Gardening, Home and Nature Thread, Aug. 8

FARMER'S MARKETS - Do you like them?

Ready for some peaches and cream?

Edible Gardening/Putting Things By

I have had the strangest experience with a tomato plant. The thing is more than 5 feet tall. At first I had no flowers. Now is covered with at least a couple dozen tomatoes although one red yet. Also the poblano and jalapeño I planted in the same pot now resemble a tree. A bird landed on it the other day. Just starting to get poblanos but already made a batch of pickled jalapeños. This will probably be the first time the purchase price yielded enough to make it worth the price.
Have you ever seen anything like this?
Sharon (Willow's Apprentice)

Any advice about those lanky container plants?

The tomatoes look good in close-up.

Nature

The pink pigeon from Mauritius bounced back from near extinction through careful conservation. pic.twitter.com/80AgrmuUIa
— Massimo (@Rainmaker1973) August 1, 2026

Puttering

Photography

I appreciate this forest for giving my camera a perfect framing for this tiny island. This was taken with my old galaxy note 10, so it's a bit oversharpened but I still like it. pic.twitter.com/6qzyZeMgUu
— Ken James (@openshutter21) August 6, 2026

Hi, KT . . . been a while, eh? Saw these on the way to the maildrop - they're YUUGE! … so I 'whipped out' the trusty iPhone and captured these, 'cos I knew next time I passed they'd be gone or look really bad. At this point they're still identifiable as 'shrooms - but prolly not edible. Maybe Alice ate some like this . . . ? We may - or, not - get some rain Sunday. We need it, 'cos it's really dry here in TN. There are 'no burn' warnings in a lot of areas, and that (if we don't get rain tomorrow) might postpone some Father's Day Q-offs. I'm going with my daughter and her family to have Mexican food around 11oo. Youngest Grandson has to be at work at the lab by 1600, so it'll be a short visit, but it'll be good. Thanks again for all the great posts 'n pictures each week. If you can use this, please deploy as usual with Front Toward Viewer . . .
Dr_No

Lovely presentation of this subject!

And Moth Week has just passed:

Hi, KT … In 2020, this moth ‘in extremis’ happened to land on the wall by the porch door of my apartment in Cordova. I couldn’t startle it or surprise it, so it may already have passed into Moth Heaven or still been in the queue. Or, maybe the 'Mighty COHHH-VID! got it. Either way, I loved the colors and the ‘display’ it presented, so out came Mr Tripod & Mr Nikon w/ the 10-24mm lens. For the half-hour or so I spent imaging this little moth, it never moved. It was there in the same position the next day … and the next … until it … wasn’t. It was a rare opportunity to get an image like this, and I’m glad I was there when it happened. . .

Beautiful

Gardens of The Horde

We scared a family of quail and they ran into the bushes but this one baby sat down and thus was invisible, lol. So cute.
We love the quail and their headdress.
Thank you so much for the garden thread!
NorCal Sierra Foothills Lurker

Love that little invisible one!

What's happening in your yard?

Hope everyone has a nice weekend.

If you would like to send photos, stories, links, etc. for the Saturday Gardening 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, Home and Nature Thread, Aug 1

I closed the comments on that 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 01:41 PM

Comments

(Jump to bottom of comments)

1 I'll go tell the others.

Posted by: Darrell Harris at August 08, 2026 01:45 PM (pluyl)

2 OK, I told them.

Posted by: Darrell Harris at August 08, 2026 01:46 PM (pluyl)

3 Ok, now to read the content. What should I read first?

Moths. I like moths. I'll read that one now.

Posted by: Darrell Harris at August 08, 2026 01:47 PM (pluyl)

4 Pop ups suck

Posted by: Commissar of plenty and festive little hats at August 08, 2026 01:48 PM (80bpd)

5 OK, I read it.

Moth Week isn't the same without Mothra.

Posted by: Darrell Harris at August 08, 2026 01:48 PM (pluyl)

6 Absolutely love Farmer's Markets (with a caveat). I love them in areas actually surrounded by farms, and local growers show up with a stand. I'm not too excited about Pseudo Farmer's Markets in the Urban areas.

I live in an area with a fantastic Farmer's Market in a conservative close knit area where you actually know everyone selling their goods. You'll not only get some great fruits and vegetables, but if you ask, they'll tell you their tips on how they got such a plentiful harvest.

