what had been my grandma's house. The chicken wire is old, so it probably was put there by dad. I moved out in 81 when I got married, grandma died just before that, so if he did plant it i don't remember. And of course mom is no help remembering.

Posted by: My life is insanity at November 07, 2020 05:07 PM (Z/jzm)

68 MLii, well I guess you can just keep chopping it/them down to preserve your trees.

I have a similar problem with my own vine, climbing the neighbor's hedge, lol.

They have never complained-- I just keep chopping it back but it grows soooo quickly that it nearly gets away sometimes.

Posted by: JQ at November 07, 2020 05:57 PM (09wCi)

69 From Idaho's Treasure Valley, Boise area: It's been a busy week. I spent most of 3 days on my knees, working on a bulb project - it got delayed to now, due to our late October trip. I dug up hyacinth bulbs in 3 places (one of them required removing most of the sweet alyssum there, but it reseeds). I dug up 2 strip-beds of tulips beside the front sidewalk (very hard dirt, some rocks...). I dug a huge arc in the bed behind the kitchen to hold all the hyacinth bulbs (they're the only bulb that has done well in that area), and planted them. Once I dug up all the front tulips, I put the best bulbs in the 2 small vacated hyacinth spots, and the best of the rest in the 2 strip-beds. I still have bulbs left over!, but that's a project for a bit later.

Today I trimmed back the lavender, which was trying to grow sideways out of its raised bed. Also did some weeding in the raised beds - got 2 full ones done, parts of 3 others. Pulled out the dead basil - pulled out the dead parsley, making sure to shake lots of seeds out - dug the spearmint out of the areas it had invaded. Still 2 other raised beds to weed. (Noticed that 2 lettuce plants have re-sprouted! - next year I'll cut the plants off rather than pull them all out.)

We got behind on leaves as well, due to our trip, but we discovered when the leaves are dry, the sweeper-cart does pretty well at picking them up. The sycamore and oak got piled and burned; the maples and linden got shredded, to go into future compost. It started to rain this evening, so we'll wait until after the current series of rain/potential snow bands, before trying to sweep again. (A lot of the tree-leaves froze before turning color, so we may not get much color this year.)

I still have onions in the ground. I'm not sure what to do with them - leave them in? Dig them, cut them up, and freeze the pieces? We tried dehydration and weren't happy with the results.

As far as flowers - the mum flowers got frozen while we were gone. The Johnny Jump-Ups beside the shed are actually flowering well despite the cold.

We've finished the apple harvest - it didn't take long. Last year we had an insanely large crop, but the damage the trees took in last summer's windstorms, coupled with all the pruning we had to do afterwards, meant this year's crop was going to be poor. We got one 5-gallon bucket of Golden Delicious, 3 buckets of probably-Jonathan, and that's it. Looking at the larder, we decided it all needs to go for applesauce.

*****
Everyone: stay alert, stay prepared, stay safe out there.
Be ready to build over, build under, build around, if events should turn against us.

Posted by: Pat* at November 07, 2020 10:37 PM (2pX/F)

70 Thanks for the great report, Pat*

Posted by: KT at November 08, 2020 11:16 AM (BVQ+1)

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