Saturday Gardening Thread: Bloomin' Mysteries [KT]

Happy Saturday, gardeners and garden watchers! Today, we have three mystery flowers plus additional content! Only the most nerdish gardeners in The Horde are expected to come up with the correct species identification for our first mystery today without looking it up. I do not know the identity of our second Mystery Flower. Maybe together we can figure out what it is.

Garden Photos by the Horde

California Girl's Mystery Flower #1

Just by looking, do you know the species name of this flower? It was photographed in Cheyenne, Wyoming, where it gets really, really cold in winter. Note the happy bee:

I like taking photos of flowers, but I rarely know what kind of flower it is. I took a trip to Nebraska , Colorado , and Wyoming and have lots of photos of plants. This particular flower was in front of a lovely Catholic church.

The species grows on grassy hillsides and mountainsides in Japan, China, Siberia and Korea. The Japanese have been breeding garden forms for a long time. I'm not wild about the double ones. Though some of the semi-doubles are interesting. I guess I'm not the only one who feels that way. Sakata may have dropped their Astra doubles for semi-doubles (and singles). 'Sentimental Blue' (next page) is a genetic dwarf, even shorter than the Astra series.

I like the pink ones, including the compact Astra Pink, in this video. The one below is 'Fuji Pink', which is taller (and apparently grows in Canada).

This plant seems to bring out either whimsy or a little bit of obsession in some people. A European site is dedicated to basic information about this genus. There is an unusually single-minded video by Frau-Doktor about white balloon flowers at the link.

Donkeys do not make the best assistants when planting balloon flowers. Incidentally Rabbits eat them, too. This makes me skeptical of reports that they are deer-resistant. Gophers love the fleshy roots.

Speaking of whimsy, the cultivars 'Misato Purple' and 'Komachi' retain the hot air balloon shape (seen in the buds of most cultivars) as the flower matures.

The most exotic Balloon Flower yet, Komachi resembles a mass of blue umbrellas seen from above, something like Renoir's famous painting Les Parapluies.

These plants are pretty tough as long as they get good drainage. They have a long, fleshy taproot and resent transplanting once established, but are generally long-lived. They are usually propagated by seed rather than by division, an indication that the plants do not have invasive roots.

Balloon flowers have a very wide climate range, though the dwarf ones may not be quite as tough as the tall ones. They can be grown as winter annuals in the low desert, though. The dwarf ones are marketed as annuals everywhere. Maybe partly because people accidentially dig them up in spring because the plants emerge late after dormancy. Any ideas on how to mark where you planted balloon flowers to avoid accidentally digging them up in spring?

As an indication of how tough Balloon Flowers are, one blogger moved some seedlings from Illinois to Austin, Texas, where she grew 'White Fuji' and a lavender-blue cultivar called 'Miss Tilly' in her flower borders. You can keep a balloon flower blooming for a couple of months by deadheading. Don't cut the entire flower stems down.

California Girl's Mystery Flower #2

This is what's blooming now. I have no idea what it is, but it's been here for almost 20 years. It grows in my front flowerbed, in the one sunny corner away from the shade trees.

Can you identify this flower?

Illiniwek's Mystery Flower

Remember the lovely photo last week of Illiniwek's pond in spring? Here's a different view in the fall.

These are the mystery yellow flowers that bloom for a week or two in fall. They came up volunteer and dominate the pond edge, except for the cattails. Not bad but I'd like some variety, and color the rest of the year.

They looked nearly like some perennial I had in the garden, and I wondered if I got some wild cross. But they are nice.

At first, I thought the Mystery Flower might be a Coreopsis. Bet that's the perennial that was in Illiniwek's garden. Many garden cultivars have a heritage in America's wild lands. A good topic for a little later. I thought about some other possibilities, too.

But now I am pretty sure that the Mystery Flower is Helenium autumnale. It grows throughout Illinois in wet places. Illiniwek's flowers have a shorter cone and shorter petals than the one pictured at the link, but the same gaps between the petals and serrated or scalloped petal tips. Leaves are similar.

The genus Helenium contains upwards of 40 perennial and annual species, all of them native to the New World; only a handful, however, have made the leap from the wild to the garden. . . . Of these 40, the most important is the highly variable perennial H. autumnale, an inhabitant of moist soils over a huge stretch of North America, from Quebec to British Columbia and from Florida to Arizona. Growing anywhere from two to five feet, it bears narrow, toothed leaves and one- to two-inch-wide deep yellow flowers. Its horticultural significance derives not from its own fairly modest charms, but rather from its status as the primary ancestor of the dozens of opulent hybrids currently available. . .

Though many are cross-species hybrids, these plants are often still sold as H. autumnale. The garden forms generally bloom longer than the species. They generally come in shades of yellow, copper, rust and red. I like the yellow ones. There is a fine tall yellow called 'Butterpat'. Here's a new one called 'Double Trouble.' It is reportedly not as attractive to insects than the singles, because it produces less pollen.

If you scroll down at the link above, there is a photo of 'The Bishop', another yellow bred from a Western native, H. bigelovii. It blooms earlier than most cultivars. Starting in June in Portland. It may not be as hardy as some of the others. Some of the earlier-blooming hybrids will re-bloom if deadheaded or sheared after bloom.

Helenium was named after Helen of Troy, the most famous adulteress in history. The legend is that the flowers sprung up where her tears fell. Though it is news to me that she ever got to the New World.

The plant is toxic to livestock, but normally they won't eat it unless it is chopped up with other plants. One common name is "Sneezeweed", from the plant's former use as snuff. You can decide for yourself if pioneers used it to induce sneezing or Native Americans used it to expel evil spirits.

I am not real wild about some of the bicolors. I do think this example of "Red Shades" is quite fetching:

There is a new "Mariachi Series" - compact plants bred in the Netherlands. "Mariachi", "Compact" and "Netherlands" just don't go together in my mind, but that's marketing. A deep red one is called 'Ranchera'. It is bluer than the type in the photo above, without that thin yellow edge. The pure yellow one is called 'Sombrero'. Scroll down at the link to see other Helenium cultivars with different petal and cone colors.

