Saturday Gardening, Puttering and Adventure Thread, Dec. 17

In natural conditions, Swaddled Babies orchids are found on the floor of the forests in high elevations in the Andes regions of South American countries such as Peru, Colombia, and Ecuador. These plants encounter prolonged wet and dry weather conditions in their natural habitat in these mountain forests. But if you wish to grow them in your garden, you need to give them conditions of high humidity. As a result experts suggest greenhouses for growing this species of orchid. Also, the Anguloa Uniflora orchid requires dappled lighting that is naturally available to these plants in their habitat.

Sounds tricky. So, maybe Santa can bring a plant. And a greenhouse.

Speaking of Santa:

It isn't really Christmas until you've dressed your Venus flytrap as Santa.

📹: https://t.co/u6I1mYqSGn pic.twitter.com/aGZ897kwen
— Paul Bronks (@SlenderSherbet) December 15, 2022

Edible Gardening/Putting Things By

Surprise!Nan sent in the following:

My first successful broccoli and cauliflower in raised boxes, and a few late figs from the little tree's first year...

Love to see those successful December crops!

Anyone else have a harvest?

Planning something special for next year?

Tired of Twitter?

What have I been doing in the two plus years off twitter? Getting things done.
Built a new chicken coop
Raising a new crop of coop residents pic.twitter.com/8zqjwsab75
— Bambootamboo (@bambootamboo2) December 13, 2022

Ah, Nature

Hi Katy
Last week's post regarding the flicker drew a number of comments about how this bird can be a nuisance. I was surprised since they have never disturbed us here in the Great White North. The chore of banging on the eave trough early in the morning, with the precision timing of an atomic clock, seems to belong exclusively to the hairy woodpecker. In fact, the only argument between a flicker & our house was won by the house when this one flew into a window. It appeared to be dead when I picked it up off the deck but it recovered & flew away soon after.
PointyHairedBoss

I love a happy ending.

Have you planted hazelnuts? Curculio nucum, the nut weevil, likes hazelnuts. Adrian Truchta used a focus stacking technique for this photo:

Art and Puttering

Hi, KT ... I seem to recall these being a subject for debate some while back because they don't appear to be genuine peonies. I accept that, but still refer to them as 'peonies' for convenience, not botanical accuracy. They look 'kinda-sorta' like a peony, and even if they're not the Gen-U-Wine! article, they're just pretty little flowers that make me happy when they come into bloom. One day I'll learn what these really are, but until then, I'll just call 'em 'peonies' for convenience and Handy Yet Somehow Inaccurate reference. Enjoy, and use as you may deem fit for purpose!
Dr_No

These are the bud-ettes for the PseudoPeonies that grow here ... they look close enough to the real deal that I'll just keep calling them that, even tho' I know it's wrong, 'cos I don't know what the right classification is. Besides, this puts it in the category of 'Close Enough for Government Work' . . . Use as you deem fit, and enjoy.

We can appreciate them as peonies even if they might be something else. It's the season for fantasy! Thanks for the lovely art!

Hope everyone has a nice weekend. Anything going on in your yard or garden? Any adventures or puttering planned?

If you would like to send photos, stories, links, etc. for the Saturday Gardening, Puttering and Adventure Thread, the address is:

ktinthegarden at g mail dot com

Remember to include the nic or name by which you wish to be known at AoSHQ, or let us know if you want to remain a lurker.

Week in Review

What has changed since last week's thread? Saturday Gardening, Puttering and Adventure Thread, Dec. 10

Any thoughts or questions? Be sure to check out the late comments.

I closed the comments on this post so you wouldn't get banned for commenting on a week-old post, but don't try it anyway.

