Saturday Gardening, Puttering and Art Thread, Feb. 19

I know I said earlier I wouldn't bore everyone with another crocus picture this year, but this little guy just burst out in the recent sun we had. All by himself. The others are still waiting a bit.
Diogenes

A brave little crocus bursting forth from bare (except for some little seedlings) ground in February is never boring, Diogenes! It is certainly better than this alternative:

Edible Gardening

We still haven't had any orange-destroying frost here in the South-Central San Joaquin this season. Navel oranges are still on, and good. Smaller than usual, because of water restrictions during the summer.

Last week, we featured one of the Indigo Tomatoes, and Wee Kreek Farm Girl came in with a late comment on Surinam Cherries (also featured) and other unusual crops.

Today, our Tomato of Interest is Tiger Blush.

So what makes the Tiger Blush Artisan tomato so amazing? Well, it certainly starts with a flavor profile that is simply unrivaled. It can best be described as a sweet, near tropical explosion to your taste buds.
The oblong fruits are packed with pure sugary sweetness. Many visitors to our garden swear that it somehow has to be related to a peach. . .
Its size makes this tomato quite unique as well. The fruits are cylindrical shaped and usually average around two inches in length. Although it doesn't fall into the category of a large, full size tomato, it is certainly larger than a cherry or plum tomato variety. . .
The advantages of growing the Tiger Blush do not stop with its amazing flavor. At just 60 days from seed to fruit, it also happens to be one of the earliest producing tomatoes around. Even better, as an indeterminate tomato, it keeps on producing right up until the end of the growing season.
You might expect a tomato plant that infuses so much sugary-sweet goodness into its fruit to be a little lower in production levels - but that simply isn't the case with the Tiger Blush.

Perhaps one of the best attributes of the Tiger Blush is that can thrive nearly anywhere. It grows extremely well in a traditional garden setting. It happens to be the perfect size for raised beds too. But it's also compact enough to grow in pots, containers, or even 5 gallon buckets.
In fact, we grow a few Tiger Blush plants in our bucket planters near the house every year. It is wonderful for quick and easy access for salads and fresh eating. The Tiger Blush will grow a bit smaller in a container setting, but the yields will still be extremely high.
It can be hard to find plants in stores, but you can find and grow seeds. The plant actually grows fast enough to seed outdoors if you don't want to start seeds indoors. It can go by several names, Tiger Blush Artisan and Artisan Blush are the most common.

AKA Artisan Blush

If you are looking for something more in the beefsteak category, how about Ananas Noir?

Do you wonder why a tomato named "Black Pineapple" looks sorta green on the inside? Lots of the dark tomatoes taste best when picked before they are fully ripe, for one thing.

80-90 days. A most exciting new tomato, it is wonderful in every way. This unusual variety was developed by Pascal Moreau, a horticulturist from Belgium. The multi-colored, smooth fruit (green, yellow and purple mix) weighs about 1 1/2 lbs. The flesh is bright green with deep red streaks. Everyone loves its superb flavor that is outstanding, being both sweet and smoky with a hint of citrus. . .

Do you think the tomatoes above are as sweet as these?

Would Mom do a better job with the flavors?

Anybody growing celery? It's actually kind of a challenge, so unless you are doing pink celery or cutting celery or celeriac or something, maybe you could concentrate on something else as the main crop in your garden. Farmers will probably do a better job.

Puttering

Badgerwx has been busy:

While puttering in the yard last weekend doing winter clean-up, I
discovered it's time to start my mid-atlantic spring-watch. My hellebores have sprouted and should bloom in a few weeks - despite the continuing arctic cold fronts. As spring approaches the warmups between fronts are warmer & the arctic cold doesn't last as long. My daffs have sprouted & my witch hazel will be blooming come early March.

Here is another visitor to my bird feeders. He started coming
occasionally last summer and is a regular this winter. The consensus ID
of my co-workers is red-bellied woodpecker. He's in a war with the
mourning doves for who gets to to clean out both my feeders. He's got
the advantage because he can hang off the small bird feeder & the doves
have to settle for the seeds the small birds drop on the ground.

Finally, here is my puttering project for Washington's birthday or
Presidents' day or whatever the holiday is now. Last weekend I cut up my leaning arbor vitae but now I have to dig out the stump & rootball soI can plant the replacement tree come April. The county won't take anything that big as yard waste so I'll have to do something else with it. If I lived out in the country I'd just let it dry out, cut it up & burn it.

Work.

