Christmas Eve Gardening, Puttering and Adventure Thread

Did you give or get a holiday Amaryllis (Hippeastrum) this year? Neal in Israel grows his outdoors (and they don't bloom this time of year). He sent these photos last year, but they seem appropriate now. Spectacular!

Edible Gardening/Putting Things By

Well, last night our local supermarket was out of radishes, as usual for this time of year. Guess I should grow some for winter next year.

But it was the Night of the Radishes in Oaxaca.

Radish the Great was all over it, with tweets and re-tweets. Too many great sculptures to include here, but you can scroll through them at the link. Wow.

🌟#NightOfTheRadishes 🌟 https://t.co/0guaOZ7JLt
— Radieschen 🍻 Radish (@radishthegreat) December 23, 2022

Noche de los Rábanos...

December 23 is The Night of the Radishes in Oaxaca... dedicated to radish carvings / sculptures.

Radishes were introduced to Mexico by the Spanish from Asia. pic.twitter.com/Sn42symPER
— Mexican Food (@MexicanFood) December 24, 2019

One reason our supermarket is out of radishes is that it is a traditional garnish for red pozole (made with either pork or chicken). It is traditional for Christmas (and for Christmas parties or drop-in guests).

Maybe we can discuss pozole in the Food Thread tomorrow. Get your hominy and dried chiles (or chile enchilada sauce) ready. Maybe a can of garbanzo beans if you have a vegan visiting. Some cauliflower if you are going low-carb. Where we live, giant cans (108 oz.) of hominy and big bags of dried peppers are on sale. But the radishes are gone.

Here is one very simple recipe, similar to how I learned to make it (minus even the garlic - I learned from poor folk). But I strain the chile puree, and use a combo of Chile California and Chile Pasilla. Guajillo is also popular.

I also learned to soak the dried chiles in hotter water for longer, and to use the water in which they soaked (there is disagreement on this point - in may depend on the chiles). Oregano was added individually by diners.

The outfit above used to have a recipe on their 30 oz. can of hominy that used a 4 oz. jar of red chile enchilada sauce in place of homemade chile puree, and a split pigs foot along with lean pork meat.

Here's a fancier recipe. But this dish is forgiving.

Gardeners can think about which chiles they might want to plant next year. Here are 11 dried Mexican chiles to know and love, plus how to use them.

Then there are radishes. Red Beauty looks nice for winter.

Puttering

Miniature Alpine Gardens and Troughs

Puttering and Beyond

The cousin who keeps geraniums in the basement over the winter - -

had a tree removed from her yard and some other work done for fire safety reasons. Professionally.

We had a line of Pfizer Junipers that were all gnarled and about 40 years old. . . All in one day, left everything clean, and hauled it all away. . . I'm so happy to have them gone. . . . Trying to secure defensible space due to fire danger.

I would not want to tackle this project by myself. Would you be up to it?

Are you staring at a project in your yard for safety or other reasons?

Anything else happening in your yard or garden? Weather or ice a problem?

Adventure

How about a little trip to South Carolina?

Marsh Walk, Murrells Inlet

Brookgreen Botanical Gardens

Are you planning any outings or adventures? Or are you hunkered down, reading seed catalogs?

Merry Christmas! Happy Hanukkah! Happy New Year!

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? Saturday Gardening, Puttering and Adventure Thread, Dec. 17

Includes exotic orchids, edibles from Arizona, a rescue, remarkable photography and art. And an unusual Santa. Plus project ideas for next year. Any thoughts or questions? Check the late comments.

I closed the comments on this post so you wouldn't get banned for commenting on a week-old post, but don't try it anyway.

