Gardening, Puttering and Adventure Thread, Jan. 14

Hi, everybody! We have heard from 40 Miles North, in between California storms. How is the weather treating you?

KT,
CBD really shouldn't be posting pictures of zombie rosemary plants. He really should leave garden-related posts for the official AOS Garden Blogger who brings out the best in all of us.
For example, I have some Rosemary that is very much alive:

Oh, I don't know, CBD's photo reminds us that gardening is something beyond nature, and that there are still First World Problems:

The bees have already started showing up between the storms to get pollen. Here is wider angle:

Not many bee plants blooming this time of year.

I also planted some violas - are these related to petunias?

No.

One of the nice thing about winter is Icelandic poppies. These have a little mud from the rain, but they still have the vivid colors that I like. The leaves behind them are amaryllis.

Nice underplanted with violas and maybe sweet alyssum.

One of my Euryops is really cranking out the daisies:

It amazes me that there are daisies that bloom in the dead of winter.

The narcissus are blooming, but many of them are hanging upside down. Does rain make them droop?

Yes. Wonderful to see.

...and a lone Vinca Major has bloomed:

He knows those are my favorites. Pretty specimen, though!

Edible Gardening/Putting Things By

Catalogs

Ordered anything? Got anything in? rtw1951 sent in a note:

Have you tried Redwood City Seed Company? Mostly tomatoes and hot peppers, but some others as well. Good company to deal with.

Take a look. They seem to specialize in REALLY hot peppers. "The newest World's Hottest pepper, Craig's
Chocolate Champion Habanero - Lab testing at 1,662,000 Scovilles!"

I saw one Scoville Rating of Jalapenos at 2,500 - 10,000, just for comparison.

This catalog gives some garden tips along the way . . . .

Puttering

Things you should never do with a magic eraser.

You may be able to think of more.

Adventure

Winter Hikes

Perk up your next hike or walk by looking for Buckbrush (Symphoricarpos orbiculatus). This shrub produces clusters of pinkish-red berries throughout the winter months in Missouri. pic.twitter.com/Y7ZWWAnzMX
— Powell Gardens (@PowellGardens) January 11, 2023

Ben Lomond Peak in Utah is at 206% of normal snowpack in this photo. Glaciers renewed. Careful on your hike.

On the Farm

The cost of eggs is up, especially in California. Wish you had hens?

Gardens of The Horde

Anything happening in your yard or garden?

Hope everyone has a nice weekend.

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? Gardening, Puttering and Adventure Thread, Jan. 7

Any thoughts or questions?

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 01:32 PM

Comments

(Jump to bottom of comments)

1 Since it was in the high 50's for part of the week, my wife replanted some iris tubers that we rustled from the old place. Will they make it, who knows?

Posted by: Tonypete at January 14, 2023 01:36 PM (qoGsy)

2 Good afternoon Greenthumbs

Posted by: Skip at January 14, 2023 01:39 PM (xhxe8)

3 And many of the daffodils are peaking out already. I don't know when they normally make their appearance around here but the middle of January seems pretty early.

Posted by: Tonypete at January 14, 2023 01:39 PM (qoGsy)

4 Yey garden thread! I got a notification my package from victory seeds is waiting for me at the PO Box.

Posted by: KarlHungus at January 14, 2023 01:40 PM (zB2xb)

5 Lovely plant pics. I never knew rosemary was such a pretty flowering plant.

Posted by: PaleRider at January 14, 2023 01:43 PM (3cGpq)

6 I also planted some violas -

Quite by accident I now have pansies growing indoors. I brought the outdoor pots in right before the December cold snap, and they seem to like it here because they are blooming their little hearts out. I have the regular viola and then the smaller variety, they are in "antique" colors. So that's a little pick-me-up during these dreary, seemingly endless winter months.

Posted by: kallisto at January 14, 2023 01:44 PM (dCxaZ)

7
[gazes out at 3" of snow, 25 deg.]

I think that I'll just stay inside.

Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at January 14, 2023 01:44 PM (aIFM5)

8 Mentioned this morning, so far for east coast I have yet to get a measurable snow. Certainly cold and windy now but it's been a lot milder so far. And don't see any snow in forecast this week.

Posted by: Skip at January 14, 2023 01:44 PM (xhxe8)

9 My garden remains under about six feet of snow. However, I did plant some sage, rosemary, and thyme in pots and put them in a southern window. They will take a long time to grow in the lack of sunlight this time of year, but I'm patient.

I still have several baggies of parsley in the freezer from last summer's garden. No need to grow that indoors.