Forgotten Art

Botanist Mark Whitten was rummaging in an old drawer in the University of Florida Herbarium for tracing paper when he discovered something unexpected: hundreds of World War II-era watercolor paintings, each of a unique Florida plant.
Likely untouched in the 20 years since the herbarium's move into Dickinson Hall, the collection was largely forgotten, but the same cool, dark conditions intended to preserve the herbarium's more than 400,000 specimens also preserved the paintings.
Artist Minna Fernald donated over 320 paintings of Florida wildflowers to the university in 1942, providing a rich record of the state's past ecological life.
"If you go out looking for these plants nowadays, you can find them but they're only in little isolated preserves," said Whitten, a biological scientist at the herbarium. "My impression is what Minna Fernald saw was a much more wild and interesting Florida than what it is now."

Scarlet Rosemallow

Prickly Pear Cactus

Savannah Meadowbeauty

They are still working on ways to share this treasure trove of forgotten botanical art.

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 01:16 PM

Comments

(Jump to bottom of comments)

1 Good afternoon Greenthumbs and Snowmen

Posted by: Skip at February 19, 2022 01:17 PM (2JoB8)

2 Noticed my Daffodils peaking out today.
Love those paintings, what a find

Posted by: Skip at February 19, 2022 01:19 PM (2JoB8)

3 hiya

Posted by: JT at February 19, 2022 01:21 PM (arJlL)

4 That French guy arrested for sex traficking Epstein's friend. Jean-Luc brunel? His agency eas the one thst brought Melania here to the USA Epstein often bragged thst he introduced Trump to Melania

Posted by: Kurt at February 19, 2022 01:22 PM (cV5LV)

5 Planning to start roses this spring.

Posted by: The Poobah of this town at February 19, 2022 01:24 PM (9X60i)

6 "My hellebores have sprouted"

Looks like a bud in there, too . . .

Posted by: KT at February 19, 2022 01:24 PM (0ghg2)

7 All ready to take a shot at making charcoal, have good dried maple split up and in a can, just need windless day to cook it.
Co-worker does it different to make charcoal for cooking which will try next.

Posted by: Skip at February 19, 2022 01:25 PM (2JoB8)

8 LOL, even as a lover of celery, that meme is harsh...but fair!

Posted by: Oedipus at February 19, 2022 01:28 PM (Ezt1G)

9 They forgot Pepto for the classic flavors. Still winter in Colorado. After a very mild December and much of January we are getting some snow and cold, interspersed with days that get into the 50s F.

Its quite typical for the state, but that isn't stopping the FNM who couldn't stop yapping about how warm and dry it was omg CC, in Dec from yapping about 'More cold and snow' now. A lot of that is because weather is free content. Just send the cameras out to get shots of dry grass or cars slipping and sliding on snow pack but even knowing that and after living here for 3 decades I still find it annoying when they act shocked by normal for the state weather patterns.

Posted by: PaleRider is simply irredeemable at February 19, 2022 01:29 PM (3cGpq)

10 I got some snowdrops peeking out already. Yay!

Posted by: Warai-otoko at February 19, 2022 01:29 PM (6FeV1)

11 Oedipus at February 19, 2022 01:28 PM

I like celery, too. But I laughed.

I really think standard celery is a crop for professionals, though. Unless you really have the climate and soil for it.

Posted by: KT at February 19, 2022 01:30 PM (0ghg2)

12 I love the smell of celery in my stew. It smells like...dinner.

Posted by: Dr. Bone at February 19, 2022 01:30 PM (dA9eR)

13 Fuck's sakes Kunt, you gotta shit up the garden thread too? Don't you have some offs you should be fucking?

Posted by: Warai-otoko at February 19, 2022 01:32 PM (6FeV1)

14 Skip at February 19, 2022 01:25 PM

That's a cool project. Charcoal. Well, a hot project, actually.

Posted by: KT at February 19, 2022 01:32 PM (0ghg2)

15 I'm thinking of getting a plumeria for a houseplant.

Posted by: Warai-otoko at February 19, 2022 01:33 PM (6FeV1)

16 12 I love the smell of celery in my stew. It smells like...dinner.
Posted by: Dr. Bone at February 19, 2022 01:30 PM (dA9eR)

The leaves make any stew amazingly better.

Posted by: Warai-otoko at February 19, 2022 01:34 PM (6FeV1)

17 Don't you have to 'blanch' celery in the ground to avoid it getting bitter? I'd guess that works much better in sandy soil and the commercial growers have also figured out when to hill the stalks plus have machinery to do it.

Posted by: PaleRider is simply irredeemable at February 19, 2022 01:34 PM (3cGpq)

18 Dr. Bone at February 19, 2022 01:30 PM

You can grow cutting celery in the garden. Or use leaves from celeriac. Perfect for stew.

