Saturday Gardening and Puttering Thread, September 18

Hello, everyone! Welcome to the garden! We're starting off with a travel segment today.

From Rodent:

Mrs. B and I went to Asheville NC a few weeks ago and visited the Biltmore mansion. Highly recommend it. The mansion is unbelievable. Apologies if you've posted pictures from there before.
A couple pictures (1 and 2) of the knarly trees off the courtyard.

A couple pictures (1 and 2) of the knarly trees off the courtyard. The gardens (3 to 6) were a little out of season when we went but still beautiful. My pictures don't do it justice. No clue what any of the trees/plants are...

Glorious. We can maybe do some plant identificatins.

The last two pictures are from my yard in Southeast New Hampshire a couple weeks ago. Concord grapes (I think?) and milkweed. Over the years we've had monarch butterflies on them but nothing in the past few years.
Thanks for all the beautiful garden pictures. I do my best to mow my lawn weekly so that's something...

Vigorous. I understand that the milkweed has pink flowers when it blooms.

Putting things by

Last week, we learned about making spaghetti sauce from tomatoes purchased at an Amish auction. So fascinating.

This week, we have directions for salsa from By-Tor:

An easy canning project today after several weeks of major presure canning of tomato sauce, chili, etc.
This is chili verde sauce made from green tomatillos I got at the Mexican market for 33 cents a pound. Six pounds yielded 4 pints. Easy to make and I did a simple water bath canning.

6lbs tomatillos, husked and quartered
1 onion, rough chopped
2 jalapeno peppers, rough chopped
handful of chopped cilantro
1/3 C lemon or lime juice
1T salt

Simmer all ingredients for about 1/2 hour. Puree with immersion blender or in a regular blender or food processor.
This will keep in your fridge for a couple of weeks, like regular salsa (after opening or if not canned).
It's good on roast pork, tacos, breakfast eggs or with chips.

Other ideas that came up in discussion:

"Chicken Stock, Cumin, Oregano, diced Poblanos and pork with that makes a decent Green Chile."
"I am almost out of my last batch. Making another this coming weekend and going to make Chile Rellenos again. I think I will smoke the Pork butt and the Salsa Verde ingredients at the same time."
Garlic mentioned . . .

Got other ideas?

Scary Storm Video

Last week, Duke Lowell broke the news to us that a storm had taken out his big tree, which took out his favorite magnolia. Here's some of the actual storm action:

I've attached a video of what we now believe was a tornado taking down one of our big trees. When it fell, it also took out the teacup magnolia you featured in the gardening thread a couple of years ago. That was my favorite tree! No one was hurt and it didn't land on the house so I have that going for me. Which is nice. Feel free to use this in the gardening thread if you like.

That video is kinda scary!

Scary Little Wild Things

Found this girl in my mailbox.
-- Dr. Varno

I noticed a little color other than black on the side of the abdomen. Wondered if it were the last of the spider's adolescent coloring. Photos of brown and black widows at various stages of development here.

The bite of a brown widow is generally less sever than the black widow Dr. Varno found.

Its abdomen was no bigger than a pea. Had to break out the old digital camera set on macro.
Good thing there was no mail at the time or I might not have seen it.

And here's one from TANSTAAFL

These pics are of a wee beastie I spotted on my front steps. This thing was dragging a spider that looked to mass about 4 times its body weight.
It was a pretty little thing, tho.
The funny part is that I was putting my camera closer and closer to try and get a good shot, and it flew straight at me, trying to drive me off. Twice.
Turns out it is a Rusty Spider Wasp.

And I went to Wikipedia to check that I was right with the name and there was a pic of my friend. From Texas! (The one with the grass in the shot)

Not so scary little wild things

Red Spotted Purple Butterflies from Illiniwek, in his grapes:

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 the nic by which you wish to be known when you comment at AoSHQ,
unless you want to remain a lurker.