Posted by: tcn in AK, Hail to the Thief at January 14, 2023 01:46 PM (LOVUx)

10 Rain scheduled for tonight through Tuesday, I think I'll plan on staying dry.

Posted by: AZ deplorable moron at January 14, 2023 01:48 PM (d2dRs)

11 In the "Adventure" department...here is a video of the night sky over Natchez Trace Park:

https://tinyurl.com/u378fayc

and here is another Natchez Trace YT channel, includes a short featuring the spring wildflowers found there:

https://tinyurl.com/2akzexk2

Posted by: kallisto at January 14, 2023 01:49 PM (dCxaZ)

12 Summoned the earlier KT thread.

Posted by: AZ deplorable moron at January 14, 2023 01:49 PM (d2dRs)

13 I like the top pic of 40 Miles North's rosemary, especially because there's nothing in the photo to give it scale and it looks (at first) like it could be miles and miles of rosemary.

Posted by: m at January 14, 2023 01:50 PM (dvbwR)

14 I've never visited Natchez Trace but these videos sure give me the yen to go there

Posted by: kallisto at January 14, 2023 01:50 PM (dCxaZ)

15 Posted by: kallisto at January 14, 2023 01:49 PM (dCxaZ)

nsirchov456@gmail

Posted by: REDACTED at January 14, 2023 01:51 PM (us2H3)

16 Aw. Google informs me that I should not eat the Buckbrush berries.

Posted by: bear with asymmetrical balls - an election is simply a festival for the majority at January 14, 2023 01:51 PM (KFhLj)

17 Posted by: m at January 14, 2023 01:50 PM (dvbwR)

when they're happy, they can get pretty big. My aunt's is about four feet high by about the same width. It's in a raised bed, so it looks taller. And the first time we saw the little flowers bloom, it was magical.

Posted by: kallisto at January 14, 2023 01:53 PM (dCxaZ)

18 Aw. Google informs me that I should not eat the Buckbrush berries.

I was wondering...thanks for doing the hard work to find out

Posted by: kallisto at January 14, 2023 01:54 PM (dCxaZ)

19 Posted by: REDACTED at January 14, 2023 01:51 PM (us2H3)

thanks REDACTED

*note to KT*...this is in regard to selling artwork, so it's topical, it's kind of an adventure, no? Or maybe a Puttering.

Posted by: kallisto at January 14, 2023 01:55 PM (dCxaZ)

20 Well….J though he was doing something nice and had a landscape company come redo our beds out front to include a stone border. He removed my hydrangeas and planted some ornamental grass. I hate it. I hate the color stone, I hate the grass. But can’t say a thing because it was mucho dinero and he never has tried to surprise me with anything, he was really trying to be good. But I hate it so much I could cry. The stone has orange / rustísh swirls in it. If that didn’t exist, it would be fine.

Posted by: Piper at January 14, 2023 01:56 PM (ZdaMQ)

21 Pansies (mine survived freezing, yay!) and petunias are not at all related. Pansies are edible while my understanding is that petunias are toxic.

Posted by: Polliwog the 'Ette at January 14, 2023 01:56 PM (nC+QA)

22 I've never visited Natchez Trace but these videos sure give me the yen to go there
Posted by: kallisto

The Darksky.org has places mapped out for great star gazing.
Here is a link to their dark sky search application:
https://is.gd/0srpgP

Posted by: AZ deplorable moron at January 14, 2023 01:57 PM (d2dRs)

23 Sorry, Piper. It's an adventure!

Posted by: m at January 14, 2023 01:58 PM (dvbwR)

24 Rain scheduled for tonight through Tuesday, I think I'll plan on staying dry.
Posted by: AZ deplorable

Same here only with snow too.

Posted by: Infidel at January 14, 2023 01:58 PM (ZEa+g)

25 We have Symphoricarpus albus locally, they have flowers like blueberries, and have white berries, and everyone says they are poisonous. The Indians called it "corpse berries"

They are a lovely understory plant that puts out the first green leaves in the Spring, they sort of look like a faint green mist in a thicket. The deer like to browse it down and keep it short. In the woods it is pretty, but when I planted some in a girlfriend's front yard it grew sprawly and big and suffered from powdery mildew.

Posted by: Kindltot at January 14, 2023 01:59 PM (xhaym)

26 Piper at January 14, 2023 01:56 PM

Ornamental grass?

I'm sorry.

Posted by: KT at January 14, 2023 01:59 PM (rrtZS)

27 Still trying to sort out what was killed by the Christmas freeze as opposed to just going dormant. Thankfully, it looks like the major plants I planted in November all made it. The annuals dying is fair, although I hope they had time to seed a bit first.

Posted by: Polliwog the 'Ette at January 14, 2023 02:00 PM (nC+QA)

28 kallisto at January 14, 2023 01:55 PM

Yes.