An enthusiast in the UK has put together a nice website on Helenium with information on wild forms and named cultivars. There is a (relatively) complete list of cultivars. The site includes nice details like when different cultivars flower. In the "History" section, there is some information on a German breeder who emphasized heat and drought tolerant cultivars. Not that any of them are "xeric" plants. I like the one at the bottom right, Feuersiegel.

You can also grow Helen's Flower from seed. Strains include 'Sunshine Hybrid', and 'Helena'. There is also a generic 'Red Shades'. They need light to germinate, so they are surface-sown or barely covered. They may bloom the first year if started early.

Gardens of The Horde

Cthulhu sends in a great tip to go with last week's segment on Wisterias:

Wisteria are deciduous. It's tempting to fertilize them in Spring when their sap rises and they start to bud. Never do this -- for both Chinese (bloom, then leaf) and Japanese (leaf, then bloom) wisterias, any nitrogen fertilizer before the bloom is done will swamp the blossoms with leaves. Your vines will look lush and green and vigorous, but there's plenty of time for that without the blossoms.

Absolutely true. In fact, if the plant is too happy growing leaves, it might not even blossom at all for several years. Some people go to the drastic step of root-pruning to scare their plants into blooming.

And you may not want to encourage the "swamping" tendencies of wisteria by fertilizing with nitrogen. If properly inoculated, a Wisteria can produce some of its own nitrogen. Once again, be careful growing Wisteria on a building. Here's a blogger fascinated by Wisteria's stranglehold on a dead conifer.

Things are happening in colder-winter areas now. Duke Lowell, in Northern Illinois, sent in photos of his magnolia:

. . . the color isn't as bright this year. Maybe the warm up and then subsequent freezes? Here is the tree as well as close up of the blooms. Usually it's much brighter.

That tree is beautifully shaped. And the setting is wonderful. It is hard to say what the color of the blossoms is "supposed" to be, because there are so many hardy deciduous hybrids available. I like the coloration of the blossoms up close, though.

Has anybody else seen faded blossom color on a magnolia this year? I wouldn't be surprized if warm weather followed by freezes could have an effect. I saw photos of one magnolia with blossoms marked in pink when it first bloomed (before leaves opened), but then with almost white blossoms during a second bloom (a sparser bloom, with leaves). The blossoms from the first bloom had been shredded by a storm.

CBD sent along America's Ten Best Spots for Viewing Wildflowers. They're not all in the West. And some of the flowers are on shrubs. Up for a trip? Already been on a trip? We will be discussing more American wildflowers in the future. Including some shrubs, perennials and annuals currently being grown by members of The Horde. (Thinking of you, Kindltot).

We have had great weather for gardening in the San Joaquin Valley - sun some days, a little rain others. A little too much wind a couple of days. We finished a major clean-up project this week and are ready to turn more attention to our plants. Bought some Cosmos and Dianthus this week. The Dianthus is deep red, complementing my Roger's Delight Geranium (well, O.K., Pelargonium), which has scented leaves and medium-sized Martha Washington-type blooms. It is the oldest plant I have.

Got our first three ripe SunSugar cherry tomatoes. Delish. The Garden Kitties brought us parts of a giant rat and a big gopher. Not appetizing at all.

Anything going on in your garden? Hope you get a chance to spend some time outdoors this week.

If you would like to send information and/or photos for the Saturday Gardening Thread, the address is:

ktinthegarden
at g mail dot com

Include your nic unless you want to be a lurker.

Comments

(Jump to bottom of comments)

1 Good afternoon greentumbs

Posted by: Skip at April 22, 2017 12:00 PM (Ot7+c)

2 What is this....beak day?

Posted by: eleven at April 22, 2017 12:03 PM (qUNWi)

3 Beautiful....much better than watching Nye, that for sure.

Posted by: Colin at April 22, 2017 12:03 PM (iUWMF)

4 Corgis summoned

Have about 2/3 of garden done turning over soil with new compost

Posted by: Skip at April 22, 2017 12:04 PM (Ot7+c)

5 Gardening season= "lawn mowing season"

I wish I could get excited about that.

Posted by: shibumi at April 22, 2017 12:05 PM (FkAXz)

6 This Helen of Troy....is she hot?

Posted by: eleven at April 22, 2017 12:06 PM (qUNWi)

7 California Girl #2: wood anemone?

Posted by: hogmartin at April 22, 2017 12:07 PM (8nWyX)

8 Cursed be the ground for our sake. Both thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for us. For out of the ground we were taken, for the dust we are... and to the dust we shall return.

Posted by: Insomniac at April 22, 2017 12:07 PM (0mRoj)

9 Nice picture of that idiot TRUMP !!!!!!!!! Trump lied and Amerrica died !!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted by: Mary Clogginstien from Brattleboro, VT at April 22, 2017 12:08 PM (WmgTn)

10 Hey, there's Perry!

Posted by: Insomniac at April 22, 2017 12:08 PM (0mRoj)

11 Cursed be the ground for our sake. Both thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for us. For out of the ground we were taken, for the dust we are... and to the dust we shall return.


Somebody has a case o the Mondays.

Posted by: eleven at April 22, 2017 12:09 PM (qUNWi)

12 7 California Girl #2: wood anemone?
Posted by: hogmartin at April 22, 2017 12:07 PM (8nWyX)


Anemone wood aka tentacle pr0n.

Posted by: Insomniac at April 22, 2017 12:09 PM (0mRoj)

13 Somebody has a case o the Mondays.
Posted by: eleven at April 22, 2017 12:09 PM (qUNWi)

Case? More like a cargo container.

Posted by: Insomniac at April 22, 2017 12:10 PM (0mRoj)

14
California Girl's Mystery Flower #2



Looks like a variety of jasmine.

Posted by: IllTemperedCur at April 22, 2017 12:11 PM (cuZZW)

15 Again finding 2 onions growing in compost moved to garden, seem to be starting to grow. And found 3 plants growing in pile I'musing that really look like cucumbers or a mellon though only 4 inches high, might pull them out to see what they are.

