Gardening, Puttering and Adventure Thread, Nov. 25

Happy Thanksgiving Weekend, everybody!

My cousin generally grows out several Amaryllis bulbs every year, and this year one bloomed for Thanksgiving! They're not true Amaryllis bulbs, they are really Hippeastrum. But who wants to say "Hippeastrum"? The bulbs you see at stores are timed to bloom by temperature, variety and by when you start watering them. Here are some details from the North Carolina Extension.

Where hardy, they will bloom outdoors in the spring. The smaller-flowered types generally look best in the landscape.

Are you growing any?

Here are some botanical details.

You can keep some of these bulbs to bloom every year at Christmas, but the ones that are sold coated with wax probably won't re-bloom.

Edible Gardening/Putting Things By

Nan in AZ:

First set baby eggplant!
Got a couple of bell peppers too.
Tomatoes are booming.
Starting to turn red.
Swiss chard looking good.
Had enough green beans for Thanksgiving dinner! Arizona winter garden is way better than summer heat . . .

How glorious! The green beans for Thanksgiving look great!

From last week's comments:

We're putting all the gardens to bed for the winter, almost finished. Putting up shelters in the chicken yard, consisting of Tposts, arched cake panels and reinforced construction plastic to make areas the chooks can get out of the wind and rain, and still get some sun. Cleaning out the hen house one more time before winter, and putting the spoiled hay/manure on new beds to be planted next year.
I do have the hoop house to finish clearing for winter, but I'm tired and don't want to do it! But... if I want to"winter sow" some cabbages and broccoli in February, I better get it done this week.
Posted by: Question Authority bumper sticker

Thinking about getting chickens?

Got chickens? Get organized. This one is a X-cosrack Stackable Wire Baskets for Pantry Organizers and Storage, 3-tier Food Packet/Can Organizer with 4 Removable Dividers, Large Kitchen Storage Basket

Remember that aged eggs (up to 3 weeks in the fridge) are easier to peel for deviled eggs.

Ah, Nature

Puttering

Perhaps a hellebore, or just some holly berries might be better suited to his modest abode, Mr. Mousie wonders!#embroidery #hellebore #holly #christmasecor #mouse pic.twitter.com/aJP0ugTJyY
— Helen M. Stevens (@helen_m_stevens) November 23, 2023

Fall Clean-up

Tidying up those fall leaves is not always easy. Are you having challenges in your fall yard and garden clean-up? Not everyone has this kind of challenge:

FALL FUN: Willow the baby muskox was seen running and playing in a pile of maple leaves at the Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium in Tacoma, Washington, on Monday (11/13). The zoo says the two-month-old calf is spunky and curious.

Gardens of The Horde

Doing decorations? Anything else going on?

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, Nov. 18

Any thoughts or questions? There were lots of great comments last week.

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 01:14 PM

Comments

(Jump to bottom of comments)

1 Good afternoon Greenthumbs

Posted by: Skip at November 25, 2023 01:28 PM (fwDg9)

2 Other than leaf collecting, as of other day the pepper plants in mini greenhouse are still growing, noticed a few more small psychological on them

Posted by: Skip at November 25, 2023 01:30 PM (fwDg9)

3 Baby musk oxen rival baby goats for cuteness.

Posted by: KT at November 25, 2023 01:35 PM (rrtZS)

4 Do you know anyone who talks like the lady in the Amaryllis video?

Posted by: KT at November 25, 2023 01:39 PM (rrtZS)

5 Do you know anyone who talks like the lady in the Amaryllis video?
Posted by: KT at November 25, 2023 01:39 PM (rrtZS)
---------
She's too close to the mic, for one thing.

Posted by: Captain Obvious, Laird o' the Sea, Radioactive Knight at November 25, 2023 01:43 PM (ScR16)

6 Hard for me to imagine growing eggplant in winter. What an adventure!

Posted by: KT at November 25, 2023 01:43 PM (rrtZS)

7 We got into chickens about 18 months ago.

We got 6 chicks and 6 pullets. One chick transitioned into a rooster and was sent to a farm with 50 hens where he'd be useful.

