Saturday Gardening, Puttering and Adventure Thread, March 18

Hi, everybody! We are starting to get some spring photos in. Saving a couple for next week, even! Is your garden started yet?

From Hrothgar:

I love my daffodils, but the few hyacinths that I have are my special favorite. During the summer heat, they die off completely leaving not a trace behind and almost convince me that I shall never see them again. Then in late winter, I see the stirrings of leaves in the same old spot where they have been for years now. And then, seemingly overnight, I get to see them in glorious color for about two weeks. I will try again to retake this photo, if we ever get sunlight here again, but I thought the raindrops on the leaves added a nice touch so I took this photo anyhow.
Thanks for the work you do for all us Morons (and in which I assume Moronettes are a valuable and critical subset of Moronity). Hoping that the use of "subset" is not triggering!

Here's some blossoms from my Annie's apple in Surprise AZ. I tried to get a bee but it was going so fast I don't think I got more than a blur . . .
Nan in AZ

They look nice with Hrothgar's hyacinths. And that bee wouldn't stop moving!

Edible Gardening/Putting Things By

We posted some veggies that S. Lynn had started in her greenhouse last week. Here are more photos (from the beginning of the month):

Lemon tree's 1st year we got 8 lemons. This year should be many more. Good for zone 6A.

16 Mortgage lifter tomatoes started.

From PointyHairedBoss,

It's maple syrup time again in the Great White North.

It's maple syrup time again in the Great White North.
After bottling our first batch a week ago the weather turned cold & the trees temporarily shut down. Now we wait for better conditions: a little above freezing in the day & a little below freezing at night. Sunshine helps too.
Maple sap typically contains about 1.5 - 2% sugar. To turn the sap into maple syrup, water has to be removed until the sugar concentration reaches 66%. Traditionally this has been done by boiling the sap. While hobbyists like us use boiling to reduce the sap, commercial producers use other methods such as reverse osmosis to remove the bulk of the water more efficiently. In our case we do most of the boiling over a wood fire. Once the sap gets close to the required sugar concentration we remove it from the wood fire & finish boiling over a more controllable propane burner. In our case we use a turkey deep fryer burner.

Love the detail. The contrast in syrup colors is fascinating.

At this link, a steamy little short video. It's hot!

Critters

I just got one of those game trail cameras. I've not been able to really get a good look at the birds that come by regularly. And I was hoping to see the cardinal.
notsothoreau

So fun!

Farming

new technology

Amazing agriculture technology pic.twitter.com/jPZWNxBSyl
— Tansu YEĞEN (@TansuYegen) March 17, 2023

old, but dramatic, technology

Not too far from us. Flood control.

Before:

During:

I have never seen this type of #flood control measure before! Here is how some farmers deal with a breach in the Tulare Lake bottom. I assume they will pile some additional dirt on. #cawater #cawx #farm #agriculture pic.twitter.com/QXP720RqjJ
— Cannon Michael (@agleader) March 14, 2023

After:

Adventure

We have heard a lot about tragedies and near-tragedies in the San Bernardino mountains due to wild weather lately. But here's a recent photo from a lower elevation during a break in the storms. It's in Yukaipa, near Crafton.

Pretty enticing this spring, after the rains.

This is what Yucaipa's City Hall should look like soon:

Crafton also has an interesting history. Water rights were a major factor in its development. Maintenance of lots of at least 5 acres, many with orange groves on them, seems to be key to maintaining its independence from Redlands.

San Gorgonio Mountain is in the background.

Geography: Crafton lies on a sloped alluvial plain of the San Bernardino basin. The elevation increases toward the southeast. The area is fairly dry and requires irrigation to supply the navel orange groves. The supply of mountain water via Zanja Aqueduct is plentiful.
South and east of Crafton rise the Crafton Hills, a low, rolling set of hills created by about ten active normal dip-slip faults collectively called the Crafton Hills fault zone or the Crafton Hills Horst-and-Graben Complex which stretches between the San Jacinto fault and the San Andreas Fault. The highest point, Zanja Peak, tops out at 3,297 feet (1,005 m), approximately 1,600 feet (490 m) above Crafton. Crafton Hills is home to Crafton Hills College and includes recreational trails and the Crafton Reservoir, which supplies Crafton and Redlands with water.