To add to the enjoyment, it's a small Farmer's market, but still has 2 local butchers and even that is locally sourced. A couple of Mennonite run stands have some of the most enticing pies to finish it off. Yes...love Farmer's Markets. Every Saturday Morning, I'm there.

Posted by: Orson at August 08, 2026 01:48 PM (dIske)

7 Not quite a garden painting but it is outdoor foliage.
See painting in nic.

The subject was suggested by an ette who I can't remember who to my shame.

Posted by: polynikes at August 08, 2026 01:50 PM (KC5Lt)

8 Goid afternoon Greenthumbs
Storm is coming so a quik tractor drive around the yard

Posted by: Skip at August 08, 2026 01:50 PM (Ia/+0)

9 Is that a duckling or a chipmunk?

Posted by: polynikes at August 08, 2026 01:51 PM (KC5Lt)

10 Around here the farmers themselves often have a little unattended stand on the road with a scale and an "honor box" for payment.

Posted by: toby928(c) at August 08, 2026 01:52 PM (4NO2D)

11
We had a peach tree when I was a kid. I've never had a peach to compare. Farmers just don't produce them.

Posted by: Blonde Morticia at August 08, 2026 01:53 PM (mmrXZ)

12 Those peaches look pretty good. We picked up some tomatoes and a melon at the farm stand this morning.

Farmers' markets in the city are good but expensive. The Arab and Chinese green grocers have the same quality without the hassle or the price.

Posted by: San Franpsycho at August 08, 2026 01:55 PM (JvZF+)

13 We also have subscription farms here, where you pay a fee to be a member of what is essentially a truck farming co-op, sharing in each of the harvests as them come ripe.

Is this a thing elsewhere?

Posted by: toby928(c) at August 08, 2026 01:55 PM (4NO2D)

14 We had a peach tree when I was a kid. I've never had a peach to compare. Farmers just don't produce them.
Posted by: Blonde Morticia at August 08, 2026 01:53 PM (mmrXZ)
_______________________

I grow Red Haven and White Haven peaches...and nothing beats them, except maybe the strawberries, or the cherries, or the pears. Not the kiwi however. Kiwi IMO is a condiment you might put on your strawberries.

Posted by: Orson at August 08, 2026 01:57 PM (dIske)

15 That picture of the moth is otherworldly beautiful.

I love my farmers market. It's been around a long time (over 30 years), it's small (which I like) and I know all the farmers. There are booths with prepared foods (lots), bread, organic meat, etc but I am there for the produce. There are only four produce farms that still come but they've been there forever and I buy something from all of them every single week because I want them to keep coming. I know where the farms are and I know the veggies were picked the day before.

There's also a honey farm run by a young man and his dad and I get raw local honey there. Delicious.

Thank you, KT, for what is always a nice thread with the most beautiful pictures of the week!

Posted by: bluebell at August 08, 2026 01:59 PM (afFes)

16 Farmers do produce them but they are picked green. I worked in a commercial peach orchard. I had tree ripened ones but their fruit in the stores needs to ripen. Same thing with Red Delicious apples.

Posted by: Notsothoreau at August 08, 2026 01:59 PM (bkuEU)

17 The subject was suggested by an ette who I can't remember who to my shame.
Posted by: polynikes at August 08, 2026 01:50 PM (KC5Lt)
-------

'Twasn't I who suggested it but I sure do like your picture! I'm always amazed by your talent.

Posted by: bluebell at August 08, 2026 02:01 PM (afFes)

18 I am trying to figure out next year's garden, since this is a failure. If the fruit trees get through the winter, it won't be too bad.

Posted by: Notsothoreau at August 08, 2026 02:01 PM (bkuEU)

19 I have always thought that lanky plants are a sign of too little direct sun and/or and excess of available nitrogen.

Posted by: toby928(c) at August 08, 2026 02:03 PM (4NO2D)

20 We also have subscription farms here, where you pay a fee to be a member of what is essentially a truck farming co-op, sharing in each of the harvests as them come ripe.

Is this a thing elsewhere?
Posted by: toby928(c) at August 08, 2026 01:55 PM (4NO2D)
----------

Yes, they are called CSAs around here and we did one for years when my kids were little. We had a box delivered every week plus we could go out to the farm (45 minutes away) and get additional things for free if we wanted. Lots of stuff for the kids to do there, mine loved it and because we homeschooled we could go even when school was in session. It would be too much for us to eat now.

