The Gardening Thread

Good day and welcome to KT's The Gardening Thread. Unfortunately, KT is recovering from a stroke she experienced earlier in the week. So until she grace's us with her return you are stuck with me.

So gardening in the Frozen Tundra is pretty much a thing of the past. Unless you have a green house. In the past 10 days we had 3 consecutive days where temps never crossed above 0.

Difficult to think about gardening even with the arrival of the Jung's Seed Catalog.

*****

TBH I won't have thoughts of gardening, flower gardening more specifically until later this month or probably March.

But, let's take a look at what's been happening at Casa Misanthrope this past week.

Let's talk about gardening, wildlife critters visiting your home. Just leave the politics at the front door.

Posted by: Misanthropic Humanitarian (ONT Cob Emeritus) at 01:03 PM

Comments

(Jump to bottom of comments)

1 First??

Posted by: Scuba_Dude at February 01, 2025 01:07 PM (0XVad)

2 Mrs fd has been watching a squirrel try to fill a hollow branch with sticks and stuff. He puts them in the top and they fall out of a hole in the bottom.

A hawk is also watching. He made an unsuccessful pass at the squirrel yesterday and it seems more wary today.

Get well soon, KT!

Posted by: fd at February 01, 2025 01:09 PM (vFG9F)

3 Nice pics of the critters outside your abode MisHum. Only thing I see outside my window on the Island of Staten is either squirrels!! or turkeys.

Should send a video of how stupid those birds are. ;-)

Posted by: Scuba_Dude at February 01, 2025 01:10 PM (0XVad)

4 Three deer outside my window right now.
One is a 3 point. Only one antler.

Posted by: Reforger at February 01, 2025 01:10 PM (xcIvR)

5 Prayers for a Speedy and Full recovery to KT. I was never a Saturday Moron until I started reading her postings. This despite having been called a moron at least once on every day of the week.

Posted by: GrenadierX at February 01, 2025 01:11 PM (M3pDV)

6 Best wishes for a speedy and full recovery, KT!

Posted by: Guy who says best wishes for a speedy and full recovery at February 01, 2025 01:15 PM (URPBf)

7 Gold Finches?

Posted by: Martini Farmer at February 01, 2025 01:17 PM (Q4IgG)

8 Godspeed, KT.

Posted by: Comrade Flounder, Disinformation Demon at February 01, 2025 01:19 PM (K6Kbd)

9 Nice pics of the critters outside your abode MisHum. Only thing I see outside my window on the Island of Staten is either squirrels!! or turkeys.

Should send a video of how stupid those birds are. ;-)

Posted by: Scuba_Dude at February 01, 2025 01:10 PM (0XVad)

Only wildlife we see here in Kauai (besides fish, turtles) are formerly domesticated chickens. They are everywhere.

It's kind of quaint, except for that one outside of our window that has no concept of what time of day or night it is.

Posted by: Comrade Flounder, Disinformation Demon at February 01, 2025 01:23 PM (K6Kbd)

10 We get those deers right outside my apartment door.

Posted by: Boss Moss at February 01, 2025 01:26 PM (KWujZ)

11 KT would be proud to see how you're keeping her Garden thread going, MisHum ... and goldfinches too!? Omahgawd!

Posted by: Dr_No at February 01, 2025 01:27 PM (ayRl+)

12 Gardening in the frozen north still brings out some wildlife,eh? Hospital roofs bring out crows, pigeons and helicopters.

Posted by: KT at February 01, 2025 01:28 PM (oprVH)

13 KT, praying for your speedy recovery.

Posted by: CaliGirl at February 01, 2025 01:29 PM (otXbF)

14 We live near Territorial Seed Company in Oregon. Their catalog is full of interesting and unusual veggies. I have not had a vegetable garden for several years, but I'm looking at some of their potatoes and feeling inspired.

Posted by: MammaB at February 01, 2025 01:30 PM (DOSFV)

15 Pretty crocus.
My mother had crocuses just outside the front door so we could see right away when they thought it was spring!

Posted by: m at February 01, 2025 01:30 PM (v0TzN)

16 I'm looking at some of their potatoes and feeling inspired.

I have never seen "potatoes" and "inspired" together in the same sentence before.