Posted by: KT at January 14, 2023 02:00 PM (rrtZS)

29 Piper - I am reminded of some clothing that my wife has bought for me...which I would never select or wear.

"Honey, why don't you wear that sweater that I bought for you?"

Discretion is the better part of valor, so, the stuff gets worn.

Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at January 14, 2023 02:01 PM (SbUgV)

30 Just looked, many daffodils are up 1 inch, they better stay that way for a bit.

Posted by: Skip at January 14, 2023 02:01 PM (xhxe8)

31 Woohoo! I made the gardening thread! Nice post, KT!

Posted by: 40 Miles North at January 14, 2023 02:02 PM (uWF4x)

32 But I hate it so much I could cry. The stone has orange / rustísh swirls in it. If that didn’t exist, it would be fine.
Posted by: Piper

Is the 'stone' colored cement?
You can change the color by daubing with a dye.
It probably will be hardly noticeable if you test in a small area and then take a while to stain the rest of the stone you dislike.

Posted by: AZ deplorable moron at January 14, 2023 02:02 PM (d2dRs)

33 Posted by: Skip at January 14, 2023 01:44 PM (xhxe

I'm sure Mike Hammer would be more than happy to send you his snow.

Posted by: Polliwog the 'Ette at January 14, 2023 02:02 PM (nC+QA)

34 20 Well….J though he was doing something nice and had a landscape company come redo our beds out front to include a stone border. He removed my hydrangeas and planted some ornamental grass. I hate it. I hate the color stone, I hate the grass. But can’t say a thing because it was mucho dinero and he never has tried to surprise me with anything, he was really trying to be good. But I hate it so much I could cry. The stone has orange / rustísh swirls in it. If that didn’t exist, it would be fine.
Posted by: Piper at January 14, 2023 01:56 PM (ZdaMQ)

wish I had a dime every time I have heard this story

so sorry for you

Posted by: REDACTED at January 14, 2023 02:03 PM (us2H3)

35 We call the Symphiocarpus "snow berries"

What we call Buckbrush locally is a Ceanothus

Posted by: Kindltot at January 14, 2023 02:03 PM (xhaym)

36 I just googled ornamental grass. Google is not kind to the concept.

Posted by: m at January 14, 2023 02:03 PM (dvbwR)

37 I'm sure Mike Hammer would be more than happy to send you his snow.
Posted by: Polliwog
----

And a sweater or two.

Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at January 14, 2023 02:04 PM (SbUgV)

38 Nice pics, 40 Miles North.

Posted by: m at January 14, 2023 02:05 PM (dvbwR)

39 Piper, Hint: Betadine on cement stains it dark purple (best to test before doing a large area!).

Posted by: AZ deplorable moron at January 14, 2023 02:05 PM (d2dRs)

40 The one area in life where I'm a naturalist. My yard has whatever the planet sees fit to grow in the yard naturally without any intervention from me.

Posted by: Berserker-Dragonheads Division at January 14, 2023 02:05 PM (VwHCD)

41 39 Piper, Hint: Betadine on cement stains it dark purple (best to test before doing a large area!).
Posted by: AZ deplorable moron at January 14, 2023 02:05 PM (d2dRs)

Wouldn't that leach into the soil with unhappy results?

Posted by: m at January 14, 2023 02:06 PM (dvbwR)

42 Ceanothus
Posted by: Kindltot

White and blue/lavender covered the mountains above Santa Barbara.
Always beautiful.

Posted by: AZ deplorable moron at January 14, 2023 02:07 PM (d2dRs)

43 Question, can you eat Buckbrush berries if you're not a buck?
- A. Bear

Posted by: Eromero at January 14, 2023 02:07 PM (z3WCn)

44 And a sweater or two.
Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at January 14, 2023 02:04 PM (SbUgV)

My aunt once told me that when your husband buys you jewelry, you wear the jewelry. That's just how it goes.

Posted by: tcn in AK, Hail to the Thief at January 14, 2023 02:08 PM (LOVUx)

45 40 The one area in life where I'm a naturalist. My yard has whatever the planet sees fit to grow in the yard naturally without any intervention from me.
Posted by: Berserker-Dragonheads Division at January 14, 2023 02:05 PM (VwHCD)

My mom used to call naturally-arriving flowers "volunteers."

Posted by: m at January 14, 2023 02:08 PM (dvbwR)

46
Wouldn't that leach into the soil with unhappy results?
Posted by: m

From what I've seen it doesn't leach at all the stain never spreads (and I got in trouble for staining the concrete).

