Gardening, Puttering and Adventure Thread, April 30

The surprising photo above is from BigG:

Two 3 week old hummingbird chicks almost ready to leave the nest in our lemon/mandarin/navel orange tree in San Diego

How great is that?

BigG also has a variety of potted plants, many of them succulents, except maybe for these pelargoniums:

This cactus close-up is striking:

What a variety!

BLEG

Speaking of succulents, gourmand du jour would like to know what this is:

This thing took off on an incredible growth spurt, it comes up to my chest (5 feet or so)
No idea what it is. I never planted it, it just "volunteered".

Striking.

Critters

NaughtyPine here. This isn't the best quality (zoomed in on a phone) but such is the state of my garden.
I disturbed the neighborhood rabbit by leaving items in its corner. In summer, the rhubarb makes a good hiding spot. It checked out the area
An Eastern gray squirrel (often black in this part of Michigan) has been removing dead grass to make a nest (aka drey). She's better than a thosta rake.

Hi KT, came across this fellow on a walk on a semi-nature walking trail. As it was a pretty hot day, he was no doubt just absorbing some warmth on the pavement. As this trail gets a lot of bicycles, I thought it best to get him off the road. I didn't want to risk being bitten--I have no idea what species this is, but as you can see he was huge. So I sort of got closer and closer to him, all the while telling him his chosen spot was not a good idea. He eventually slithered off into the underbrush.
This was East Tennessee area.
Thanks!
BeckoningChasm

Wow. Anybody know what kind it is?

Edible Gardening

Five perennial vegetables: Artichokes. Cardoon, Rhubarb, Alliums: Have you ever heard of Babington's Leek? Welsh Onion? Some of us have heard of Egyptian Walking Onion. How about Perennial Kales? Oca? Jerusalem Artichokes? Asparagus.

Not all of these grow in every climate. We can discuss them in the comments.

GARDENS OF THE HORDE

Skip, from last week's comments. (Link to the thread at the end of this post)

This is one of our pair of I think flowering crab apple, or something similar

Beautiful!

Check out some of the late comments to the thread from last week, too, if you missed them.

Putting things by

By-Tor has some entries for the County Fair. Here, more naturally fermented dill pickles:

Four days of active lacto-fermentation. Cucumbers are now pickles, cloudy brine indicates probiotic yeast activity. The pic where they are dark green was day one.

My three entries for the County Fair labeled, along with recipes, ready for drop off today.
Bread and butter pickles, naturally fermented dill pickles, and spicy pork jerky.

The naturally fermented pickles have a really different look from the bread and butter pickles.

If you would like to send photos, stories, links, etc. for the Saturday Gardening, Puttering and Adventure Thread, the address is:

ktinthegarden at g mail dot com

Remember to include the nic or name by which you wish to be known at AoSHQ, or let us know if you want to remain a lurker.

Week in Review

What has changed since last week's thread, which included information on fermented pickles, geese, flowers, goatheads? The comments here are closed so you won't get banned for commenting on a week-old post, but don't try it anyway.

Posted by: K.T. at 01:12 PM

Comments

(Jump to bottom of comments)

1 Good morning again KT!

Thanks for the gardening thread!

Posted by: AZ deplorable moron at April 30, 2022 01:13 PM (AGEGB)

2 I'll go fetch the others.

Posted by: AZ deplorable moron at April 30, 2022 01:13 PM (AGEGB)

3 Hi, AZ deplorable moron! How are things going?

Posted by: KT at April 30, 2022 01:15 PM (rrtZS)

4 Love the squirrel and bunny.

Posted by: KT at April 30, 2022 01:17 PM (rrtZS)

5 Slacking today in firsts
Good afternoon Greenthumbs
Have garden soil turned but next step is sifting 2yo compost but haven't started. Hopefully will soon start.
No plants though chives and oregano are coming up fine.

Posted by: Skip at April 30, 2022 01:17 PM (2JoB8)

6 Tennessee version of Texas Ratsnake.

Posted by: Eromero at April 30, 2022 01:18 PM (gktX6)

7 That's a big snake!

Posted by: Tom Servo at April 30, 2022 01:18 PM (ifERo)

8 By-Tor, what do you use to stick your labels on? I use dry milk paste, but it is not always successful

Posted by: Kindltot at April 30, 2022 01:18 PM (xhaym)

9 Looks like a Black Snake...they can get pretty big.

Posted by: BignJames at April 30, 2022 01:18 PM (AwYPR)

10 Still seems cool in mornings, only barely into 60s now, but frost should be gone.could try a couple plants in mini greenhouse.