Posted by: KT at February 19, 2022 01:34 PM (0ghg2)

19 PaleRider is simply irredeemable at February 19, 2022 01:34 PM

I think some growers tie it up to blanch it. Not sure if all celery is blanched. Seed catalogs have instructions for brave home growers. There are pink varieties.

Posted by: KT at February 19, 2022 01:36 PM (0ghg2)

20 I have wood to burn, lots of pine for heating and maple for charcoal

Posted by: Skip at February 19, 2022 01:36 PM (2JoB8)

21 Warai-otoko at February 19, 2022 01:33 PM

Plumeria as a houseplant sounds like a challenge. Which species?

Posted by: KT at February 19, 2022 01:37 PM (0ghg2)

22 First batch is for black powder, bought stone polish rotation tool this week and after charcoal need 2 fairly cheap ingredients saltpetre and sulfur both at any home improvement store.

Posted by: Skip at February 19, 2022 01:40 PM (2JoB8)

23 The weather this winter has been mercurial. A few inches of snow, some very cold nights, a few days in the 60s followed by more dry cold, finally a few days in a row of cold, rainy weather. No pattern to start planning a garden with any certainty.

We couldn't stand it any longer, so we started some seeds indoors: herbs, tomatoes, and peppers. (Yes, I check them several times a day to see if any have sprouted. Please note: this has nothing to do with reality.)

Going through our seed packets, we were surprised how many suggested starting them outside once it gets warm enough instead of starting inside. Sure saves on table space and will give us time to rejuvenate the soil in the containers before the seeds go in.

Posted by: JTB at February 19, 2022 01:40 PM (7EjX1)

24 Scarlet Rosemallow is a beautiful name.

Posted by: JuJuBee at February 19, 2022 01:40 PM (mNhhD)

25 I love those botanical watercolor paintings. I have a book of such illustrations originally produced in the 19th or 18th centuries intended for scientific study. They are stunning and, as far as I can tell, accurate.

I'm amazed at the vibrant and detailed drawings that can be achieved with watercolor paintings. Thanks for posting them.

Posted by: JTB at February 19, 2022 01:45 PM (7EjX1)

26 Do GAINZZZ count as puttering, or is that too non-puttery?

Posted by: Insomniac - Outlaw. Hoarder. Wrecker. Honker. at February 19, 2022 01:47 PM (II3Gr)

27 No blooms yet but a building near us is showing crocus leaves coming up. It always has the first flowers because the brick exterior faces south and warms the ground a bit sooner than elsewhere. I always think of hope and renewal when I see the first crocuses blooming.

Posted by: JTB at February 19, 2022 01:49 PM (7EjX1)

28 I can't wait for spring and roadside tomato stands/farmer's markets.

Posted by: rickb223 at February 19, 2022 01:49 PM (wGlI0)

29 Appreciate your little purple flower Diogenes. For perspective, I sit on the other side of the Cascades looking out my window at roughly 20 inches of what is essentially ice. Thinking about doing some starts today. It always helps my late winter attitude to wander into the pantry room and see little green shoots of life poking their heads out.

Posted by: Sock Monkey * Ungovernable at February 19, 2022 01:52 PM (ff2mS)

30 Insomniac - Outlaw. Hoarder. Wrecker. Honker. at February 19, 2022 01:47 PM

I think they could count. Why not?

Posted by: KT at February 19, 2022 01:56 PM (0ghg2)

31 Appreciate your little purple flower Diogenes. For perspective, I sit on the other side of the Cascades looking out my window at roughly 20 inches of what is essentially ice. Thinking about doing some starts today. It always helps my late winter attitude to wander into the pantry room and see little green shoots of life poking their heads out.
Posted by: Sock Monkey * Ungovernable at February 19, 2022 01:52 PM (ff2mS)
***

Each winter is becoming increasingly annoying. The splash of color the crocus brings is the first good feeling I get about the coming Spring.

Posted by: Diogenes at February 19, 2022 01:56 PM (axyOa)

32 Plumeria as a houseplant sounds like a challenge. Which species?
Posted by: KT at February 19, 2022 01:37 PM (0ghg2)

I have no idea. I can barely keep a dracaena alive. But i saw one and said "oooh, pretty".

Posted by: Warai-otoko at February 19, 2022 01:58 PM (6FeV1)

33 There was a metal band named Krokus, probably not after the flower, but I don't know much about them. (Yes, I have nothing constructive to contribute.)