Be prepared for poop. It's a daily management issue if you want healthy hens.

Also, be aware they sometimes just up and die for myriad reasons. It's emotional.

Also be prepared with a quarantine/hospital area, as the first sign of any disease you've got to segregate the ill asap.

And unless you automate the water, feed and doors, you are gonna be home a lot.

They are so rewarding. Ours are molting at the moment and ceased egg production, also low light conditions exacerbate this. You can stimulate egg production with artificial light, but remember, they only have so many eggs in them, so you are sacrificing future egg production.

Oh so much to learn.

Posted by: Derak at November 25, 2023 01:44 PM (P8nor)

8 Psychological? How did phone make peppers into that?

Posted by: Skip at November 25, 2023 01:46 PM (fwDg9)

9 The Bell Pepper that wife brought in is now making orange bells in addition to green ones. Weird.

Posted by: Ronster at November 25, 2023 01:48 PM (BI/LW)

10 My attempt at Fall Irish potatoes continues. I was late getting them in but we have a moderate climate.

Posted by: G'rump928(c) at November 25, 2023 01:53 PM (aD39U)

11 Our Amaryllis blooms look nice in May but only last about two weeks.

Posted by: Dr. Varno at November 25, 2023 01:59 PM (8KRMF)

12 2 Other than leaf collecting, as of other day the pepper plants in mini greenhouse are still growing, noticed a few more small psychological on them
Posted by: Skip at November 25, 2023 01:30 PM (fwDg9)

8 Psychological? How did phone make peppers into that?
Posted by: Skip at November 25, 2023 01:46 PM (fwDg9)

Pretty funny.

Posted by: m at November 25, 2023 02:00 PM (4tUZx)

13 Greetings! My sister has a chicken coop, gets 6 or 8 eggs per day. She claims that these need not be refrigerated, unless you wash them. I believe her, but is this true?

Posted by: gourmand du jour at November 25, 2023 02:03 PM (MeG8a)

14 Yes, they keep longer unwashed and don't need refrigeration.

I left the amaryllis from last year behind my kitchen sink. Doesn't look like it will bloom. Bought a new one for that. My narcissus blooms there decided to grow. The Thanksgiving cactus is blooming nicely. I set its pot on top of a pot that had a bulb. It's sent roots down into that. I need to transplant it.

Posted by: Notsothoreau at November 25, 2023 02:08 PM (t0dV9)

15 Just this past week I transplanted some spinach and lettuce that came up from my late summer seeding and will try to keep them going inside this winter. Also brought in some onions and geraniums.

The only southern exposure window I can use for them is going to be crowded this winter.

Posted by: Farmer at November 25, 2023 02:10 PM (55Qr6)

16 Having a constant supply of fresh eggs sounds very attractive. So does a rooster waking my neighbors at sunrise.

Posted by: San Franpsycho at November 25, 2023 02:11 PM (RIvkX)

17 I get one of those "local story" magazines from the electric company. They had an interesting article about a man that raises beef cattle on hydroponic barley. He started with a purchased aystem but developed and patented his own. His feed is cheaper than hay.

Posted by: Notsothoreau at November 25, 2023 02:14 PM (t0dV9)

18 In my neighborhood new coops were made code violations some decades ago UNLESS you already had a coop on your property, then you could continue having it, but NO ROOSTERS. When I go on neighborhood walks I know which houses have backyard coops.

Posted by: gourmand du jour at November 25, 2023 02:14 PM (MeG8a)

19 I just put my annual "amaryllis" in its growing medium this morning.

Slight correction from last week's comment (listed above) (!):
they were CATTLE panels, not "cake" panels. I made cake this week for Thanksgiving (oops, wrong thread...).

And I didn't get into that hoop house this week. I was baking ... cake, and pie, and turkey and....oops, wrong thread, again!