Posted by: K.T. at 01:17 PM

Comments

(Jump to bottom of comments)

1 Afternoon!

Posted by: Duke Lowell at September 18, 2021 12:19 PM (kTF2Z)

2 Otters alerted.

Posted by: Duke Lowell at September 18, 2021 12:20 PM (kTF2Z)

3 Is that a wreath of garlic?

Posted by: G'rump928(c) at September 18, 2021 12:20 PM (6RVJj)

4 Hi, Duke! Thanks for the scary video.

Posted by: KT at September 18, 2021 12:20 PM (0ghg2)

5 Garden!!!

Posted by: Diogenes at September 18, 2021 12:22 PM (axyOa)

6 Spied a tiny toad while running tractor, avoiding that area again.
Good afternoon Greenthumbs
Have harvested 4 ripe Anaheim peppers only 1 green bell that is slowly turning yellow. Getting tomatoes but just enough for immediate needs

Posted by: Skip at September 18, 2021 12:24 PM (2JoB8)

7 That was an interesting day. Storm came up in a hurry. I had just started recording when the tree came down. Could've been much worse.

Posted by: Duke Lowell at September 18, 2021 12:25 PM (kTF2Z)

8 Hi KT!

Posted by: Duke Lowell at September 18, 2021 12:26 PM (kTF2Z)

9 Cool, Skip!

We had a toad parade on our front sidewalk. Four of them. Didn't know we had that many.

Posted by: KT at September 18, 2021 12:26 PM (0ghg2)

10 Duke Lowell at September 18, 2021 12:25 PM

Glad it WASN'T much worse while you were recording it.

Posted by: KT at September 18, 2021 12:32 PM (0ghg2)

11 Toads are little bug eating machines

Posted by: Skip at September 18, 2021 12:32 PM (2JoB8)

12 Wasp/spider picture reminded me.
Mrs. AZ_d doesn't enjoy crawly things; so, what does she spy in the RV garage the other evening?
A dead tarantula, she of course couldn't tell it was dead, so there was a bit of heavy breathing (and might have been some vocal accompaniment but I'm not telling!).

Posted by: AZ deplorable moron at September 18, 2021 12:37 PM (QpS2m)

13 Oh, those are great pics of the insects - too good! Very glad for wolf spiders and orb weavers instead of widows.

I wish I could get milkweed in my yard. Clobbering wild grapes is a hobby this year.

Tried to mow this morning, but have to pick up branches. Also need to locate bagger and put it on push mower to collect acorns. Oh, so many acorns!

Posted by: NaughtyPine at September 18, 2021 12:39 PM (KgUa2)

14 Glad to see the tree missed you Duke.

Insect pictures are excellent, thank you.

Cupid is missing his bow and arrows and looks a bit more pudgy than I envisioned Cupid...

Posted by: AZ deplorable moron at September 18, 2021 12:40 PM (QpS2m)

15 Damn Duke!!!

Posted by: Diogenes at September 18, 2021 12:42 PM (axyOa)

16 Picked my corn, it is now drying on the clothes rack in the living room. I will give it a day or so and then shell it

We had the first rain in months last night, so I knew I needed to pick the ears yesterday.

Last thing to pick will be grapes, then we are done for the season.

I am planning on planting Pak Choi, swiss chard and daikon for my winter greens, and hope it does not get so cold as to kill them all

Posted by: Kindltot at September 18, 2021 12:47 PM (ssx3L)

17 There were a lot of sea pelicans at Crissy Field this morning but the photo I took on my iPhone is pretty crappy otherwise I would have sent it. It was very foggy too.

Posted by: Jimmy Hoffa at September 18, 2021 12:50 PM (EZebt)

18 Biltmore is wonderful. Lots of great garden inspiration there.

Posted by: G. Gnome will not comply at September 18, 2021 12:52 PM (OQcPl)

19 I think the gnarly trunk in the second photo may belong to a wisteria. Don't recognize the plant in the first photo.

Agree that Biltmore is full of garden inspiration.

Posted by: KT at September 18, 2021 12:55 PM (0ghg2)

20 Crop report from Kansas.

The west is getting ready to put in Winter Wheat.

Corn in the west is in very poor shape, as one would expect planting it in an arid area with a diminishing Ogallala aquifer. Further east corn outside of well-watered bottom lands is only in fair shape.

Sorghum / milo is is very good shape locally. Soybeans were planted late, but look very nice. Looks like a good harvest.