Posted by: bear with asymmetrical balls at February 19, 2022 02:00 PM (KFhLj)

34 This week I'm doing some potting and repotting. The basil and mint cuttings I took from grocery store herbs have rooted beautifully in water and have even put out new stalks. Hoping potting them up won't kill them. Also, I'm going to try repotting several Christmas Cactus plants into one larger container with the hope of a more spectacular display when they bloom. And I have an aloe that outgrew its pot and soil supply a while back. Between using cast iron cooking gear and starting to grill when it gets warmer, I figure having a good burn remedy will help.

Posted by: JTB at February 19, 2022 02:00 PM (7EjX1)

35 My GF is really the gardener. I'm more of the groundskeeper/manual labor in this household.

Posted by: Warai-otoko at February 19, 2022 02:00 PM (6FeV1)

36 30 Insomniac - Outlaw. Hoarder. Wrecker. Honker. at February 19, 2022 01:47 PM

I think they could count. Why not?
Posted by: KT at February 19, 2022 01:56 PM (0ghg2)

Cool. It's back day and I'm working on getting back into pullups. Which are hard. Back in the day I could crank out 20, and am faaaar away from that. Now trying to build back up. It's my GAINZZZZ mission to get back up to doing 10 with proper form and no assistance.

Posted by: Insomniac - Outlaw. Hoarder. Wrecker. Honker. at February 19, 2022 02:00 PM (II3Gr)

37 Soon should clean out rest of dead garden plants, cut out hard dead parts of the oregano and see if chives survived.

Posted by: Skip at February 19, 2022 02:02 PM (2JoB8)

38 Now trying to build back up. It's my GAINZZZZ mission to get back up to doing 10 with proper form and no assistance.
Posted by: Insomniac - Outlaw. Hoarder. Wrecker. Honker. at February 19, 2022 02:00 PM (II3Gr)

Make a schedule, never skip, and it's amazing how fast you get gains. Ahem. Uh... sorry, i meant I hope you like French crooners, because the first part is Serge, and the rest of it is GAAIIINNNZZZbruh.

Posted by: Warai-otoko at February 19, 2022 02:04 PM (6FeV1)

39 One of the herbs I like is French tarragon but it is tough to find seeds and even ordering plants isn't cheap. I was surprised to learn that zone 7, where we are, is the southern edge of the growing area. I'll still give it a try since I like the gentle anise flavor it has. Wonder if I can root cuttings in water, like I did with the basil and mint. That would be fantastic.

Posted by: JTB at February 19, 2022 02:07 PM (7EjX1)

40 Before the usual, and necessary, cautions I am aware that mint plants have imperial aspirations. I'm hoping by keeping it in discrete pots indoors it won't try to take over the neighborhood like the last time I planted some.

Posted by: JTB at February 19, 2022 02:10 PM (7EjX1)

41 I grew some tarragon from seed in a hanging basket, zone 6. It grew very well, but apparently Mr. And Mrs. Wormingdale decided that my herb basket would make a fine upstairs bathroom for the family, and so it remained ornamental only.

Posted by: Warai-otoko at February 19, 2022 02:11 PM (6FeV1)

42 Hair tastes better than celery.

Celery is my brussel sprouts equivalent. Nasty stuff.

Posted by: blake - semi lurker in marginal standing (5pTK/)) at February 19, 2022 02:12 PM (5pTK/)

43 Insomniac - Outlaw. Hoarder. Wrecker. Honker. at February 19, 2022 02:00 PM

Great! You'll be ready for some heavy-duty outdoor projects when spring comes.

Posted by: KT at February 19, 2022 02:13 PM (0ghg2)

44 >>> The consensus ID
of my co-workers is red-bellied woodpecker.

Daily visitors at our feeders.

Skip to about 40 seconds in this video to hear their call:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OnEw1lGr_KE

Posted by: fluffy at February 19, 2022 02:13 PM (UnQlg)

45 A blooming crocus is never too much. I'm watching my yard for the first one.

Posted by: Captain Josepha Sabin -- bitterly clinging to the deplorable life '70s style! at February 19, 2022 02:14 PM (vMM2s)

46 I often just have celery and carrot sticks to munch on

Posted by: Skip at February 19, 2022 02:15 PM (2JoB8)

47 Our crocuses bloomed in flipping November of last year. I have no idea what they were thinking, it was bizarre. But now i hold out very little hope of a spring display.

Posted by: Warai-otoko at February 19, 2022 02:15 PM (6FeV1)

48 Interesting gardening-related theme brought up in the last thread:

291 >>>Fun trivia about the Apple: before Christianity became predominantly European, the Fruit in the Garden story was always pictured as a pomegranate.
>Also interesting, after Islam became predominant, Eve in the garden story became a goat.
Posted by: Dr. Bone at February 19, 2022 01:10 PM.