Posted by: K.T. at 01:08 PM

Comments

(Jump to bottom of comments)

1 SPONGE!!!

Posted by: Helena Handbasket at December 24, 2022 01:12 PM (llON8)

2 Does anyone have a hydroponic garden? I wanted to get one for my parents, but some of the ones I looked at seemed to have fake reviews or looked flimsy

Posted by: The Unvaxxed and Unmasked Ranger - Longing to Lie in Zooey Deschanel's Bosom for Comfort at December 24, 2022 01:15 PM (VTu1l)

3 The nurseries are going to be busy in the next couple of months. Unfortunately I think my neighbors very nice rose bushes are going to die as he didn't protect them properly . And I don't think he will cut them down properly to possibly save them.

Posted by: polynikes at December 24, 2022 01:17 PM (KLWiP)

4 Eromero was brought up 100 miles from Brookgreen Gardens, it's beautiful year round.

Posted by: Eromero at December 24, 2022 01:20 PM (TkO4P)

5 those photos of the botanical gardens lights are awesome.

Posted by: BifBewalski at December 24, 2022 01:20 PM (3CCua)

6 hiya

Posted by: JT at December 24, 2022 01:20 PM (T4tVD)

7 Merry Christmas KT !

Posted by: JT at December 24, 2022 01:21 PM (T4tVD)

8 We are taking inventory of the flora around the new house. Much of it is new to us so when are unfamiliar with the care and feeding of same. The holly bushes are damn near trees at about 10-12 feet tall. I've never seen any so big.

We dug out peonies and our beloved rose bushes from the old place and they now sit in the garage. We'll replant next week when it is back up into the 50s or so.

Posted by: Tonypete at December 24, 2022 01:22 PM (qoGsy)

9 Merry Christmas KT!

Posted by: Diogenes at December 24, 2022 01:22 PM (anj39)

10 Some puttering, no gardening, even less adventure. Almost another year flushed into the sewer. But at least we've got each other!

Posted by: Putt-putt would be fun though at December 24, 2022 01:23 PM (s2na+)

11 Does shoveling snow count as puttering?

Posted by: davidt at December 24, 2022 01:24 PM (SYTee)

12 At my tennis club , the owner, Matress Mac's wife , planted over 800k worth of tropical plants to replace the tropical plants that froze after the last big freeze 2 years ago which were replacements for a freeze before that. I don't know how much of the 800k worth of plants were killed this time . Stubborn is not a sufficient word to describe her.

Good thing her husband won 75 million on the Astros WS victory.

Posted by: polynikes at December 24, 2022 01:24 PM (KLWiP)

13 We have amaryllis in the yard that bloom every year.
They look nice but the blooms only last a week or two.

Posted by: Dr. Varno at December 24, 2022 01:25 PM (X+Ku8)

14 New year resolution: try container growing Chiles and opium poppies.

Posted by: Commissar of Plenty and Lysenko Solutions at December 24, 2022 01:25 PM (1gJuC)

15 Beautiful images today! My amaryllis is just a bulb now.
I received a gift last year of a beautiful pink flower and I thought I overwintered it properly but all I got were green leaves that were over 2 ft. long. So I chopped them off and now I just have this forlorn looking bulb in a pot. I think I'm supposed to remove it from pot then put in a bag in a dark place.

Maybe better luck next year?

Posted by: kallisto at December 24, 2022 01:26 PM (ewvGX)

16 Merry Christmas KT and thank you for your great posts throughout the year!

Posted by: dartist at December 24, 2022 01:26 PM (9X/y4)

17 Mrs. E and I gave our widow ladies each a Christmas cactus at the Christmas party this past Tuesday. They were on the verge of blooming abnd will kast for years. We have one on the kitchen window sill that's aover 20!years old.

Posted by: Eromero at December 24, 2022 01:27 PM (TkO4P)

18 Great stuff, KT. Gonna explore all those posole and chile links. I've usually done a simple slow-cooker posole, trying to remember what I use for the chile ingredient. Not soaked dry chiles - so far I only use those for moles and enchilada sauces.