Posted by: bluebell at August 08, 2026 02:03 PM (afFes)

21 I've started harvesting a good quantity of peppers.

I made my "relish" for burgers and dogs last night. Mushrooms and onions sautéed in suet and white wine, along with serranos, jalapeños, and hot banana peppers from the garden.

The poblanos are going to be green chile.

Posted by: Yudhishthira's Dice at August 08, 2026 02:04 PM (BI5O2)

22 What's happening in the yard? The apples are getting close to harvest. The deer have been eating the ones that drop early, which is good, we don't have to pick them up. Except the deer then poop under the tree, which is not good. But the squirrels have developed a taste for apples and they take them off the tree, carry them off a ways and eat maybe a quarter of the fruit. They should at least be kind enough to eat the whole thing, and leave the remains in a convenient pile instead of on the driveway, on top of the rocks, or just out in the middle of the yard.

Posted by: George V at August 08, 2026 02:06 PM (HUbHH)

23 We have a rabbit living in the yard, its no trouble. Really don't want to scare it yet did twice driving tractor around

Posted by: Skip at August 08, 2026 02:14 PM (Ia/+0)

24
I digging out a 4 foot by 8 foot section of the garden bed that encircles our place in Sussex to create a pad for our three waste containers here.

Not for nothing do I continue to curse the idea of ground covering fabric as a preventative for weeds as "There they are!" and the cloth itself is an impediment to get through for the task at hand.

Rd ntativd for weeds

Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars (TM) at August 08, 2026 02:15 PM (s9VOe)

25
Rd ntativd for weeds

What you get when you hit "post" without realizing there's a klingon lurking below the bottom border of the editing box.

Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars (TM) at August 08, 2026 02:17 PM (s9VOe)

26 We grow Magyar peppers for paprika. This year, all 3 plants grew, flowered, fruited, then turned brown. None of the other peppers turned brown at all.
Wilt, canker, whatever. We'll look for a California variety of sweet paprika next year.
My wife is canning tomatoes.
Gonna harvest honey this week (not all). Went to rob one hive at me brother's this morning, and they found where I had not zipped up tight for my hood.
Got inside my hood. Bees inside. Bees outside. Nowhere to hide. Got hammered.
Was still able to close the hive up, and get the hell out of Dodge. I really need dependable help.

Posted by: MkY at August 08, 2026 02:23 PM (q6tQZ)

27
The missus is happy as female Monarch Butterflies have appeared here at long last and are laying eggs on the milkweed plants in the front bed.

Soon her Butterfly Gulag will be up and running and she'll be ferrying this and that out of the garden and into "preserving" shelters from predators. It is all the "good" from wildlife "management" on a small scale and in our yard.

I think it is needless meddling no matter what are one's intentions and things should be left well enough alone before all the Monarchs turn gay (thanks, Alex!).

Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars (TM) at August 08, 2026 02:25 PM (s9VOe)

28 > The pink pigeon from Mauritius

Instead of cooing, they form a chorus line and belt out a rendition of "YMCA", followed by a selection of show tunes.

Posted by: Rodrigo Borgia at August 08, 2026 02:37 PM (IG3/x)

29 I like our farmer's market. In the spring they sell all manner of seedlings, including local wildflowers and pollinators. There's a guy who sharpens knives and tools, peddlers of gourmet cheese and other comestibles, and coffee and sweets.

I haven't been in a while because my garden is shooting out veggies and hot peppers like mad. I beg my neighbors to take some.

The only veggies that conked out was my lettuces, which were kind of tough and rubbery. I'll try again when it's cooler.

Posted by: All Hail Eris, She-Wolf of the 'Ettes 'Ettes at August 08, 2026 02:42 PM (kpS4V)

30 Was thinking about supper and now I know it will be vegetables!

Posted by: Eromero at August 08, 2026 02:46 PM (c/Is2)

31 I made a great mango-habanero sauce from my peppers. It's got moxie!

Posted by: All Hail Eris, She-Wolf of the 'Ettes 'Ettes at August 08, 2026 02:47 PM (kpS4V)

32 From Boise area: Hot today, about 100... yard work happens early. We still have poor air quality from Oregon fires.

Last weekend, we trimmed the wild rose hedge, which we've been taking several years to remove. Husband's been doing some painting on the garage end.