Posted by: Skip at April 30, 2022 01:20 PM (2JoB8)

11 Hi, AZ deplorable moron! How are things going?
Posted by: KT

The quail and dove are enjoying the bird blocks. The rabbits keep climbing and helping themselves also.

The rabbits also trimmed the Fairy Dusters. They didn't touch them last year so I thought they were rabbit-proof, nope.

Also the dove are trying to start nests in every level ledge in the 2.5 acres. What a pain, they keep pushing *stuff* off the shelves outside the front door too. I then go out and discourage them.

Posted by: AZ deplorable moron at April 30, 2022 01:20 PM (AGEGB)

12 KT will try and send you a photo of a spot in my same township, I think it's quite funny really. Can use if you want.

Posted by: Skip at April 30, 2022 01:23 PM (2JoB8)

13 I would guess that gourmand du jour's succulent is a variety of Aeonium.

Posted by: Don at April 30, 2022 01:23 PM (fvP4F)

14 Harvesting peas that were planted back in January. Also have Egyptian walking onions in pots and a raised bed that can be cut. I've been treating them like green onions and they work real well.

Posted by: gingeroni (central TX) at April 30, 2022 01:24 PM (X7FeU)

15 AZ deplorable moron @ 11-
Quail, bunnies, and doves are edible. Just sayin'.

Posted by: Eromero at April 30, 2022 01:33 PM (gktX6)

16 hiya

Posted by: JT at April 30, 2022 01:33 PM (arJlL)

17 Hiya K.T. !

Posted by: JT at April 30, 2022 01:33 PM (arJlL)

18 When I referenced Aeonium here is some of what I got:

"These succulents are slow-growers and may not even produce yellow or white flower clusters for up to five years."

That would make sense, since it started about the size of a cabbage, then years later, the yellow bloom popped up, seemingly all at once. The bumble bees just love it. It always has half a dozen or so on it.
Thanks for the tip!

Posted by: gourmand du jour at April 30, 2022 01:38 PM (jTmQV)

19 Looks like a black rat snake. Harmless, unless you're a rat.

Posted by: Bill at April 30, 2022 01:39 PM (Mx0nZ)

20 Black Rat Snake

Posted by: Tony Litwin at April 30, 2022 01:39 PM (oxYDO)

21 AZ deplorable moron @ 11-
Quail, bunnies, and doves are edible. Just sayin'.
Posted by: Eromero

Yup. And the rabbit season is all year long in AZ. The little pests...

Posted by: AZ deplorable moron at April 30, 2022 01:39 PM (W8/Sm)

22 Those pickles look enticing!

Posted by: gourmand du jour at April 30, 2022 01:40 PM (jTmQV)

23 Those pickles look enticing!
Posted by: gourmand

I agree and was wondering if the recipe is ever shared...

Posted by: AZ deplorable moron at April 30, 2022 01:41 PM (W8/Sm)

24 I would eat all these animals including the snake if I was hongry enough. Some would say 'Gahh, you eat a snake?!?!' Circumstances rule.

Posted by: Eromero at April 30, 2022 01:43 PM (gktX6)

25 I would eat all these animals including the snake if I was hongry enough. Some would say 'Gahh, you eat a snake?!?!' Circumstances rule.
Posted by: Eromero

Deep fried rattlesnake tastes just like deep fried everything else (well no any veg) and I'll bet all other snakes taste just like rattlesnake.
Anaconda roast anyone?

Posted by: AZ deplorable moron at April 30, 2022 01:46 PM (W8/Sm)

26 Snakes like bats are very beneficial to have around, only see snake here a rarely.

Posted by: Skip at April 30, 2022 01:48 PM (2JoB8)

27 Got a bug to get an early start on the garden this year. Planted about 100 Walla Walla sweets earlier this month. Proceeded to snow three times. They are looking pretty sad. Hopefully the nursery will have some starts left. Waited until last week to plant my cabbage starts. They appear to be doing fine even though I've had a number of nights in the 20's. Now it appears that I have a couple of bunnies living under my deck. My grandson and I watched them eyeballing them. They're in a raised bed but I'm not sure that's much of a deterrent. I've always wondered what rabbit tastes like.

Posted by: Sock Monkey * Ungovernable at April 30, 2022 01:49 PM (QYPZK)

28 My gardening project is trying to make compost / mulch from green and brown yard waste in a 55gal storage tote with airholes drilled into the top, sides, and bottom. Started last fall.