Posted by: They do have a certain a peel at February 01, 2025 01:32 PM (URPBf)

17 Are the little yellow bird’s goldfinches? I really like those birds. I also think of crocuses as very “hopeful” They come up with the attitude, “ Hey it’s Spring”!” and then a bunch of snow gets dumped on them.They spread out a lot on our property and it’s lovely. The blanket of purple.

Thanks for filling in, MisHum and take care of yourself, KT, until you are up to posting about gardening and the other subjects again.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at February 01, 2025 01:33 PM (ugXt+)

18 I find potatoes appealung.

Posted by: Boss Moss at February 01, 2025 01:34 PM (KWujZ)

19 16 I'm looking at some of their potatoes and feeling inspired.

I have never seen "potatoes" and "inspired" together in the same sentence before.
Posted by: They do have a certain a peel at February 01, 2025 01:32 PM (URPBf)

The Horde provides a harvest of firsts!

Posted by: m at February 01, 2025 01:36 PM (v0TzN)

20 I should have said,

Eye find potatoes appealing.

Posted by: Boss Moss at February 01, 2025 01:37 PM (KWujZ)

21 I like the German yellow and Yukons to be the best potatoes. I also plant russets when they get leggy in the spring, and the odd red.
The different varieties have different blossoms.

Posted by: Kindltot at February 01, 2025 01:37 PM (D7oie)

22 >18 I find potatoes appealung

Appealung > Aqualung

Posted by: Jethrow Tull at February 01, 2025 01:38 PM (GTqXr)

23 Yes, I enjoy that Territorial catalogue. Glad to hear they actually exist, and aren't a subsidiary figment as so many have become. They still use that hand-drawn "Banana Republic" style of illustrations that was so in vogue 50 years ago, and is vanishing from the AI world. They're 'rather' expensive, but high quality, and by that I mean that when you kick dirt over the stuff in the bag, what comes up looks pretty much like the picture. They had some greens & beans nobody else did, and those are fun on the plate.

Posted by: Way,Way Downriver at February 01, 2025 01:42 PM (zdLoL)

24 Territorial has good stuff! I am still on a list with Steve Soloman, who started it all. They do still carry some of his varieties.

Posted by: Notsothoreau at February 01, 2025 01:45 PM (EV2jz)

25 So much clearing to do, so little motivation.
I might just get a Brushcutter and rake it all out.

Posted by: jsg at February 01, 2025 01:46 PM (Fg0Nr)

26 17 Are the little yellow bird’s goldfinches? I really like those birds. I also think of crocuses as very “hopeful” They come up with the attitude, “ Hey it’s Spring”!” and then a bunch of snow gets dumped on them.They spread out a lot on our property and it’s lovely. The blanket of purple.

Thanks for filling in, MisHum and take care of yourself, KT, until you are up to posting about gardening and the other subjects again.
Posted by: FenelonSpoke at February 01, 2025 01:33 PM (ugXt+)

Whatever they are, they look very well fed.

Posted by: jsg at February 01, 2025 01:47 PM (Fg0Nr)

27 The guy that did my yard cleanup thinks he may be available to help me get the garden set up. I'll see how it goes. You have to work this soil when it's moist as it bakes hard in the summer.

Had a female cardinal on the tree out back today

Posted by: Notsothoreau at February 01, 2025 01:48 PM (EV2jz)

28 If all the cars in America were pink, we'd have a pink carnation!

Posted by: Commissar of Plenty and Lysenkoism in Solidarity with the Struggle for festive little hats at February 01, 2025 01:51 PM (71GKV)

29 Looks to be a Pine Warbler.

Posted by: jsg at February 01, 2025 01:51 PM (Fg0Nr)

30 28 If all the cars in America were pink, we'd have a pink carnation!
Posted by: Commissar of Plenty and Lysenkoism in Solidarity with the Struggle for festive little hats at February 01, 2025 01:51 PM (71GKV)

Groan....
How long have you been holding onto that one ?

