Gardening, Puttering and Adventure Thread, Jan. 27

Hi, everybody! It's not as cold here as it was last week. We have some fog, and we've had some rain, with an "atmospheric river" in the forecast. Not much gardening, other than weed control, going on here. Dandelions are blooming.

What's happening in your yard and neighborhood?

I think this is a good time to post some excerpts from the Horticultural Year in Review, from Don in Kansas, which he posted in October.

This is the flower above:

Symphyotrichum (formerly Aster) oblongifolium is a another late bloomer, just now coming into its prime. The plants tend to sprawl; it's probably best to pinch the tips a few times early in the year to induce bushiness.

He also said in the comments:

The genus Aster used to be enormous, but those pesky taxonomists couldn't leave well enough alone. They split off the North American species into a variety of other genera, giving them all awkward, ugly names. The ex-asters remain in the same subfamily and tribe of the Compositae Asteraceae as the currently "true" asters.

Helianthus mollis, the "ashy sunflower," reached five feet and bloomed well in its first year during July and August. It's supposed to be an aggressive colonialist, so I'll be watching it closely during the next few years.

Butterflies and bees incoming

Many more photos and much more information, with gardening tips, at the link. A few more photos later in this post.

Edible Gardening/Putting Things By

By-Tor putting things by:

It's hard to make a small pot of chili, so I don't even try. I just pressure can the excess. These are mostly pints jars, which is perfect for lunch. I have my Presto electric canner out today so might as well get several projects done.

Looks perfect for winter weather! No suggestion that it includes carrots, as suggested in Sunday's Food Thread.

Hey Kt,

I sent pictures of when I planted the sugar cane a while ago. It has been growing pretty well and now is the time to harvest it so I am starting with a small harvest first and see how it goes.

The first picture is my sugar cane, then what I cut which was 5 canes, then after you trim the grass part off, then what was left after skinning them and putting them in water to boil which is where we are right now. It is boiling away. I have been boiling it for an hour. Next I am going to strain out the pieces and boil the juice down to a syrup. It is fairly labor intensive but if I am going to grow it I am going to use it. I also think my water kefir grains are going to LOVE it which is why I wanted to try it in the first place. We shall see... I will send more pictures when I get to stage two . .

WeeKreekFarmGirl

WeeKreekFarmGirl comes up with some fascinating experiments! Fun.

Hi Kt,

Well, here is the finished syrup. Maybe a half a cup all in so very labor intensive. I have a friend with a powerful juicer and I might try that next time and see if it is a bit easier. But it has been a fun little experiment anyway.
The rest of my garden is a bit of a tragedy with the cold snap we had. It got down to 28 degrees a couple of nights so a lot of wilted peppers and the tomatoes that were producing nicely are all toast.

I am experimenting with starting some seeds early in the garage with a heat mat and grow lights. The tomatoes and peppers are already up and the three kinds of basil ( holy, lettuce leaf and Genovese ) as well as the cucumber. Under the square dome the garden huckleberry has sprouted and a tomatillo as well. We will see if it helps getting a head start in the spring or not. A shout out to all the garden Horde.

WeeKreekFarmGirl

Thanks for the great winter report, and the photos of the new seedlings!

Ah, Nature

Puttering

I think there is a variation on this technique using a specially constructed apron and a chair, for visiting toddlers sitting at a table:

Method of carrying a child with a suitcase pic.twitter.com/IHYNqzIl6H

— Enez Özen | Enezator (@Enezator) January 25, 2024

Adventure

Maybe you could visit one or two while supporting French farmers.

We don't want growing food to be a carbon crime, either for home grower or farmers.

France has over 40,000 castles (and châteaus) - more than any other country.

These are the most breathtaking 🧵

1. Château de Pierrefonds, Oise (14th century) pic.twitter.com/lt0JOEEwpG

— Culture Critic (@Culture_Crit) January 26, 2024

Gardens of The Horde

All of the "Camelot Mix" foxgloves flowered, though some took their time getting started, and they are still blooming. About half of them are lavender; if there were equal amounts of each color in the seed mixture, then lavender germinates better significantly better than the others. I planted these in shady spots, but even so some needed extra water during the hottest days. The foxgloves should return next year and put on an even better show.