Never knew about the radish sculptures, that's amazing. Would love to spend time - and go to a cooking school - down in Oaxaca some day. Of course there's the security situation, but much of Mexico has reached that "sweet spot" (heh) where cartel dominance delivers "safe Mafia neighborhood" collateral effects, and low-profile/unimportant foreigners are not really specific targets of any sort.

Posted by: rhomboid at December 24, 2022 01:28 PM (OTzUX)

19 9 Merry Christmas KT!
Posted by: Diogenes at December 24, 2022 01:22 PM (anj39)

It's not Christmas yet. That was premature Yule salutation.

Posted by: I swear it's never happened to me before at December 24, 2022 01:28 PM (s2na+)

20 Anything else happening in your yard or garden? Weather or ice a problem?

I finally went out yesterday in advance of the cold blast, to rescue a vinca plant and a parsley plant. When I was out there I realized I still had pansy and viola plants blooming, so I brought them in as well. And now I have a bouquet of pretty little violas to grace the table over this Christmas week.

Posted by: kallisto at December 24, 2022 01:29 PM (ewvGX)

21 Thumb control a bit off today.

Posted by: Eromero at December 24, 2022 01:29 PM (TkO4P)

22 Merry Christmas eve
Here are the grave wreaths for family members who have passed on.
https://tinyurl.com/4bdf9thu
Long tradition though this year 5 started but had to drop off so only 4 of us made these 19 markers. The decorations are reused mostly, sometimes new and greens both evergreens and holly are fresh.
We made them all in assembly line fashion and did them all in about 2 1/2 hours, of course another then to clean up.

Posted by: Skip at December 24, 2022 01:30 PM (xhxe8)

23 This time of year is lettuce and greens gardening for me. Have two six-packs of starts (Nevada, and spotted romaine) in and thriving, thanks to cool nights and good rain the day after they were planted. Rain forecast for much of the coming week, which will be great for the lettuce.

Still need to get mizuna and arugula starts. And with the surprising success this past summer of "Welsh onions" planted from seeds bought at a Japanese grocery store, gonna plant a lot of those. Basically big scallions.

Posted by: rhomboid at December 24, 2022 01:31 PM (OTzUX)

24 I was given a house plant basket 10 years ago with an Ivy and some other hardy plant. They almost died a few years ago but came back after repotting into a bigger container. This year they died. So at some point I need to toss the dead plant and soil and then decide if I'll mess with any sort of house plant. Its a bit tempting to try to grow an herb or two but not wildly so.

Posted by: PaleRider is simply irredeemable at December 24, 2022 01:31 PM (3cGpq)

25 Merry Christmas and chag sameach horde

Posted by: San Franpsycho at December 24, 2022 01:32 PM (EZebt)

26 >>> 12 At my tennis club , the owner, Matress Mac's wife , planted over 800k worth of tropical plants to replace the tropical plants that froze after the last big freeze 2 years ago which were replacements for a freeze before that. I don't know how much of the 800k worth of plants were killed this time . Stubborn is not a sufficient word to describe her.

Good thing her husband won 75 million on the Astros WS victory.
Posted by: polynikes at December 24, 2022 01:24 PM (KLWiP)

I would think you could cover the plants up for less than 800k.

Posted by: Helena Handbasket at December 24, 2022 01:33 PM (llON8)

27 Posted by: Skip at December 24, 2022 01:30 PM (xhxe

They are lovely, Skip. What a nice tradition!

Posted by: kallisto at December 24, 2022 01:36 PM (ewvGX)

28 I put up three polytunnels (one with pvc pipe, one from my tomato cages and one from filbert whips) and right now the plastic on all three feel like they were made from fiberglass from the ice on them

The winter greens under them should survive, though, The rest of the garden is frozen out for winter.

Posted by: Kindltot at December 24, 2022 01:39 PM (xhaym)

29 Also, two years ago I made my own hominy by boiling Indian corn in wood ash and water. It does work, it is tasty, and it takes a while to do it
You need a lot of water to clean the hulls off the corn kernels, and remember you are playing with lye.