It is a source of wonder to me that colleges and reservoirs are so often built near earthquake faults.

When the weather clears up, think about checking out the wildflower bloom in the West. Should be spectacular this year.

If you go to the desert, check reports for flash floods first. Here's a photo of a California Poppy from Snowdog:

Gardens of The Horde

How is the weather treating you and your garden? We have more rain scheduled next week. Doing weed control.

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? Saturday Gardening, Puttering and Adventure Thread, March 11

We had lots of good suggestions in response to the bleg on starting a new garden. Here's another one that came in via email:

Advice for raised beds:
I have a couple of friends with horses. Twice a year I go to the paddocks and fill buckets with dry manure. I mix the manure into the raised beds and the plants really take off. I do this in the spring before planting and in the fall after the vegetables are finished. The manure stays there all winter dissolving into the soil. I also go to Starbucks and get the grounds. Their coffee is awful but the grounds really build up the soil.
So use manure and coffee grounds. Works for me.
Stephanie

Thanks, Stephanie!

Any other 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 01:20 PM

Comments

(Jump to bottom of comments)

1 Skip!

Posted by: kallisto at March 18, 2023 01:24 PM (dCxaZ)

2 Good afternoon Greenthumbs

Posted by: Skip at March 18, 2023 01:24 PM (xhxe8)

3 You're getting a reputation, Skip!

Posted by: KT at March 18, 2023 01:28 PM (rrtZS)

4 I can get my own firsts thank you
I have a dead tree problem. A 22 foot easy trunk only, a 40 foot with branches 20 feet up and cracked at base and another 22 foot trunk only by house.
Instead of watching F-1 qualifying should go get the easy 1st trunk down.

Posted by: Skip at March 18, 2023 01:28 PM (xhxe8)

5 I stopped to read the content again.

Posted by: exdem13 at March 18, 2023 01:28 PM (W+kMI)

6 (Me take firstie from Skippy.)

That cardinal sure does look happy.

And the images from California awaken a hope in me that somehow some way, things will change for the better in that beautiful state.

Posted by: kallisto at March 18, 2023 01:28 PM (dCxaZ)

7 Daffodils except mini ones are not out yet but have buds. Bet this week as getting into 60s in a few days

Posted by: Skip at March 18, 2023 01:29 PM (xhxe8)

8 Watch the videos.

Posted by: KT at March 18, 2023 01:33 PM (rrtZS)

9 My back yard is a jungle. I need to get at it with a weed whacker but it won't stop raining. Also, I think I have a dead palm tree, probably died from too much water. I've thought about taking it down myself if it's the last thing I do except it literally could be the last thing I do LOL!

Posted by: gourmand du jour binge watching Celtic Woman at March 18, 2023 01:35 PM (jTmQV)

10 Would think a trailer loaded with ballast rocks would be a better dam

Posted by: Skip at March 18, 2023 01:36 PM (xhxe8)

11
Got some nice pictures of our daffodils blooming today. I don't think they're going to make friends and family in FL want to come back to PA though.

Posted by: Divide by Zero at March 18, 2023 01:38 PM (enJYY)

12 I have tomato seedlings and one either cayenne or bell pepper seedling, I'll know eventually. Peppers take forever to come up, though, so I reckon I'll get more in the next few days. My brother put a grow light over my dining table, so they are getting the rays. It's the most wonderful time of the year!

Posted by: huerfano at March 18, 2023 01:38 PM (dTFZY)

13 hiya

Posted by: JT at March 18, 2023 01:40 PM (T4tVD)

14 There is a local finch that also has some red. I am finally starting to identify these birds, since I have nice pictures.

Am looking forward to getting a garden spot ready and starting seeds indoors. I have four elderberry bushes to plant at the back of the property. I have raspberries, blueberries and strawberries for one bed. The weather is still unstable so I have some time to get this set up.

Posted by: Notsothoreau at March 18, 2023 01:40 PM (6lj/r)

15 Skip at March 18, 2023 01:36 PM

It would, if they had one. And could position it correctly. Moments count there, though.

Posted by: KT at March 18, 2023 01:46 PM (rrtZS)

16 Farmers, the know how to do things, just get the hell out of their way if you want to eat regular.

Posted by: Eromero at March 18, 2023 01:46 PM (MF3yS)

17 The Modern Agricultural harvesting is fascinating.
There is a tractor/shaker being used for oranges.
I have seen similar devices used to harvest olives.