Posted by: K.T. at 01:23 PM

Comments

(Jump to bottom of comments)

1 Good afternoon Greenthumbs
To chilly to go out, maybe venture out in April

Posted by: Skip at December 17, 2022 01:33 PM (xhxe8)

2 Scare alert for the nut weevil photo!

Posted by: m at December 17, 2022 01:35 PM (QPyqx)

3 LOL Skip.

Posted by: m at December 17, 2022 01:36 PM (QPyqx)

4 Yay woodpecker!

Posted by: Commissar of Plenty and Lysenko Solutions at December 17, 2022 01:40 PM (ybxl8)

5 That picture of the nut weevil really a great picture. The nut weevil is not! beautiful.

Posted by: AZ deplorable moron at December 17, 2022 01:47 PM (qTFh+)

6 Still have leaves to collect up but not anytime soon.

Find most bugs under microscope look like aliens

Posted by: Skip at December 17, 2022 01:50 PM (xhxe8)

7 Dr. No, when you are an artist, you are the creator of that work and as such, you can call your subject whatever you want.

Posted by: kallisto, who also happens to be an artist at December 17, 2022 01:50 PM (dCxaZ)

8 I am so glad the flicker didn't die. I'm wondering though if PointyHairedBoss may have some healing magic in their hands?

Posted by: kallisto at December 17, 2022 01:52 PM (dCxaZ)

9 PointyHairedBoss, don't try that with a ground squirrel. Will bite you in GOD we trust.

Posted by: Eromero at December 17, 2022 01:54 PM (/RDPd)

10 My gardening days may be toast. New apartment with no patio or balcony, and two young, healthy cats poking paws and noses into everything. Management mumbled something about all residents getting private gardening spots, but the area seems well out of sight of my apartment. However, when I went out to spread some bird seed out on the road that goes in front of my apartment windos, I discovered that someone had built a long, narrow garden with both food and flowering plants right next to the building's foundation. Come spring, I'll hike up to the manager's office to see if I can get away with something.

Posted by: Captain Josepha Sabin -- I wasn't particularly fond of the '70s the first time around at December 17, 2022 01:59 PM (z7W9M)

11 NICE art...would hang!

Posted by: CrotchetyOldJarhead at December 17, 2022 01:59 PM (TgNpw)

12 Art definitely would hang

Posted by: Skip at December 17, 2022 02:02 PM (xhxe8)

13 Love the photo of the nut weevil, a good example of focus stacking which is perfect for photographing insects.

PointyHairedBoss

Posted by: Brian Beninger at December 17, 2022 02:03 PM (pSBT9)

14 Quick wave to the green thumbs and artists. Thanks for the pics.

Posted by: PaleRider is simply irredeemable at December 17, 2022 02:09 PM (3cGpq)

15 The pictures were incredible but I was unaware that folks had problems with flickers.

Posted by: NR Pax at December 17, 2022 02:11 PM (Z7Jj3)

16 The peonies a dieu are really beautiful. I pulled it onto my desktop and it's even more stunning away from text.

Posted by: m at December 17, 2022 02:11 PM (QPyqx)

17 Looking forward to relocation and starting landscaping from essentially scratch. The previous tenants did nothing to improve the lot and the house has an east/west orientation with the back yard facing the east.

First things on the list are a Texas mountain laurel and a chinese magnolia for the front yard and some hostas and day lilies for the back yard.

Posted by: CrotchetyOldJarhead at December 17, 2022 02:13 PM (TgNpw)

18 I gotta get away from that weevil.

Posted by: m at December 17, 2022 02:13 PM (QPyqx)

19 10 New apartment ... healthy cats
Posted by: Captain Josepha Sabin -- I wasn't particularly fond of the '70s the first time around at December 17, 2022 01:59 PM (z7W9M)

Congratulations!

Posted by: m at December 17, 2022 02:14 PM (QPyqx)

20 If I was a bug I'd want to be like Adrian Truchta's bug. That's one righteous bug right there.

Posted by: Eromero at December 17, 2022 02:15 PM (z3WCn)

21 That bug is the greater of two weevils

Posted by: Eromero at December 17, 2022 02:20 PM (z3WCn)

22 Capt. Sabin: with modern LED grow lights, the fixtures are surprisingly inexpensive (always go for more light) and quite low in power consumption. Use a grow box or design a PVC aqua garden. There are many videos on how to.

