Gardening, Puttering and Adventure Thread, June 1

Don in Kansas has posted many more great photos already this year than we have been able to even hint at, but I thought that today, we might review a few, going back a few months. There are more at the link above, plus good growing tips and notes, if you want a break from the craziness in the world:

February 20:

Iris at the link.

Geranium, April 6

There was snow after this.

April 27

Dianthus-gratianopolitanus. Love this plant.

Cerastium tomentosum. A simple border plant, striking in Don's closeup.

Monarda bradburiana,
A new one for me. Butterflies and hummingbirds?

More at Don's site. We will feature some of them in coming weeks.

Edible Gardening/Putting Things By

From By-Tor:

Los Angeles County Fair results in.
Best of Division/ Best of Class- Pear Butter
Best of Class/. 1st Place- Apple Sauce
2nd Place- Peach jam

Congratulations!!!

Commercial Farming

Lady Liberty potatoes, bred for making chips.

Big field in Washington State:

The plants are blooming and fragrant, and there are potatoes under the surface of the soil, almost big enough for chip-making.

Puttering

This makes a difference!

The surprising invisibility effect of painting chicken wire blackpic.twitter.com/i056s1gg1B
— Massimo (@Rainmaker1973) May 11, 2024

Gardening Know-how

Making a rose tree by grafting
pic.twitter.com/wGYcxSqMs1
— Science girl (@gunsnrosesgirl3) May 12, 2024

Doing any grafting this year?

Adventure

Watching the pelicans at Wanawish Dam in Washington State.

Gardens of The Horde

From NorCal Sierra Foothills Lurker:

Hubby found this evil looking cocoon getting our little garden ready. Maybe it's a tomato worm, hummingbird moth. We are fumblebums and garden by chance.... there's a chance it might survive. We have no idea what we're doing but it's fun!

Why, yes. That is the chrysalis of a moth such as a tomato hornworm moth or a hummingbird moth. If you want to hatch it, put it in a jar with an inch or so of soil over it.

Since we're on break, here is a picture of the northern lights from out my front door. The phone enhanced the colors although it was red and green it wasn't that bright. Picture was taken Friday May 10th.

Gorgeous

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 and Adventure Thread, May 25

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 01:24 PM

Comments

(Jump to bottom of comments)

1 Say my name.

Posted by: Rose Heisenberg at June 01, 2024 01:27 PM (SYTee)

2 There's no butter in pear butter. How can falsely labeled product get a prize?

Posted by: Just figures at June 01, 2024 01:29 PM (k3d8O)

3 Good afternoon Greenthumbs
Finally noticed dill trying to come up. Got flowers on peppers but non started

Posted by: Skip at June 01, 2024 01:30 PM (fwDg9)

4 Omg that's an alien pod!!!!

Posted by: vmom stabby stabby stabby stabby stabamillion at June 01, 2024 01:32 PM (Ka3bZ)

5 I tried to make a quick beef chili from ground spices (no tomatoes) but my proportions are off or I'm missing something.

What's a good rule of thumb recipe?

Posted by: vmom stabby stabby stabby stabby stabamillion at June 01, 2024 01:36 PM (Ka3bZ)

6 That looks tasty. Are you going to eat that pod?

Posted by: Klaus "eat ze bugs" Schwab at June 01, 2024 01:36 PM (cCxiu)

7 Hatch it, or kill it just to be sure

Posted by: Skip at June 01, 2024 01:37 PM (fwDg9)

8 vmom stabby stabby stabby stabby stabamillion at June 01, 2024 01:36 PM

Think pozole and leave out the hominy. Or just make pozole with ground beef. Use mostly mild ground pepper. add a little cumin, coriander and oregano for chile.

Posted by: KT at June 01, 2024 01:50 PM (rrtZS)

9 The famous all-beef chili at Sal's where VDH goes uses round steak.

Posted by: KT at June 01, 2024 01:51 PM (rrtZS)

10 Saw my first hummingbird moth last summer - so cool!
Initially thought it was a baby hummingbird.

Posted by: Lizzy at June 01, 2024 02:04 PM (cCVOS)

11 5 I tried to make a quick beef chili from ground spices (no tomatoes) but my proportions are off or I'm missing something.