The six seeds in the packet of Ptilotus exaltatus "Joey" turned into nine plants; Jimi might be interested to know that sometimes six really is nine. This Australian relative of Celosia didn't mind the blistering summer temperatures in the slightest. It forms a compact mound about a foot tall, covered from midsummer on with pink and grey flower spikes. They look fuzzy but feel like rubber. I sheared a few plants back when some started to look ratty, which resulted in a second flush of bloom. I might grow these again.

A friend gave me some seeds of Ceratotheca triloba, the "South African foxglove." Aside from the tubular flower, it isn't much like a true foxglove. It's a fast-growing annual that like heat and sun. It began blooming when it was about a yard tall. It's now taller than I am and still flowering freely. Bumblebees like it. It's a good plant for the back of a sunny garden. The leaves stink when touched, so you probably don't want to plant it where people are likely to brush it when they walk by.

Be sure to check out Don's website for more photos, planting results and ideas.

Hope everyone has a nice weekend.

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? Gardening, Puttering and Adventure Thread, Jan. 20 Don't comment on old threads.

Any thoughts or questions?

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.

Comments

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1 love those foxglove photos!

Posted by: Tom Servo at January 27, 2024 01:37 PM (S6gqv)

2 The birds recreating the scene from "300" is hilarious!

Posted by: Pillage Idiot at January 27, 2024 01:40 PM (HlyYF)

3 Good afternoon Greenthumbs and Snowmen
Only yard stuff this week was getting rid of another rotted tree and so doing that made another batch of charcoal, have a 5gal bucket full now.
Did notice oregano is popping up yesterday, no chives yet

Posted by: Skip at January 27, 2024 01:44 PM (fwDg9)

4 hiya

Posted by: JT at January 27, 2024 01:50 PM (T4tVD)

5 Thanks again for the beautiful gardening thread K.T. Bye the way, that chili looks great,

Posted by: Rufus T. Firefly at January 27, 2024 01:52 PM (gxRWI)

6 "Anti-Gardening"

When I bought this house with land just over an acre you couldn't see the neighbors. Over the years some moved on, and always the new neighbors would clear out everything/undergrowth except the larger trees.

If you want to see your neighbors everytime you go on the back porch get a 1/5th acre lot in an HOA.

Time to get out all the scrap lumber, old garish paints and make the back property line absolutley FUGLY!

Posted by: Itinerant Alley Butcher at January 27, 2024 01:57 PM (cOq4q)

7 It was a strange week for weather. Snow followed by high temps below freezing. Then the end of the week saw rain and temps in the 70s. A bit more seasonal now. Our yard is confused. Dandelions still show up here and there with splotches of bright yellow but only for a day or two. Then they disappear. Even with temps lower than average, robins are showing up and song bird activity is increasing. I hope that indicates a mild, early spring.

Posted by: JTB at January 27, 2024 01:58 PM (zudum)

8 Dragging the yard; but, the weeds seem to enjoy taunting me. They look like they've all be uprooted and then a bit of rain and all the dirt and gravel take on a green tinge. Rinse, drag, repeat.

Posted by: AZ deplorable moron at January 27, 2024 01:59 PM (rY/ZL)

9 I'm still smiling at the "300" with song birds. Hilarious!

Posted by: JTB at January 27, 2024 02:02 PM (zudum)

10 Loading up the 4x4 and heading into the Cascade mountains to participate in amateur radio winter field day. Of course it's raining out but, temps going up to 50.

Mental note to bring rain gear and tire chains.

Posted by: Maj. Healey at January 27, 2024 02:03 PM (eYF7X)

11 >>6 "Anti-Gardening"

When I bought this house with land just over an acre you couldn't see the neighbors. Over the years some moved on, and always the new neighbors would clear out everything/undergrowth except the larger trees.

If you want to see your neighbors everytime you go on the back porch get a 1/5th acre lot in an HOA.

Time to get out all the scrap lumber, old garish paints and make the back property line absolutley FUGLY!
Posted by: Itinerant Alley Butcher

Precisely why we bought a ranch in northern Arizona. If we want to see our neighbors, we have to get in the truck or the Side-by-Side.