Posted by: Gordon Scott at December 17, 2022 02:22 PM (r9rO9)

23 I moved my roses inside. I didn't get them planted and was afraid the roots would freeze. The company tells you not to do it. One must be really hardy as it has new leaves. The other two are alive at least. I picked up a miniature rose at the store today.

Posted by: Notsothoreau at December 17, 2022 02:25 PM (uz3Px)

24 That picture of the nut weevil really a great picture. The nut weevil is not! beautiful.
Posted by: AZ deplorable moron

(pulls up zipper..)

Posted by: JT at December 17, 2022 02:29 PM (T4tVD)

25 hiya

Posted by: JT at December 17, 2022 02:29 PM (T4tVD)

26 Flickers are the most common woodpecker in my part of the PNW. Got a few hairy and pileated peckers as well, but flickers seem to adapt pretty well to urban and suburban locales. Very distinctive call, always know when one's around. Beautiful birds!

Posted by: Dr. Mabuse at December 17, 2022 02:29 PM (ViC0A)

27 I picture Curculio Nucum rubbing his paws together and saying 'Nyuk! Nyuk! Nyuk.'.

Posted by: Eromero at December 17, 2022 02:34 PM (z3WCn)

28 I have a small woodpecker here. It's a bit smaller than a robin. Something made off with my suet feeder bit I bought more today.

Posted by: Notsothoreau at December 17, 2022 02:36 PM (uz3Px)

29 Flickers are the most common woodpecker in my part of the PNW. Got a few hairy and pileated peckers as well, but flickers seem to adapt pretty well to urban and suburban locales. Very distinctive call, always know when one's around. Beautiful birds!
Posted by: Dr. Mabuse

I saw The Bearded Clams open for the Hairy and Pileated Peckers.

Posted by: JT at December 17, 2022 02:38 PM (T4tVD)

30 And I did see a cardinal out in one of the fields. I seem to have a small flock of sparrows living here.

Posted by: Notsothoreau at December 17, 2022 02:42 PM (uz3Px)

31 Some sort of bird has been pecking at the back of the house. Not a wood pecker, too big. When I open the door it flies to the tree so can't tell what it is.

Posted by: Infidel at December 17, 2022 02:45 PM (ZEa+g)

32 As always, thank you for such a beautiful thread.

I must admit I'm trying to 'borrow' the picture of the nut weevil to torment certain relatives who love hazelnuts. (Yes, torment is well deserved.) 😏

Posted by: Lola at December 17, 2022 02:47 PM (NIYa7)

33 Taylor Lorenz's nickname at Swiss boarding school was The Nut Weevil. True story.

Posted by: bear with asymmetrical balls - an election is simply a festival for the majority at December 17, 2022 02:47 PM (KFhLj)

34 33 Taylor Lorenz's nickname at Swiss boarding school was The Nut Weevil. True story.

Careful. You'll make her cry on camera again.

Posted by: NR Pax at December 17, 2022 02:58 PM (Z7Jj3)

35 Weird. The guys at the table in the comic frame are wearing ... paper party crowns? Wut?

Posted by: Emmie at December 17, 2022 02:58 PM (Emce2)

36 What?! No Poinsettas?

[abruptly remembers to go water the things]

Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at December 17, 2022 03:03 PM (7EcrL)

37 That cartoon is friggin' hilarious! I've got to pass it along to other folks (non-ACE) who share my strange sense of humor.