What's a good rule of thumb recipe?
Posted by: vmom stabby stabby

Do you specifically want something without tomatoes? Spices for my chili are:
2-3 tablespoons chili powder (I like Ancho)
2 tablespoons cumin
1 tablespoon garlic powder
1 diced yellow onion
1 seeded and chopped chipotle pepper in adobo (if I have it).
1 can chopped hatch chilis
Salt, pepper

I use tomato paste, tomato sauce and diced tomatoes and beef bone broth, too.

Posted by: Piper at June 01, 2024 02:05 PM (pRpzT)

12 Those are impressive rose trees.
do we know what they used for the root stock for the 'tree'?

Congrats on the awards By-Tor. L.A. country fair, just how many entries are you completing with?

Love the invisible hardware cloth, and the Harry Potter theme behind it.

Posted by: AZ deplorable moron at June 01, 2024 02:05 PM (/NGfr)

13 Love the pelicans!
Was lucky enough to be walking the dog at a nearby park a month ago when 13 of them stopped by our little lake for an hour or so on their way wherever they go to breed. Now, when I chat w/someone at the park about what birds they're seeing, a lot have asked "Did you see the pelicans?!" Odd looking and HUGE.

Posted by: Lizzy at June 01, 2024 02:10 PM (cCVOS)

14 >>That looks tasty. Are you going to eat that pod?
Posted by: Klaus "eat ze bugs" Schwab

Maybe after it puts the lotion in the basket!!

Posted by: Jame Gumb at June 01, 2024 02:12 PM (cCVOS)

15 hiya

Posted by: JT at June 01, 2024 02:13 PM (T4tVD)

16 Does anyone here have perennial cornflowers, aka Centaurea montana? Also known as mountain bluet.

Posted by: Miley, okravangelist at June 01, 2024 02:13 PM (w6EFb)

17 That rose tree is pretty cool, but what were the grafts attached to?

Posted by: Miley, okravangelist at June 01, 2024 02:17 PM (w6EFb)

18 9 The famous all-beef chili at Sal's where VDH goes uses round steak.

do they use some of those meat-based carrots that one fellow invented?

Posted by: anachronda at June 01, 2024 02:17 PM (edU/H)

19 There was a time when I would take a kayak or solo canoe and surf that pour over with the pelicans.

Posted by: Eromero at June 01, 2024 02:18 PM (o2ZRX)

20 That 'invisible' chicken fence is a hoot. I wonder how many people try it, forget, and walk into it. I probably would.

Posted by: JTB at June 01, 2024 02:18 PM (zudum)

21 Oh, and that rose at the top is gorgeous. I've never gone for roses since they seem to be high-maintenance (you know, planting them over pets' graves and all of the special additives).

Posted by: Miley, okravangelist at June 01, 2024 02:18 PM (w6EFb)

22 Congratulations to By-Tor on those awards. Bet they tasted great.

Posted by: JTB at June 01, 2024 02:19 PM (zudum)

23 Thanks for the thread and the Northern Lights especially.

Posted by: San Franpsycho at June 01, 2024 02:19 PM (RIvkX)

24 "Any thoughts or questions?"

Yes - why on earth would one wish to hatch a tomato hornworm moth?

Posted by: Miley, okravangelist at June 01, 2024 02:21 PM (w6EFb)

25 13 Love the pelicans!
Was lucky enough to be walking the dog at a nearby park a month ago when 13 of them stopped by our little lake for an hour or so on their way wherever they go to breed. Now, when I chat w/someone at the park about what birds they're seeing, a lot have asked "Did you see the pelicans?!" Odd looking and HUGE.
Posted by: Lizzy at June 01, 2024 02:10 PM (cCVOS
Did you THIRTEEN pelicans? Oh no.

Posted by: Eromero at June 01, 2024 02:22 PM (o2ZRX)

26 That rose tree is pretty cool, but what were the grafts attached to?
Posted by: Miley, okravangelist

I just read an article on what root stocks can be used and many use Dr. Huey which is a hardy rootstock that usurps the graft on expensive roses.
So don't use Dr. Huey if you try it!

Posted by: AZ deplorable moron at June 01, 2024 02:22 PM (/NGfr)

27 Forget grafting I've got one rosebush left I'm trying to keep alive in sand.

Posted by: San Franpsycho at June 01, 2024 02:24 PM (RIvkX)

28 "Did you see the pelicans?!" Odd looking and HUGE.
Posted by: Lizzy at June 01, 2024 02:10 PM (cCVOS)

A pellican
a pelican
his beak holds more than his
belly can

Posted by: JT at June 01, 2024 02:24 PM (T4tVD)

29
do they use some of those meat-based carrots that one fellow invented?
Posted by: anachronda

All carrots in my chili are preprocessed by bos taurus.