Posted by: jsg at February 01, 2025 01:52 PM (Fg0Nr)

31 Posted by: Notsothoreau at February 01, 2025 01:48 PM (EV2jz)

I really enjoy seeing cardinals. I went to visit a woman in the senior care center and she was wearing a lovely sweat shirt with cardinals and had in her room an embroidered pillow with the birds and it said " "Cardinals are a sign of God's spirit." I had no idea we shared that appreciation for cardinals until then.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at February 01, 2025 01:52 PM (TZQ6+)

32 Somehow my orchids are in bloom. The Christmas cactuses are all blooming or about to. Can't plant anything in the backyard, not even in pots. Buckley will dig and will also bury his bones.

Posted by: lin-duh at February 01, 2025 01:54 PM (DPcba)

33 I have bird feeder and suet cage in a tree off my patio. It's just outside my office so I have a great view of the comings and goings. I've identified almost two dozen different species. Aside from the brilliant vermilion of the cardinals and striking blue jays, I really like seeing the chickadees, finches, and sparrows. There are three species of woodpeckers that visit regularly. I cannot stand the starlings - bastards are a nuisance. The resident flock of juncos are like a kindergarten class on a sugar high.

Mrs. Meta gave me a heated birdbath for Christmas. The deer like it more than the birds I think.

Posted by: Heavy Meta at February 01, 2025 01:56 PM (GTqXr)

34 Sorry to hear about KT. I've been hearing lots of news like that lately. I just found out the mom of the lady I get eggs from just died of a heart attack 2 weeks ago. She was not much older than me and I'll only 29. 😱

Posted by: lin-duh at February 01, 2025 01:57 PM (UwBs6)

35 I'm not I'll...

Posted by: lin-duh at February 01, 2025 01:58 PM (wi52z)

36 25 So much clearing to do, so little motivation.
I might just get a Brushcutter and rake it all out.

Posted by: jsg at February 01, 2025 01:46 PM

Sunday is going to be our warmest day in two months.

Had the exact same thought as you, time to grab the chainsaw and head out to the farm and clear some brush!

G(H)MTA!

Posted by: Pillage Idiot at February 01, 2025 01:58 PM (HlyYF)

37 Seed catalogs are great reading when the snow falls. I ordered lots of stuff from Baker Creek, Territorial, and Jung, and I've narrowed down this year's tomatoes to the following:

Pink Fang
Green Tiger
Thorburn's Terra-Cotta
Delicious Hunt
Brandywine (red, yellow, black)
Sub-Arctic Plenty
Uluru Ochre

Posted by: All Hail Eris, She-Wolf of the 'Ettes 'Ettes at February 01, 2025 02:00 PM (kpS4V)

38 MisHum,

Do you feed the deer, or do they just come and eat the seeds that the squirrels knock out of your bird feeders?

Posted by: Pillage Idiot at February 01, 2025 02:00 PM (HlyYF)

39 KT - May you be Blessed with Health & Healing …

and some lovely flowers …
: -)

Posted by: Adriane the Critic . . . at February 01, 2025 02:04 PM (tcomi)

40 21 I like the German yellow and Yukons to be the best potatoes. I also plant russets when they get leggy in the spring, and the odd red.
The different varieties have different blossoms.

Posted by: Kindltot at February 01, 2025 01:37 PM

How much work are potatoes? Can they survive some dry spells, or will a week without water kill them off?

We have some sandy soil at the farm that looks just like the potato growing area in eastern Colorado. However, those are irrigated, and I don't yet have any irrigation capability. I just run drip irrigation out of totes.

Posted by: Pillage Idiot at February 01, 2025 02:05 PM (HlyYF)

41 May God bless KT.

Posted by: Eeyore at February 01, 2025 02:08 PM (1bNHn)

42 I just re-filled our bird feeder. The little guys, the finches just hang out on the branches above it while I put the seed in. I think they've gotten used to me. 🦅

Posted by: Martini Farmer at February 01, 2025 02:08 PM (Q4IgG)

43 Get well soon, KT.

Thank you for filling in, MisHum.