Posted by: AZ deplorable moron at January 14, 2023 02:09 PM (d2dRs)

47
My aunt once told me that when your husband buys you jewelry, you wear the jewelry. That's just how it goes.
Posted by: tcn
-------

Sound advice.

Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at January 14, 2023 02:10 PM (GxhRW)

48 Right now my back yard is covered in trash. While we were in WI over the holidays, the dogs managed to tip over the trash bins and spread stuff all over the damned place. Of course, it was well below zero and the poor girl who watched the dogs did her best, but there's only so much you can do when it's arctic and covered with snow.

Spring is going to be a serious mess.

Fer the love a dogs....

Posted by: tcn in AK, Hail to the Thief at January 14, 2023 02:10 PM (LOVUx)

49 My aunt once told me that when your husband buys you jewelry, you wear the jewelry. That's just how it goes.
Posted by: tcn
--------

I recall that John Derbyshire once remarked on some nicety of social behavior, 'If you don't understand, ask your aunt'.

Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at January 14, 2023 02:12 PM (GxhRW)

50 I just ordered some cayenne and Big Jim chile seeds from the NMSU chile institute. Cayenne for me and my little town garden, Big Jim for my cousin, whose husband plows up a big space every year and who likes to grow her own green chiles instead of buying the boxes from Hatch. My cayennes tasted good but were not that prolific and were disappointingly small. She could not find any Big Jim plants and grew Anaheims which are smaller, milder and less meaty.

Posted by: huerfano at January 14, 2023 02:12 PM (dTFZY)

51 https://is.gd/0srpgP

Posted by: AZ deplorable moron at January 14, 2023 01:57 PM (d2dRs)

Thanks for this link!

And thank you KT for the Magic Eraser article. I just grabbed one out of the closet the other day, to clean some surfaces. Something told me I wasn't doing it right.

Posted by: kallisto at January 14, 2023 02:12 PM (dCxaZ)

52 , but there's only so much you can do when it's arctic and covered with snow.
------

Just now, there are the remnants of a bear raid on the garbage can, buried under snow. Mixed emotions.

Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at January 14, 2023 02:14 PM (GxhRW)

53 got a feeling landscape artists are giving home repair guys, who have supplanted lawyer on the hated scale, a run for their money for for the bottom of the barrel

Posted by: REDACTED at January 14, 2023 02:14 PM (us2H3)

54 My aunt with the sage advice was named after the woman my grandfather had an affair with when he was sent to France during the First World War, and I am named after her. She was quite the formidable woman, got her law degree by helping her blind husband get his, and then went on to be State's Attorney. She was a most wise woman, one of us who decided that if nobody said we couldn't, then we would.

Posted by: tcn in AK, Hail to the Thief at January 14, 2023 02:15 PM (LOVUx)

55 Tonypete,

I moved my irises in trash bags. Salty planted them for me when he was out here, but the ground was really dry. I dug them up when the cold spell hit and brought them inside. I'm going to replant this weekend.

But, when I was checking that area to see if I could dig in it, I discovered some tiny little iris plants! So yes, yours will make it just fine, just remember not to plant very deep.

Posted by: Notsothoreau at January 14, 2023 02:17 PM (4IUUf)

56 Nothing gardening related going on. It's cloudy, chilly, and the wind is howling out of the northwest. Excellent weather for not being outside.

But as my walking becomes steadier and more comfortable, I'm thinking about the walks we can take this spring where there are plenty of little wild flowers popping up. It's a pleasant thought.

Posted by: JTB at January 14, 2023 02:17 PM (7EjX1)

57 51 And thank you KT for the Magic Eraser article. I just grabbed one out of the closet the other day, to clean some surfaces. Something told me I wasn't doing it right.
Posted by: kallisto at January 14, 2023 02:12 PM (dCxaZ)

That was useful. I missed the link until you pointed it out.

Posted by: m at January 14, 2023 02:18 PM (dvbwR)

58 >> 38 Nice pics, 40 Miles North.

Thanks, m. I noticed my irises already have leaves. I suspect I will be sending iris pics to KT earlier than usual this year.

Posted by: 40 Miles North at January 14, 2023 02:20 PM (uWF4x)

59 The only thing close to gardening I've done the past week was spreading winter rye seed in my backyard.

As God is my witness, the next house I buy is going to face north. Both houses over the past 10 years faced south, which means the backyard is on the north side, which means most of it is shaded by the house all winter, which means it never dries out and the dogs turn it to mud, which means repeatedly wiping muddy paws every day all winter long. The winter rye grass helps a little, not much.