Posted by: JTB at December 17, 2022 03:03 PM (7EjX1)

38 Great pics!
Especially the curculio.

My chores today are pulling pork bellies out of the cure, and into fridge to dry overnight, and...
MY first foray into biltong. Mine is from a deer, but any meat will do, like jerky. Everyone who's had it said they'll never do jerky again. We'll see.
Wife is making sausage, and the local grocery had brisket on sale for $1 cheaper than hamburger, so relatives are coming over to grind hamburger.
It's a meat day!

Posted by: MkY at December 17, 2022 03:03 PM (cPGH3)

39 Congratulations, Nan! Beautiful brassicas!

Nothing is growing here, it's cold and snowy and dark. Except my girth. It has grown...😑

Posted by: Flyover's Porterhouse Steak at December 17, 2022 03:06 PM (Rbu5d)

40 If that top picture of the 'sorta' peony is painted, it is brilliant. If it is a photo-shopped image, it is seriously well done. In either case, thanks for posting it.

Posted by: JTB at December 17, 2022 03:08 PM (7EjX1)

41 Flyover's Porterhouse Steak

That's not fat, that's insulation! Needed in those frigid parts.

Posted by: MkY at December 17, 2022 03:08 PM (cPGH3)

42 35 Weird. The guys at the table in the comic frame are wearing ... paper party crowns? Wut?
Posted by: Emmie at December 17, 2022 02:58 PM (Emce2)

British custom.

Posted by: Flyover's Porterhouse Steak at December 17, 2022 03:09 PM (Rbu5d)

43 The night temperatures are getting low enough that the ground is getting harder. This gives me the excuse I needed to stop thinking about outdoor chores and start thinking more about next spring's planting. The big question is which plans will survive the reality of aging bones and muscles.

Posted by: JTB at December 17, 2022 03:13 PM (7EjX1)

44 Weird. The guys at the table in the comic frame are wearing ... paper party crowns? Wut?
Posted by: Emmie at December 17, 2022 02:58 PM (Emce2)

British custom.
Posted by: Flyover
---------

Next up? Figgy pudding.

Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at December 17, 2022 03:14 PM (rxUKk)

45 Next up? Figgy pudding.
Posted by: Mike Hammer,

Don't forget the boiled meat.

Posted by: MkY at December 17, 2022 03:16 PM (cPGH3)

46 Yes, I had the awful feeling that maybe I should drag out my farm notebook and start planning next year's gardens. But... I'm tired, still, from this year. The work, the set backs, the politics, the virus last January.

I haven't been out to the hoop house in weeks, I'm sure it needs watering and I'm just not carng, much. I do need to put away the seeds I saved from this year...and to get the seedling racks cleaned up, the seedlings soil mixed, the the trays ready...oy

I think I need to wait for the weeks after the holy days and before great lent.

Posted by: Flyover's Porterhouse Steak at December 17, 2022 03:19 PM (Rbu5d)

47 Thanks for the crown explanation. So, I found an article about it:

https://www.countryliving.com/
life/a46116/christmas-crowns/

So I guess the guys at that table were all winners of the Christmas cracker pull.

Posted by: Emmie at December 17, 2022 03:20 PM (Emce2)

48 What's a hoop house ?

Posted by: JT at December 17, 2022 03:21 PM (T4tVD)

49 British custom.
Posted by: Flyover's Porterhouse Steak at December 17, 2022 03:09 PM (Rbu5d)

Lol! I actually thought you were pulling my leg!

Posted by: Emmie at December 17, 2022 03:21 PM (Emce2)

50 I intend to plow the garden sometime this winter.
Gonna have to remove both ends to do it. Should have already done it, but when it was warm enough, it was too dry.
That's my excuse, and I'm sticking to it.
Need to get the hardpan broken, and get some of that clay up for nutrition. Lots of OM, but the tiller is never gonna break up the bottom.