Merry Christmas KT

Posted by: Kindltot at December 24, 2022 01:42 PM (xhaym)

30 "An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

Luke 2:9-12

Posted by: Marcus T at December 24, 2022 01:43 PM (ij5RJ)

31 Don't ever say the spirit of Christmas is dead. Wife and I each got a holiday greeting from Southwest today, joyfully proclaiming that alcohol service is back on all flights over 176 (!) miles, and including four free drink coupons. In about three weeks we are flying south for a world cup pentathlon qualifier, and I believe -- believe I will have a drink.

I told her she is now free to drink around the country.

Posted by: Way, Way Downriver at December 24, 2022 01:43 PM (jYCXf)

32 Your diligence in food-related stuff is amazing, Kindltot.

And your comment reminds me: I'd really like to have a bit of lye on hand, for post-earthquake pit toilet use. But I can never find it in less than 50-pound bags, which is vastly too much, esp. for a nasty caustic item like that.

Posted by: rhomboid at December 24, 2022 01:44 PM (OTzUX)

33 Pentathlon pentathlon? Or some other kinds of sports grouped up into a pentathlon (the term is sometimes used that way these days)?

Posted by: rhomboid at December 24, 2022 01:45 PM (OTzUX)

34 Gardener's Supply makes a nice hydroponic system. A blogger I follow has them in Montana for salad greens. They are more expensive and seem to hold up.

I bought an amaryllis and jonquil to plant. Both bloomed, although the amaryllis finished yesterday. I had two stalks with four blooms on each. Also bought a Christmas cactus and a white miniature rose. Those are still blooming.

Posted by: Notsothoreau at December 24, 2022 01:46 PM (uz3Px)

35 New year resolution: try container growing Chiles and opium poppies.
Posted by: Commissar of Plenty and Lysenko Solutions at December 24, 2022 01:25 PM (1gJuC)

This year I picked all the remaining chili peppers at the first frost and fermented them with brine. I lost half to mold but I turned the rest into hot sauce, and it very tasty. Next year I will plant more peppers for sure

Posted by: Kindltot at December 24, 2022 01:47 PM (xhaym)

36 I think I've figured out how to do a garden here. It depends on being able to buy regular straw bales. I'm going to use those to make beds. Should help with the wind and the dryness. And they will break down eventually.

Posted by: Notsothoreau at December 24, 2022 01:48 PM (uz3Px)

37 Semi-OT (KT started it!):

My second attempt at making candied bacon is about half way done and looking pretty good so far. But in the "too soon old, too late smart" department, I should have lined the pan with parchment or foil. It's gonna be a b*tch to clean up.

Posted by: Oddbob at December 24, 2022 01:48 PM (nfrXX)

38 I do have a big sheet of material sold as a frost-blanket, but haven't used it yet. Would only really be needed for a very anomalous night-time cold snap for the lettuce. The lemon tree is mature and only any fruit already on it would be damaged. But my location, AFAIK, has not seen 32 degrees in recorded (that is, recent) history. Once every few years there'll be a low of 38 at night. In fact we don't get enough cool nights to plant stone-fruit trees here, which I wanted to do.

Posted by: rhomboid at December 24, 2022 01:48 PM (OTzUX)

39 Oddbob sounds tasty. Another great bacon recipe is the one I brought up months ago on the food thread. Same basic process (but use foil this time!), but just grind black pepper and spread fresh rosemary on the bacon. Incredible by itself, or on burgers.

Posted by: rhomboid at December 24, 2022 01:50 PM (OTzUX)

40 The wild celery variant called "par-cel" is the hardiest damn thing I've seen. If you don't know it, well, the stalk is very celery-like, and the tips are parsley. We changed out the part of the garden this year where I always had some, but I was reminded when rooting through the spice cabinet for lamb marinade ingredients. Many is the year I've gone out Christmas morning and cut a few still-growing bunches in the snowbank for a salad or stuffing, and it more often than not comes back in the spring all on its own. Worth having around.