Angus cows that had a summer calf have about two more months to weaning, then getting back some healthy weight to breed next year. The calves are growing well.

Posted by: NaCly Dog (u82oZ) at September 18, 2021 12:56 PM (u82oZ)

21 Killed a very nasty looking spider walking across living room carpet. Kinda of a pink/fleshy color. Tried to identify it without success.

Posted by: Ronster at September 18, 2021 12:58 PM (TS8/c)

22 Tornadoes are spooky and random. Our neighbor's carport was removed by one and no one else on the block had any damage, even from debris. It just sucked up the carport roof and then went back up in the cloud.

Posted by: huerfano at September 18, 2021 01:00 PM (MzKgG)

23 Our County Extension guy was talking about cows that have more than 2 hours of labor are worked on hard to get the calf out.

I note that we have has some long deliveries noted here.

The extension guy had his wife begging him on her second delivery to be treated like a prize angus after some time in labor. Her husband got the delivery teams attention, and they delivered with forceps post haste.

Posted by: NaCly Dog (u82oZ) at September 18, 2021 01:00 PM (u82oZ)

24 Those are some gorgeous photos. I especially like that gnarly tree. It would make a great sketch in pencil or charcoal.

Posted by: JTB at September 18, 2021 01:00 PM (7EjX1)

25 huerofan: maybe God thought the carport was a tiny trailer park.

Posted by: PabloD at September 18, 2021 01:01 PM (uwwPK)

26 25 huerofan: maybe God thought the carport was a tiny trailer park.
Posted by: PabloD at September 18, 2021 01:01 PM (uwwPK)

They're all variations of orgone boxes, when you think about it.

Posted by: Dr. Varno at September 18, 2021 01:04 PM (vuisn)

27 NaCly Dog (u82oZ) at September 18, 2021 12:56 PM

Thanks for the farm and crop reports. The are so real.

Posted by: KT at September 18, 2021 01:05 PM (0ghg2)

28 now for some horror from the garden -- though apparently only from Indonesia

Milkweed butterflies tear open caterpillars and drink them alive

https://tinyurl.com/6hmf3fr7

Posted by: Kindltot at September 18, 2021 01:06 PM (ssx3L)

29 huerfano at September 18, 2021 01:00 PM

Wow. That is an amazing tornado story. A little twister took out my parents' apricot tree years ago. The variety with edible, sweet seeds. It was a great tree.

Posted by: KT at September 18, 2021 01:08 PM (0ghg2)

30
They're all variations of orgone boxes, when you think about it.
Posted by: Dr. Varno at September 18, 2021 01:04 PM (vuisn)

I once wanted to ask someone with an orgone box what the difference was between sitting in it and sitting in his empty hallway coat closet.

I expected to get no good answer, though

Posted by: Kindltot at September 18, 2021 01:08 PM (ssx3L)

31 Well, the veggie garden was pretty much a bust this year. We heard from others in the area that theirs weren't too successful, either. Also, I was limited in activity this summer. I have hopes for next year. (And yes, I already have the start of some vague thoughts about next season.)

Posted by: JTB at September 18, 2021 01:09 PM (7EjX1)

32 Kindltot at September 18, 2021 01:06 PM

Nature is often cruel. That is especially creepy.

Posted by: KT at September 18, 2021 01:09 PM (0ghg2)

33 Union boss in cement sock off/

Posted by: San Franpsycho at September 18, 2021 01:10 PM (EZebt)

34 JTB at September 18, 2021 01:09 PM

Here's hoping for a better year next year. We didn't plant a whole lot this year, either. Too much going on during planting season.

Posted by: KT at September 18, 2021 01:11 PM (0ghg2)

35 I think the fourth Biltmore photo has an Amaranth in the center. Looks a lot like the "Love Lies Bleeding" variety, but not quite.

The leaves are probably edible.

It seems to be surrounded by some kind of thistle. Wonder if there is some historical connection? Leaves look too skinny for artichoke or cardoon.