Posted by: Skip at April 22, 2017 12:13 PM (Ot7+c)

16 The mystery flowers are purple flowers, pink flowers, blue flowers, white flowers and yellow flowers.

Posted by: Insomniac at April 22, 2017 12:13 PM (0mRoj)

17 This exhausts my horticultural knowledge.

Posted by: Insomniac at April 22, 2017 12:14 PM (0mRoj)

18 Wide Platypus? I'm confused.

Posted by: Weasel at April 22, 2017 12:16 PM (Sfs6o)

19 Northern Illinois seems to be under allergy siege this year. I have never had it so bad. Out and about in a car the other day and everyone's ornamental trees are budding -- gaaaak, feels like cathair in the back of my throat.

I did think it was funny that the weatherpeople on the Chicago stations this am were warning not to plant before Mother's Day even though it is supposed to be sunny for a while -- never know when frosts will come through.

Posted by: mustbequantum at April 22, 2017 12:19 PM (MIKMs)

20 Hello horde gardeners. Still a couple of weeks before time to plant anything here. I might stick some taters in the ground since I bought the organic ones and they are getting kind of old for eating. Will do zucchini as well because it is so easy and hardy. Two of my transplanted volunteer trees survived winter and look good. One survived but is not growing up after my horse chomped it off last fall so I think I will yank it out.

I am debating buying a Turkish Filbert from a nursery. It is supposed to be good for the area according to CSU. Nut production is sporadic here regardless from what I read so I don't think I'd bother getting more than one.

Posted by: PaleRider at April 22, 2017 12:19 PM (8qFZP)

21 Is this test being graded on a curve? Because I don't think I knew there was going to spbest a test.

Posted by: Weasel at April 22, 2017 12:19 PM (Sfs6o)

22 I am debating buying a Turkish Filbert from a nursery


ALLAHU NUTBAR!!!

Posted by: Insomniac at April 22, 2017 12:20 PM (0mRoj)

23 Well tough enough to grow in that region is maybe? tough enough for our sandy soil and harsh climate. Tulips do pretty well.

Posted by: PaleRider at April 22, 2017 12:22 PM (8qFZP)

24 Skip, I tend to plant the pumpkin volunteers from my compost heap in among my corn.
It is one of those things I do for fun, to see what comes up.

One year I had what I think was a butternut-sweet meat cross that was amazingly tasty.

Posted by: Kindltot at April 22, 2017 12:22 PM (ii4h0)

25 spbest = be

Autocorrect is becoming hostile.

My zone 7 sugar snap peas are coming along nicely and I planted a row of cucumbers in a patio bed next to an A-frame contraption I put together.

Posted by: Weasel at April 22, 2017 12:22 PM (Sfs6o)

26 I'll give a little more info about my mystery flower. The flowers have no scent; they bloom once a year, around Easter time; and they're about 3/4 to 1 inch in diameter. The foliage is a ground-cover type and is a silvery, greyish-green.
By the way, unless it's a typical rose or daisy or some such, most of my flowers are mystery flowers, lol.

Posted by: California Girl at April 22, 2017 12:25 PM (Pt5D1)

27 Sorry, I meant mystery flower #2.

Posted by: California Girl at April 22, 2017 12:27 PM (Pt5D1)

28 Ah, spring is so wonderful. We hae spinach, lettuce, kale, chard, and potatoes reaching out to the sun. Less hardy eggies hae to wait until May 6 when the danger of a frost has passed.

Nice photos. We always have lots of flowers are the farmstead. Have a beautiful weekend everyone.

Posted by: colkax mimgo at April 22, 2017 12:30 PM (mc8bR)

29 I'm glad to find out about the balloon flower. I learn so much on this thread. Happy Saturday! I'm off to a garage sale/fundraiser. My best friend is adopting her sixth child (third adopted) from China and needs the funds.

Posted by: California Girl at April 22, 2017 12:31 PM (Pt5D1)

30 Ugly goomer

Posted by: Vic We Have No Party at April 22, 2017 12:31 PM (mpXpK)

31 First my dog makes the pet thread and now my tree makes the gardening thread. I am REALLY moving up!

Seriously though, KT, thanks for identifying it as a magnolia. Previous owners said it was a variety of Red Bud and the name of our street is Red Bud Lane so it made sense.

Posted by: Duke Lowell at April 22, 2017 12:39 PM (kTF2Z)

32 My zone 7 sugar snap peas are coming along nicely and I planted a row of cucumbers in a patio bed next to an A-frame contraption I put together.
Posted by: Weasel at April 22, 2017 12:22 PM (Sfs6o)
--------

You and I were going to market something together - your contribution was grape tomatoes or something similar. I forget what my contribution was supposed to be. I'm sure I'm hard at work at whatever it is, though.

Posted by: bluebell at April 22, 2017 12:41 PM (sBOL1)

33 CaliGirl, I'm thinking that is a pink, probably field chickweed, Cerastium arvense.

That is just from the flowers and leaves pictured.

That is if it grows in tangles and not too tall.

Posted by: Kindltot at April 22, 2017 12:43 PM (ii4h0)

34 KT, thank you for all the beautiful flower photos as well as the interesting commentary. I'm always amazed at how much you know.

California Girl's purple flower looks like something I've seen before, but heck if I know what.

I like that wildflower list - I have a thing for wildflowers (you can probably tell from my nic) and I used to take my kids every spring to Shenandoah NP to walk around and find wildflowers in bloom. We saw lots of different kinds, and occasionally bear scat too, which would be the end of that walk for the day.

(And KT, yes, you were right - that was me a couple weeks ago! )

Posted by: bluebell at April 22, 2017 12:44 PM (sBOL1)

35 Cali's looks like Snow-In-Summer, but I can't see the leaves well enough to say. I need to bing the botanical name.

Illini's looks like a helenium to me, too.