Posted by: AZ deplorable moron at June 01, 2024 02:25 PM (/NGfr)

30 Don't know what that last pictured flower is from Don in Kansas is but it is fascinating. Looks like it could be underwater gently waving in the tide.

Posted by: JTB at June 01, 2024 02:26 PM (zudum)

31 "Any thoughts or questions?"

Yes - why on earth would one wish to hatch a tomato hornworm moth?
Posted by: Miley, okravangelist at June 01, 2024 02:21 PM (w6EFb)
===

Destroy All Monsters!

Posted by: San Franpsycho at June 01, 2024 02:27 PM (RIvkX)

32 Given a stem of an Emerald Beauty (Chinese Evergreen – Aglaonema - Maria) in a bottle of water and told, when it sprouts roots put it in some dirt. I managed to not only keep it alive but accidentally propagate it into two plants. The goal now is to create many plants so off to the videos.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L9Qd2SDxSYE

Peanut shells are almost as good as cocopeat per the internet.
Wash them first.

Posted by: Braenyard at June 01, 2024 02:27 PM (YdEcD)

33 I've got to go and plant some tomatoes. They're at the perfect stage of readiness.

With the grow light I bought at Amazon (pricey but fit the bill), the seeds I planted on May 3 are now a foot tall. I potted them up from the 2" cells a week ago and put them in the sun, and they're taking off.

You may ask why I waited so long, and the reason is that the garden was ready late this year. Last year I kept the tomatoes in 6" pots, and so close together that I missed tons of suckers. Getting them in the ground promptly will ensure that I can see those things.

Posted by: Miley, okravangelist at June 01, 2024 02:29 PM (w6EFb)

34 Did you THIRTEEN pelicans? Oh no.
Posted by: Eromero

13 Pelicans sounds like a Steven King story.

Posted by: JT at June 01, 2024 02:30 PM (T4tVD)

35 Don't know what that last pictured flower is from Don in Kansas is but it is fascinating. Looks like it could be underwater gently waving in the tide.

Posted by: JTB at June 01, 2024 02:26 PM (zudum)

I agree - that's what reminded me of the perennial cornflower.

Posted by: Miley, okravangelist at June 01, 2024 02:31 PM (w6EFb)

36 That black paint trick works with chain link fencing too, especially the smaller mesh ones.

Posted by: IrishEi at June 01, 2024 02:37 PM (3ImbR)

37 27 Forget grafting I've got one rosebush left I'm trying to keep alive in sand.
Posted by: San Franpsycho
---------------------------------

Buy a couple of bags of dirt. Mix a bag of Miracle Grow and a bag of top soil and salt the root area with it. They will love you.

Posted by: Braenyard at June 01, 2024 02:37 PM (YdEcD)

38 Buy a couple of bags of dirt. Mix a bag of Miracle Grow and a bag of top soil and salt the root area with it. They will love you.
Posted by: Braenyard

Epson salt!
Chlorophyl is based around a magnesium atom. Your roses will be the darkest green you've ever seen.
We used to use 1 TBS per gallon of water for each rose each spring (after pruning).

Posted by: AZ deplorable moron at June 01, 2024 02:41 PM (/NGfr)

39 Miley, we planted a dogwood beyween Pepper dog and Mobo cat, they were walking pals.

Posted by: Eromero at June 01, 2024 02:41 PM (o2ZRX)

40 Pelicans are one of the clowns of the bird world. People who fish from the sea walls in Florida can expect to see them waddle up to you and just stand there with their big mouths open waiting to have your catch tossed in. It's an innocent presumption that's amusing. If the catch is a dogfish or some other trash fish, the pelicans usually get it. (Snapper, sea trout, and snook were mine.)

Posted by: JTB at June 01, 2024 02:42 PM (zudum)

41 Yay, the rose thread!

Posted by: Loony Eel at June 01, 2024 02:45 PM (gKWVE)

42
We've planted some trees out front. Two peaches and two crape myrtle. They're near the sprinklers for the septic system, so they get watered daily.

Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at June 01, 2024 02:45 PM (MoZTd)

43 BUSHES!!!

Posted by: Cicero (@cicero43) at June 01, 2024 02:53 PM (bo7UB)

44 Our pelicans are brown and scruffy looking.

Posted by: Cicero (@cicero43) at June 01, 2024 02:54 PM (bo7UB)

45 39 Miley, we planted a dogwood beyween Pepper dog and Mobo cat, they were walking pals.

Posted by: Eromero at June 01, 2024 02:41 PM (o2ZRX)

Awww, that's so sweet. We have 2 kitties in the woods, and I want to plant daffodils by their graves. Woods are full of deer, but they'll leave narcissus alone.

Posted by: Miley, okravangelist at June 01, 2024 02:58 PM (w6EFb)

46 I got a kick ag the beach the pelicans flew in a Stuka formation wherever they wanted to go

Posted by: Skip at June 01, 2024 03:02 PM (fwDg9)

47 Stuka means divebomber. Sort like Rush Limbaugh’s nickname for a tv reporter, Shark Dive Bomber.

Posted by: Eromero at June 01, 2024 03:15 PM (Bn0kq)

48 Congrats on winning at the fair. Pear jam sounds delicious. Great idea for chicken wire. Will definitely give this a try.

Posted by: Sidney at June 01, 2024 03:16 PM (rzwGB)

49 aaaaakshually I think that's hardware cloth.... but it's probably better for chickens than chicken wire, which is great at keeping chickens in but *not* so great at keeping raccoons out.

Posted by: Helena Handbasket at June 01, 2024 03:31 PM (llON8)

50 PETS ARE NOOD

Posted by: Skip at June 01, 2024 03:32 PM (fwDg9)

51 "Don't know what that last pictured flower is from Don in Kansas is but it is fascinating. Looks like it could be underwater gently waving in the tide."

I forgot to add the I.D. - Monarda-bradburiana,

related to bee balm. It's Eastern Bee Balm, to be exact. Mildew resistant. Native.

Posted by: KT at June 01, 2024 03:46 PM (rrtZS)

52 Miley, okravangelist at June 01, 2024 02:13 PM

Weird. I have photos of that plant in my lineup.

Posted by: KT at June 01, 2024 03:49 PM (rrtZS)

53 49 aaaaakshually I think that's hardware cloth.... but it's probably better for chickens than chicken wire, which is great at keeping chickens in but *not* so great at keeping raccoons out.

Posted by: Helena Handbasket at June 01, 2024 03:31 PM (llON

I concur!

Posted by: Miley, okravangelist at June 01, 2024 03:58 PM (w6EFb)

54 By-Tor, I forgot to congratulate you on that prize!

Posted by: Miley, okravangelist at June 01, 2024 03:59 PM (w6EFb)

55 Monarda-bradburiana,

related to bee balm. It's Eastern Bee Balm, to be exact. Mildew resistant. Native.

Thanks for that, KT. Beautiful flower.

Posted by: Miley, okravangelist at June 01, 2024 04:02 PM (w6EFb)

56 Weird. I have photos of that plant in my lineup.

Posted by: KT at June 01, 2024 03:49 PM (rrtZS)

They're among the first perennials that I grew. This was in Sweden. That was a zone 6 or 7, so I don't know if some of these plants would thrive here in SC.

Among my favorites is southernwood (Artemisia abrotanum), which is damn hard to find. Also "stork beak" - Geranium himalayense. Nowhere have I seen bleeding hearts, or any dicentra.

Posted by: Miley, okravangelist at June 01, 2024 04:12 PM (w6EFb)

57 I spent the afternoon moving rocks, digging up sunken bricks, and putting 5oclocks in a bucket.

Posted by: NaughtyPine at June 01, 2024 07:47 PM (qJZdR)

58 Sorry, my congratulatory message was dropped.
Congrats on your winnings,
ByTor

Posted by: NaughtyPine at June 01, 2024 07:49 PM (qJZdR)

59 From Boise area: Actually forgot about this thread last night! - Project Appleseed weekend. Husband and I are helping teach 6 people to shoot well and telling American Revolutionary War stories.

I've been collecting rose petals from the hedge destined to die this year, and drying them.

We had one heavy wind gust that brought down a lot of sticks - pick-up-stix was more fun when we were kids...

Cucumber seeds have not sprouted, so husband bought a bunch and I planted them. We will be away from home next weekend - once we get back, we may have to do the same with cantaloupes; and I want to buy some sweet potato slips and try growing that this year.

Posted by: Pat* at June 02, 2024 08:00 AM (Qldw/)

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