This week's been all about the drainage improvement/renovation behind the kitchen. I pulled out 3 clumps of Siberian Iris we'd planted, because they got so big they were in the way, and moved the blue slate rocks away from the holes - Husband put landscape cloth over the holes and covered them with washed rocks. Husband's been digging the trench to lead water away from the area immediately behind the kitchen, unfortunately finding huge tree roots from Jupiter the giant maple, and various irrigation pipes, in the path of the trench.

We emptied a pot of fingerlings last week - only one pound of potatoes. Lots of green beans, some zucchini, SunGold cherry tomatoes, small broccolini heads, and the first Romas. I'm putting water on my yellow carrots every day so they'll be easier to dig on Western Idaho Fair entry day - disturbed 2 different praying mantises.

Posted by: Pat* at August 08, 2026 02:48 PM (Yfo5P)

33 I love the picture of the island and the quail and ducklings. Also, the mushrooms are so very interesting. Thanks, Dr. No. I've been paying attention to mushroom and mushroom adjacent fungi as we ( FenSpouse ) take our walks in the mornings. Some like those above and some that look like a medium size bird's egg.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at August 08, 2026 02:48 PM (W90Ou)

34 I made a great mango-habanero sauce from my peppers. It's got moxie!
Posted by: All Hail Eris, She-Wolf of the 'Ettes 'Ettes

That would make an amazing sorbet flavor!

Posted by: nurse ratched. at August 08, 2026 02:49 PM (yEz+x)

35 Pink Parrot and Butterfly Gulag would both make great club names.

Posted by: All Hail Eris, She-Wolf of the 'Ettes 'Ettes at August 08, 2026 02:51 PM (kpS4V)

36 Wife picked our first cucumber this morning. Been getting lots of maters which is very good.
Our local farmers market comes up from Rocky Ford every year. They have lots of good stuff.

Posted by: Ronster at August 08, 2026 02:55 PM (kM+80)

37 From The Bee:
"Study Finds Possible Connection Between Current Heatwave And Giant Flaming Orb In The Sky"

Posted by: Tuna at August 08, 2026 02:58 PM (lJ0H4)

38 We've got a bunch of rabbits here at Old People Warehouse. They're clearly some domestic breed that's gone feral, not our native snowshoe hares.

According to a long-time resident, they've been here many years (some folks apparently feed them during the winter).

Posted by: Rodrigo Borgia at August 08, 2026 02:59 PM (IG3/x)

39 Saturday greetings, gardeners of the Horde.

Although most of our new plantings aren't fruiting yet, we have had some tasty bits of harvest.

Most fun is a couple of fig trees in planters, which have given us some amazing figs. I've never had a fresh fig before. Not many, not very big, but delicious.

Yesterday we shared the one pear our trees produced this year. Would definitely like many more.

A few blueberries. Not nearly enough, but it's the first year on these potted plants.

Lots of container banana peppers, thriving despite or because of lack of attention.

We had some grapes, but they were attacked by beetles, yeah yeah yeah. The plants are still good.

The roses our daughter planted in front of the house have produced some pink beauties. Some gerber daisies looking nice. Peonies that haven't bloomed; next year. A miniature lilac had a few little flowers. A freshly planted magnolia gave us a few pretty flowers. Lavender has been thriving.

Some chard. Peppers and tomatoes and rhubarb on the south side of the house haven't produced anything. Again, next year.

Hard to keep up with all the watering and mulching in the July and August Oklahoma heat and humidity.

Posted by: mindful webworker - didn't realize how much we had 'til I wrote it up at August 08, 2026 02:59 PM (62m/B)

40 What I thought were quail ducklings were actually leaves on a plant That's what get for scrolling too fast. LOL.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at August 08, 2026 03:01 PM (rHgXV)

41 That's one of the prettiest moths I've ever seen. Nice pic.

You know what we haven't seen in many years? Lunar moths. Those were amazing. I think you have to plant moonflowers to get those.

Posted by: mindful webworker - nature is supernatural at August 08, 2026 03:02 PM (62m/B)

42 At this moment I have both a Tiger Swallowtail and a Monarch butterfly on my butterfly bush.

Posted by: All Hail Eris, She-Wolf of the 'Ettes 'Ettes at August 08, 2026 03:06 PM (kpS4V)

43 I spent some time in Mauritius about a quarter century ago. Absolutely lovely place! The pigeon is nice, but the flowering plant it is perched on in the video is a plumeria, and I found that the ones there in Mauritius are some of the most beautiful I have seen on this here planet. The red varieties are just breathtaking in both their beauty and their scent.