Out here in the middle of nowhere the temperatures are suspiciously mild, but it's otherwise dreary out. Inside I've got an orchid in bloom and another with buds. Most of this year's seeds are still chilling in the refrigerator, but I'll be potting them up over the next few weeks.

Posted by: Don at February 01, 2025 02:09 PM (W5AfR)

44 How long have you been holding onto that one ?

Since I was a wee sprout. First word I learned to read. There was an office bldg with it written on the side.

Posted by: Commissar of Plenty and Lysenkoism in Solidarity with the Struggle for festive little hats at February 01, 2025 02:10 PM (71GKV)

45 I put out mealworms at 8 am and they're gone by 11 am.

Posted by: San Franpsycho at February 01, 2025 02:12 PM (RIvkX)

46 I put out mealworms at 8 am and they're gone by 11 am.
Posted by: San Franpsycho at February 01, 2025 02:12 PM (RIvkX)

That's Nature's way of telling you to put out brunchworms.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at February 01, 2025 02:15 PM (8zz6B)

47 We live in a pretty densely built subdivision, but the deer show up every night to raid the bird feeders. I think they eat more then the birds and then they leave little piles of pellet thank you notes all over the backyard. Best wishes KT, hopes for a speedy recovery.

Posted by: Indiana Lurker at February 01, 2025 02:17 PM (3ZVqj)

48 Ooh, ooh, those are birds. And the big things are deer. Man I got this one.

Posted by: From about That Time at February 01, 2025 02:20 PM (4780s)

49 Oh, and the bluebirds showed up yesterday which is pretty early in this area. Also saw a Northern Flicker on the suet cake today, which is a rare sighting for us.

Posted by: Indiana Lurker at February 01, 2025 02:22 PM (3ZVqj)

50 48 Ooh, ooh, those are birds. And the big things are deer. Man I got this one.
Posted by: From about That Time at February 01, 2025 02:20 PM (4780s)

What about what's in the TOP photo?

Posted by: m at February 01, 2025 02:23 PM (v0TzN)

51 For the winter, accidentally brought a green anole in with the kalanchoes. This is the second time. The first one survived. If this guy is a good hunter he will too.

Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at February 01, 2025 02:24 PM (94zWv)

52 @ 51 For the winter, accidentally brought a green anole in with the kalanchoes. This is the second time. The first one survived. If this guy is a good hunter he will too.
_______________________

Can we say stuff like 'anole' in our posts now ... ?

Posted by: Dr_No at February 01, 2025 02:29 PM (ayRl+)

53 We have a couple of raccoons roaming and pissing of the dogs at night. GOing to have to put a couple of .177 cal copper spheres in them so the get the idea to find other territory.

Posted by: Jukin the Deplorable a Clear and Present Danger at February 01, 2025 02:29 PM (17s+e)

54 Oh, yes, the owl is beautiful!

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at February 01, 2025 02:33 PM (TZQ6+)

55 From Boise area: Prayers for KT !!

Lows 16-21 F, highs 37-46. Another exciting winter week... air stagnation advisory for most of it, but it clouded up and snowed very briefly Friday morning, then drizzled; and we're predicted to have a week or two of dampness - we need the precipitation. The Johnny Jump-Up pansies by the shed are still blooming despite the cold and dryness.

Highway dept. tree pruners went by, but apparently our 4 roadside sycamores pass muster since they only trimmed one tree a small amount.

I have a lot of seed packets I've saved for years and germination is still good, but I do get the Territorial catalog twice a year, and will probably order some things this year. I don't think they can ship potatoes to Idaho, though, so I buy starts locally. I'm thinking of trying one new variety this spring, along with fingerlings and russets.

I have to go feed the birds now - feeder is only half full and there are bird fights over the remaining feeding perches!

Posted by: Pat* at February 01, 2025 02:33 PM (wgg+4)

56 What about what's in the TOP photo?
======
Pansies. Or posies. I don't do flowers so good.

Posted by: From about That Time at February 01, 2025 02:34 PM (4780s)

57 I love owls

Posted by: vmom deport deport deport at February 01, 2025 02:36 PM (GDrd7)

58 Thanks for the Gardening Thread, Mis Hum!

Prayers up for healing for KT!