Posted by: KT at September 18, 2021 01:13 PM (0ghg2)

36 I had to look up orgone boxes.
There's a customer born every minute.

Posted by: PabloD at September 18, 2021 01:17 PM (uwwPK)

37 The scary things are scary.

Posted by: m at September 18, 2021 01:18 PM (Zsfob)

38 My, that putto is quite large for his age. Those tiny little wings just aren't going to do it.

Posted by: Cicero (@cicero43) at September 18, 2021 01:19 PM (VxC1e)

39 Looking back on it, it was really stupid to stand at the window like I did. Honestly, it was over so quick I didn't really think about it til later. God looks out for drunks and fools.

Posted by: Duke Lowell at September 18, 2021 01:19 PM (kTF2Z)

40 It seems to be surrounded by some kind of thistle. Wonder if there is some historical connection? Leaves look too skinny for artichoke or cardoon.
Posted by: KT at September 1

The plant looks like an artichoke but it's too small?

Posted by: CaliGirl at September 18, 2021 01:20 PM (IJ9BR)

41 Love the Chili Verde recipes.

Posted by: KT at September 18, 2021 01:20 PM (0ghg2)

42 Killed a very nasty looking spider walking across living room carpet. Kinda of a pink/fleshy color. Tried to identify it without success.
Posted by: Ronster at September 18, 2021 12:58 PM (TS8/c)

Yeah, they usually clam up once they're dead.

Posted by: Cicero (@cicero43) at September 18, 2021 01:21 PM (VxC1e)

43 Biltmore is splendid. I went a zillion years ago.

Posted by: m at September 18, 2021 01:22 PM (Zsfob)

44 Pelosi went to the G7 to represent the US?? What a joke. Anybody there going to listen to her and where is Blo Jiden and Hooker Harris?

Posted by: James at September 18, 2021 01:22 PM (24+Vp)

45 While the veggie garden was less than stellar, the shrubs did great. The lilac flowers were abundant and perfumed the whole yard on cool, damp mornings. Our crepe myrtle does better each year and the blossoms are profuse and seemed more colorful than before. The rose of Sharon were loaded this season and seemed to glow when sunlight hit them. Even our little dogwood in a tub continued to grow. I suspect it will have to go into a bigger tub or the ground in a year or two.

Posted by: JTB at September 18, 2021 01:24 PM (7EjX1)

46 that Brian Stelter statue is so lifelike

Posted by: Bitcoin Fixes Everything at September 18, 2021 01:24 PM (L9Ewk)

47 46 that Brian Stelter statue is so lifelike
Posted by: Bitcoin Fixes Everything at September 18, 2021 01:24 PM (L9Ewk)

heh

Posted by: m at September 18, 2021 01:25 PM (Zsfob)

48 My daughter sent me a picture of a female garden spider while I was gone. She's a pretty yellow and black and is pretty big. There is now a large egg sac attached to the house. A male showed up a few days ago and she ate him.

Posted by: Jewells45 at September 18, 2021 01:26 PM (nxdel)

49 JTB at September 18, 2021 01:24 PM

Glad to hear about your shrubs. I especially love lilacs, and Rose of Sharon reminds me of my grandmother.

Posted by: KT at September 18, 2021 01:27 PM (0ghg2)

50 A male showed up a few days ago and she ate him.

Posted by: Jewells45 at September 18, 2021 01:26 PM (nxdel)

Talk about a happy ending.

Posted by: Ronster at September 18, 2021 01:28 PM (TS8/c)

51 Jewells45 at September 18, 2021 01:26 PM

"A male showed up a few days ago and she ate him."

At the widow spider link there is a photo comparison of the male and female spiders. There is no comparison.

Posted by: KT at September 18, 2021 01:28 PM (0ghg2)

52 Female spider: Say, wanna come over for a while?
Male spider: No way. I ain't falling for that! I heard what you did to Frank!
Female spider: Aww, cmon, it'll be fun!
Male spider: Well, ok.

CHOMP

Posted by: Duke Lowell at September 18, 2021 01:34 PM (kTF2Z)

53 "The female of the species is more deadly than the male."

Posted by: m at September 18, 2021 01:37 PM (Zsfob)

54 The female of the species is more deadly than the male."
Posted by: m at September 18, 2021 01:37 PM (Zsfob)

---------

We're not talking about spiders anymore, are we?