I've read in several places that the original fruit was a quince. I saw them (and medlar) frequently during my time in the balkans, so I planted a few on my little acreage a couple years ago. I'll submit some pics this spring when they bloom, and hopefully again in the fall if they fruit. I got 2 or 3 little medlar fruit last fall...I guess I could just submit those, now, and hope for Improvement this coming fall!

Posted by: Grimmy at February 19, 2022 02:15 PM (NCgXW)

49 JTB at February 19, 2022 02:07 PM

If you see seed labeled "French Tarragon", they are not "French Tarragon". It can only be grown from cuttings or division. Plants of the same species grown from seed don't taste the same.

You might be able to grow cuttings in water. Not sure. I would try a little rooting hormone where the leaf scars go below water or potting mix.

Posted by: KT at February 19, 2022 02:16 PM (0ghg2)

50 Great! You'll be ready for some heavy-duty outdoor projects when spring comes.
Posted by: KT at February 19, 2022 02:13 PM (0ghg2)

Ready for, yes. Actually conducting same, highly unlikely unless someone asks me to help out on their project.

Posted by: Insomniac - Outlaw. Hoarder. Wrecker. Honker. at February 19, 2022 02:17 PM (II3Gr)

51 Grimmy at February 19, 2022 02:15 PM

Sounds fascinating. Did you blet your medlars?

Posted by: KT at February 19, 2022 02:18 PM (0ghg2)

52 Sounds fascinating. Did you blet your medlars?
Posted by: KT at February 19, 2022 02:18 PM (0ghg2)

Whoa, that shit's kinda personal.

Posted by: Insomniac - Outlaw. Hoarder. Wrecker. Honker. at February 19, 2022 02:19 PM (II3Gr)

53 4 red fairy duster planted and when weeding I found 2 of last year's that didn't get eaten by the now diseased antelope squirrels. All are doing well with blossoms on 5 out of the 6.
Also planted 4 penstemons 2 firecracker (very red and sprawling) and 2 Parryi (pink and upright). 3 of them look good; but, the 4th may not make it.

Visits by coyotes (3 visits at night, 2 daytime) and up to 18 javalina (usually evenings and dead of night visits).

Posted by: AZ deplorable moron at February 19, 2022 02:19 PM (vnqom)

54 >>> Fuck's sakes Kunt, you gotta shit up the garden thread too?

Blend one part Kurt with a cubic foot of lawn clippings, fill the remainder of the container with dead leaves. Stir once every three days until the daffodils blossom.

Makes great soil amendment.

Posted by: fluffy at February 19, 2022 02:19 PM (UnQlg)

55 Warai-otoko at February 19, 2022 02:15 PM

Were they regular crocus or fall crocus?

Posted by: KT at February 19, 2022 02:20 PM (0ghg2)

56 Thank you for reading and commenting on my post.

Posted by: Kurt at February 19, 2022 02:21 PM (cV5LV)

57 AZ deplorable moron at February 19, 2022 02:19 PM

Lots of wildlife! What is an antelope squirrel?

Posted by: KT at February 19, 2022 02:22 PM (0ghg2)

58 Ha! on the celery. We use it for stocks, stews, just about anything that gets boiled down for goodness... but I'd never try to grow it.
We are just now getting tilth necessary to grow root crops. Very heavy soil.
We quit on cabbages and brussel sprouts. Ain't enough hours in the day to spray that often. Still too early here to start seeds for planting out, but we are salivating at your alls' pics!
Also, every year, I swear I'm gonna plant a witchhazel, and every year forget. Someone remind me next fall, k?

Posted by: MkY at February 19, 2022 02:25 PM (cPGH3)

59 What is an antelope squirrel?

I think they are related to the Jackalope.

Posted by: Ronster at February 19, 2022 02:25 PM (9K7yC)

60 Sounds fascinating. Did you blet your medlars?
Posted by: KT at February 19, 2022 02:18 PM (0ghg2)

Like insom, I'm still waiting to read what the hell that means!

Posted by: MkY at February 19, 2022 02:27 PM (cPGH3)

61 51 Grimmy at February 19, 2022 02:15 PM

Sounds fascinating. Did you blet your medlars?
Posted by: KT at February 19, 2022 02:18 PM

Funny enough, I just sent you an email with some pics and details. Short answer is: kind off. They are ROCK hard normally, so you have to blet them to eat them. They froze briefly on the tree once or twice before I brought them in, and then I let then sit out to soften. They shriveled, wrinkled, and softened, but weren't as sweet and thick as I recalled from Kosovo. I think they need to freeze and thaw several times, and sit out it the cold for a while to thoroughly dehydrate without rotting. I was just too impatient.