Posted by: Tammy al-Thor at April 22, 2017 12:47 PM (oCHgT)

36 Been drizzling here off and on. I plan to use the other half of my compost as multch around garden plants to try to keep weeds down

Posted by: Skip at April 22, 2017 12:52 PM (Ot7+c)

37 I would also caution her to keep it out of her row crops!

Magnolia color will be affected by cold weather for sure, although I usually notice a tan/brownish tinge, as if they were frozen, more so than a pink one looking white.

White roses often take on a pink coloration in cold weather, but I've not noticed a pink magnolia getting whiter.

Posted by: Tammy al-Thor at April 22, 2017 12:55 PM (oCHgT)

38 just admiring my Japanese Maple. Must be 7 foot tall now. Grew it from seeds I stole from my neighbors tree. Now mine is taller than his.

Patience + Cheapness FTW

Posted by: buzzsaw90 at April 22, 2017 01:00 PM (vChNs)

39 Ah, spring is so wonderful. We hae spinach, lettuce, kale, chard, and potatoes reaching out to the sun. Less hardy eggies hae to wait until May 6 when the danger of a frost has passed.

---

That will make good feed for the cow before you slaughter it for some juicy steaks

Posted by: buzzsaw90 at April 22, 2017 01:01 PM (vChNs)

40 hing together - your contribution was grape tomatoes or something similar. I forget what my contribution was supposed to be. I'm sure I'm hard at work at whatever it is, though.

Posted by: bluebell at April 22, 2017 12:41 PM (sBOL1)
----------
That's right! I think we had even picked out a company name - Weaselbell of Bluezel or something catchy to put DelMonte out of business.

Posted by: Weasel at April 22, 2017 01:02 PM (Sfs6o)

41 just admiring my Japanese Maple. Must be 7 foot tall now. Grew it from seeds I stole from my neighbors tree. Now mine is taller than his.
Patience + Cheapness FTW
Posted by: buzzsaw90 at April 22, 2017 01:00 PM (vChNs)

Yup...great looking tree. I have one to the side of my front door. Over 30 years old.....about 12-14 feet high and broad. Nice flowers too. The birds like to nest in it for some reason.

Posted by: Hairyback Guy at April 22, 2017 01:03 PM (5VlCp)

42 Yes, Weasel - you're right, it was Weaselbell.

Now, if only I could remember what I was supposed to be growing with my black thumb of death . . . .

Posted by: bluebell at April 22, 2017 01:06 PM (sBOL1)

43 42 Yes, Weasel - you're right, it was Weaselbell.

Now, if only I could remember what I was supposed to be growing with my black thumb of death . . . .

Posted by: bluebell at April 22, 2017 01:06 PM (sBOL1)
------------
Well with that, and considering last year's total cherry tomato production was approximately 8 units, we're probably going to have to target some sort of highly specialized boutique niche market.

Posted by: Weasel at April 22, 2017 01:11 PM (Sfs6o)

44 We have a lot of magnolia trees in Chicago, but this was not a good year for them. Some super-early warm days with subsequent cold snaps. The blooms seemed scraggly and came and went pretty quickly. Usually there are days when you can open the windows and the house fills with the gorgeous scent, but not this year. Sad.

Posted by: Gem at April 22, 2017 01:12 PM (uaHyk)

45 I think we were planning to charge $30 a pop.

For what, I don't know.

Posted by: bluebell at April 22, 2017 01:13 PM (sBOL1)

46 Usually there are days when you can open the windows and the house fills with the gorgeous scent, but not this year. Sad.
=====

Whatever is going on with flowering trees this year -- STOP IT RIGHT NOW! Even with massive doses of sudafed, I am darned near confined to the house. As bad as, or worse than, cottonwood for allergies. Cat hair caught in the back of my throat. Gaaaak.

Posted by: mustbequantum at April 22, 2017 01:16 PM (MIKMs)

47 I have a Japanese maple, my wife wanted one just so I have to mow around it. Might be 4 feet high.

Posted by: Skip at April 22, 2017 01:16 PM (Ot7+c)

48 45 I think we were planning to charge $30 a pop.

For what, I don't know.

Posted by: bluebell at April 22, 2017 01:13 PM (sBOL1)
-----------
I don't have the cherry tomatoes planted yet so we may have to raise our prices.

Are you enjoying the rainy weekend? Last Sunday I fertilized the boxwood and azaleas here at Weasel Gardens, so this rain is really going to help. Anyone else use Espoma brand Holly-Tone and Plant-Tone fertilizers on plants and shrubbery? I guess I only recently realized the brand is organic.

Posted by: Weasel at April 22, 2017 01:19 PM (Sfs6o)

49 Out here on the prairie we have wild roses growing everywhere in big mounds. I am told some come from pioneers planting them but the rest are native. Apparently they still find unknown types. Ranchers hate them.

Posted by: Dave at Buffalo Roam at April 22, 2017 01:24 PM (hQOlD)

50 I put a Chayote squash under the sink with the tater bag. in two weeks it had a nub growing out. Planted to a pot of last years' flower soil burying it halfway. In a sunny area and two weeks after planting the vine is 5 inches tall. I will plant this in the garden corner next to a small ash tree (that needs to go!) . Will keep you posted on the growth of my tropical plant growing in Northern Indiana.

Posted by: cicero Kaboom! kid at April 22, 2017 01:25 PM (n8Jnc)

51 Not much of a flower person but #1 looks like trillium to me. The others--no idea.

Posted by: Megaera at April 22, 2017 01:27 PM (S2b0s)

52 Late to the thread, dammit, but sometimes errands have to be done. Oh well.

Thanks for the usual great information and photos. This sort of thing never gets old.

Posted by: JTB at April 22, 2017 01:27 PM (V+03K)

53 i can identify both mystery flowers...

they're weeds.

next question?

Posted by: redc1c4 at April 22, 2017 01:33 PM (y5fbI)

54
Posted by: bluebell at April 22, 2017 12:41 PM (sBOL1)
----------
That's right! I think we had even picked out a company name - Weaselbell of Bluezel or something catchy to put DelMonte out of business.
Posted by: Weasel at April 22, 2017 01:02 PM (Sfs6o)

God I love this place....