Posted by: Duke Lowell at September 18, 2021 01:39 PM (kTF2Z)

55 The Dodo has a video about a woman (scared of spiders all her life) who "adopted" a female spider that came in on a houseplant brought back inside for winter. They're great pals now. She talks to the spider, looks after it.

Posted by: JuJuBee at September 18, 2021 01:40 PM (hvjsD)

56 And then I said Hi
Like a spider to a fly

Posted by: JuJuBee at September 18, 2021 01:41 PM (hvjsD)

57 The Dodo has a video about a woman (scared of spiders all her life) who "adopted" a female spider that came in on a houseplant brought back inside for winter. They're great pals now. She talks to the spider, looks after it.
Posted by: JuJuBee at September 18, 2021 01:40 PM (hvjsD)

---------

That sounds like the beginning of a SyFy movie.

Posted by: Duke Lowell at September 18, 2021 01:42 PM (kTF2Z)

58 hiya

Posted by: JT at September 18, 2021 01:42 PM (arJlL)

59 That sounds like the beginning of a SyFy movie.

Posted by: Duke Lowell

"EIGHT-LEGGED FREAKS!!!"

Posted by: Sharkman at September 18, 2021 01:43 PM (D5zJx)

60 It's a universal truth, I think.

Posted by: m at September 18, 2021 01:45 PM (Zsfob)

61 my first trip to England introduced me to garden ornaments

fell in love with the statues

found a bunch of portland stone statues that were all busted up

no one wanted them, bought them for maybe 50 pounds

it was kinda my start on what is called "shabby chic"

but that was 1969, and the chic was not so shabby

I have about 25 portland stone pieces, along with a few Coade stone pieces

Posted by: REDACTED at September 18, 2021 01:46 PM (uCLWI)

62 *buuuuuurp*

Posted by: Female Spider with 8 billion babies at September 18, 2021 01:47 PM (ACi07)

63 Hiya, JT!

Posted by: KT at September 18, 2021 01:50 PM (0ghg2)

64 61 I have about 25 portland stone pieces, along with a few Coade stone pieces
Posted by: REDACTED at September 18, 2021 01:46 PM (uCLWI)

Photos for the gardening thread?

Posted by: m at September 18, 2021 01:50 PM (Zsfob)

65 Welcome to our new spider commenters.

Posted by: KT at September 18, 2021 01:50 PM (0ghg2)

66 Hiya KT !

Posted by: JT at September 18, 2021 01:50 PM (arJlL)

67 I rarely comment in the gardening/whatever thread, but I do get around to reading bits of it eventually.

My main green thumb skill is weeds. I can grow them bitches with no effort.

Oh, and tomatillos -- Essential for making chili verde. Yum yum. Though I couldn't grow one if you had a large caliber gun pointed at my head.

KT -- One of my weekend pleasures.

Posted by: GnuBreed, vax-free pureblood at September 18, 2021 01:51 PM (F0YaR)

68 Photos for the gardening thread?
Posted by: m at September 18, 2021 01:50 PM (Zsfob)

sure

Posted by: REDACTED at September 18, 2021 01:51 PM (uCLWI)

69 Termites _ Last week I started covering my upper deck with plastic panels. (cheap, yes - affective, yes).

In the process I knocked one of the 1x4 cedar bats off the siding, that was easy. Upon further inspection I discovered critters feasting upon my house.

Doing do diligence I decided that non-repellant poison is the way to go. I also discovered that in 1994 they treated the Statue of Liberty with the same stuff, hexaflumuron, a bait that can be purchased from Homely Depot for $50.00.

If you click the link there are picks of how bad the infestation was and exactly what they did.
What they didn't do was spend hundreds or thousands of dollars to rid themselves of the pests.

https://preview.tinyurl.com/yfvl37w5
https://www.ncptt.nps.gov/wp-content
/uploads/1999-11.pdf

Posted by: Braenyard at September 18, 2021 01:53 PM (ijCso)

70 Braenyard at September 18, 2021 01:53 PM

Thanks for the great termite info. Though those termites will probably not be edible once treated.