Posted by: Way, Way Downriver at December 24, 2022 01:51 PM (jYCXf)

41 And your comment reminds me: I'd really like to have a bit of lye on hand, for post-earthquake pit toilet use. But I can never find it in less than 50-pound bags, which is vastly too much, esp. for a nasty caustic item like that.
Posted by: rhomboid at December 24, 2022 01:44 PM (OTzUX)

Red Devil and Drano were the commercial ones, you have to poke around a bit to find those brands, for some reason they aren't on shelves. Wood ash works tolerably well, too.
The traditional think with a slit trench is you shovel dirt back in on top of it as you use it.

"Cal" is Sodium Hydroxide the Mexicans use for Nixtamalizing corn, and you should be able to find it or a lead in a Mexican grocery. Lye is also used in soap making so check some soap making site.

Posted by: Kindltot at December 24, 2022 01:51 PM (xhaym)

42 Beautiful photos. And that's a much better use for radishes than eating them.

Posted by: BeckoningChasm at December 24, 2022 01:52 PM (cq4C8)

43 @33 Modern pentathlon: run/shoot, swim, fence, and equestrian. 2024 will be the last time with the horses.

Posted by: Way, Way Downriver at December 24, 2022 01:55 PM (jYCXf)

44 i have 8 dogwoods that I planted 15 years ago

they are all doing well, mostly due to the wonderful care they recieve

but they bloom at different rates in different years

Posted by: REDACTED at December 24, 2022 01:55 PM (us2H3)

45
Our Christmas cactus is probably 20 years old or so, too. I should have hit it with some fertilizer a little earlier, and we don't keep most of the house very warm, so I'm guessing it will bloom next week. Close, but no cigar. But it's a nice vibrant green with white shoots.

Posted by: Divide by Zero at December 24, 2022 01:56 PM (enJYY)

46 Kindltot thanks for the tips. Yes burying with dirt is the primary plan if it ever happens, but a bit of lye can easily kill aromas etc. added to the mix. Due to a nasty clay-ish layer we call adobe here, not far below the surface, shallow-ish holes and trenches are more realistic, so the lye could be nice to have.

Posted by: rhomboid at December 24, 2022 01:57 PM (OTzUX)

47 Way Downriver, thanks. Dropping equestrian? Do I need to guess why?

Wasn't that the event that Patton competed in?

Posted by: rhomboid at December 24, 2022 01:58 PM (OTzUX)

48 I have a lot of old climbing hydrangeas all over the house and the pergulas

the fashion which they pick up the falling snow is fantastic

they are a true 3 season beauty

Posted by: REDACTED at December 24, 2022 01:59 PM (us2H3)

49 So I guess it will have to be re-named quadrathlon?

Posted by: rhomboid at December 24, 2022 01:59 PM (OTzUX)

50 I’m in zone 7b and every year two red/white amaryllis pop up in between the hostas which I definitely need to divide this coming year. Love the garden thread. Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah and a Blessed New Year to all!

Posted by: Sidney at December 24, 2022 02:04 PM (JFlXy)

51 So I guess it will have to be re-named quadrathlon?
Posted by: rhomboid at December 24, 2022 01:59 PM (OTzUX)

No, they will just have to run the course on foot with a helper following them around with a pair of coconut shells.

Posted by: Kindltot at December 24, 2022 02:05 PM (xhaym)

52 Flowers.

Posted by: sven at December 24, 2022 02:06 PM (Lzpvj)

53 if you want to buy like 1000 to 1500 dollars worth of trees, wholesale

and you are near McMinnville TN

rent a Budget truck and go to Botanico

great bargains on great trees and they will load your truck for you

and there are many other wholesalers in the area

Posted by: REDACTED at December 24, 2022 02:07 PM (us2H3)

54 Beautiful flowers all around!

I learned about La Noche de los Rábanos about five years ago. You should see the Nativity scenes made with carved radishes. Amazing.