Posted by: Question Authority bumper sticker at November 25, 2023 02:15 PM (Rbu5d)

20 No gardening here, as the ground is covered with snow. But the Sun is shining, and the thermometer has crept up to barely above freezing. I am, quite literally, puttering, as in working on a trivial project. Stripped the few remaining good parts off a derelict car, so that I can give it to a friend who will place it on a mound in his yard, with a flagpole planted in it, as yard art. His place is quite awesome.

I got the scrap axle bolted in this morning, and the wheels bolted on, so the rear end is on wheels again. Brushed the snow off the tractor, and drove it down to one of my storage units, and retrieved a pair of rusty front hubs, and toted them back. Placed scruffy used bearings in the hubs. On my lunch break, now.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at November 25, 2023 02:16 PM (ysn/U)

21 Good day green thumbs. I'm just enjoying garden stuff vicariously through you all. We are getting a bit of winter yesterday and today with below freezing temps all day and some snow. Thus, not even tackling any cleanup of dead stalks. Usually we get some warm and dry days every month all through winter so cleanup is only paused and not blocked until spring like when I was growing up in ND.

Posted by: PaleRider at November 25, 2023 02:17 PM (3cGpq)

22 Anyone have any tips for saving and reusing seeds from vegetables, specifically from pumpkins?

My wife bought this weird, bumpy, warty pumpkin for Halloween, and I'd like to save some of the seeds and plant them in the garden next spring.

Do I need to do anything special to the seeds, or do I just extract them, let them dry, then plant them when the ground warms in the spring?

Am I over thinking this?

Posted by: Billy D at November 25, 2023 02:17 PM (F6Xpw)

23
My next door neighbors had a nice coop with about four hens. They go away a lot and had another neighbors child taking care of them when away. Oops. Something didn't get closed properly and Mr. Fox killed 'em all.

It's been about six months now and they haven't replaced them.

Posted by: Divide by Zero at November 25, 2023 02:18 PM (enJYY)

24 Yay! Season's green things!

Posted by: Emmie at November 25, 2023 02:21 PM (Sf2cq)

25 Nan's garden produce looks great!

Posted by: AZ deplorable moron at November 25, 2023 02:23 PM (5/CA+)

26 16 Having a constant supply of fresh eggs sounds very attractive. So does a rooster waking my neighbors at sunrise.
Posted by: San Franpsycho at November 25, 2023 02:11 PM (RIvkX)

; )

Posted by: m at November 25, 2023 02:24 PM (4tUZx)

27 We've a really nice tree-form hydrangea paniculata up at our Adirondack camp. Our daughter and family went there to experience a Thanksgiving in the mountains, on a dirt road, no one around except the wildlife.

I sent the ten- and twelve-year old kids a video of how to prune the tree before they left home for the trip, and told them where to find the Felco no. 8 pruning shears.

The tree was in need of a severe haircut. The video was great, in that a guy is doing it to a tree in exactly the same condition. The kids did a great job, and built a campfire after, in which all the cuttings got burnt.

I am proud of them and glad they learned some gardening skills doing this. There will be outstanding flower cones all next summer and fall.

Posted by: Mr Gaga at November 25, 2023 02:27 PM (ZtgZZ)

28
Do I need to do anything special to the seeds, or do I just extract them, let them dry, then plant them when the ground warms in the spring?

Am I over thinking this?
Posted by: Billy D

Yeah, you're probably over thinking it.
Let them dry and then plant them as you would any other squash.

Posted by: AZ deplorable moron at November 25, 2023 02:28 PM (5/CA+)

29 Tomorrow is a busy day
We've got dirt to scratch and eggs to lay
We've got eggs to lay and dirt to scratch
It takes a lot of sittin' to get chicks to hatch!