Posted by: Buck Throckmorton at January 14, 2023 02:20 PM (d9Cw3)

60 While I was at the hardware store, I noticed an ad for a guy that does tilling and yard work. Think I will have him come out and turn up the back yard, maybe the front too. I want to replant with white Dutch clover (instead of grass) and I want a garden. Maybe he could plant my roses too. Not sure if one will make it. Canes are still green but seem dry. I got some rooting hormone and think I will use that before they go in the ground.

Posted by: Notsothoreau at January 14, 2023 02:23 PM (4IUUf)

61 Violas are related to pansies, and I guess violets. I ordered some beautiful dark blue and dark red violas when I lived in Sweden. Got about 50 plants that made it through the summer. In the fall, I made a bed for them to overwinter.

I never got to see them again. Life happened. 1) I decided in January '96 to return to the US and get a divorce. 2) A month and a half later, my best friend at the time won 34 million in the Cali lottery. He said he wanted to buy me out of Sweden.

The violas I planted in my MiLs window box made it through last winter, and I think, so far this winter. During that arctic period of 7F, I thought for sure the cabbages were gone. But most of them survived, possibly because of the straw covering.

Posted by: Miley, okravangelist at January 14, 2023 02:24 PM (Mzdiz)

62 We went through our supply of seeds kept in the fridge and won't need to order any this season. (We were pretty thorough last year.) That doesn't stop me from going through the catalogs and dreaming.

The local farmers market usually has a vendor with his home grown French tarragon. I hope he is there this spring since I love tarragon in my cooking and for making an herbal vinegar. I should look into keeping it alive on the window sill over the winter.

Posted by: JTB at January 14, 2023 02:26 PM (7EjX1)

63 I bought 3 narcissus bulbs for $7.99, and only one popped. As is the norm, it grew very tall, and flopped over when it flowered.

Posted by: Miley, okravangelist at January 14, 2023 02:26 PM (Mzdiz)

64 Love those Iceland poppies, and the California ones, too, which self-sowed and did quite well in Sweden.

Posted by: Miley, okravangelist at January 14, 2023 02:28 PM (Mzdiz)

65 I'm taking a break from a day of yardwork today, but sadly all I'm doing today is cleaning up the debris from our drop to single digits about 3 weeks ago. Back up into the 60's today.

Posted by: Tom Servo at January 14, 2023 02:31 PM (hf6fI)

66 I always enjoy the photos on the thread. That rosemary 'bush' is both fantastic and threatening. It may have hegemonic ambitions.

Icelandic poppies are wonderful. The flowers are graceful and delicate and the colors are brilliant, almost gem-like.

Posted by: JTB at January 14, 2023 02:32 PM (7EjX1)

67 Holy McKee!

Posted by: Dr. Varno at January 14, 2023 02:36 PM (X+Ku8)

68 I was able to save quite a few single potted herbs back in the beginning of December by bringing into my kitchen. I thought my rosemary would have been able to make it outside, but it looks like I will be buying a new plant in the spring. In the planning stage of building some above ground wooden garden boxes. Will have to deal with the squirrels. Hum....

Posted by: sidney at January 14, 2023 02:37 PM (itAo5)

69 I need to lay out my seeds. It's like a tarot deck. I will divine what I should plant this year. I've been ordering a few at a time, as either I or my brother come across something to be get.

Back in 2020, I got some artemisia annua seeds. I think I'll plant some. That was what John Magufuli of Tanzania exhorted his people to use for Covid, in lieu of shots. It has all kinds of medicinal benefits, and I need to get serious about a cultivating a medicinal garden. I should maybe take a course. Can anyone recommend an online tutorial?

Posted by: Miley, okravangelist at January 14, 2023 02:41 PM (Mzdiz)

70 Puttering. Vacuumed up dog hair, will follow by swiffering the floor. Did a seat swap on the computer chair; old chair padding went into wheelie bin. Fired up the ancient Homelite Super 2 chainsaw, and lopped roots off a large palo verde stump (had hosed off most of the dirt last week), making it into hunks that will fit the firepit. Cut dead limbs off a tree and shrub in the yard, too.

Posted by: Klaus Schwab at January 14, 2023 02:42 PM (tkR6S)

71 Oops. Forgot to lop off sock.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at January 14, 2023 02:42 PM (tkR6S)

72 REDACTED - if you're still here, I sent you a msg but delivery failed due to "maintenance being done" on your email account

just an FYI

Posted by: kallisto at January 14, 2023 02:43 PM (dCxaZ)

73 69 To clarify, my brother and I are NOT planning to beget anything. I edited poorly - "when we come across something we want to get."

Posted by: Miley, okravangelist at January 14, 2023 02:43 PM (Mzdiz)

74 >> [JTB] That rosemary 'bush' is both fantastic and
>> threatening. It may have hegemonic ambitions.