Now that my neighborhood has snow that stays - meaning the ground is properly frozen - I can take care of bees and wasps nests in old squirrel and mole runs. The ground is still soft enough to turn with a spade.

My winter plans (weather permitting) are to remove the fence between me and the abandoned house and to cut back trees/shrubs while they're bare.

Posted by: NaughtyPine at December 24, 2022 02:07 PM (yKPAy)

55 My elderly neighbor (gone now) built a Wishing Well. I would see him and his wife(gone as well) sitting out there.

One year I decided to plant climbing flowers in it as a remembrance of them.
When I went to plant I found someone had dumped an enormous amount of cat shit in it. AND some person took an AMAZING shit in there as well. I always pictured a guy walking, saying "I wish I could take a shit, I wish I could take a shit" and BEHOLD !

So, I never planted anything in there. Whenever I see someone walking by there, I always wonder if he shit in the wishing well.

Posted by: JT at December 24, 2022 02:10 PM (T4tVD)

56 This is the kind of weather (damn cold!!) that makes one want to sit back and dream of the glories of spring and the new green of the world around us.

Posted by: JTB at December 24, 2022 02:14 PM (7EjX1)

57 Rhomboid @ 47-
Yes, it was Patton's event, the Penthalon. He was an authentic all-around soldier. Unlike these political generals of today, any of which he'd lay a solid asswhipping on without mussing his necktie.

Posted by: Eromero at December 24, 2022 02:14 PM (TkO4P)

58 As always, thanks for the gardening thread Such lovely photos and plenty of good information.

Merry Christmas, etc., to all.

Posted by: JTB at December 24, 2022 02:15 PM (7EjX1)

59 I'm not much of a gardener, but I have grown amaryllis.
At our old house in Austin, someone gave me what they called "native Texas" amaryllis. Some research says that they were probably Hippeastrum x johnsonii, which are good for central Texas. After the season, planted them outside in a bed and they flourished until we moved 6 years ago.

FWIW, nothing personal but I loathe hominy and have since I was a child. I think it's the texture. I'm possibly the only person who dislikes menudo because of the hominy and not the tripe.

Posted by: Art Rondelet of Malmsey at December 24, 2022 02:18 PM (fTtFy)

60 Yes KT, and all. Beautiful flowers!

Posted by: Eromero at December 24, 2022 02:18 PM (TkO4P)

61 Looking forward to the video about miniature alpine gardens. They have always fascinated me (and don't need much space.) I find bonsai interesting as well but don't have the patience, or delicate touch, to do it.

Posted by: JTB at December 24, 2022 02:19 PM (7EjX1)

62 I am not fond of hominy either, but I was trying to make Masa tortillas

Posted by: Kindltot at December 24, 2022 02:23 PM (xhaym)

63 Eyeballing what's in grocery carts while waiting for my ride. 24 count cases of bottled mexican beer, 2 and 3 at a time. Lots of chips. Multiple 18 packs eggs. Large aluminum roasting pans. Lots of sodas. Looks like people expecting guests!

Posted by: Commissar of Plenty and Lysenko Solutions at December 24, 2022 02:30 PM (1gJuC)

64 62 I am not fond of hominy either, but I was trying to make Masa tortillas
Posted by: Kindltot at December 24, 2022 02:23 PM (xhaym)

santa fe pozole is great

Posted by: REDACTED at December 24, 2022 02:32 PM (us2H3)

65 JTB-

Merry Christmas to you and the Missus !

Posted by: JT at December 24, 2022 02:32 PM (T4tVD)

66 Thanks to KT for these last two posts - just what this soul needed. Just moved to CA from AZ (I know, whut???) for work. Quite a change in environment all around - have been fogged in for most of this week up in the central valley.