It is intended to be used as a top dressing of sorts on the lawn, as bag fertilizer has doubled in price.

Posted by: Count de Monet at April 30, 2022 01:49 PM (4I/2K)

29 13 I would guess that gourmand du jour's succulent is a variety of Aeonium.
Posted by: Don at April 30, 2022 01:23 PM (fvP4F)

Maybe Black Prince variety?

Posted by: Bilwis Devourer of Innocent Souls, I'm starvin' over here at April 30, 2022 01:55 PM (cupoy)

30 I would like to have a humming bird pet. I would feed it Mountain Dew.

Posted by: sniffybigtoe at April 30, 2022 01:55 PM (Y5qcH)

31 I would like to have a humming bird pet. I would feed it Mountain Dew.
Posted by: sniffybigtoe

No flavoring... just water and sugar. They go wild for it, here we'll have one declare that all the feeders in the yard are *his* and will zoom around defending them (we had 4 in the last back yard).

Posted by: AZ deplorable moron at April 30, 2022 01:56 PM (rHM8n)

32 Mrs. E and I made a compost pile every year 25 ft X 8 ft X 6 ft tall. By spring it cooked to less than 3 ft high. Grass clippings, cotton gin trash, shredded live oak acorns, elephant manure from the zoo, old coastal bermuda hay, veggie peels from kitchen. Mrs. E is the Compost Queen, used no chemicals in our garden beds. I miss that.

Posted by: Eromero at April 30, 2022 01:59 PM (gktX6)

33 There are a lot of worms in my garden soil, don't know if rest of yard. What I do when sifting compost is look for worms which love that stuff and take them out and around wire screen then they get shipped to garden.
Pondering moving mini greenhouse out of fenced in area and putting it connected to garden with hole in fence to get into it.
Better do it soon if going to do it.

Posted by: Skip at April 30, 2022 02:03 PM (2JoB8)

34 No step on snek

Posted by: Duke Lowell at April 30, 2022 02:07 PM (u73oe)

35 No step on snek
Posted by: Duke

Is Duke always this wise?

Posted by: AZ deplorable moron at April 30, 2022 02:10 PM (W8/Sm)

36 Fortunately, the local bunnies still haven’t realized that there are no longer big, scary dogs in our yard. And the baby bunny killer cat went over the Rainbow Bridge several years ago, too.

Posted by: Captain Josepha Sabin at April 30, 2022 02:12 PM (HquT8)

37 AZ deplorable moron at April 30, 2022 01:41 PM

We'll see if we can get the pickle recipes.

Posted by: KT at April 30, 2022 02:21 PM (rrtZS)

38 Hi all you gardeners and putterers!

I wonder if anyone else has ordered seeds from Park Seed. Publius' mom is into asters, and chose one from the Park Seed catalogue (Starlight formula mix), and I ordered some from Baker Creek (Matsumoto formula mix). The Starlights were supposed to have 50 seeds - there were only 37. (I'm trying to max out production, so I was counting). So far, all of the Baker Creek asters have popped (they gave me more so I doubled up). Only 6 or so of the Park Seed asters have germinated. They're planted side by side in a 72 cell flat.

PLUS, Park Seed charged $7.99 to mail a few packets of seeds, and Baker Creek shipped for free.

Posted by: Miley, the Duchess at April 30, 2022 02:22 PM (Mzdiz)

39 And the baby bunny killer cat went over the Rainbow Bridge several years ago, too.
Posted by: Captain Josepha Sabin

Ny 12 year old cat Ninja went outside about 3 weeks ago and we haven't seen her since. My dog is 17 years old and walks like a drunken sailor. I'm sure the bunnies are emboldened. My grandkids would love to have a whole warren of rabbits living in my backyard. I've moved a considerable amount of my garden into the backyard so I'm thinking. 22.

Posted by: Sock Monkey * Ungovernable at April 30, 2022 02:23 PM (QYPZK)

40 We are blessed with hummingbirds all year around.
Ruby throated, with emerald green feathers.
My own bunk has a window looking out on the garden, and I often see them from my repose.
Then I recall my former self that had a studio apt. in Manhattan with a view of a ventilation unit.
Now is better.