Posted by: happy hens all sing at November 25, 2023 02:29 PM (MeG8a)

30 Garlic going in today - snow coming tomorrow.

Posted by: Black JEM at November 25, 2023 02:29 PM (UVyKP)

31 Roasted pumpkin seeds are pretty tasty to eat, too.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at November 25, 2023 02:30 PM (ysn/U)

32 Roasted pumpkin seeds are pretty tasty to eat, too.
Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon

I was going to mention not to roast the ones you want to sprout later...

Posted by: AZ deplorable moron at November 25, 2023 02:31 PM (5/CA+)

33 Tomorrow is a busy day
We've got dirt to scratch and eggs to lay
We've got eggs to lay and dirt to scratch
It takes a lot of sittin' to get chicks to hatch!
Posted by: happy hens all sing at November 25, 2023 02:29 PM (MeG8a)

In that vein:

There was an old lady named Wooster
Who bought herself a new rooster.
I'm really quite sorry,
But the rest of the story
I simply can't tell like I used ter.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at November 25, 2023 02:32 PM (ysn/U)

34
I amend my recommendation with the following well written instructions for saving squash seeds:
https://is.gd/pT7flQ

They say to ferment the seeds before drying.

Posted by: AZ deplorable moron at November 25, 2023 02:36 PM (5/CA+)

35 Just finished putting together the deviled eggs for today's dinner, with Flash Cadillac's Christmas album playing in the background.

Posted by: Captain Obvious, Laird o' the Sea, Radioactive Knight at November 25, 2023 02:43 PM (ScR16)

36 7...Oh so much to learn.
Posted by: Derak at November 25, 2023 01:44 PM (P8nor)

yep.

Posted by: Question Authority bumper sticker at November 25, 2023 02:45 PM (Rbu5d)

37 13...I believe her, but is this true?
Posted by: gourmand du jour at November 25, 2023 02:03 PM (MeG8a)

yes.
In a cool place. like away from the stove or other heat-producing appliances, out of the sun. Pointy side down.

Posted by: Question Authority bumper sticker at November 25, 2023 02:46 PM (Rbu5d)

38 22...Am I over thinking this?
Posted by: Billy D at November 25, 2023 02:17 PM (F6Xpw)

Rinse off the pulp attached to the seeds. Blot off the excess moisture, and then (this is what I do) spread out on a paper plate to let dry. Once they're dry, you can store them in an envelope, a glass jar, whatever, in a cool, dry, dark place. Not refriegerator.

Posted by: Question Authority bumper sticker at November 25, 2023 02:49 PM (Rbu5d)

39 >>>@22 Anyone have any tips for saving and reusing seeds from vegetables, specifically from pumpkins? Posted by: Billy D at November 25, 2023 02:17 PM (F6Xpw)
===============
Greetings, BillyD ... At the link below is an article by Martha Stewart which provides detailed steps for saving and storing pumpkin seeds ... Information about seeds for other veggies might also be available at this site:

https://tinyurl.com/4uk6ra93

Posted by: Kathy at November 25, 2023 02:51 PM (XUe78)

40 Shh. They're coming closer.

Posted by: Just the Punchline at November 25, 2023 02:53 PM (aD39U)

41 Rethreaded:
Did he leave the house just to pick up the leaves when he could just leave them there?

Man I love the English language
Posted by: Drive by at November 25, 2023 10:44 AM (MNhXM)

Love it or leave it.

Posted by: m at November 25, 2023 10:45 AM (4tUZx)

He used his left hand to pick up the few leaves left behind while on his leave from the Army.

Posted by: Ciampino - I said Studies not Research! at November 25, 2023 02:57 PM (qfLjt)

42 39 >>>@22 Anyone have any tips for saving and reusing seeds from vegetables, specifically from pumpkins? Posted by: Billy D at November 25, 2023 02:17 PM (F6Xpw)
===============
Greetings, BillyD ... At the link below is an article by Martha Stewart which provides detailed steps for saving and storing pumpkin seeds ... Information about seeds for other veggies might also be available at this site:

https://tinyurl.com/4uk6ra93

Posted by: Kathy at November 25, 2023 02:51 PM (XUe7

Thanks to all for the seed saving tips !

