Gardening, Home and Nature Thread, Oct. 3

Hi, KT, here's a butterfly (I think it's a "Cloudless Sulfur"). I saw it feeding on some of the flowers in an outside flower exhibit at the local Lowes here in East Tennessee. I wonder, is this the equivalent of going to the food court at the mall?
Thanks for the weekend threads!

BeckoningChasm

A tiny food court for butterflies!

Sent in a while ago:

Hi KT,
I have not been around much - life has gotten busy!
Was at a grad party today and saw the Pic. Thought it was wholesome, cute, and might be of interest for your threads. Table set up - take a plant!

Thank you again, for all you have done at the HQ.
Scampydog

Great idea, for indoor plants in fall, outdoor plants in spring!

A little seasonal humor
Quarter Twenty

Edible Gardening/Putting Things By

I finally harvested my glass gem corn. It’s spectacular! pic.twitter.com/iWMNb4trtI
— Jayne Manfredi (@TheWomanfredi) September 23, 2026

The harvest process of dragon fruit from cactus plants
pic.twitter.com/EsKinaRnli
— Science girl (@sciencegirl) July 27, 2025

Wild organic blueberry harvest

📹 Josh Pond
pic.twitter.com/efq0XqfceI
— Science girl (@sciencegirl) May 26, 2024

Ah, Nature

What to do if you're driving and a tornado approaches

Gardens of The Horde

I walk this route all the time and yesterday I saw these flowers for,the first time. Like they magically appeared. They were so pretty I stopped to take a picture. They kind of look like morning glories except it seems the wrong time of year. Anybody have any idea?
Sharon (willow's apprentice)

Sharon also says it was at three in the afternoon. I have a couple of guesses: Ipomoea muricata or Ipomoea macrorhiza (has edible roots). Any other ideas?

Anybody grow this?

Morning light on a sage, most of the time it is just a silver bush, then it explodes in color.

Wonder what kind of sage it is? I think the silver form would be nice, too.

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, Sept. 26

It was the Harvest Moon.

Tonight, the first full moon of autumn rises. September’s full moon is the Harvest Moon, named because it falls closest to the autumn equinox in the Northern Hemisphere.

For generations, its light helped farmers harvest after sunset. pic.twitter.com/unu1tsy5gS
— Earth (@earthcurated) September 26, 2026

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 10:35 AM

Comments

(Jump to bottom of comments)

1 Yep

Posted by: Mr Aspirin Factory at October 03, 2026 01:38 PM (bWZYx)

2 Good afternoon Greenthumbs
About to go do that chainsaw work around here, lots of limbs to cut up

Posted by: Skip at October 03, 2026 01:39 PM (Ia/+0)

3 Got to eat a couple of cactus fruits (Pitaya) from my Cactus. Fruit looks like dragon fruit, except is solid, smooth magenta on the thick skin (no "scales"). I sent some pics of what the fruit look like some years ago that may have showed up on this thread (the flowers did).

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at October 03, 2026 01:42 PM (l3cgK)

4
Corn Maze for Blondes

I don't get it

Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars (TM) at October 03, 2026 01:43 PM (trSL4)

5
...lots of limbs to cut up
Posted by: Skip

So long as they are not your very own linbs, have at it!

Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars (TM) at October 03, 2026 01:49 PM (trSL4)

6 Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars (TM) at October 03, 2026 01:43 PM (trSL4)

Heh.

Posted by: KT at October 03, 2026 01:49 PM (1RGZ5)

7 My black thumb struck again. I managed to kill the ZZ plant my niece gave me. I don't know if I over watered or under watered it. I stuck it into a container of cactus potting soil, watered it, then didn't water it again for a few weeks -- just like the instructions. Maybe I gave it too much light. (Heavy sigh) It takes real talent to kill a ZZ plant.

Posted by: Captain Josepha Sabin at October 03, 2026 01:51 PM (dAnLf)

8 jim (in Kalifornia) at October 03, 2026 01:42 PM

Yes, I remember some cactus fruit photos.

Posted by: KT at October 03, 2026 01:52 PM (1RGZ5)

9 Got worst done

Posted by: Skip at October 03, 2026 02:06 PM (Ia/+0)

10 KT, thanks for the thread. One of the benefits/pleasures are the photos of the various plants. Even when I'm not growing anything, I've learned to keep my eyes open for unexpected plants. This week I noticed we have some kind of plant (might be considered a weed) by the front porch. Looks kind of dull green with pods on thin branches. This week the pods opened into puff balls like dandelion heads. When the sun hits them they seem to glow. So pretty.