I don't know about cold resistance, but rosemary can definitely handle heat. Many plants cannot handle west-facing locations during the Southern California summer, but rosemary just postpones blooming until it rains.

As for hegemony, rosemary is well-behaved compared to Euryops daisies, gazanias, and Vince Major. You might want to steer clear of those.

Posted by: 40 Miles North at January 14, 2023 02:46 PM (uWF4x)

75 To clarify, my brother and I are NOT planning to beget anything. I edited poorly - "when we come across something we want to get."
Posted by: Miley
----------

Fortunately not an error made on the ONT. Those ONT pervs would have pounced.

Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at January 14, 2023 02:47 PM (5CUJ1)

76 Rosemary is one of the plants you can root in water from cuttings. My wife's daughter gave her a bouquet with rosemary in it, that I used to root out cuttings to replace the one that died when we forgot to water the pot the summer before last.

Two of them are for the corner of the house and among some other plants at the back of the yard, and I am not sure of what to do with the others.

Posted by: Kindltot at January 14, 2023 02:49 PM (xhaym)

77 Fortunately not an error made on the ONT. Those ONT pervs would have pounced.
Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at January 14, 2023 02:47 PM (5CUJ1)

Begets and begots, by gosh!

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at January 14, 2023 02:49 PM (tkR6S)

78 Notsothoreau

Dutch White Clover. Great groundcover. Make sure you let some go to seed, so it'll keep fairly monocultury...if that's a word.
I would nuke the area before he tills, and nuke it again after the seeds brought to the surface sprout.
I intend to do that to an urban orchard I help out. Some of the hillsides are too steep to let volunteers mow. Clover for the win!

Posted by: MkY at January 14, 2023 02:50 PM (cPGH3)

79 I intend to do that to an urban orchard I help out. Some of the hillsides are too steep to let volunteers mow. Clover for the win!
Posted by: MkY at January 14, 2023 02:50 PM (cPGH3)

A job tailor-made for goats.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at January 14, 2023 02:52 PM (tkR6S)

80 Attempting to "racoon proof" a feeding station for the cats. One 2x6 board about 5ft long with 4 stainless bowls screwed to it. It better work.

The damn 'coon stole a bowl last night. It be gone.

Posted by: Martini Farmer at January 14, 2023 02:52 PM (Q4IgG)

81 >> [Miley] I got some artemisia annua seeds
Artemisia Californica grows wild in my yard, and I really like the smell. I don't mind the white foliage, but I am definitely in the minority on that.

Posted by: 40 Miles North at January 14, 2023 02:53 PM (uWF4x)

82 A job tailor-made for goats.
Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon

Heh, but goats like fruit trees, too!

Posted by: MkY at January 14, 2023 02:53 PM (cPGH3)

83 I get tomato volunteers, sometimes get a few grape tomatoes from them

Posted by: Skip at January 14, 2023 02:55 PM (xhxe8)

84 Fortunately not an error made on the ONT. Those ONT pervs would have pounced.

Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at January 14, 2023 02:47 PM (5CUJ1)

Tell me about it! Fortunately, we're a classy bunch on the Garden Thread. Thank you, KT, for your posts!

Posted by: Miley, okravangelist at January 14, 2023 02:59 PM (Mzdiz)

85 I love those photos - except the rosemary - and feel a twinge of envy.
***

30 Just looked, many daffodils are up 1 inch, they better stay that way for a bit.
Posted by: Skip at January 14, 2023 02:01 PM

Mine are, too. Tomorrow is supposed to be fairly dry, so I will clear dead leaves off the beds and hope that slows them down.

Posted by: NaughtyPine at January 14, 2023 03:01 PM (/+bwe)

86 76 Rosemary is one of the plants you can root in water from cuttings. My wife's daughter gave her a bouquet with rosemary in it, that I used to root out cuttings to replace the one that died when we forgot to water the pot the summer before last.

Two of them are for the corner of the house and among some other plants at the back of the yard, and I am not sure of what to do with the others.

Posted by: Kindltot at January 14, 2023 02:49 PM (xhaym)

I didn't know that you can root rosemary cuttings in water! I generally do as I would for lavender, dipping cuttings in root hormone and set them in seed soil. The green part, right?

Posted by: Miley, okravangelist at January 14, 2023 03:01 PM (Mzdiz)

87 Greetings Horde.

Too late to divide amaryllis in Central NC?

Posted by: Golfman at January 14, 2023 03:02 PM (BLVc0)

88 There are a lot of nice artemisia. I had southern wormwood in Sweden. I kept some hanging in the coat closet.

Posted by: Miley, okravangelist at January 14, 2023 03:04 PM (Mzdiz)

89 I think you can root most herb things that aren't treated with radiation. Just have to sterilize the vessels and your damn dirty hands.