The ones I ate in Kosovo were in a counterparts yard, and still had fruit on it in January. Wrinkly, brown, and very soft. You'd pluck from the tree, bite a small hole in the skin, and then suck out the inside. Thick, sweet, and spicy...like cinnamon applesauce blended with a fig newton.

Posted by: Grimmy at February 19, 2022 02:30 PM (NCgXW)

62
Lots of wildlife! What is an antelope squirrel?
Posted by: KT

They look suspiciously like the chipmunks I used to feed in the mountains East of you.
I called them chipmunks until I was searching for the rodents that were attacking my plants and digging up everything. They are very destructive diggers and will/have eat/en the cambium on everything that is growing on the property.

Posted by: AZ deplorable moron at February 19, 2022 02:30 PM (vnqom)

63 60 over ripening?

Posted by: CN The First at February 19, 2022 02:30 PM (ONvIw)

64 49 ... KT,
Thanks for the cautions about Tarragon. I'll probably order a plant or two and look for some locally. We've had French Tarragon plants offered at the local farmers market in the past but it isn't a sure thing. Also, the local Southern States might carry some of the plants. They have a pretty good selection if you get there early enough in the season.

Posted by: JTB at February 19, 2022 02:32 PM (7EjX1)

65 >>> Or use leaves from celeriac. Perfect for stew.

>That certainly is an odd looking plant. I don't believe I've ever seen that root in these small stores that carry only a limited supply of staples. Will have to try it sometime.

Posted by: Dr. Bone at February 19, 2022 02:33 PM (dA9eR)

66 Pretty flower paintings

Posted by: vmom stabby stabby stabby stabamillion at February 19, 2022 02:35 PM (lCui1)

67 Grimmy at February 19, 2022 02:30 PM

So you knew all about bletting medlars. Experienced.

No wonder Insomniac was blushing.

What else could anyone pick off a tree in January in Kosovo besides medlars?

Posted by: KT at February 19, 2022 02:36 PM (0ghg2)

68 Dr. Bone at February 19, 2022 02:33 PM

They use the shredded root of celeriac in winter salads in Switzerland. Somewhat resembling coleslaw, sometimes mixed with canned veggies.

Posted by: KT at February 19, 2022 02:38 PM (0ghg2)

69 JTB at February 19, 2022 02:32 PM

You can tell if it is authentic French Tarragon by tasting a leaf.

Posted by: KT at February 19, 2022 02:39 PM (0ghg2)

70 Medlars, also known as woofle berries

Posted by: CN The First at February 19, 2022 02:40 PM (ONvIw)

71 Warai-otoko at February 19, 2022 02:11 PM

The tarragon that grows from seed is a host plant to caterpillars of a swallowtail in the Northwest, as I recall.

Posted by: KT at February 19, 2022 02:42 PM (0ghg2)

72 CN The First at February 19, 2022 02:40 PM

Really? woofle berries?

Posted by: KT at February 19, 2022 02:43 PM (0ghg2)

73 67 Grimmy at February 19, 2022 02:30 PM
What else could anyone pick off a tree in January in Kosovo besides medlars?
Posted by: KT at February 19, 2022 02:36 PM

Not much, I'm afraid. Medlars are pretty unique in that sense. The Balkans are pretty poor, and Kosovo especially, so everyone with any land has at least a small garden and a few small fruit trees. You'd get up on a mountainside overlooking a valley, and all the little acreages and village houses would have little plastic sheeting greenhouses, too, to get the most out of the growing season. It's a little milder than home (Iowa), so they can grow certain veggies most (all?) of the year.

Oh, and chickens and bee boxes. Most homes had those, too. Kind of a flashback to the past, I imagine, for the US, before hard-core industrial agriculture (and higher wages) made such things monetarily impractical.

My counterparts basement was interesting. Boxes of quince and other fruit (don't remember which) in the cooler basement air to last through the winter.

Posted by: Grimmy at February 19, 2022 02:46 PM (NCgXW)

74 What else could anyone pick off a tree in January in Kosovo besides medlars?
Posted by: KT at February 19, 2022 02:36 PM

A sniper.