Posted by: JTB at October 03, 2026 02:09 PM (yTvNw)

11 For cutting up stuff for more than 45 years and still have all parts

Posted by: Skip at October 03, 2026 02:10 PM (Ia/+0)

12 See a small. Call it 20 feet tree that has died. Haveca few others but they are tricky to get down

Posted by: Skip at October 03, 2026 02:11 PM (Ia/+0)

13 Sharon, that looks like bindweed to me. A noxious invasive plant. Very difficult to eradicate.

Posted by: NoLongerintheBellyoftheBeast at October 03, 2026 02:20 PM (OpLc2)

14 I have a single pecan tree in my yard, about 30ft tall. Nice trunk. For the last decade or so, the crows have gotten almost all the nuts (just went out back and collected about 40...will try later when it cools down).
Neighbors came by my house last week and their first complaint was that the crows are cracking nuts on their roofs; I said there was nothing I could do about that, as crows are protected and there is very little I can do as the city prevents me from even using airsoft guns to shoo them away. Next they said the branches and leaves make a mess in their yards. Well, Kalifornia law, you can trim the branches and roots that get into your yard (you have to dispose of them yourself) as long as it doesn't kill or severely damage the tree. The final thing they complained was that the roots of the tree were causing damage to their foundation. My house is closer to the tree, I've seen no damage to my foundation, and I have a retention wall facing their yard that's four feet away from the trunk and shows no damage (compared to the area that had two pine trees that did damage the wall). I think the first complaint was the real one. They weren't very polite either...

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at October 03, 2026 02:21 PM (l3cgK)

15 ...I wasn't feeling well, and told them so, and told them I had food cooking; they said, "Well, turn off your food and come back". Um, this is MY HOUSE, MY CURTILAGE, MY PROPERTY. I told them, mostly politely, that the conversation was over and to please leave now.

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at October 03, 2026 02:22 PM (l3cgK)

16 Maybe I should have told the neighbors that I've seen ghosts of dead neighbors that had died around their house...they were Asians. They've also put up a Feng Shui Mirror on one of the branches, facing my yard. LOL

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at October 03, 2026 02:25 PM (l3cgK)

17 I'm finally entering The Modern Age and learning to use Google Lens on my phone to identify plants and insects when I'm out walking. Recently I decided to venture into some underbrush to retrieve some sort of discarded vaping device (those things are much too common) but was concerned I was about to brush up against poison ivy or one of its troublesome relatives.
Nope, just a harmless vine, so the pinkish electronic device smelling vaguely of artificial strawberries went into it's rightful place in the trash can.
Soon thereafter I came across what the Lens was to tell me was a Pumpkin spider in a sizable web.
Not sure, but I think these smartphone things might really catch on.

Posted by: Quarter Twenty at October 03, 2026 02:28 PM (2Ez/1)

18 jim I am wondering if I should look that up or be better off not knowing

Posted by: Skip at October 03, 2026 02:28 PM (Ia/+0)

19 Thank you for all the pretty nature, K.T.!

Posted by: m at October 03, 2026 02:33 PM (odBC9)

20 jim,
Sounds like people who just want to be unhappy and complain. Give them none of your time or energy. But do document the conversations and times and dates in case you need proof of harassment later on.

Pecan trees are awesome. And if you do have to prune some big branches, dry the wood for outside cooking/smoking.

Posted by: nurse ratched at October 03, 2026 02:34 PM (PV/ya)

21 Ignorance is bliss.

Posted by: It's not a lie if you believe it at October 03, 2026 02:34 PM (2Ez/1)

22 14 15 16
Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at October 03, 2026

They seem nice!
; )

Posted by: m at October 03, 2026 02:36 PM (odBC9)

23 14 I have a single pecan tree in my yard, about 30ft tall. ...
Neighbors came by my house last week ... The final thing they complained was that the roots of the tree were causing damage to their foundation.
Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at October 03, 2026 02:21 PM (l3cgK)

I would think that, to make this charge stick, and become your responsibility, they would need to get an engineer or somebody to sign off on that. I have no idea what I'm talking about, but their mouthing off without something like that isn't worth squat, I'd think.

Good luck with it all.

Posted by: m at October 03, 2026 02:40 PM (odBC9)

24 Contrary to all expectations, I have some house plants, nerve plants, African Violets, and similar, that I haven't killed yet. Either they are tougher than usual or the universe has a sense of humor.