Posted by: gourmand du jour at April 30, 2022 02:23 PM (jTmQV)

41 I just saw this from last week...

83 >> 9 [kallisto] My amaryllis [is] all leaves, no flower.
>> bleh

Are you sure that's not normal? I have a lot of belladonna amaryllis, and they never bloom while they have leaves. Mine have leaves right now, but they will bloom later. I'm sure KT can provide more details.

I guess I'll just wait and see. The bulb is getting a weird dark color though, even though the leaves look healthy as ever.

Posted by: kallisto at April 30, 2022 02:31 PM (DJFLF)

42 Speaking of pickling, that term used to apply to both pickling and fermenting. I came across a Youtube video on how to preserve limes through fermentation in brine, and I'm going to go for it. We love broiled catfish marinated in lime juice and white wine, and limes are one thing I have to buy when we make it. I also like to squeeze lime into my cherry vodka and Coke. Nice to have around, and they last for at least 6 months.

I've ordered a jar like the one in the video from Amazon.

In times like these, it's useful to know how to preserve produce.

https://tinyurl.com/rd4wbrjb

Posted by: Miley, the Duchess at April 30, 2022 02:31 PM (Mzdiz)

43 Since this is a puttering thread...does flea marketing and yard sale-ing go in that category?

I bought spaces at annual church flea market. Do any commenters here have tips on what/how to sell junque for maximum return?

I will be signing off, but will check replies later.

Thanks!

Posted by: kallisto at April 30, 2022 02:33 PM (DJFLF)

44 oh - I just saw KT added another title...Adventure thread. I guess selling junque at flea market is an adventure, so my above question is legit.

Posted by: kallisto at April 30, 2022 02:34 PM (DJFLF)

45 AZ deplorable--Your territorial hummingbird is probably a rufous hummingbird. We don't have them in central Texas but the farther west you get the more common they are. Our local hummers (black-chinned and ruby-throated) like to fight over the feeders, but they've got nothing on those tiny little rufous guys!

Posted by: Art Rondelet of Malmsey at April 30, 2022 02:37 PM (fTtFy)

46
We'll see if we can get the pickle recipes.
Posted by: KT

Excellent!

Posted by: AZ deplorable moron at April 30, 2022 02:40 PM (W8/Sm)

47 We have seen Costas and Rufus.
One of the 2 make big high loops as part of their mating dances.
Fun to watch and hear.

Posted by: AZ deplorable moron at April 30, 2022 02:45 PM (W8/Sm)

48 I find it interesting that the examples given for the dried meats include bison and elk, rather than more mundane species.

Posted by: Fox2! at April 30, 2022 02:45 PM (qyH+l)

49
I bought spaces at annual church flea market. Do any commenters here have tips on what/how to sell junque for maximum return?
I will be signing off, but will check replies later.
Thanks!
Posted by: kallisto at April 30, 2022 02:33 PM (DJFLF)

Put prices on everything and be willing to dicker
If you leave it unpriced people like me won't ask

and always have small stuff for low pricing, you make your table rent off of the little stuff.

Posted by: Kindltot at April 30, 2022 02:49 PM (xhaym)

50 looks like a black racer

Posted by: REDACTED at April 30, 2022 02:49 PM (us2H3)

51 50 looks like a black racer
Posted by: REDACTED at April 30, 2022 02:49 PM (us2H3)

I see no resemblance to Bubba Wallace.

Posted by: Insomniac - Outlaw. Hoarder. Wrecker. Honker. at April 30, 2022 02:51 PM (lR7Oz)

52 That would be a rare Coathanger snake.
Habitat is primarily closets.

This one has apparently been preparing a nest by way of opening car doors.

Posted by: ibid at April 30, 2022 02:55 PM (o5zza)

53 From Boise area: Lows 34-48, highs 57-72 F. Drizzle Tues. and Thurs. HOA irrigation water is on - husband will be bringing up the system zone by zone, doing "tuna can" trick to figure out how much water each zone is actually putting out.

I finished shifting all compost from one bin to the next! My back is sore but I am happy. Husband did mow one area - the grass pile is sitting beside empty bin 6, for me to start this year's mixing.
(Count de Monet #28, this is where you can find my compost tutorial - but we've never tried composting inside a container.)
https://acecomments.mu.nu/?post=391517

Other than dandelions, what's blooming?: redbud, dogwood, crabapple, both pears, and faithful Johnny Jump-Ups. Peach is done blooming, apples are just starting. About 1/3 of our tulips are open, including my faves! - part gold, red "flame" edges that spread as they age, black centers inside.