Posted by: KT at September 18, 2021 01:55 PM (0ghg2)

71 62 *buuuuuurp*

Posted by: Female Spider with 8 billion babies at September 18, 2021 01:47 PM (ACi07)

I've got a BAS (big ass spider) making bank on my porch. Maybe an orb spider; either way, i ain't fucking with it. Has TWO huge egg sacs hanging from the porch railings.

Meh, be fruitful and multiply, as long as you don't try to bite me. Then comes the flamethrower.

Posted by: GnuBreed, vax-free pureblood at September 18, 2021 01:56 PM (F0YaR)

72 If anyone plans a trip to the Asheville area, there's a nice garden in Hendersonville just south of there, too. Bullington Gardens. Great place to visit in the springtime, and donation based. IIRC it was just some gardening enthusiast and it grew and grew. There's an older modest home on the property but I've never entered or asked.

There's a nice little separate kids garden with fairy scenes set up and little doors here and there to open and discover fairy scenes.

Nice little place if you're in the area.

Posted by: Moron Robbie - what if Marek's was the experiment? at September 18, 2021 01:57 PM (3DjGn)

73 GnuBreed, vax-free pureblood at September 18, 2021 01:51 PM

Hope you get a chance to make some Chile Verde.

And maybe find some seeds for a better class of weeds.

Posted by: KT at September 18, 2021 01:57 PM (0ghg2)

74
The field across the road from us had been left fallow for years, but this year soybeans were planted. They got harvested last weekend just hours before the hurricane hit.

Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at September 18, 2021 01:58 PM (/U27+)

75 Widow spiders are a dime a dozen out in the Riverside County area. I identify them mostly by their very random-looking webs. If the webs are in areas I frequent, I use an old electric toothbrush to lure them out and zap them with bug spray.

Posted by: MW at September 18, 2021 01:59 PM (u33s0)

76 Moron Robbie - what if Marek's was the experiment? at September 18, 2021 01:57

Thanks for the info. I have relatives near there.

Posted by: KT at September 18, 2021 01:59 PM (0ghg2)

77 MW at September 18, 2021 01:59 PM

We have lots of widow spiders, too. The Phoenix area is also especially rich in them.

Posted by: KT at September 18, 2021 02:00 PM (0ghg2)

78 We've got a green lynx spider in our front porch area. Don't look it up if you dislike spiders. Imagine a bright green orb weaver, except a huntress that doesn't make webs.

First one I've ever seen, and that is the norm since they're usually on plants and not using webs.

Gorgeous spider.

Posted by: Moron Robbie - what if Marek's was the experiment? at September 18, 2021 02:01 PM (3DjGn)

79 Nood pets

Posted by: Duke Lowell at September 18, 2021 02:01 PM (kTF2Z)

80 pets are up

Posted by: m at September 18, 2021 02:01 PM (Zsfob)

81 Of course, in Phoenix, you can consider getting a gecko to control the spiders.

Posted by: KT at September 18, 2021 02:02 PM (0ghg2)

82 Great pet thread photo, KT!

Posted by: m at September 18, 2021 02:02 PM (Zsfob)

83 One thing seems odd, the sweet basil seems to be giving up, but my sister gave me another type and it's fine.

Posted by: Skip at September 18, 2021 02:05 PM (2JoB8)

84 Did you find any books, Skip?

Posted by: m at September 18, 2021 02:05 PM (Zsfob)

85 I'm also using Premise 2 (imidacloprid) around the perimeter and spraying Premise foam in the walls.
- Going for a hard kill -

**fipronil is also listed as a non-repellant but I don't know...

Posted by: Braenyard at September 18, 2021 02:05 PM (ijCso)

86 Thanks for the info. I have relatives near there.
*

You're welcome. There's another very nice garden down in Spartanburg. Hatcher Garden, not too far off the interstate. There are times you can go and see lots of jack in the pulpits bloomed out. It's a different type of experience than Bullington (more nature preserve), but also worth a visit.

(also recommend Grand-dad's in Hendersonville if you want to go buy apples)

Posted by: Moron Robbie - what if Marek's was the experiment? at September 18, 2021 02:07 PM (3DjGn)

87 I wish I could take a good picture of what's happening in my front yard this afternoon, but I don't have the proper camera, so you really wouldn't see anything.