Posted by: Son of Dad at December 24, 2022 02:34 PM (8JB5s)

67 My birdbath is STILL frozen solid !

Posted by: JT at December 24, 2022 02:36 PM (T4tVD)

68 @51 That's not far off the reality. Equestrian is being replaced with an all-human obstacle course run. I have yet to hear from an athlete who wants this.

There was a teapot-tempest at Tokyo when a German coach slapped a misbehaving horse. You cannot make this stuff up. This is the event that was invented to be the ideal Olympic sport, by Baron Coubertin, the originator of the modern Olympics.

Fans are threatening to bring horses to watch -- and laugh.

Posted by: Way, Way Downriver at December 24, 2022 02:37 PM (jYCXf)

69 >>> I am not fond of hominy either, but I was trying to make Masa tortillas
Posted by: Kindltot at December 24, 2022 02:23 PM (xhaym)

I like them in their grits form.

Posted by: banana Dream at December 24, 2022 02:38 PM (0fVbu)

70 65 ... "Merry Christmas to you and the Missus !"

JT,
Same back atcha!

Posted by: JTB at December 24, 2022 02:38 PM (7EjX1)

71 Merry Christmas to alla youse gardeners and putterers !

Posted by: JT at December 24, 2022 02:40 PM (T4tVD)

72 I have white amaryllis in a few spots around my back patio. They are very hearty. I think they could take over the world if they put their mind to it.

Posted by: banana Dream at December 24, 2022 02:42 PM (0fVbu)

73 rhomboid at December 24, 2022 01:28 PM

I have cheated with 3 Tablespoons of ground Chile California and one of Chile Pasilla for two 30 oz cans of drained hominy plus chicken and broth. I can't eat the stuff myself because corn gives me migraines, but it seems to be very popular in foggy weather.

Posted by: KT at December 24, 2022 02:43 PM (rrtZS)

74 When arugula first became all the rage (even before O'Bama), there was a major article in The New Yorker about how difficult if was to grow, being a shy alpine evanescent thing and all, so expect to pay plenty. Couple of years later, one of my catalogs had packets and I thought I'd try. It took right off, no problem at all sown in regular old soil in late spring. As hardy as most spinach, at least. I like it a lot, and resented having to be so shy about it 2008-2015.

The old name is "rocket," and you can have fun with that too.

Posted by: Way, Way Downriver at December 24, 2022 02:44 PM (jYCXf)

75 Not supposed to get above freezing until Monday and barely then

Posted by: Skip's phone at December 24, 2022 02:45 PM (xhxe8)

76 My garden plot was overcrowded this year because I couldn't bring myself to keep less than two of each tomato variety I planted. (The rest I gave away.) Anyway, after frost killed off my tomatoes, the pepper plants that had been overrun started to really perk up. So I transplanted them to a large planter on wheels and rolled them inside. They've been blooming and I actually have little pepper fruits forming! Wonder if they can actually mature in a sunny window with supplementary grow lights.

Posted by: Emmie at December 24, 2022 02:47 PM (Emce2)

77 Not supposed to get above freezing until Monday and barely then
Posted by: Skip's phone

I will GLADLY take it !

Posted by: JT at December 24, 2022 02:48 PM (T4tVD)

78 nood

critters

Posted by: banana Dream at December 24, 2022 02:54 PM (0fVbu)

79 The bright sun sure has saved us from the cold snap. All the way up to 22F now.

Posted by: Weasel at December 24, 2022 02:55 PM (WoIMU)

80 Today we got above zero. But the wind is still blowing at times up to 25MPH, so it still feels cold. But the sun is out.

Yesterday afternoon my wife noticed a small bird, not sure what kind, just huddled on our covered porch behind a chair. The thing looked pretty cold. I went to check on it a bit later and noticed that there was now two of them. I think they were looking for someplace to ride out the winds that plagued us yesterday.