Husband and I moved wind-shredded tarp from atop trailer, saved about half of it for piling bought-compost on (for potatoes, which we haven't started yet). Not much happening in outdoor garden yet, just baby sprouts.

Posted by: Pat* at April 30, 2022 02:56 PM (2pX/F)

54 Weird weather lately. One day in the 80s the next night has a freeze warning. The shrubs are coming through great but it's messing up my timing for planting seedlings and young plants.

Posted by: JTB at April 30, 2022 02:59 PM (7EjX1)

55 51 50 looks like a black racer
Posted by: REDACTED at April 30, 2022 02:49 PM (us2H3)

I see no resemblance to Bubba Wallace.
Posted by: Insomniac - Outlaw. Hoarder. Wrecker. Honker. at April 30, 2022 02:51 PM (lR7Oz)

none ?

Posted by: REDACTED at April 30, 2022 03:01 PM (us2H3)

56 Been sitting on deck reading intermittently and my large sycamore has a few thousand bombs hanging over me

Posted by: Skip at April 30, 2022 03:02 PM (2JoB8)

57 Skip at April 30, 2022 03:02 PM

Those sycamore bombs can be intimidating.

Posted by: KT at April 30, 2022 03:08 PM (rrtZS)

58 kallisto at April 30, 2022 02:31 PM

Yours is probably a Hippeastrum.

Posted by: KT at April 30, 2022 03:08 PM (rrtZS)

59 Hiya, JT!

Posted by: KT at April 30, 2022 03:10 PM (rrtZS)

60 I constructed a 4' x 8' raised planter box. Yesterday I bought 15 cubic feet of mulch and another 15 cubic feet of Miracle Gro raised bed potting soil.

This evening, the Roma tomato plant goes in on one end and the Big Red (a friend gave it to me) goes in on the other end. I have jalapeno and bell peppers to plant too.

I still want to plant onions, thyme, and garlic.

Posted by: Chatterbox Mouse at April 30, 2022 03:19 PM (lKAqb)

61 (Count de Monet #28, this is where you can find my compost tutorial - but we've never tried composting inside a container.)
https://acecomments.mu.nu/?post=391517
...

Posted by: Pat* at April 30, 2022 02:56 PM (2pX/F)

Thanks! Much obliged.

Posted by: Count de Monet at April 30, 2022 03:53 PM (4I/2K)

62 Chatterbox Mouse at April 30, 2022 03:19 PM

Sounds great!

Posted by: KT at April 30, 2022 04:14 PM (rrtZS)

63 I just found out that Mesa has more people than Lubbock, Albuquerque, Atlanta and Minneapolis. 550,000. It does not feel like more than 200,000. My plans are unchanged. The local power company offers two shade trees, but I am too late for 2022. Grow boxes, aloe, bougainvillea and cactus.

Posted by: Gordon at April 30, 2022 04:26 PM (KnSPd)

64 29 Maybe Black Prince variety?
Posted by: Bilwis Devourer of Innocent Souls, I'm starvin' over here at April 30, 2022 01:55 PM (cupoy)

A quick search online didn't find a "Black Prince" Aeonium, but the variety "Zwartkop" or "Black Rose" does look like the mystery succulent. There is a "Black Prince" Echeveria, but that has a different habit of growth.

Posted by: Don at April 30, 2022 04:50 PM (fvP4F)

65 Hobby thread nood

Posted by: Skip advising you of your Nood threads at April 30, 2022 05:04 PM (2JoB8)

66 Stopping by really late. I don't think I've seen a black snake in years, but some of the neighborhood kids found a fox snake (iirc also a rat snake). They weren't fooled by its imitation of a rattlesnake and carried it "home" to the marsh.

I love those homemade pickles. I've an acquaintance who makes REALLY hot pickles.

Posted by: NaughtyPine at April 30, 2022 05:44 PM (/+bwe)

67 BTW I think we're having a bumper crop of squirrels this summer. Five baby squirrels began venturing down the spruce this past week. Another adult is gathering mulch for a nest.

Posted by: NaughtyPine at April 30, 2022 05:46 PM (/+bwe)

68 Mystery succulent looks like a Sempervivum ("Hens and chicks", "Houseleek") to me, especially the flower stalk.

But, 5ft tall? Hmmmm

Posted by: JQ at April 30, 2022 06:00 PM (dpnJh)

69 sock off

Posted by: andycanuck (UHVv4) at April 30, 2022 08:45 PM (UHVv4)

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