Posted by: gourmand du jour binge watching Celtic Woman at March 18, 2023 01:47 PM (jTmQV)

18 They use those shakers for nut harvest too. My husband used to work almond harvest in CA back in the 70s.

Posted by: Notsothoreau at March 18, 2023 01:49 PM (6lj/r)

19 I feel terribly lazy this morning. Had a coffee already, was on the point of crawling back into bed. Going to compromise: pour another coffee, put my work clothes on, and go outside, sit in a comfy chair, sip coffee, and stare intently at the siding boards that need to be put up. Perhaps I can levitate them.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at March 18, 2023 01:50 PM (tkR6S)

20 Many fruits and vegetables I have no idea what they were being harvested but amazing video. Like the drones picking.

Posted by: Skip at March 18, 2023 01:51 PM (xhxe8)

21 Love the agriculture machinery video

Posted by: PointyHairedBoss at March 18, 2023 01:52 PM (JL4E9)

22 Skip at March 18, 2023 01:36 PM

During a previous flood year, one big farming operation dropped smashed salvage cars into a breach by helicopter.

But there are also places in the basin where farmers have agreements with the govt. to cut levees to flood parts of their land during floods.

Posted by: KT at March 18, 2023 01:59 PM (rrtZS)

23 hiya
Posted by: JT at March 18, 2023 01:40 PM

Birdbath status?

Posted by: RedMindBlueState at March 18, 2023 02:03 PM (ScNGK)

24 Thanks for all the advice on raised beds!
I think I'll need to find out first what's in them, soilwise; and rake out some of the junk that's in them currently. I also now own 3/4 of an acre, so I have a good-sized yard to play with/tend.
And TREES. My friend said "those trees need attention, they haven't been trimmed in years" (broken branches in the yard, etc., and one with a BIG rotted out section that I'm afraid will have to come down, sadly, even though it's bravely leafing out).
Trees are like folks to me.

Posted by: Beverly at March 18, 2023 02:05 PM (2PBEB)

25 The weird thing about that guy putting the truck in the levee breach was, the truck was running.
But, it looked like a Chevy. Meh.

Posted by: gourmand du jour binge watching Celtic Woman at March 18, 2023 02:06 PM (jTmQV)

26 In 50s here but breezy.

Posted by: Skip at March 18, 2023 02:06 PM (xhxe8)

27 Regarding the truck video-

After seeing the pictures in the comments it all makes sense. The cost of the trucks are peanuts compared to the damage to the orchards and homes etc in the area that the flood would cause.

Posted by: redridinghood at March 18, 2023 02:07 PM (NpAcC)

28 My garden remains under about 3 feet of snow. I did water my houseplants, though.

Posted by: tcn in AK, Hail to the Thief at March 18, 2023 02:08 PM (LOVUx)

29 I got my first potatoes in yesterday, I had broadforked to try to dry the ground out a bit, but it was so wet I decided to dig down further to the fence and flip sods to plant on top. It is a ridge type planting that was developed for planting in Ireland but from my experience needs lots of water to succeed in the PNW Summer.
Planting potatoes is a way to declare the season has started. My thimbleberries have just broken bud too, so Spring is here.

I am going to refork one of my dryer beds to get beets and radishes in this weekend, and then get my seeds started.

I put some cherry, plum and apple pits in baggies full of dirt to sprout them, cold stratiating on the cheap. This week I pulled then out to see if the roots had started, and I saw all the healthy roots through the baggies. So potting those is also in the cards for this weekend.

Posted by: Kindltot at March 18, 2023 02:08 PM (xhaym)

30
I live next to a farm - I use the term loosely. They just grow tall grass for hay or straw, not really sure which. But it's fun to watch the machinery in action. First the grass is cut, once tall enough. That's day one. Then the next day, weather permitting, some machinery that looks like a carnival ride on wheels arrives and sweeps the grass around to facilitate drying. Again weather permitting another machine arrives which sweeps the grass into narrow paths. At last the baler arrives and slowly scoops everything up, bales it, and once full drops a huge bale on the ground. In the end a tractor trailer or two and a lift truck will load it all up and transport it away. There might be 100 bales on a good stretch of time. This happens between three and four times per year. It's noisy but sort of entertaining.