Posted by: JTB at October 03, 2026 02:40 PM (yTvNw)

25 K.T./KT

Posted by: K.T. at 10:35 AM
Posted by: KT at October 03, 2026 01:49 PM (1RGZ5)

Posted by: m at October 03, 2026 02:42 PM (odBC9)

26 23 14 I have a single pecan tree in my yard, about 30ft tall. ...
Neighbors came by my house last week ... The final thing they complained was that the roots of the tree were causing damage to their foundation.
Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at October 03, 2026 02:21 PM (l3cgK)

I would think that, to make this charge stick, and become your responsibility, they would need to get an engineer or somebody to sign off on that. I have no idea what I'm talking about, but their mouthing off without something like that isn't worth squat, I'd think.

Good luck with it all.

Posted by: m at October 03, 2026 02:40 PM (odBC9)

Yup, that's exactly what they'd have to do. They upgraded the house quite a bit, and my tree is not the only one around...others in the other yard might be closer (and older, but not as large)...

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at October 03, 2026 02:42 PM (l3cgK)

27 Until this very day I did not know that jellybeans came from corn.

Posted by: Cicero (@cicero43) at October 03, 2026 02:43 PM (wpRMV)

28 Then where does baby oil come from?

Posted by: Just the punchline at October 03, 2026 02:44 PM (2Ez/1)

29 15 ...I wasn't feeling well, and told them so, and told them I had food cooking; they said, "Well, turn off your food and come back". Um, this is MY HOUSE, MY CURTILAGE, MY PROPERTY. I told them, mostly politely, that the conversation was over and to please leave now.
Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at October 03, 2026 02:22 PM (l3cgK)

And they didn't even bring you a plate of cookies or biscuits or anything. Heathens.

Posted by: m at October 03, 2026 02:45 PM (odBC9)

30 29 15 ...I wasn't feeling well, and told them so, and told them I had food cooking; they said, "Well, turn off your food and come back". Um, this is MY HOUSE, MY CURTILAGE, MY PROPERTY. I told them, mostly politely, that the conversation was over and to please leave now.
Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at October 03, 2026 02:22 PM (l3cgK)

And they didn't even bring you a plate of cookies or biscuits or anything. Heathens.

Posted by: m at October 03, 2026 02:45 PM (odBC9)

I did forget to exchange phone numbers...I guess I was too upset to remember.

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at October 03, 2026 02:48 PM (l3cgK)

31 28 Then where does baby oil come from?

Posted by: Just the punchline at October 03, 2026 02:44 PM (2Ez/1)

P Diddy knows...

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at October 03, 2026 02:49 PM (l3cgK)

32 27 Until this very day I did not know that jellybeans came from corn.
Posted by: Cicero (@cicero43) at October 03, 2026 02:43 PM (wpRMV)

umm...

Posted by: m at October 03, 2026 02:50 PM (odBC9)

33
We have had a severe drought here in SW Wyoming for months. Since early Spring no outside water usage for anything.

One neighbor has a lovely green lawn because he goes out in the middle of the night and runs his sprinklers. He thinks no one knows what he is doing.

Rules don't apply to people who think they are special.

Posted by: four seasons at October 03, 2026 02:54 PM (/QHx4)

34 33
We have had a severe drought here in SW Wyoming for months. Since early Spring no outside water usage for anything.

One neighbor has a lovely green lawn because he goes out in the middle of the night and runs his sprinklers. He thinks no one knows what he is doing.

Rules don't apply to people who think they are special.

Posted by: four seasons at October 03, 2026 02:54 PM (/QHx4)

Yellow lawn...Yellow lawn...GREEN lawn...Yellow lawn...

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at October 03, 2026 02:56 PM (l3cgK)

35 My lawn is brown. When it rains it goes green is places (not grass), then goes yellow, then brown...

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at October 03, 2026 02:58 PM (l3cgK)

36 jim (in Kalifornia)
Maybe a wall or fence between the two plots:

Robert Frost - Mending Walls

...

He is all pine and I am apple orchard.
My apple trees will never get across
And eat the cones under his pines, I tell him.
He only says, "Good fences make good neighbors."

Posted by: m at October 03, 2026 02:59 PM (odBC9)

37 Golden Gophers!

Posted by: nurse ratched at October 03, 2026 03:03 PM (9/JKq)

38 14 I have a retention wall facing their yard that's four feet away from the trunk and shows no damage (compared to the area that had two pine trees that did damage the wall).
Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at October 03, 2026 02:21 PM (l3cgK)

Oh, I guess there is a wall already.