Posted by: MkY at December 17, 2022 03:23 PM (cPGH3)

51 I generally turn over soil in early spring , pull out weeds, get compost in to mix it up before planting

Posted by: Skip at December 17, 2022 03:29 PM (xhxe8)

52 I'm almost through with my first Flowers still life as a study for a more detailed work I've been planning.

This work includes purple orchids, sunflower, Joseph coat climbing roses, pink gerbera daisies, ferns and various green leafy plants.

Posted by: polynikes at December 17, 2022 03:29 PM (dQoNW)

53 48...

Here's a photo of a hoop house. Also called a high tunnel. https://tinyurl.com/59c39taf

The one pictured is about the same size as our HH.

Posted by: Flyover's Porterhouse Steak at December 17, 2022 03:31 PM (Rbu5d)

54 PET NOOD

Posted by: Skip at December 17, 2022 03:32 PM (xhxe8)

55 49...Lol! I actually thought you were pulling my leg!
Posted by: Emmie at December 17, 2022 03:21 PM (Emce2)

😁

Posted by: Flyover's Porterhouse Steak at December 17, 2022 03:32 PM (Rbu5d)

56 48...

Here's a photo of a hoop house. Also called a high tunnel. https://tinyurl.com/59c39taf

The one pictured is about the same size as our HH.
Posted by: Flyover's Porterhouse Steak

Jeepers !

Thank you !

Posted by: JT at December 17, 2022 03:33 PM (T4tVD)

57 52 ... "I'm almost through with my first Flowers still life as a study for a more detailed work I've been planning.

This work includes purple orchids, sunflower, Joseph coat climbing roses, pink gerbera daisies, ferns and various green leafy plants."

polynikes, I'm really looking forward to seeing that. Are you trying for realistic or stylized in some way.

Posted by: JTB at December 17, 2022 03:34 PM (7EjX1)

58 Posted by: JTB at December 17, 2022 03:34 PM (7EjX1)

More of a fauvism / realism combo style mainly because I'm partial to bright colors and it's the style that comes natural to me.

Posted by: polynikes at December 17, 2022 03:41 PM (dQoNW)

59 58 ... fauvism/realism combo sounds interesting to say the least.

Posted by: JTB at December 17, 2022 03:55 PM (7EjX1)

60 From Boise area: Low at the start of the week 36 F, dropping to the teens by this weekend. Highs started at 45 F and have been dropping toward 25.

Not much excitement this week. We had rain on Sunday - wet snow on Monday that caused 2 silver maple branches to break and fall from the weight (they missed the house!) - snow again on Wednesday.

We got the irrigation tubing in the corn patch (nicknamed The Squid) disentangled from the weeds and pulled out of the patch. This clears the way for piling oak leaves there to burn them. Now if the snow would just melt off and the leaves dry out enough, that we could scoop or rake them up to get them there... Husband also bought a special glass cleaner that cleans fireplace glass - he did the work (longer arms help).

I've been making peppermint bark - this year with dark chocolate meltys and white chocolate meltys, topped with candy canes I smooshed with a hammer (bought them last year, entire package 10 cents!).

We've seen flickers at the seed feeder, and quail at the seed block out back - tomorrow I'll have to go out to check on how much of the block is left. Can't let the covey starve!

Joyous Christmas to all!

Posted by: Pat* at December 17, 2022 04:18 PM (a9dTa)

61 Wow, love all the pics! Got a chuckle out of Charlie the Venus Flytrap, LOL. I bookmarked "klunatic" on ewetoob.

One of my poinsettias has started to get color after all. It was white last year, but I suspect grafted and the white branches died off. One new stalk grew up this spring, and now is turning red-ish.

Can't wait to see!

Posted by: JQ at December 17, 2022 05:11 PM (o0Fxd)

62 Those 'PseudoPeonies' sure look cherry-like, in both flower and leaf...

Gorgeous fantasy photos!

Posted by: JQ at December 17, 2022 05:18 PM (o0Fxd)

63 sock off

Posted by: andycanuck (Vwz3I) at December 17, 2022 08:31 PM (Vwz3I)

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