Posted by: Divide by Zero at March 18, 2023 02:09 PM (enJYY)

31 Loved the Amazing agricultural technology video.

I know that a lot of engineering goes into developing those machines, which is a big reason we don't need to be dumbing down American education.
I wonder how much a lot of those machines cost?

Posted by: redridinghood at March 18, 2023 02:14 PM (NpAcC)

32 That agricultural technology video was absolutely hypnotic.

Posted by: Art Rondelet of Malmsey at March 18, 2023 02:18 PM (fTtFy)

33 Not much greenery going on here. Currently sunny, but 5 minutes ago you could barely see houses across the street. Heavy lake effect squalls. Supposed 50's mid week

Posted by: A dude in MI at March 18, 2023 02:18 PM (/6GbT)

34 Still have a couple feet of snow in the yard and frozen ground.

Posted by: SkylerKat at March 18, 2023 02:20 PM (9TbBR)

35
I decided to let my garden die for a year, since it's my first garden, and I've never been in it before autumn of last year, and I haven't figured out what are annuals and perennials and such yet.

I figure I let the strong survive, clear out the rest and start anew next year.

But, we had what I'd call a "fake Spring" in February, and my cherry blossom and dogwood both blossomed. And then March was just a normal March with high winds and cold temperatures and nasty rain. So it killed all the flowers on my trees. I'm super fucking pissed off about it.

Posted by: Brandon at March 18, 2023 02:20 PM (oINRc)

36 Off, Brandon sock.

Posted by: Yudhishthira's Dice at March 18, 2023 02:20 PM (oINRc)

37 Enjoyed the short maple syrup video with the BB Walter White sign.
"Today We Cook"

Put's me in the mood for French Toast!

Posted by: redridinghood at March 18, 2023 02:23 PM (NpAcC)

38 Set up scaffold as to cut down length so tree tunck doesn't hit driveway. Should go as planned

Posted by: Skip at March 18, 2023 02:27 PM (xhxe8)

39 I think I am going to set up a bed to grow some grains. I have Carol Deppe's flour corn seed that I want to grow for seed, if nothing else. I have some barley seed. And I just got some wheat that was developed in KS and was the main wheat variety grown here in the 30s. Gene Logsdon liked to call these "pancake patches". You can grow enough for special meals.

Posted by: Notsothoreau at March 18, 2023 02:30 PM (6lj/r)

40 Driving around this morning noticed quite a few tulip magnolia trees got nipped overnight. The one in my neighborhood went from beautiful pinkish blooms to dark brown. Sad.

Posted by: olddog in mo at March 18, 2023 02:32 PM (ju2Fy)

41 Great pictures and interesting videos. The tech video didn't say 'cotton' when showing the harvest... I was disappoint!

I dropped 11 palm trees at the last house. They were in front and back. Didn't take out the pool, pool equipment, house, or cement block wall either! (It was close on the pool equipment though.)

Rained this week, rain next week, the 'ditch' that I used the tractor on is still deep enough to help the culverts empty their sand out into the ditch; but, not by much. I'll have to dig some more of the ditch out so next weeks storm will wash more of the sand out.

Posted by: AZ deplorable moron at March 18, 2023 02:33 PM (d9J/h)

42 I really wanted to look at those trees blossoming. Especially the cherry blossom. I WUZ ROBBED.

Posted by: Yudhishthira's Dice at March 18, 2023 02:34 PM (oINRc)

43 The last owners let the oleander hedge (330ft of it) mostly die.
We don't like oleander so I might take all of it out (don't worry I will not burn it and poison myself!).

I'm thinking about a Texas Mountain Laurel hedge.
Does anyone have a TML bush/tree? If so is the scent overpowering?

Posted by: AZ deplorable moron at March 18, 2023 02:39 PM (d9J/h)

44 Just as planned

Posted by: Skip at March 18, 2023 02:40 PM (id3UB)

45 OT: Maybe in honour of Lance Reddick -- and maybe only on the Canadian feed of HLN Headline News -- but they're binge-running all of Fringe this weekend.