Posted by: Billy D at November 25, 2023 02:58 PM (F6Xpw)

43 Got us about a foot of snow over the past coupla days. Finally let up late this morning. It finally hit 20 degrees.

Second big snow of the season already. We got almost a foot the week before Halloween.

Might be a sporty winter.

Posted by: Pug Smallberries at November 25, 2023 03:00 PM (T/Lqj)

44 I get one of those "local story" magazines from the electric company. They had an interesting article about a man that raises beef cattle on hydroponic barley. He started with a purchased aystem but developed and patented his own. His feed is cheaper than hay.
Posted by: Notsothoreau at November 25, 2023 02:14 PM (t0dV9)

In Paraguay they have a state agricultural development group and one of the suggestions they had for the small farmers who are running a few head of cows for dairy was to make shallow rimmed concrete pads to soak and sprout corn in to add to the cattle feed. They seem to have been suggesting pulling up the sprouted corn when the leaves were about 3-6" tall. The idea is to keep the cows in green stuff when they are penned up in the muddy season.

I suspect it is cheaper than building a silage pit, and more feasable in Paraguay where it is warm than in, say, South Dakota in the winter.

Posted by: Kindltot at November 25, 2023 03:01 PM (D7oie)

45 How about that, I have both chickens and bananas.

Chickens love bananas.

Posted by: Itinerant Alley Butcher at November 25, 2023 03:06 PM (cOq4q)

46 Keep saying we are in for a real winter, last year I think was my first with no snow. Need to get tires before a storm hits and just regular tires not snow tires.

Posted by: Skip at November 25, 2023 03:10 PM (fwDg9)

47 Saw some good-looking Christmas trees today while I was out on a shopping run. Apparently people don't use savory anymore. Am I going to have to grow my own?

Posted by: Miley, okravangelist at November 25, 2023 03:13 PM (Mzdiz)

48 I had a friend in college who paper trained some chickens. Really.
Just took a walk in perfect walking temps of 40+ degrees with a cloudless blue sky, bright sunshine on my face on the Cap Crescent Trail so no cars. Ah, nature.

Posted by: Sharon(willow's apprentice) at November 25, 2023 03:18 PM (t/2Uw)

49 Is savory a kind of tree?

Posted by: Ronster at November 25, 2023 03:19 PM (lV5I/)

50 Savory is a spice, an herb, and is somewhat akin to rosemary and sage.

Posted by: happy hens all sing at November 25, 2023 03:24 PM (MeG8a)

51 Savory is a bush I think without looking it up

Posted by: Skip at November 25, 2023 03:25 PM (fwDg9)

52 Off happy hens sock...

Posted by: gourmand du jour at November 25, 2023 03:25 PM (MeG8a)

53 Billy D at November 25, 2023 02:17 PM

If you want to save seeds from store-bought pumpkins, you should be confident that they are open-pollinated and grown in a field of pumpkins just like them, because they cross-pollinate like crazy. You are likely to get something very different from the parent pumpkin. And decorator pumpkins are often sold as seed mixtures.

Other advice from comments above seems good.

Posted by: KT at November 25, 2023 03:25 PM (rrtZS)

54 Thanks gourmand. That makes sense.

Posted by: Ronster at November 25, 2023 03:28 PM (lV5I/)

55 I know it's off the gardening topic, but the cartoon in the last thread struck a nerve, because it's something I try to impress upon my kids when they complain about the little things, and especially around Thanksgiving. They have a small but beautiful home that meets their needs, a fridge that's always jam-packed, a yard to play in, a dog and a cat to join them, and a mom and dad and stepdad who love them and work their butts off for them to go to decent, safe schools, and generally just spoil them with toys and things.

It's more than has even been in the visual scope of most people on this cursed Earth at any time, only in this country and a handful of others during our own time, and increasingly out of reach for many kids even here, and now.

Thanksgiving isn't just a day. You should be thankful every day you live this Life of Riley, and jealously guard it against the army of petty little mofos who want to take it away.