What a lovely owl! We had barred owls in Texas and they liked to hang around our little wild area.

Posted by: Legally Sufficient at February 01, 2025 02:36 PM (rxCpr)

59 56 What about what's in the TOP photo?

--

That's a crocus.
They are usually the first blooming bulbs, so "crocus in the snow" is iconic

Posted by: vmom deport deport deport at February 01, 2025 02:38 PM (GDrd7)

60 It is a bit below zero today, but I am furiously planning the backyard acre. Didn’t get a chance to view it before the freeze because we moved here in October. Lots of raised beds and an amazing greenhouse. I have ordered seeds. Need to get a nursery set up for starts. This is gonna be one heck of a farm. Can’t put out bird feeders because they attract bears…

Posted by: tcn in AK at February 01, 2025 02:42 PM (GUxWu)

61 The local high chool team is the cardinals. We get so many different bitds here. I've seen Baltimore Orioles and two kinds of woodpeckers. Lots of little finch sized birds too.

Posted by: Notsothoreau at February 01, 2025 02:43 PM (EV2jz)

62 I have a small walkin green house that I bought end of season, the year before last. I'm going to see what it will take to set it up. I can at least use it to harden off seedlings.

Posted by: Notsothoreau at February 01, 2025 02:46 PM (EV2jz)

63 I have a lot of wildlife outside right now. My owl is in her nest and she has two eggs. It seems a little early for her.

I also have red tail hawks that have a nest here and I'm thinking it's mating season. I watched two of them fly into each other, grab claws and spin what looked like to the ground. I couldn't see the last 20 feet. I thought they were dead but then they flew around again.
I'm getting red foxes and gray foxes every evening and a lot of bobcats.

Posted by: CaliGirl at February 01, 2025 02:47 PM (otXbF)

64 12 Gardening in the frozen north still brings out some wildlife,eh? Hospital roofs bring out crows, pigeons and helicopters.
Posted by: KT at February 01, 2025 01:28 PM (oprVH)

The ravens sit on the edge of the Fred Meyers roof and knock snow down on people walking by. Then they lean out and watch the reactions. Too bad the birds outside your room are not that entertaining.

Posted by: tcn in AK at February 01, 2025 02:49 PM (GUxWu)

65 That's Nature's way of telling you to put out brunchworms. Try the veal. Tip your waitress.
Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at February 01, 2025 02:15 PM (8zz6B)
====
Obligatory.

Posted by: San Franpsycho at February 01, 2025 02:50 PM (RIvkX)

66 We moved to an apartment a little more than two years ago. I really miss my garden, feeding the birds, and the butterflies. But I figured out the bird issue. I hung a small platform feeder from a tree branch I can see from my apartment and I toss wild critter food on the ground around the little tree. I get squirrels and sparrows, but ill never see another gold finch or hummingbird.

Posted by: Livia Augusta at February 01, 2025 02:51 PM (dAnLf)

67 Best wishes KT. Hope You get better soon

Posted by: Hatari Somewhere on Ventura Highway at February 01, 2025 02:56 PM (WF/xn)

68 Can we say stuff like 'anole' in our posts now?

I haven't seen one anole (rhymes with canolli) at House of 1000 Anole since the cold snap but my camelias are blooming like crazy.

Posted by: FLanole at February 01, 2025 02:57 PM (ZnrCl)

69 KT praying for your recovery

Posted by: vmom deport deport deport at February 01, 2025 02:58 PM (OTdqV)

70 37 pink fang?

Posted by: KT at February 01, 2025 03:00 PM (qqQuL)

71 60 It is a bit below zero today, but I am furiously planning the backyard acre

---
Very exciting, tcn!

Posted by: vmom deport deport deport at February 01, 2025 03:00 PM (OTdqV)

72 Try the waitress, tip the veal.

Posted by: Commissar of Plenty and Lysenkoism in Solidarity with the Struggle for festive little hats at February 01, 2025 03:01 PM (/pv9Q)

73 Be well, KT.

I bought irises for Mrs. BD the other day. First I've seen being sold here this winter. The pic doesn't do them justice:

https://tinyurl.com/yt4m9h49

Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at February 01, 2025 03:03 PM (P/ezU)

74 The entirety of Central London has just been completely shut down by 100,000+ British patriots demanding the release of Tommy Robinson.