Posted by: Insomniac - Outlaw. Hoarder. Wrecker. Honker. at February 19, 2022 02:46 PM (II3Gr)

75 What else could anyone pick off a tree in January in Kosovo besides medlars?
Posted by: KT at February 19, 2022 02:36 PM

A sniper.
Posted by: Insomniac

Didn't see that one coming...

Posted by: AZ deplorable moron at February 19, 2022 02:47 PM (vnqom)

76 >>>They use the shredded root of celeriac in winter salads in Switzerland. Somewhat resembling coleslaw, sometimes mixed with canned veggies.

>I never had the green thumb in the family. I was a cowboy at 8 until I was 15, then became a full-time cook until I graduated high school. But I've always been around agriculture and I do enjoy the gardening posts.

Posted by: Dr. Bone at February 19, 2022 02:49 PM (dA9eR)

77 I saw Blet Your Medlars Open for Right Said Fred in '85.

Posted by: Duke Lowell at February 19, 2022 02:49 PM (eA1RV)

78 70 Medlars, also known as woofle berries
Posted by: CN The First at February 19, 2022 02:40 PM
I don't know about that, but the slang French term for the fruit is cul de chien, which means "dog's backside/anus". Shakespeare also mentions it in similar, unflattering terms. It has a...unique...look to it.

Posted by: Grimmy at February 19, 2022 02:50 PM (NCgXW)

79
Really? woofle berries?
Posted by: KT at February 19, 2022 02:43 PM (0ghg2)

Really! Like Woofle jelly cake, in Mr Magoo's Christmas Carol. My father hated not knowing "the" answer, so abused his State Library privileges by having it looked up for us. So I can see Victorian Brits making woofle jelly confections around Christmas time

Posted by: CN The First at February 19, 2022 02:51 PM (ONvIw)

80 I'm not going to try growing celery although I eat a lot of it in soups, stews, and in salads of various kinds. I have learned to use a potato peeler on it to get the damn strings off. I don't recall that being necessary years ago. Wonder if the type of celery in the store has changed. I can say the stuff doesn't last in the fridge the way it used to. If it isn't used within a few days it starts to wilt. Bummer.

Posted by: JTB at February 19, 2022 02:53 PM (7EjX1)

81 I have half a dozen hellebores around my yard & they all have buds now. But they still have a little ways to go before they start blooming.

I used to have some crocuses too but I think the squirrels and voles have gotten them all.

Posted by: badgerwx at February 19, 2022 02:53 PM (cL7E+)

82 KT,
Thanks for another great gardening thread. Gorgeous photos and useful information is a nice combination.

Posted by: JTB at February 19, 2022 02:57 PM (7EjX1)

83 Those paintings are lovely!

Posted by: COMountainMarie at February 19, 2022 02:57 PM (9uqbB)

84 badgerwx at February 19, 2022 02:53 PM

Thanks for the photos. Have you tried Crocus tomassianus? It's suposed to be squirrel-resistant.

Posted by: KT at February 19, 2022 02:58 PM (0ghg2)

85 those paintings are lovely!
Posted by: COMountainMarie

Thanks for reminding me to mention them CMMarie.

Love the paintings and enjoyed the thread, thanks KT!

Posted by: AZ deplorable moron at February 19, 2022 02:58 PM (vnqom)

86 I like the small woodpeckers when they visit the yard. They are amusing the way they can cling to the feeders and even walk down a tree trunk head first. (That last might just be showing off because the doves and robins can't do it.)

Posted by: JTB at February 19, 2022 03:00 PM (7EjX1)

87 Did I mention your awesomeness KT? No? Your awesome KT. Thank you.

Posted by: Sock Monkey * Ungovernable at February 19, 2022 03:00 PM (ff2mS)

88 Those paintings are lovely, and yes, that description of celery is very apt.

Posted by: BeckoningChasm at February 19, 2022 03:01 PM (m0zqP)

89 I usually see Downy Woodpeckers, they don't hammer like some, peck and search mostly.

Posted by: Skip at February 19, 2022 03:02 PM (2JoB8)

90 I like the small woodpeckers when they visit the yard. They are amusing the way they can cling to the feeders and even walk down a tree trunk head first. (That last might just be showing off because the doves and robins can't do it.)
Posted by: JTB

I have Pilated Woodpecker ( think Woody Woodpecker) habitat on my property. When they start knocking on the trees it is an official announcement that spring has arrived. I occasionally go out and mess with them by knocking on a tree with a rock. I have gotten some definitely unfriendly looks from a few amorous males who are looking for a fight only to discover I'm not a rival.