I have three huge butterfly bushes (Black Knights, my favorite) in my front yard. The Monarch migration must be about at its height because the bushes are really thick with them, all constantly in motion. There are some black swallowtails, painted ladies, sulphur butterflies, the small white butterflies with black spots, and a few others I can't identify. Add in at least one female hummingbird defending her property from any other stray hummingbird.

Posted by: Captain Josepha Sabin, clinging bitterly to a deplorable life at September 18, 2021 02:11 PM (BvRyV)

88 Of course, in Phoenix, you can consider getting a gecko to control the spiders.

I tried that when I lived down there. All the damn thing did was blather on about auto insurance in a vaguely Welsh-English accent.

Posted by: Blanco Basura - moronhorde.com. Not insurgents, counterrevolutionaries. at September 18, 2021 02:12 PM (SchxB)

89 Mmmmmm SALSA!
Last house I had some decent above ground vegetable beds, about 6 ft x 3 ft. Generally did tomatoes, peppers and root veggies (carrots and radishes).
The Romas and Jalapenos fed my salsa addiction.
I would always roast the tomatoes, jalapenos, and a sweet onion on the grill for a few minutes before running them through the food processor and canning.
The roasting brought out a nice sweetness to the mix.

Posted by: Shy Lurking Voter at September 18, 2021 02:12 PM (DkHo+)

90 Captain Josepha Sabin, clinging bitterly to a deplorable life at September 18, 2021 02:11

Wow! What an amazing sight that must be!

Posted by: KT at September 18, 2021 02:21 PM (0ghg2)

91 Blanco Basura - moronhorde.com. Not insurgents, counterrevolutionaries. at September 18, 2021 02:12 PM

Heh.

Posted by: KT at September 18, 2021 02:22 PM (0ghg2)

92 Skip at September 18, 2021 02:05 PM

It may be on a different flowering schedule.

Posted by: KT at September 18, 2021 02:24 PM (0ghg2)

93 That statue is not complete without a fountain.

Posted by: boynsea at September 18, 2021 02:34 PM (cx155)

94 Apparently there are sweet pea variants that if you plant now in SoCal, you will get blooms by Christmas. So I planted a bunch of seeds yesterday. It will be a novelty having some sweet peas and not just poinsettias for the holidays this year.

Posted by: keena at September 18, 2021 02:54 PM (0LCF5)

95 90: Thanks, KT; it really is a wonderful sight. I just came back in from sitting out on the front porch watching the show for a while.

As long as I've been flower gardening, I've always planted things with an eye to the Monarch migration. I live in the central flyway, just a few blocks west of the Missouri. I've got a large pot of lantanas, marigolds, and other odds and ends of stuff. Out front, between the street and the sidewalk, I have a huge stand of Russian sage that started from two tiny mail order seedlings. The butterflies don't seem to like them, but every type of bee loves them.

Posted by: Captain Josepha Sabin, clinging bitterly to a deplorable life at September 18, 2021 02:57 PM (BvRyV)

96 Captain Josepha Sabin, do the monarchs huddle together, and the other butterflies keep to their own place? Or are they all mixed in together?

Posted by: m at September 18, 2021 03:01 PM (Zsfob)

97 keena at September 18, 2021 02:54 PM

They are a bit of a gamble, but when I was in So. Cal., I worked at a place that had sweet peas climing up the 20 foot fences at the ends of the tennis courts. Spectacular. Some years they were all white.

Posted by: KT at September 18, 2021 03:02 PM (0ghg2)

98 Captain Josepha Sabin, clinging bitterly to a deplorable life at September 18, 2021 02:57 PM

Being near the flyway for the monarch migration would explain why you have so many. Depending on when they pass through on the way up, Wild Bergamot might be a good companion for your Russian Sage.

And you can use it to make tea.

Posted by: KT at September 18, 2021 03:16 PM (0ghg2)

99 I never have much to contribute here on this thread. My double-wide house sits on a rented lot, and the angle of the sun ensures that I will not have to mow at all from early July to late September. "My" front lawn bakes to a crisp every summer thanks to 18 plus hours of sunlight in an arid region. Even the weeds say "fook this," and wither.