Posted by: andycanuck (Vwz3I) at March 18, 2023 02:41 PM (Vwz3I)

46 Almost forgot, I never witnessed industrial harvesting of marijuana before. I'm assuming it's the hemp variety, I could be wrong about that.

Posted by: gourmand du jour binge watching Celtic Woman at March 18, 2023 02:46 PM (jTmQV)

47 Excellent agriculture machinery video.

Note: every one of those machines runs on diesel fuel. Electric won't cut it in the field.

Cost is $500,000 to $1 million for the big machines. Includes GPS, normally.

Lots of farm kids drive those trucks at 12-14, then take them to the Co-Op silos. Hint-Hint for those with bored teenagers.

Posted by: NaCly Dog (u82oZ) at March 18, 2023 02:47 PM (u82oZ)

48 you might want to steam that horse manure to kill the hay and weed seeds

Posted by: bigG at March 18, 2023 02:47 PM (9tuKL)

49 hiya
Posted by: JT at March 18, 2023 01:40 PM

Birdbath status?
Posted by: RedMindBlueState

Not frozen; mebbe tomorry

Posted by: JT at March 18, 2023 02:48 PM (T4tVD)

50 Just as planned
Posted by: Skip

Nice !

Posted by: JT at March 18, 2023 02:49 PM (T4tVD)

51 With the very mild February we've had, my two Clematis vines have grown about 3 feet. Well, we'd had hard freezes this week and are expecting more so I covered them. We'll see if they stay healthy.

Posted by: Tonypete at March 18, 2023 02:50 PM (qoGsy)

52 My folks gave me some gladiola bulbs. How deep do I plant them?

Posted by: Duke Lowell at March 18, 2023 02:54 PM (u73oe)

53 My folks gave me some gladiola bulbs. How deep do I plant them?
Posted by: Duke Lowell

We do 4 inches deep (!) with the pointy end up.

Posted by: Tonypete at March 18, 2023 02:59 PM (qoGsy)

54 Spring is coming. Had a flock of 20+ common grackles at the feeder this morning, grackling up a storm.

Posted by: Ziba at March 18, 2023 02:59 PM (4h9M3)

55 All chopped up into less than 1 foot pieces

Posted by: Skip at March 18, 2023 03:00 PM (xhxe8)

56 My folks gave me some gladiola bulbs. How deep do I plant them?
Posted by: Duke

This site says 3-4" deep and 4-5" apart, full sun.

https://is.gd/ktWAJr

Posted by: AZ deplorable moron at March 18, 2023 03:01 PM (d9J/h)

57 1 down lots to go, all over but the clean up

Posted by: Skip at March 18, 2023 03:01 PM (xhxe8)

58 All chopped up into less than 1 foot pieces
Posted by: Skip

Good work, will it all be charcoal soon?

Posted by: AZ deplorable moron at March 18, 2023 03:01 PM (d9J/h)

59 My folks gave me some gladiola bulbs. How deep do I plant them?

YOUR FOLKS!?! 6 feet under is traditional.

Posted by: commissar of plenty and Lysenko solutions at March 18, 2023 03:04 PM (9yp5S)

60 All chopped up into less than 1 foot pieces
Posted by: Skip

Lookitchoo !

Posted by: JT at March 18, 2023 03:04 PM (T4tVD)

61 My wife wanted some table grapes for my grape arbour, and with my suggestion she got some year old vine clippings from a friend with a Korean grape. She says they are a large globular grape and she likes them.

I put two of the cuttings in water and they buds swelled and now have popped out leaves. So far there haven't been any roots, but since the sun is out we may be getting warm enough to have the roots start sprouting.
Once they get up in size I will add them to the end of one of the rows of grapes.

Posted by: Kindltot at March 18, 2023 03:06 PM (xhaym)

62 I use the pine to make maple charcoal, and melt lead

Posted by: Skip at March 18, 2023 03:12 PM (xhxe8)

63 Give Arizona honeybees a wide berth. According to the county extension (even up in Navajo), most wild hives have been cross bred with Africanized strains - the infamous Killer Bees of SNL fame - and are very aggressive, unlike the european bees of yesteryear. I discovered a wild hive close to my house in late fall, and the agent advised having a pest service remove it.