Posted by: Tammy al-Thor at April 22, 2017 01:33 PM (oCHgT)

55 Anybody know what manner of critter this is? It looks like a walking stick but it isn't.

http://tinypic.com/r/352jatz/9

Posted by: Dave at Buffalo Roam at April 22, 2017 01:35 PM (O4N1K)

56 God I love this place....
Posted by: Tammy al-Thor at April 22, 2017 01:33 PM (oCHgT)
----------
Yep. Only problemo is that we've forgotten what our product was going to be. It's like Colonel Sanders forgetting the secret ingredient!

Posted by: Weasel at April 22, 2017 01:36 PM (Sfs6o)

57 Pretty awesome, March on Science has closed my street!

Posted by: Cosmic Charlie at April 22, 2017 01:37 PM (7dpmG)

58 We did get the salad greens planted a couple of days ago. We grow them in Earth Boxes: Simpson Elite lettuce and Avon hybrid spinach. They have worked well for us for several seasons and seem more bolt resistant than most.

Also, cut back the Abruzzi rye grass in the main garden in preparation for tomatoes and other plants. I was going to dig the stuff under but the state extension service said you can plant amid the grass and it might help with weed control. It is a winter cover crop so I assume (hope) that it won't crowd out the veggies. It got about three feet high and was developing seed heads. The heads were rather neat looking and would make an interesting subject to draw and paint.

Posted by: JTB at April 22, 2017 01:37 PM (V+03K)

59 Dave can't say I ever seen one, best to kill it to be sure it can't take over the planet.
( bet the first mosquito ever didn't have a person asking what it was on the Internet)

Posted by: Skip at April 22, 2017 01:40 PM (Ot7+c)

60 this the whitest march I have ever seen.

Posted by: Cosmic Charlie at April 22, 2017 01:40 PM (7dpmG)

61 A couple of years ago I promised WeaselWoman that I'd straighten up my half of the den - and I'm afraid today may be the day. Back in an hour or so.

Posted by: Weasel at April 22, 2017 01:41 PM (Sfs6o)

62 California Girl,

I have a suspicion we are the same person. I don't know what the names of flowers are either. I know the easy ones, but throw me a curve ball and I have no idea.

Posted by: CaliGirl at April 22, 2017 01:42 PM (u8Ywb)

63 The last few mornings have been rather still and damp. The heavy, moist air is holding the scent of the blooms in the yard, even the fresh cut grass. The wisteria is in full bloom and the aroma perfumed the entire yard. It was heavenly!

The honey bees are busy with those flowers and the clover that is starting to appear in the grass. I know there is supposed to be problems with the number of bees in this country but our backyard is not lacking.

Posted by: JTB at April 22, 2017 01:43 PM (V+03K)

64 55
Anybody know what manner of critter this is? It looks like a walking stick but it isn't.



http://tinypic.com/r/352jatz/9

Posted by: Dave at Buffalo Roam at April 22, 2017 01:35 PM (O4N1K)

That is exactly what we used to call them when I was a kid. A walking stick.
http://tinyurl.com/ktqyabh

Posted by: Vic We Have No Party at April 22, 2017 01:45 PM (mpXpK)

65 Lettuce price report

Last week the big boys were offering 35,000 an acre for romaine, it's 41,000 an acre this week and my husband is taking the money and running. He's in a good mood.

Leaf lettuce/red/green, is 50.00 a box. I hope it lasts. The quality isn't that great.

Posted by: CaliGirl at April 22, 2017 01:46 PM (u8Ywb)

66 I planted some lettuce from seed this week. About the only thing in my zone and at my elevation that might have a chance of growing.

Tomato seeds, indoor sometime this week.

Posted by: E Depluribus Unum at April 22, 2017 01:46 PM (HTdUD)

67 Just got home and noticed that my comments haven't been posting.

Dang it. I'm dense sometimes.

Posted by: KT at April 22, 2017 01:47 PM (qahv/)

68 Posted by: Weasel at April 22, 2017 01:36 PM (Sfs6o)

No , no, that's not a problem, that's your hook; an ingredient so secret, not even YOU know what it is.

Posted by: Tammy al-Thor at April 22, 2017 01:47 PM (oCHgT)

69 48 ... weasel, As per directions, we use the Espoma fertilizers (not Holly Tone) in the Earth Boxes that will be used for tomatoes and bell peppers. Never tried the stuff for shrubs, etc. If it isn't for eating, it doesn't get special attention in our garden.

Posted by: JTB at April 22, 2017 01:48 PM (V+03K)

70 Balloon flowers remind me of the Bellflowers (campanula) we had at the old house. Brought some with us when we moved, of course!

Finally getting some sun and above 60 today-- time to get out there and DO... something.

Didn't get the compost bins built last weekend, but maybe will get the pallets cut apart this weekend.

Today is Carbon Day! Will be bbq-ing and burning *for the sake of burning* later on.

Posted by: JQ Flyover at April 22, 2017 01:49 PM (044Fx)

71 bluebell at April 22, 2017 01:13 PM

I thing you were going to package up single crocuses. Or croci.

You're gonna have to think of another flower for summer. Heh.

Posted by: KT at April 22, 2017 01:49 PM (qahv/)

72 http://tinypic.com/r/352jatz/9
Posted by: Dave at Buffalo Roam at April 22, 2017 01:35 PM (O4N1K)

I have never seen anything like that.

Posted by: CaliGirl at April 22, 2017 01:49 PM (u8Ywb)

73 When I look at the photo of the blue balloon flowers, it looks like an aerial photo of blue umbrellas.

The flowers are pretty.

Posted by: CaliGirl at April 22, 2017 01:51 PM (u8Ywb)

74 Leaf lettuce/red/green, is 50.00 a box. I hope it lasts. The quality isn't that great.

Posted by: CaliGirl at April 22, 2017 01:46 PM (u8Ywb)

Our grocer has signs up warning of the Lettuce Famine.