I have plumeria surrounding my pool here at Rancho Brewingfrog in deepest South Texas. They have to go in the pool house over the winter, as they really don't like cold temps, but they will bloom from May to October with just a little pampering.

Posted by: Brewingfrog at August 08, 2026 03:09 PM (7eSPw)

44
Grandkids got some quail eggs from friends. Put them in their incubator and they all hatched. The quail are in an enclosure in the backyard now. The kids are having a great time with them.

Posted by: four seasons at August 08, 2026 03:09 PM (/QHx4)

45 In trying to match the conversation and thread I do have a painting with a butterfly and birds. See nic

Posted by: polynikes at August 08, 2026 03:11 PM (KC5Lt)

46 This week has been slow, the tomatoes are just getting ripe, and the early plums are pretty much all gone. The Gravenstein apples are not heavy this year so I have about enough to cut up and dry at the moment. I also planted cranberry beans in the dug up potato plot, and I also planted carrots today.
I am waiting on the late yellow plums to start falling so I can preserve those, and the pear is starting to drop too. I have to get on canning pears as well next week.

I put out lures for the apple maggot flies this year, and may have gotten the coddling moth, too. With luck, my later apples will not be so eaten up by worms.

Posted by: Kindltot at August 08, 2026 03:14 PM (rbvCR)

47 Those weird little "tails" on luna moth wings serve to confuse bat sonar. Their sound-reflecting structure is such that it fools the bat into biting the (non-essential) tail rather than the main body of the moth.

This has actually been tested experimentally... moths that have had their "tails" removed are far more likely to become a bat snack than those with them intact.

Posted by: Rodrigo Borgia at August 08, 2026 03:19 PM (IG3/x)

48 Ready for some peaches and cream?

--
Lips like strawberry wine

Posted by: Ringo Starr has entered the chat at August 08, 2026 03:23 PM (Ydd86)

49 polynikes nice

Posted by: vmom deport deport stab deport at August 08, 2026 03:25 PM (Ydd86)

50 >>Those weird little "tails" on luna moth wings serve to confuse bat sonar. Their sound-reflecting structure is such that it fools the bat into biting the (non-essential) tail rather than the main body of the moth.

This area has lots of butterflies and moths in the fall during the migration south. Lots of Monarchs and other varieties but it was only a couple years ago when I saw my first Luna moth. Big one. Really beautiful.

Posted by: JackStraw at August 08, 2026 03:26 PM (viF8m)

51 This has actually been tested experimentally... moths that have had their "tails" removed are far more likely to become a bat snack than those with them intact.
Posted by: Rodrigo Borgia

I don't like to think about how these experiments were performed. Too Fauci.

Posted by: mindful webworker - poor little Luna moths at August 08, 2026 03:30 PM (62m/B)

52 No pet thread no peace

Posted by: Commissar of plenty and festive little hats at August 08, 2026 03:40 PM (kUcCL)

53 Farmers markets. I'll probably be banned from the thread forever, but over the last decade and a half I've become completely unimpressed. Quality no better than a good local grocery, way inflated prices, and ambience fairly lacking. Kind of like an overpriced job lot.
Back when, you'd make an effort to go out in the "country" to buy direct from the farmer, fresher and at a savings making the drive worth while. Something has been lost in the transltion.

Posted by: From about That Time at August 08, 2026 03:41 PM (sl73Y)

54 Bats are a catch 22. Prime rabies carrier and quano machine but mosquito eliminator .

Posted by: polynikes at August 08, 2026 03:42 PM (KC5Lt)

55 23 We have a rabbit living in the yard, its no trouble. Really don't want to scare it yet did twice driving tractor around
Posted by: Skip at August 08, 2026 02:14 PM (Ia/+0)
Duck season.

Posted by: Eromero at August 08, 2026 03:48 PM (c/Is2)

56 53 Farmers markets. I'll probably be banned from the thread forever, but over the last decade and a half I've become completely unimpressed. Quality no better than a good local grocery, way inflated prices, and ambience fairly lacking. Kind of like an overpriced job lot.
Back when, you'd make an effort to go out in the "country" to buy direct from the farmer, fresher and at a savings making the drive worth while. Something has been lost in the transltion.
Posted by: From about That Time

Agree 100%

Posted by: nurse ratched. at August 08, 2026 03:49 PM (yEz+x)

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