Posted by: weft cut-loop at January 14, 2023 03:04 PM (XF9Gj)

90 I think that I'll just stay inside.

Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at January 14, 2023 01:44 PM (aIFM5)

Hope you have a pot of soup on the stove.

We had a few flakes here in Fayettenam.

Posted by: Golfman at January 14, 2023 03:05 PM (BLVc0)

91 I've got a seed mat from Amazon on Mama Publius' porch. Yippee!

Posted by: Miley, okravangelist at January 14, 2023 03:05 PM (Mzdiz)

92 In the flat my boys and I lived in for nine years I had a nice yard. Only one little corner was afforded a raised bed though as active boy front yard activities took priority.

By the time we left, I had a huge rosemary bush that flowered and attracted bees and hummingbirds. Every time it rained, you could smell it all the way down the block. Lots of my neighbors would come by with their scissors and ask me for some snips to put in their cooking.

Posted by: nurse ratched at January 14, 2023 03:11 PM (U2p+3)

93 The local farmers market usually has a vendor with his home grown French tarragon. I hope he is there this spring since I love tarragon in my cooking and for making an herbal vinegar. I should look into keeping it alive on the window sill over the winter.
Posted by: JTB at January 14, 2023 02:26 PM (7EjX1

French tarragon is winter hardy in our zones (5-6) and usually lasts a few years before it succumbs to my neglect.

Posted by: Emmie at January 14, 2023 03:12 PM (Emce2)

94 The endless California rain murdered my weeping willow. Fell over completely on its side. It was only 12 years old. Now I have no privacy on the deck again.

I'm thinking a cottonwood to replace it. I need a fast grower, and maybe the willow was too heavy for the creek area.

Posted by: Rusty Nail at January 14, 2023 03:13 PM (3AR13)

95 The Darksky.org has places mapped out for great star gazing.
Here is a link to their dark sky search application:
https://is.gd/0srpgP

Posted by: AZ deplorable moron

Thanks for the link!!

Posted by: Tonypete at January 14, 2023 03:16 PM (qoGsy)

96 >> [NaughtyPine] I love those photos - except the
>> rosemary - and feel a twinge of envy.

I recently learned that rosemary oil is an effective treatment for hair loss. That plant is amazing.

Posted by: 40 Miles North at January 14, 2023 03:18 PM (uWF4x)

97 Just checked out the dark sky map - as luck would have it, we are now very near one of the sites mentioned. We have noticed many more stars here than are visible at the old place. And, as an added bonus, very, very few overflights by airliners. Just beautiful.

Posted by: Tonypete at January 14, 2023 03:20 PM (qoGsy)

98 I didn't know that you can root rosemary cuttings in water! I generally do as I would for lavender, dipping cuttings in root hormone and set them in seed soil. The green part, right?
Posted by: Miley, okravangelist at January 14, 2023 03:01 PM (Mzdiz)

The cuttings were all green stem parts for the rosemary. I will be trying lavender too.

Did you know you could start tomatoes from cuttings, too? I prune my tomatoes up from the ground and when I do I have started rooting the cuttings

Posted by: Kindltot at January 14, 2023 03:20 PM (xhaym)

99 well-behaved compared to Euryops daisies, gazanias, and Vince Major.
Posted by: 40 Miles North

Vince is in some rough company!

Posted by: AZ deplorable moron at January 14, 2023 03:21 PM (MODJZ)

100 >> The endless California rain murdered my weeping willow.

Sorry to hear it. I lost my 70+ year old carob tree to sulfur fungus last year. I haven't decided what I'm going to plant in its place yet.

Posted by: 40 Miles North at January 14, 2023 03:21 PM (uWF4x)

101 With no chess thread, here's an historical dress for the Ettes...

https://twitter.com/18thCent_Kitty/status/
1613992403701989377

https://tinyurl.com/b8rx5mcv

Posted by: andycanuck (Vwz3I) at January 14, 2023 03:21 PM (Vwz3I)

102 Glad I could help with the darksky link.

Posted by: AZ deplorable moron at January 14, 2023 03:26 PM (MODJZ)

103 No pets today?

Posted by: Infidel at January 14, 2023 03:27 PM (ZEa+g)

104 We have noticed many more stars here than are visible at the old place. And, as an added bonus, very, very few overflights by airliners. Just beautiful.
Posted by: Tonypete

Time for some celestial binoculars (and a good tripod!).