Posted by: buddhaha at March 18, 2023 03:12 PM (SjJ2M)

64 I'm trying to start chokecherries, elderberries, and roses from cuttings.

I just got the elderberry cuttings yesterday. (I hope they're the right plant, at any rate - it's so hard to tel when they're bare branches on a snowy roadside.)

My first set of rose cuttings died, I've got a second set that hasn't died yet, and the the ones I got yesterday haven't had a chance to die.

And the chokecherry cuttings are starting to leaf out.

I just don't know what I'm doing and have no idea where to look, since the internet is largely useless.

Posted by: FeatherBlade at March 18, 2023 03:17 PM (tBij0)

65 "But there are also places in the basin where farmers have agreements with the govt. to cut levees to flood parts of their land during floods."

One would think that some bright spark would just install a gate in the levee so that you don't have to cut and rebuild.

Posted by: FeatherBlade at March 18, 2023 03:18 PM (tBij0)

66 KT animal nood!

Posted by: AZ deplorable moron at March 18, 2023 03:19 PM (d9J/h)

67 All those amazing harvesting machines and still no one has invented a machine that can remove crawfish tail meat without tearing it up

That's why most crawfish tail in restaurant meals come from Asia.

Posted by: polynikes at March 18, 2023 03:21 PM (LN7ig)

68 I just don't know what I'm doing and have no idea where to look, since the internet is largely useless.
Posted by: FeatherBlade at March 18, 2023 03:17 PM (tBij0)

If the chokecherries are leafing out then you are probably doing the right thing, and elderberries cuttings are started the same way, it water, or you can do it in potting soil.

for roses look up "Propagating Rose Cuttings"

Posted by: Kindltot at March 18, 2023 03:21 PM (xhaym)

69 OT: Maybe in honour of Lance Reddick -- and maybe only on the Canadian feed of HLN Headline News -- but they're binge-running all of Fringe this weekend.
Posted by: andycanuck (Vwz3I) at March 18, 2023 02:41 PM (Vwz3I)

I have yet to determine what that guy was known for. Is there a word for "totally obscure celebrity"?

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at March 18, 2023 03:21 PM (tkR6S)

70 there are also places in the basin where farmers have agreements with the govt. to cut levees to flood parts of their land during floods.
Posted by: KT

2 weeks ago it looked like they didn't need to cut any levees to flood the orchards.
They were flooded and there was heavy rain all Friday.

Posted by: AZ deplorable moron at March 18, 2023 03:21 PM (d9J/h)

71 2 cast loads and all out back, I deserve a stout

Posted by: Skip at March 18, 2023 03:26 PM (xhxe8)

72 So a random video popped up on my Ewetoob, and it was a bamboo enthusiast. Some of you may be in the market for this info, so I'll share.

Publius says we have a stand of bamboo on the edge of what he refers to as "the Reed place" down the road (this field hasn't been mown for maybe 3 years and he'd better get it this year or it will be taken over by Nature).

Anyway, we're planning to harvest some to use as stakes and assorted projects around the place. If you've got room for it, it can be very useful (and tasty). So check it out.

(remove the space before watch) https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=C5Ke83_QKtk

Posted by: Miley, okravangelist at March 18, 2023 04:01 PM (Mzdiz)

73 We've filled our container beds and added red wigglers. The fill has plenty of organic matter in it to feed the worms, but I'm going to add chopped vegetative matter and coffee grounds to it.

We generate a lot of coffee grounds here.

Posted by: Miley, okravangelist at March 18, 2023 04:04 PM (Mzdiz)

74 Bamboo seems evil around here, see people plant it ant starts to take over that area, and as far as I hear can't be removed ever, except agen t orange

Posted by: Skip at March 18, 2023 04:08 PM (xhxe8)

75 AZ deplorable moron at March 18, 2023 03:21 PM

We're talking cutting levees near fields to keep streams from topping banks near towns.

One year, a fish hatchery in the mountains flooded out and there were big trout swimming in the fields, with power poles marching toward the horizon through the water.

There are also farmers pumping water onto fields to restore the aquifers. Maybe sometimes from canals.

Posted by: KT at March 18, 2023 04:09 PM (rrtZS)

76 Bamboo seems evil around here, see people plant it ant starts to take over that area, and as far as I hear can't be removed ever, except agen t orange

Posted by: Skip at March 18, 2023 04:08 PM (xhxe

Nah, that's a common misconception. Watch the vid and he'll explain how to get rid of it, if you really want to. It takes a few years, though. You want to let the rhizomes expend energy by allowing it to grow to a certain point, then cut.