Posted by: Pug Mahon, Keith's Son at September 18, 2021 03:40 PM (x8Wzq)

100 100!

Posted by: m at September 18, 2021 03:44 PM (Zsfob)

101 Speaking of "science", what ever happened to that Acid Rain that was gonna melt crops, cars and asses?

It seems to have disappeared with the Hare Krishnas dancing thru the airports.
Posted by: Hairyback Guy at September 18, 2021 12:17 PM (R/m4+)

Nailed it.

And, LAST!!!!

Posted by: Pug Mahon, Keith's Son at September 18, 2021 04:06 PM (x8Wzq)

102 96: m -- Nope, the Monarchs don't huddle together like they do on their trees in Mexico. They flit around, everyone doing their own thing. And the others just mix in. Nobody fights. It was funny though, a couple years back, when the gold finches thought the Monarchs were getting too close to their sunflowers and attacked them. (Sadly, this year, a straight wind storm blew through Omaha a while back and destroyed my sunflowers. I haven't seen a single good cinch this year.)

And Pug -- Sorry, but you're not last.

Posted by: Captain Josepha Sabin, clinging bitterly to a deplorable life at September 18, 2021 05:50 PM (BvRyV)

103 Milkweed flower color ranges from white (Asclepias exaltata, poke milkweed), faint dusty rose (Asclepias syriaca, common milkweed), dark pink (Asclepias incarnata, swamp milkweed; Asclepias sullivantii, Sullivant's milkweed), and even bright orange (Asclepias tuberosa, butterfly weed). For anyone having a hard time growing milkweed, swamp milkweed tends to grow the best and readily reseeds. Despite the name, it will grow in nearly any mesic soil and even slightly xeric soil, though it grows the most readily with some moisture.

One thing to note about swamp milkweed, especially for those who are concerned about wasps. The nectar is like marijuana to them. Wasps (and the even more feared yellow jackets) absolutely LOVE it. The good news is that, like marijuana does with stoners, it seems to mellow them out. I've had enough flowering that they will completely ignore me because they're so focused on gathering as much nectar as they can. It will even mellow out yellow jackets. (not that I encourage anyone to try duplicating this, but I live with the most ridiculously docile yellow jackets I have ever seen in my life. I have some theories apart from plentiful & favored food, though)

Posted by: Saber Alter at September 18, 2021 05:57 PM (8OwqE)

104 Also, mu.nu ate my comment again with my VPN turned on.

Posted by: Saber Alter at September 18, 2021 06:00 PM (8OwqE)

105 From Boise area: Got surprised by First frost on Friday morning, on grass between raised beds. No plant damage yet.

Only a few cantaloupes left, who knows if they'll ripen. We emptied 2 of our fingerling potato bags (disease problems in one), have 2 bags left. Neighbor's patch keeps producing zucchini, so each time I have a pile, I shred, blanch, and freeze them, for future zucchini bread and for "zatkes". Still picking red raspberries, final green beans. Irrigation cuts off later this week.

Neighbor gave us a bag of San Marzano paste tomatoes - we blanched, skinned, and pressed them; this went smoothly. Took them a long time to cook down though. Tried doing same with our Romas instead of former method (though after refrigerating several days); pressing went reasonably well (used a larger screen for this round).

Finished house power-washing. Time to check for more ripe chokecherries, and to check apples, and to harvest some basil for drying before it freezes!

Project Appleseed weekend! - got chased off range today by 3 PM wind/sand-storm, will have to pick up where we left off, tomorrow.

Posted by: Pat* at September 18, 2021 06:58 PM (2pX/F)

106 PS: Saw The Biltmore years ago - there was an exhibit of Chihuly art glass all over the inside and outside, so probably focused more of our energy on being amazed by that, than by The Biltmore itself!

Posted by: Pat* at September 18, 2021 07:00 PM (2pX/F)

107 Pug Mahon, Keith's Son at September 18, 2021 03:40 PM

There's always puttering . . . .

Posted by: KT at September 18, 2021 07:24 PM (0ghg2)

108 Thanks for the great report, Pat*

Wasn't expecting to hear from you until tomorrow.

Posted by: KT at September 18, 2021 07:25 PM (0ghg2)

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