Posted by: Sock Monkey * Ungovernable at February 19, 2022 03:09 PM (ff2mS)

91 Playing golf once in NoVa and typically, my ball was under a tree. As I approached, I saw a beautiful bird on the trunk and he was tapping away. I was stunned. Did not realize east coast woodpeckers grew so large. Easily as big as a chicken. Here in the PacNW they a smaller and a boring brown.

Posted by: Diogenes at February 19, 2022 03:24 PM (axyOa)

92 Well, thanks, Sock Monkey!

Posted by: KT at February 19, 2022 03:44 PM (0ghg2)

93 Hope it's okay to chime in this late but wanted to say thank you for a wonderful garden thread. Beautiful, funny and informative.

Posted by: Sharon(willow's apprentice) at February 19, 2022 03:44 PM (Y+l9t)

94 As I approached, I saw a beautiful bird on the trunk and he was tapping away. I was stunned. Did not realize east coast woodpeckers grew so large. Easily as big as a chicken. Here in the PacNW they a smaller and a boring brown.
Posted by: Diogenes

Did it look like this?

https://tinyurl.com/2p8c4zts

Posted by: Sock Monkey * Ungovernable at February 19, 2022 03:45 PM (ff2mS)

95 Sharon(willow's apprentice) at February 19, 2022 03:44 PM

Thanks. We accept comments all weekend.

Posted by: KT at February 19, 2022 03:51 PM (0ghg2)

96 How come the red bellied woodpecker does not have a red belly? Shouldn't be called the red headed woodpecker?

BY the way I absolutely hate woodpeckers. My house in MA had wood siding. They loved the trim just outside my bedroom wall. At 6 am, it sounds like a pneumatic drill. Once they discovered the bird feeder, I had almost every species of wood pecker possible muscling out every other species. They all made noise. They were all pretty aggressive. They even tried the vinyl siding on the house next door.
When I went to sell the house, had to replace a bunch of trim and repaint.

Posted by: Sharon(willow's apprentice) at February 19, 2022 03:59 PM (Y+l9t)

97 How come the red bellied woodpecker does not have a red belly? Shouldn't be called the red headed woodpecker?

Actually the male does have red breast feathers. They are not as vibrant as their head. Are you related to our Nurse R?

Posted by: Sock Monkey * Ungovernable at February 19, 2022 04:04 PM (ff2mS)

98 What else could anyone pick off a tree in January in Kosovo besides medlars?

Posted by: KT at February 19, 2022 02:36 PM (0ghg2)

Snipers?

Posted by: NC Ref at February 19, 2022 04:26 PM (RAodA)

99 Our yard's 'woodpeckers' are actually Northern Flickers. They cruise the yard with all the other birds, looking for their meal, don't seem overly aggressive. Not colorful until they fly-- orange-ish wings! They have an unmistakeable black crescent high on their chest.

Our daffodils are up, hellebores blooming. Bunnies eat the crocus flowers as soon as they appear, so I'm lucky to see them at all.

I cut the bottom off of a celery bunch and put it in water, oh about a month ago. It's sprouting and got a couple tiny roots. Will wait for more roots before putting into soil. Then, if it survives, I will claim victory and pinch leaves as needed for salads.

Posted by: JQ at February 19, 2022 04:37 PM (dB4Iz)

100 From Boise area: Lows 25-30 F, highs 45-55 F. A few stubborn icy snow patches remain in the shadiest corners of the yard.

We finished cutting down the Siberian Iris and bunchgrass leaves on the south side. We still need to do the ones out back, then out front - last will be the front corner near the garage where it's still icy.

I can see a hint of flower buds, down inside one of the hyacinth sprouts - no color yet.

Today we trimmed some apple tree branches on the 2 old trees. We're trying our best to shape them (after the previous owner didn't do anything for 20+ years).

Posted by: Pat* at February 19, 2022 05:18 PM (2pX/F)

101 Love the watercolors!

And I love celery and am growing it for the first time (over winter, SoCal) - I have both green and the Chinese Pink - the pink is much better.

They do grow skinny compared to the store bought, but flavor is much better. I use it in soups/stews and salads, like tuna or chicken. I just go out and cut off what I need for the day's dish.

Also, they look beautiful as a centerpiece if you have a nice clear vase or glass milk bottle, lol. The pink is a show stopper!

Posted by: Bonnie Blue - says HONK at February 19, 2022 09:33 PM (hlxe7)

102 Those Tiger Blush tomatoes are beautiful. It looks like Johnny's Seeds has a sale on them so I just bought some.
https://is.gd/94wRaG
This year's tomatoes are started but who knows if the seeds will still be there next year?

Posted by: gingeroni at February 19, 2022 10:57 PM (X7FeU)

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