Heads are still .99 , not very heavy but the sweetest and most crisp.

Posted by: cicero Kaboom! kid at April 22, 2017 01:52 PM (n8Jnc)

75 I thing you were going to package up single crocuses. Or croci.

You're gonna have to think of another flower for summer. Heh.
Posted by: KT at April 22, 2017 01:49 PM (qahv/)
--------

Yes! That's it! I knew it was something I only got a few of, as opposed to getting none of, which is most things I try to grow.

Hmm, maybe Weasel would be interested in some violets to go with his cherry tomatoes. Those grow wild in our yard. Even I can't mess those up.

Posted by: bluebell at April 22, 2017 01:54 PM (sBOL1)

76 buzzsaw90,

Nothing against bee, but we have a small herd of sheep, so lamb is eaten from Easter into early autumn. We have 24 hens and one randy rooster. Any hen not laying in October will go into the freezer. That's the extent of our meat consumption except for a rare dinner out.

Posted by: colkax mimgo at April 22, 2017 01:54 PM (mc8bR)

77 Posted by: cicero Kaboom! kid at April 22, 2017 01:52 PM (n8Jnc)

The chain stores can suck it. They charge 99 cents even when they are paying 4.00 for 24 heads.

You watch, they will leave those signs up long after the market has fallen. The produce manager hates me. I argue with him. My farmer friends have been asked to leave the store because of those signs.

Posted by: CaliGirl at April 22, 2017 01:56 PM (u8Ywb)

78 PaleRider at April 22, 2017 12:19 PM

Turkish hazels produce small, tasty nuts. Sounds like you know you would need two for cross-pollination. Not much resemblance to a filbert tree or to the hardy Filhazel (a cross between a filbert and a Northwest native hazel).

The Turkish Hazel can grow into an upright, 75 foot tree. Usually not quite that big, though.

There are hybrids with filberts called 'Trazels'. You would need two of these, preferably grafted, named varieties, to produce nuts. They also grow as an upright tree, but not as tall.

Posted by: KT at April 22, 2017 01:57 PM (qahv/)

79 Posted by: CaliGirl at April 22, 2017 01:46 PM

Hi! Glad you're doing alright after the rains!

One of the major grocers in our area has posted a sign in the produce section (directly above cauliflower, listed at $3.99 per pound!) stating that prices are high due to flooding/bad weather, etc. Guess customers are complaining.

Was thinking of you, and bought a head of cauliflower anyway. (Although at that price, I won't be able to do it again.)

Love your 'mystery flower' and am sure I've seen them before but I can't think of their name.

Posted by: JQ Flyover at April 22, 2017 01:58 PM (044Fx)

80 Was thinking of you, and bought a head of cauliflower anyway. (Although at that price, I won't be able to do it again.)

Love your 'mystery flower' and am sure I've seen them before but I can't think of their name.
Posted by: JQ Flyover at April 22, 2017 01:58 PM (044Fx)

I knew there would be shortages because no one was able to keep to the planting schedule and there would be gaps.

Also, there are two California girls. CaliGirl and California Girl.

Posted by: CaliGirl at April 22, 2017 02:02 PM (u8Ywb)

81 mustbequantum at April 22, 2017 01:16 PM

Have you tried Quercetin to reduce your dependence on Sudafed? I think 500 mg a day is recommended.

Taking an antihistamine or using NasalCrom? Those allergies sound miserable.

Posted by: KT at April 22, 2017 02:02 PM (qahv/)

82 Also, there are two California girls. CaliGirl and California Girl.

Ah, so. I will pay more attention now.

Posted by: JQ Flyover at April 22, 2017 02:04 PM (044Fx)

83 Also, there are two California girls. CaliGirl and California Girl.

I wish they all could be California girls.

Posted by: Brian Wilson at April 22, 2017 02:05 PM (IcT7t)

84 Have you tried Quercetin to reduce your dependence on Sudafed? I think 500 mg a day is recommended.
=====

Thank you for reminding me, KT. I had it noted from an old Insty post (of course lost it). Will try soon. This year has been miserable.

Posted by: mustbequantum at April 22, 2017 02:07 PM (MIKMs)

85 Our grocer has signs up warning of the Lettuce Famine.

---

Fabulous, more Irish

Posted by: buzzsaw90 at April 22, 2017 02:07 PM (vChNs)

86 Snowing here at this moment. We need the moisture.

Posted by: Ronster at April 22, 2017 02:07 PM (CDUSe)

87 Thanks KT. For nuts the American hazelnut would be better here, but I was looking at shade trees recommended on the CSU site and the Turkish Filbert was one that grows tall and is supposed to do well on Colorado eastern plains. I want some trees outside the horse paddocks to give them summer shade (horses are idiots and eat the bark when they get bored and kill the trees if trees are not on other side of a fence) The elm trees that were here when bought the place 18 years ago have been dying off. We had a bunch of volunteers but they got 15-20 feet high and died off, some have come back again from roots but I have slim hope of any getting nice and big like the old ones.

Posted by: PaleRider at April 22, 2017 02:08 PM (8qFZP)

88 Also, there are two California girls. CaliGirl and California Girl.

I wish they all could be California girls.

---

which one is the illegal?

Posted by: buzzsaw90 at April 22, 2017 02:09 PM (vChNs)

89 You had lettuce? Luxury! The only "salad" we had was poison ivy with used motor oil for dressing!

Posted by: Duke Lowell at April 22, 2017 02:10 PM (kTF2Z)

90 I despise Elm trees. A few days this week it looked like a snow storm with all the elm seeds flying around. We fight elm shoots all year long.

Posted by: Infidel at April 22, 2017 02:11 PM (uKRys)

91
That is a female platypus.

Posted by: Charles Derwin at April 22, 2017 02:12 PM (hFsRZ)

92 Sorry CaliGirl.

If it helps, ever time I see your nick I think, "Northern Colombia? She's from Cali?"