Today we're just chilling and watching the various birds out at our feeders. Mostly small finches, a couple woodpeckers, blue jays and cardinals.

Posted by: Martini Farmer at December 24, 2022 02:58 PM (Q4IgG)

81 Weasel, hell, 22F, balmy. Time to go outside and burn one. I'd be doing the same (well, mid-60s, feels like 70s in the sun), but a virus has me on the bench for now.

Posted by: rhomboid at December 24, 2022 03:05 PM (OTzUX)

82 I've had a few 'troughs' for miniature alpine gardens, but I didn't have time to replace mortalities for several years so I've only a couple survivors left (after ~15 years). Last year I started renovating them.

I haven't watched the vid yet, but choose plants that stay small. Plant in an appropriate soil mix and keep weeded. Little care is needed. I made a small, deep trough for my mother and planted Lewisia cotyledon which thrives 20 years later.

Posted by: Hal Dall MD at December 24, 2022 03:45 PM (UArbU)

83 Kindltot thanks for the tips. Yes burying with dirt is the primary plan if it ever happens, but a bit of lye can easily kill aromas etc. added to the mix. Due to a nasty clay-ish layer we call adobe here, not far below the surface, shallow-ish holes and trenches are more realistic, so the lye could be nice to have.

Posted by: rhomboid at December 24, 2022 01:57 PM (OTzUX)

Late to the thread, but in my recollection, chloride of lime (calcium hypochlorite) was the go-to chemical for pit toilets, not lye.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at December 24, 2022 03:49 PM (tkR6S)

84 All the way up to 22F now.

Posted by: Weasel at December 24, 2022 02:55 PM (WoIMU)

14F here...but that's not bad. They made a ridiculous deal out of 24 hours of cold.

Do your dogs have cute little jackets?

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at December 24, 2022 04:07 PM (XIJ/X)

85 https://t.me/readovkaworld/5529

Posted by: MikeNew2 at December 24, 2022 04:39 PM (Tjlyq)

86 My birdbath is STILL frozen solid !
Posted by: JT at December 24, 2022 02:36 PM (T4tVD)

Mine too! The birds are pissed. They were still in it when it flash froze.

Posted by: thatcrazyjerseyguy Now With Twice The Crazy at December 24, 2022 04:54 PM (Zvtjl)

87 From Boise area: FIRST CATALOG! Territorial Seed Co. knows how to be a ray of sunshine in gloomy weather. (We're expecting 4 days above freezing, all with rain, starting on Christmas Day.) Lows bottomed out at 7F twice this week. Highs went up to 36F.

We threw some uncovered leaves in the trash. Then it snowed again - I think we've had up to 6 inches so far. We've been shoveling paths to the mailbox, and putting down ice, but it's all supposed to melt as it rains. Sigh - it may be spring before we can get dry, uncovered leaves for shredding into the compost.

I'm buying lots of the ingredients in my birdseed mix for out front (raw sunflower seeds, dry roasted unsalted peanuts, hulled millet). And I'll need to get at least one more quail-block for out back. It's great to watch the quail, though - they've been trying to figure out how many can stand atop the seed block at once. I think they've figured out it's 5 - but then nobody can eat, because it's too crowded.

Time to take that catalog, sit by the fireplace, and make Secret Plans for the Victory Garden. Everyone stay warm and Unconquerable out there!

Posted by: Pat* at December 24, 2022 06:24 PM (a9dTa)

88 As I was leaving our Christmas celebration at my daughter's house earlier, my s-i-l came out with 3 small radishes from his garden. Just the right size to taste good. I washed and trimmed them to have with my smoked, shredded pork leftovers from today.
And no hominy for me in any way, shape, or form. No grits, no
Menudo nada.

Posted by: AlmostYuman at December 24, 2022 08:20 PM (WCWO6)

89 My mom had a Christmas Cactus

Posted by: Tamaa the Drongo Bird at December 25, 2022 01:11 AM (FLiOE)

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