Bamboo leaves and shoots are great for chickens and livestock. Good to know.

Good work on the tree, Skip! We have a very tall dead pine in front of my in-laws that needs to be taken down. Some pretty big branches fell during winter storms.

Posted by: Miley, okravangelist at March 18, 2023 04:35 PM (Mzdiz)

77 From Boise area: Lows 27-41 F, highs 48-52. Rained all day Tues., lots of wind Wed, some frost Thurs.-Fri. mornings.

We burned the spring burn pile last week - I added the dead asparagus fronds. We've finished cutting down old Siberian Iris and ornamental grass leaves. I've been moving finished compost onto the corn bed, as the compost piles thaw out.

Puttering: we built raised beds 1 and 2 from lumber we found on the property when we moved here. Top board of bed 2 decided to rot, so we pried it up, and stuck in a different board. It looks weird, and the whole bed may have to be rebuilt someday, but it'll work for now.

First purple crocus behind kitchen has opened!, but no other buds visible yet. Hyacinths have color showing down inside but have not extended stems yet. Tulip leaves out front are 1-2" tall.

Indoor tomatoes have 2nd leaves. 4 of 6 poblano seeds sprouted.

Posted by: Pat* at March 18, 2023 04:39 PM (ru2kb)

78 So, the Publius/Miley report is: daffodils done, except for the ones we had on the north side of the house. They lasted a very long time by not getting that much direct sunlight.

My clematis planting (one purple and one white) is chock full of buds. I use frost-protective cloth for the occasional high 20-s/30-ish nights, because I want to see those buds pop. It should be awesome - they're already taller than the 6-foot trellis. I was hoping they would like that location (mostly morning sun, no mid-late afternoon sun), after spending 2 years in pots.

Vegetable garden: needs another round of cultivation, then smoothing. Potatoes will go in first, and then we'll begin fencing against the deer. I plan to use T-posts and fencing to grow tomatoes this year. My guess is that we won't even plant half of it.

Of course, if Miklos showed up, he'd get his lousy quarter acre ready-to-plant!

Posted by: Miley, okravangelist at March 18, 2023 04:47 PM (Mzdiz)

79 We're talking cutting levees near fields to keep streams from topping banks near towns.

Posted by: KT

Didn't drive pass any of those levees.

Posted by: AZ deplorable moron at March 18, 2023 04:49 PM (qQoAK)

80 Water is flowing over the Tempe Town Lake dam into the Salt River bed, which goes westward through Phoenix and beyond. It's the first time in five years that there's been water in it. Most of it is expected to go straight down. It soaks the riverbed, then slowly refills the aquifer. There are what look like cormorants hanging out on the rocks below the dam, looking for dinner.

For those using horse manure, which is my favorite (well, horse barn sweepings, which includes urine-soaked sawdust), a caution: DuPont has a herbicide called Grazon. It is sprayed on pastures to control weeds. Animals can graze on it immediately because it goes straight through them without harm.

Unfortunately, it goes into the manure, and no one seems to know how long it remains active. A single contaminated clod will ruin a bed, damage trees and ruin your harvest. The only solution is to get rid of the whole soil area and replace with new soil.

Now if you're using your own manure and you know you didn't use Grazon, you only need worry that it was sprayed on that truckload of hay you bought.

Putting coffee grounds on your pile does result in jittery worms, but they work more quickly.

Posted by: Gordon Scott at March 18, 2023 05:07 PM (xizV5)

81 Thanks for all your work, K.T.

Posted by: m at March 18, 2023 05:43 PM (CQE5S)

82 The hobby thread is up.

Posted by: m at March 18, 2023 05:44 PM (CQE5S)

83 AZ deplorable moron at March 18, 2023 04:49 PM

Those levees are generally far from highways. They don't want people falling in.

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Posted by: pharaoh at March 19, 2023 11:30 AM (xe55H)

85 This week, in the midst of an Ohio snow, I found these crocuses. It really gave me a lift. https://tinyurl.com/3wv2cdfs

Posted by: Linda S Fox at March 20, 2023 05:37 AM (PS49u)

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