Posted by: m at October 03, 2026 03:03 PM (odBC9)

39 Migd is really screwing with me this afternoon

As a kid we use to raid the farmers jelly bean corn fields, filled bags with the corn then shuck them at home afterwards

Posted by: Skip at October 03, 2026 03:04 PM (Ia/+0)

40
We have had some rain finally and now our lawn is green. We like having a nice looking lawn but when it comes down to not having drinking water or have a green lawn it was an easy choice. Can't eat the grass, lol.

So many people are all about being me me.

Posted by: four seasons at October 03, 2026 03:04 PM (/QHx4)

41 That corn on the cob looks so cool would love to try it.

Posted by: San Franpsycho at October 03, 2026 03:04 PM (RIvkX)

42
That corn is pretty.

Posted by: four seasons at October 03, 2026 03:06 PM (/QHx4)

43 I have never seen corn like that before. It's beautiful. I hope that it tastes good as well.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at October 03, 2026 03:07 PM (JrHfD)

44 "Well, turn off your food and come back"

Sheesh. Some neighbors. I'd just go inside and not come back.

Posted by: fd at October 03, 2026 03:07 PM (MWfyi)

45 38 14 I have a retention wall facing their yard that's four feet away from the trunk and shows no damage (compared to the area that had two pine trees that did damage the wall).
Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at October 03, 2026 02:21 PM (l3cgK)

Oh, I guess there is a wall already.

Posted by: m at October 03, 2026 03:03 PM (odBC9)

The wall is several feet inside my yard...and at the border of all my neighbors' houses is fence.

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at October 03, 2026 03:08 PM (l3cgK)

46 Retaining wall is about 3 1/2 feet tall...neighbor's yard is also about 3 1/2 feet above my yard...

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at October 03, 2026 03:09 PM (l3cgK)

47 I think I know why we are not finding any Paw Paws at the creek. There are plenty of plants but no ripe fruit. The dang deer are eating them. Piles of scat here and there are full of the seeds.

Posted by: fd at October 03, 2026 03:10 PM (MWfyi)

48
Son in Washington state mailed a package to Husband five days ago. We are in WY. The package is now in Hawaii, lol.

Posted by: four seasons at October 03, 2026 03:10 PM (/QHx4)

49
Would the multi colored corn taste different from yellow and white corn?

Posted by: four seasons at October 03, 2026 03:14 PM (/QHx4)

50 48
Son in Washington state mailed a package to Husband five days ago. We are in WY. The package is now in Hawaii, lol.

Posted by: four seasons at October 03, 2026 03:10 PM (/QHx4)

my Dad had a saying for that: "Driving to Indiana to get to Chicago"...
Backstory: When his family would go on a trip to Illinois from St. Louis, they would go to Gary, Indiana to visit family there first, then swing by Chicago. My Dad's younger sister thought that was the way to get to Chicago...

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at October 03, 2026 03:15 PM (l3cgK)

51
Lol jim

Posted by: four seasons at October 03, 2026 03:16 PM (/QHx4)

52 49
Would the multi colored corn taste different from yellow and white corn?

Posted by: four seasons at October 03, 2026 03:14 PM (/QHx4)

Dunno, but the real question is if it makes for colorful...output.

I had a dog eat my entire crayola box; she shat the rainbow.

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at October 03, 2026 03:16 PM (l3cgK)

53 I bet that corn would make beautiful popcorn.

Posted by: nurse ratched at October 03, 2026 03:17 PM (94BfP)

54
Lol

Posted by: four seasons at October 03, 2026 03:17 PM (/QHx4)

55
What is hilarious about the package is Thursday and Friday we were notified that the package would be delivered the next day. Today we were notified the package is in Hawaii.

Posted by: four seasons at October 03, 2026 03:22 PM (/QHx4)

56 Minnesota beats Michigan!

Posted by: nurse ratched at October 03, 2026 03:23 PM (94BfP)

57 Blueberry picking "comb" device is awesome.

Why aren't there walking paths for harvesting in his organic planting?

Posted by: Pillage Idiot at October 03, 2026 03:23 PM (HlyYF)

58
I love blueberries. I can't imagine picking them by hand.

Posted by: four seasons at October 03, 2026 03:25 PM (/QHx4)

59 Pillage Idiot at October 03, 2026 03:23 PM

It says the blueberries are wild. Hence, no paths.