Posted by: AZ deplorable moron at January 14, 2023 03:27 PM (MODJZ)

105 Thank you for the ban hammer action!

Posted by: AZ deplorable moron at January 14, 2023 03:29 PM (MODJZ)

106 Woo-hoo! Successfully removed the crankshaft position sensor from the parts Jeep without destroying anything. Buddy needs it for his Jeep, I think. Much groping in tight, dark places involved.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at January 14, 2023 03:30 PM (tkR6S)

107 Pet Thread NOOD!

Posted by: AZ deplorable moron at January 14, 2023 03:30 PM (MODJZ)

108 Far too cloudy here for any star gazing at least for a few days.

Posted by: Infidel at January 14, 2023 03:31 PM (ZEa+g)

109 > The endless California rain murdered my weeping willow.
____________

Ours was taken out by an ice storm 2-3 years ago. We had it trimmed back and although there was some signs of life, it never pulled through and this past November I had what was left of it removed.

Other trees in and around the property got hit as well.

Posted by: Martini Farmer at January 14, 2023 03:32 PM (Q4IgG)

110 Miley, here's a good site for medicinal plants, and a link to a book.
https://strictlymedicinalseeds.com/books/

Posted by: KarlHungus at January 14, 2023 03:41 PM (MhCcX)

111 Thanks, Karl!

Posted by: Miley, okravangelist at January 14, 2023 03:44 PM (Mzdiz)

112 Much groping in tight, dark places involved.
Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon
------

Bloody scrapes? Back-filled with grime?

Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at January 14, 2023 03:49 PM (Nti0e)

113 My grandparents had Dutch white clover for the lawn in OK. seemed to get through the dry spells just fine.

And Miley, I just noticed the local store has TWO kinds of pickled okra

Posted by: Notsothoreau at January 14, 2023 03:55 PM (4IUUf)

114 My hot pickled okra is pretty tasty, Notsothoreau! I haven't opened the Carolina Reaper jar. Publius says he'll be standing by when I do.

Posted by: Miley, okravangelist at January 14, 2023 03:57 PM (Mzdiz)

115 Got to run some errands and pick up my seed warming mat. Pot roast tonight. Later!

Posted by: Miley, okravangelist at January 14, 2023 03:58 PM (Mzdiz)

116 The endless California rain murdered my weeping willow. Fell over completely on its side. It was only 12 years old. Now I have no privacy on the deck again.

I'm thinking a cottonwood to replace it. I need a fast grower, and maybe the willow was too heavy for the creek area.
Posted by: Rusty Nail at January 14, 2023 03:13 PM (3AR13)

Alas. The fate of fast growers.

Try a Mimosa. /s

Posted by: Golfman at January 14, 2023 04:03 PM (BLVc0)

117 Everyone is probably gone, but the stone isn’t cement. It is stone. Maybe a tragedy will befall the grass. Like a hurricane hits only it. Until then, I will be properly grateful for my surprise.

Posted by: Piper at January 14, 2023 04:07 PM (ZdaMQ)

118 Love the colorful flowers but especially the Rosemary plant. Had no idea they get that big. I don't like the taste of Rosemary. Too treeish. The same for gin.

Posted by: AlmostYuman at January 14, 2023 04:47 PM (tUyOy)

119 From Boise area: Lows 30-39 F, highs 39-52. Some rain. Took down the Christmas lights. Still so many sycamore leaves to throw away...

We spent yesterday afternoon working outside. Husband used the leaf blower to get leaves off the landscape rocks along the back of the house (I spotted the first crocus tips in the area behind the kitchen!). I raked one area of leaves into a line that the sweeper-cart can pick up later.

Then Husband used the bagging mower to go over some areas of the silver maple's shed leaves, and I threw the shreds into the leaf cages for future compost - a certain amount of oak leaves got blown into that area, so hopefully those will at least partly compost.

Then Husband used the sweeper-cart to get piles of oak leaves to the corn patch, I raked them onto the patch, and we burned the leaves. The ash will get tilled in later.

A 4-H parent gave me a copy of "The Whole Seed Catalog", from rareseeds dot com. Sure duper pretty, amazing photography, over 500 pages. Don't know if I'll find it useful except for drooling over, though.

Posted by: Pat* at January 14, 2023 04:52 PM (M9a0J)

120 "The endless California rain murdered my weeping willow. Fell over completely on its side. It was only 12 years old. Now I have no privacy on the deck again.
I'm thinking a cottonwood to replace it. I need a fast grower, and maybe the willow was too heavy for the creek area."

Raywood Ash: fast growing, but lifespan of only 15-20 years according to experts, but I know of some that are 40+ years old.
I planted some about eight years ago on the recommendation of a friend who studied landscape design. Highly recommended.

Posted by: waepnedmann at January 14, 2023 10:39 PM (1dQyc)

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