This is completely unprecedented.

Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at February 01, 2025 03:04 PM (94zWv)

75 Thanks for the prayers and best wishes.while I can't feed the crows outside my window. The Mister is feeding doves at home. Family story goes with that.

Posted by: KT at February 01, 2025 03:05 PM (qqQuL)

76 Nood. Pets.

Posted by: Aetius451AD at February 01, 2025 03:05 PM (bss/y)

77 My God bless KT and restore her health. Thank you for filling in, MisHum.

Nothing to report here, except I'm eyeballing the big empty pot in front of the house (because it's above the snowline) and wondering what I should put in there.

There were corabelles and lots of weeds before.

Posted by: NaughtyPine at February 01, 2025 03:12 PM (IMYkY)

78 Best wishes for your speedy recovery, KT.

Posted by: AlmostYuman at February 01, 2025 03:26 PM (bj34f)

79 Ha! A new catalog from Seeds 'n' Such just arrived.

They know how vulnerable we are to color catalogs in the middle of winter.

Posted by: All Hail Eris, She-Wolf of the 'Ettes 'Ettes at February 01, 2025 03:41 PM (kpS4V)

80 So sorry to hear about your stroke KT, wishing you a full recovery. We look forward to your return, not that we don't love you too Mis Hum.

Posted by: Weekreekfarmgirl at February 01, 2025 03:42 PM (mHCSo)

81 We have some sandy soil at the farm that looks just like the potato growing area in eastern Colorado. However, those are irrigated, and I don't yet have any irrigation capability. I just run drip irrigation out of totes.
Posted by: Pillage Idiot at February 01, 2025 02:05 PM (HlyYF)

Eh, I was out in the shed

Potatoes are fun, I have nice ones that come up in the planting area under the living room window and they require no work at all.
I have an area that I plant by digging trenches, fertilizing and watering, and I heap them up if I see potatoes emerging from the dirt. You do need to water them regularly and fertilize, but you don't want too much Nitrogen because that leads to lots of leaves and not so many taters.
Then you dig them after the flowers pass.
It is mostly digging. It is cheaper to buy them in the store, but the garden ones are really tasty.

Posted by: Kindltot at February 01, 2025 03:59 PM (D7oie)

82 Speaking as someone who lives in something akin to the frozen tundra, I can assure you I have never grown a crocus that has looked as pristine as the one at the top of this thread. When the crocuses in my yard pop up, its right at the receding edge of a 4-foot-tall snow pile, which is encrusted with all the scoria, dirt, and other debris that has accumulated in the pile during the previous 4 months.

Don't get me wrong, it's great to see the crocuses bloom! It's great to see anything bloom at that point in the winter. But it's just not as picturesque as imagine...

Posted by: Castle Guy at February 01, 2025 04:57 PM (Lhaco)

83 No deer come by the house here, but I’ve got oodles of birds and squirrels, along with the occasional grey fox. I try to run off the raccoons, but they don’t take hints very well.

We’re getting close to clearing our fall/winter garden to prep for spring. We have lots of carrots, cabbage, cauliflower, and broccoli. Almost all of it came through the freeze.

Get well soon, KT!

Posted by: Advo at February 01, 2025 05:22 PM (jO4mz)

84 Sending thoughts and hugs to KT. Feel better soon.
Love the photos of the owl, birds, and deer. We had a hint of spring weather here today. Looking forward to it!

Posted by: Pilot at February 01, 2025 06:07 PM (M+4Y9)

85 KT - best wishes for a speedy recovery.

Posted by: Black JEM at February 01, 2025 08:37 PM (uLt48)

86 Sending Love and Warm wishes to you, KT.

I've had 2 brothers with strokes. Second one has been back to work, masonry contractor, for several years now, a 95% recovery. So, hang in there, and do all the PT a bunch!

Posted by: Jimmy Doolittle at February 02, 2025 01:52 AM (0Xjb9)

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