But that would explain why you like Cumbia

Posted by: Kindltot at April 22, 2017 02:15 PM (ii4h0)

93 CaliGirl's Mystery Flower #2:

Kindltot guessed Cerastium arvense (Field Chickweed). Wonder if Field Chickweed is edible like regular chickweed (no relation)?

Anyway, I think he's on the right track, but his native plant has green leaves, according to what I read. Kindltot is tuned into native plants.

Tammy al-Thor guessed Snow in Summer. That is Cerastium tomentosum. Sounds right to me. There are some other little plants that have a similar look, but I think Snow in Summer is the one most often sold.

And yes, it can be invasive, as Tammy suggests. Though individual plants can be short-lived, so California Girl's plants are doing well!

Posted by: KT at April 22, 2017 02:16 PM (qahv/)

94 I think my 2 beefsteak tomato plants aren't going to make it, they're so thin and pale. Probably not enough light and possibly not enough heat.

Guess I'll have to *buy* some plants anyway this year. We Must Have Big, Sandwich-making Tomatoes!

Posted by: JQ Flyover at April 22, 2017 02:16 PM (044Fx)

95 Did you do the thread before the gardening thread, KT? It doesn't have an author signature.

Posted by: m at April 22, 2017 02:18 PM (Gqgs8)

96 I want to turn the the sprinklers on pretty bad.

Posted by: Cosmic Charlie at April 22, 2017 02:18 PM (7dpmG)

97 cicero Kaboom! kid at April 22, 2017 01:25 PM

Fascinating experiment! Let us know if the chayote pulls the ash tree down. Don't let it near a telephone pole.

You would need to have a male and a female plant to get fruit. Some Mexicans always plant 3 in a superstitious belief that this number of plants will always produce fruit.

Posted by: KT at April 22, 2017 02:19 PM (qahv/)

98 91
That is a female platypus.

Posted by: Charles Derwin at April 22, 2017 02:12 PM (hFsRZ)


A hen.

Posted by: cicero Kaboom! kid at April 22, 2017 02:19 PM (n8Jnc)

99
I despise Elm trees. A few days this week it looked like a snow storm
with all the elm seeds flying around. We fight elm shoots all year long.

We feel your pain.

Our elm's seeds are still green-- will be another week or two before we're Swamped with them.

Hubby uses a big shop vac to clean them off the patio!

And the suckers.... grrrrrrrr!

(But that tree is sooo freakin' huge, estimates run over $1800 to have it taken out. NOT including stump grinding.)

Posted by: JQ Flyover at April 22, 2017 02:23 PM (044Fx)

100 Duke,

I love the tree. It's just beautiful and I'm sure it's much prettier in person.

Posted by: CaliGirl at April 22, 2017 02:24 PM (u8Ywb)

101 And the suckers.... grrrrrrrr!

(But that tree is sooo freakin' huge, estimates run over $1800 to have it taken out. NOT including stump grinding.)


Posted by: JQ Flyover at April 22, 2017 02:23 PM (044Fx)

Yep. Friend had part of an old one crash down on her fence. Had to be removed. Not sure what it costs. She kept the stump. Heck, It cost me almost $500 to have my Honey Locust trimmed up and thinned out this spring. And that is w/o a bucket truck.

Posted by: Infidel at April 22, 2017 02:26 PM (uKRys)

102 m at April 22, 2017 02:18 PM

Oops. At my mother-in-law's this morning. Still not thinking. Thanks for the heads up.

Posted by: KT at April 22, 2017 02:27 PM (qahv/)

103 They're refighting the Civil War on the previous thread.

Posted by: All Hail Eris, She-Wolf of the 'Ettes 'Ettes at April 22, 2017 02:31 PM (PhYV5)

104 92 Sorry CaliGirl.

If it helps, ever time I see your nick I think, "Northern Colombia? She's from Cali?"

But that would explain why you like Cumbia
Posted by: Kindltot at April 22, 2017 02:15 PM (ii4h0)

I had to search Cumbia, didn't know what that was.

Posted by: CaliGirl at April 22, 2017 02:32 PM (u8Ywb)

105 Bryan Ferry iis a smooth mf.

Posted by: Cosmic Charlie at April 22, 2017 02:34 PM (7dpmG)

106 They're refighting the Civil War on the previous thread.
Posted by: All Hail Eris, She-Wolf of the 'Ettes 'Ettes at April 22, 2017 02:31 PM (PhYV5)

Hey, I'm quoting The Sandman...

Posted by: hogmartin at April 22, 2017 02:34 PM (8nWyX)

107 Posted by: Infidel at April 22, 2017 02:26 PM

We really should get this tree trimmed back, if not fully removed. Love the shade! NEED the shade, actually. But, damn, the *ocean* of seeds...

Posted by: JQ Flyover at April 22, 2017 02:35 PM (044Fx)

108 nice investigative work KT .. thanks.

You are probably right on the coleopsis, and the others are close enough that it is probably right, maybe just some local variation. I really should keep a log of what I plant ... sometimes I take a pic of the packaging.

I just bought "Realtime Landscaping Plus 2016" to try to design something instead of being so haphazard, but haven't gotten into it yet. It let me download a Google image right into the plan, handles up to 100 acres supposedly. My "homestead" area is about 15 or so ... plenty of space for gardens or food plots.

I just picked up my corn seed and am getting ready to plant a million or so, so that is the order of the day, or couple days. I just have to load the planter and then watch. (just 55 acres)

I received some purple milkweed seed from American Meadows but they have not shipped the live plants yet. Got 5 purple bearded iris off Ebay for $8 delivered, and put in 15 gladiolas, the "everblooming" lilac are out in full (have to cut them back after bloom, later blooms not so full).

So far so good. Thanks for the added inspiration. cheers

Posted by: illiniwek at April 22, 2017 02:38 PM (TmCOq)

109 Posted by: JQ Flyover at April 22, 2017 02:35 PM (044Fx)

Yep, this honey locust is a great shade tree. It was pretty small when I bought the house. That was 18 yrs ago.