Posted by: Yudhishthira's Dice at November 25, 2023 03:29 PM (0FoWg)

56 Yudhishthira's Dice at November 25, 2023 03:29 PM

Yes.

Posted by: KT at November 25, 2023 03:32 PM (rrtZS)

57 I had a friend in college who paper trained some chickens. Really.
Just took a walk in perfect walking temps of 40+ degrees with a cloudless blue sky, bright sunshine on my face on the Cap Crescent Trail so no cars. Ah, nature.
Posted by: Sharon(willow's apprentice) at November 25, 2023 03:18 PM (t/2Uw)

The chickens delivered the papers ?

Posted by: JT at November 25, 2023 03:34 PM (T4tVD)

58 Thanksgiving isn't just a day. You should be thankful every day you live this Life of Riley, and jealously guard it against the army of petty little mofos who want to take it away.
Posted by: Yudhishthira's Dice at November 25, 2023 03:29 PM (0FoWg)

When you're right, you're right !

Posted by: JT at November 25, 2023 03:35 PM (T4tVD)

59 35 Just finished putting together the deviled eggs for today's dinner, with Flash Cadillac's Christmas album playing in the background.
Posted by: Captain Obvious, Laird o' the Sea, Radioactive Knight at November 25, 2023 02:43 PM (ScR16)

I just now shared your comment with Mr. Bassman. He absolutely loves deviled eggs.

Posted by: Emmie at November 25, 2023 03:39 PM (Sf2cq)

60
Since YT is waxing philosophical in this thread, I'll add my .02 cents, and worth every penny...

I was just listening to a Dan Fogelberg song where he is talking from experience about love and how 'once deceased not easily exhumed'. Then I thought about how our liberties, freedoms, way of life are being slowly buried.

I'll leave it at that, neither optimistic nor pessimistic.

Posted by: Divide by Zero at November 25, 2023 03:57 PM (enJYY)

61 Planning to redo our newly resurfaced back yard, the missus and I are having a small disagreement over the types of plants for next year. She wants floral beauty and I want (at least some) edibles or herbs. Since the area in debate is only 25' x 25' we could do some of both.

Posted by: gourmand du jour at November 25, 2023 04:03 PM (MeG8a)

62 Very late to the thread, sorry. (Gotta nap sometime.) But thanks for the humor, the information and that adorable musk ox calf.

Posted by: JTB at November 25, 2023 04:09 PM (7EjX1)

63 So now I'm enrolling in a 3rd University when I wanted to teach. Huh.

Posted by: Noah Bawdy at November 25, 2023 05:40 PM (IEkmh)

64 From Boise area: Lows dropping from 30's down to teens this coming week, highs dropping from 40's down to low 30's soon. No snow yet, but my snow tires are on, so I'm prepared.

A storm on Sunday dropped nearly all the maple leaves - right after the 4-H crew had cleaned up our yard. C'est la vie... We've been sweeping, composting, bagging, and trashing leaves all week. (The sycamores are mostly done, but will keep some leaves all the way to February...) I'm finally able to help with bagging leaves, though my knees are telling me I overdid that today.

Our neighborhood has a family who hosts a flag football game every Thanksgiving morning. Being sensible older adults, we sit on the sidelines, chat with other sensible adults, drink cocoa, and eat muffins.

We canned some apple pie filling, with fruit from our probably-Jonathan tree.

Today we took cuttings from a pine tree we plan to take out 2 years from now, and wired them onto a wreath form. Later comes putting a strand of lights onto it. Then we'll wrap light strands around the front pillars, get everything plugged in, and put it all on a timer. - I think we should compost the pumpkins, before we put the lights up.

Posted by: Pat* at November 25, 2023 08:53 PM (td6Vu)

65 Hi there, its good piece of writing abοut media print,
we all know meɗia іs a great source of fɑcts.

Posted by: broth at November 26, 2023 01:01 PM (IS9ZC)

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