Posted by: KT at October 03, 2026 03:28 PM (1RGZ5)

60 San Franpsycho at October 03, 2026 03:04 PM

That's not sweet corn. You can parch it or grind it when it's dried. Or make (inferior) popcorn

Posted by: KT at October 03, 2026 03:29 PM (1RGZ5)

61 four seasons at October 03, 2026 03:22 PM

Once I flew from CA to Salt Lake and my luggage went to CanCun.

Posted by: KT at October 03, 2026 03:30 PM (1RGZ5)

62 47 I think I know why we are not finding any Paw Paws at the creek. There are plenty of plants but no ripe fruit. The dang deer are eating them. Piles of scat here and there are full of the seeds.

Posted by: fd at October 03, 2026 03:10 PM

So the deer are "planting" more of the fruit trees, that they will later harvest.

When God came up with evolution, I wonder if he said, "Eureka! That is a really good idea."

The deer at our farm do the exact same thing with the honey locust seed pods in the fall. I find lots of seeds sitting in their own pile of fertilizer.

Posted by: Pillage Idiot at October 03, 2026 03:31 PM (HlyYF)

63 61 four seasons at October 03, 2026 03:22 PM

Once I flew from CA to Salt Lake and my luggage went to CanCun.

Posted by: KT at October 03, 2026 03:30 PM (1RGZ5)

Did your luggage come back tanned, rested, and ready to go?

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at October 03, 2026 03:31 PM (l3cgK)

64 48 Son in Washington state mailed a package to Husband five days ago. We are in WY. The package is now in Hawaii, lol.

Posted by: four seasons at October 03, 2026 03:10 PM

Normal people: "The shortest distance between two points is a straight line."

Unionized workers: "What is the longest distance we can create between two points?"

Posted by: Pillage Idiot at October 03, 2026 03:32 PM (HlyYF)

65 62 47 I think I know why we are not finding any Paw Paws at the creek. There are plenty of plants but no ripe fruit. The dang deer are eating them. Piles of scat here and there are full of the seeds.

Posted by: fd at October 03, 2026 03:10 PM

So the deer are "planting" more of the fruit trees, that they will later harvest.

When God came up with evolution, I wonder if he said, "Eureka! That is a really good idea."

The deer at our farm do the exact same thing with the honey locust seed pods in the fall. I find lots of seeds sitting in their own pile of fertilizer.

Posted by: Pillage Idiot at October 03, 2026 03:31 PM (HlyYF)

It is said the original spreader of honey locust seeds were Mastodons...and it's not the only plant fruit that's still around that was heavily dependent on ancient, dead megafauna...

https://tinyurl.com/45c5ajjd

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at October 03, 2026 03:34 PM (l3cgK)

66
The postal service is busy. Apparently they are installing cameras on their delivery vechicles. Priorities. Spy cameras before service.

Posted by: four seasons at October 03, 2026 03:36 PM (/QHx4)

67 59 Pillage Idiot at October 03, 2026 03:23 PM

It says the blueberries are wild. Hence, no paths.

Posted by: KT at October 03, 2026 03:28 PM

D'oh!

I scanned it and did process the word "organic" so thought it was a little hobby farm.

I AM trying to figure out why anyone would add the adjective "organic" to anything growing wild?

Posted by: Pillage Idiot at October 03, 2026 03:38 PM (HlyYF)

68 67 59 Pillage Idiot at October 03, 2026 03:23 PM

It says the blueberries are wild. Hence, no paths.

Posted by: KT at October 03, 2026 03:28 PM

D'oh!

I scanned it and did process the word "organic" so thought it was a little hobby farm.

I AM trying to figure out why anyone would add the adjective "organic" to anything growing wild?

Posted by: Pillage Idiot at October 03, 2026 03:38 PM (HlyYF)

All food is organic in a literal sense...

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at October 03, 2026 03:40 PM (l3cgK)

69 It is said the original spreader of honey locust seeds were Mastodons...and it's not the only plant fruit that's still around that was heavily dependent on ancient, dead megafauna...

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at October 03, 2026 03:34 PM

Judging by the number of nasty honey locust trees that I have to clear on my farm every year, I must have some mastodons still lurking around!

Posted by: Pillage Idiot at October 03, 2026 03:41 PM (HlyYF)

70 "It is said the original spreader of honey locust seeds were Mastodons...and it's not the only plant fruit that's still around that was heavily dependent on ancient, dead megafauna..."

Huh, I've heard the same thing about paw paw seeds. Supposedly deer won't eat the leaves

Posted by: fd at October 03, 2026 03:45 PM (MWfyi)

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