Posted by: Infidel at April 22, 2017 02:38 PM (uKRys)

110 Mystery Flower 1 is clematis.

Posted by: Big Fat Meanie at April 22, 2017 02:38 PM (woKq6)

111 We've decided this year to limit the garden growing this year. We're going to concentrate on fixing the blueberry patch, preparing the grape patch, experiment with an "Eco-lawn" (grass and flower mix), and plan the rest of the yard.

Posted by: Embarrassing Stain at April 22, 2017 02:39 PM (FrV0k)

112 Lots of Volkswagens, now science march is over

Posted by: Cosmic Charlie at April 22, 2017 02:43 PM (7dpmG)

113 JQ Flyover at April 22, 2017 01:49 PM

Balloon flowers (Platycodon grandiflorus) are the only species of a genus in the Campanula family, so you are right. They do look like Bellflowers.

The genus name means "wide bell".

Just noticed in the Wiki that Koreans use the roots as food. After special preparation. And for medicinal purposes.

One of the "Seven Autumn Flowers" in Japan, even though they bloom earlier than that in gardens.

Posted by: KT at April 22, 2017 02:43 PM (qahv/)

114 And balloon flowers look kind of like Trilliums, too. If Trilliums had five petals.

Posted by: KT at April 22, 2017 02:44 PM (qahv/)

115 Honey Locust smells so sweet. It's all over town, too! Blooms here around early-mid May and you cannot escape the fragrance. (Bad for allergics, tho.)

Posted by: JQ Flyover at April 22, 2017 02:44 PM (044Fx)

116 Nood.

Posted by: HH at April 22, 2017 02:46 PM (DrCtv)

117 illiniwek at April 22, 2017 02:38 PM

You are getting serious there. Sounds like an interesting program.

I think Purple Milkweed is invasive. Watch where it goes. You may want to remove the seed pods before they release seeds.

Posted by: KT at April 22, 2017 02:47 PM (qahv/)

118 Aerogarden is doing quite well. I'm usually not a fan of K-cup type proprietary things, but mom's a master gardener and presumably knows what she's doing. So salad greens there, basil hasn't sprouted, radishes are peeking out, still waiting on bok choy and... whatever the hell the other thing I put in that planter was. Snow peas maybe?

It's probably the perfect time to get some tomatoes, beans, peas, and peppers out, but I can barely be bothered to mow the dumb lawn.

Also, pet thread.

Posted by: hogmartin at April 22, 2017 02:48 PM (8nWyX)

119 Illiniwek,

Coreopsis has both annual and perennial native forms where you live. The annuals are sometimes called Calliopsis.

Posted by: KT at April 22, 2017 02:49 PM (qahv/)

120 KT,

Thanks for the lovely thread.

Posted by: CaliGirl at April 22, 2017 03:30 PM (u8Ywb)

121 "I think Purple Milkweed is invasive. Watch where it goes. You may want to remove the seed pods before they release seeds. Posted by: KT

hadn't thought of that, though I'd be OK with it spreading some. I have a fair amount of wild milkweed (thought the seed I bought might be different) that comes up on its own, good for the Monarch butterflies which seem to be struggling.

Most places it might take hold are either mowed or crops that get sprayed. If I don't mow my "meadows" honey locust, multiflora rose and honeysuckle would take over in a couple years. It's all good, need something to keep me busy.

Posted by: illiniwek at April 22, 2017 04:04 PM (TmCOq)

122 35
Cali's looks like Snow-In-Summer, but I can't see the leaves well enough to say. I need to bing the botanical name.



Illini's looks like a helenium to me, too.





Posted by: Tammy al-Thor at April 22, 2017 12:47 PM (oCHgT)

Thank you! I looked at images on Bing of the summer snow flowers, and you nailed it. Yay! I have several plants that have lived in my yard since we moved in almost 20 years ago, and I don't know what many of them are.

Posted by: California Girl at April 22, 2017 04:27 PM (Pt5D1)

123 Posted by: California Girl at April 22, 2017 04:27 PM (Pt5D1)

Oh, you're welcome!

And I realize I, too, was thinking you were CaliGirl being extra fancy with her nic!

Posted by: Tammy al-Thor at April 22, 2017 04:42 PM (oCHgT)

124 BALLS TO THE WALL!!
BALLS TO THE WALL, MAN!!!!

Posted by: Banana Splits Guy at April 22, 2017 04:46 PM (RrhD2)

125 Posted by: Dave at Buffalo Roam at April 22, 2017 01:24 PM (hQOlD)

We have wild roses here, too; single petals, flowers only about the size of a quarter, nothing much to look at by a means, but MY GOD, the fragrance. It's one of those things that makes you wonder what's left over for Heaven.

Posted by: Tammy al-Thor at April 22, 2017 05:31 PM (oCHgT)

126 Mystery flower #2 is what we always called snow-in-summer. It makes a great plant for rock gardens and draping over stone walls. The plant looks good even after it is done blooming because the silver foliage is so pretty

Posted by: Marie at April 22, 2017 05:44 PM (gkxXy)

127 Embarrassing Stain at April 22, 2017 02:39 PM

Sounds like a lot of gardening to me. Let us know how the "Ecolawn" works. I have some reservations.

The blueberries and grapes sound promising.

Posted by: KT at April 22, 2017 06:52 PM (qahv/)

128 Big Fat Meanie at April 22, 2017 02:38 PM

They do look a lot like some kinds of Clematis.

Thanks.

But they are balloon flowers. Check out the leaves and the balloon-like buds.

Posted by: KT at April 22, 2017 06:56 PM (qahv/)

129 Yay, checked and my peas are up today, just planted them the 15th. Soaked them before so that helped. So far just peas, beets and mesculun up in the garden I should get some Yukon Gold taters & onion sets in soon, just not getting it done.

Posted by: Farmer at April 22, 2017 08:09 PM (o/90i)

130 Farmer:

Yay!

Once I compared soaked and unsoaked peas from the same package and the unsoaked ones came up first. I have no idea why.

Posted by: KT at April 22, 2017 11:00 PM (qahv/)

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