Posted by: Maj. Healey at January 27, 2024 02:05 PM (eYF7X)

12 It is raining, warm but raining. we have puddles in the back yard and they garden looks like a goldfish pond.

Supposedly the El Niño has died and the La Niña has roared in full bore. With luck it will stay a warm and wet winter and be followed by a rainy spring and a damp summer.
It would be a nice change from the last 4 years of summers without any moisture at all.

I saw the first snowdrops blooming today, and my Narcissus is starting to put up green shoots.

Posted by: Kindltot at January 27, 2024 02:06 PM (D7oie)

13 I was surveying my acreage this morning and was delighted to see that the snowdrops I planted last year are already coming up, and some even have flowers on them. The flowers are still closed, so it's like a little downward-hanging globe of white at the end of the stem. Winter is going negotiating.

Posted by: Archimedes at January 27, 2024 02:08 PM (CsUN+)

14 It was a sad day. The Norfolk Island pine plant we got last year bought the farm. Even with careful watering and misting, it required more humid conditions. I might have been able to do something with a cloche if it was smaller but it was too big for that. Too bad. When sunlight glinted off the needles after misting it was very pretty.

Posted by: JTB at January 27, 2024 02:09 PM (zudum)

15 What's the viability range for sugar cane? Don't believe I've ever seen it Outside in Da Nort. But, the USDA keeps changing the zones, so I hope they are notifying the plants about that. I've been surprised to see some bamboo-like tropicals make it as seasonal specimens.

Making molasses from sorghum used to be a week-long family reunion festival in Tennessee and points south. It sure is labor-intensive, but in the days before cheap store-shelf sugar, was always reckoned worth it. The massive pans for boiling it down were, like missionary-size iron kettles, often a colonial family's biggest capital holding. Maple syrup and sugar are a similar process, but we don't talk about that here.

Posted by: Way, Way Downriver at January 27, 2024 02:09 PM (zdLoL)

16 Maple syrup and sugar are a similar process, but we don't talk about that here.

surreptitiously.

Posted by: Commissar of Plenty and Lysenkoism in Solidarity with the Struggle to maintain Moron standards at January 27, 2024 02:13 PM (viKyA)

17 From Boise area: Lows 30-41 F, highs 43-50. Our 18 inches of snow is nearly gone. I did some sycamore leaf raking to clear out a drainage ditch, and didn't fall down or hurt my new knees. It drizzled last night and rain is due today, so raking the other ditch will wait until tomorrow.

I've checked our daffodils and hyacinths - no sprouts yet.

With the snow melting off the roof, and a bit of Monday morning rain, a large puddle appeared behind the kitchen. We were surprised to spot a hawk standing in it!

We hadn't taken our outdoor Christmas lights down right away - we were going to wait until the snow around the front porch had melted. A squirrel decided the bottom end looked tasty, or useful for sharpening its teeth, and chewed the end right off! We'll need to buy a new set - meanwhile the other 90 bulbs will be spares for future sets... Also, we'll have to remember not to let the end of the strand hang down so low!

Wanted to mention the Total Solar Eclipse coming to the USA on April 8th! Wish I could go see it - Boise is only due for a partial eclipse.

Posted by: Pat* at January 27, 2024 02:15 PM (1Amu+)

18 a fairly long video on making sugarcane syrup in Alabama by David the Good

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WPRmKp5miHU

Posted by: Kindltot at January 27, 2024 02:15 PM (D7oie)

19 I hadn't thought of pressure canning excess chili when I make a batch. We usually just freeze it in meal size portions. But I like the idea of not relying on the freezer all the time. I should make chili more often anyhow considering how much we like it.

PS: I use the Cowboy Kent Rollins recipe.

Posted by: JTB at January 27, 2024 02:18 PM (zudum)

20 We also freeze our chili. We can meat, can tomatoes, all else that's really required is beans and spices. They don't need preservation, other than tight seals.
We also found canned venison and canned beef taste the same. Odd, ain't it?
Dunno why that is.

Posted by: MkY at January 27, 2024 02:23 PM (cPGH3)

21 My poor daffodils have been lured into a sense of the Spring to come by a wacky warm week in NoVA January, and their shoots are now about 2-3 inches above ground. I am always amazed, and pleased, to see them return, but this is way too early, so I fear for their long term survival!

Posted by: Commissar Hrothgar (hOUT3) ~ This year in Corsicana - again! ~ at January 27, 2024 02:24 PM (hOUT3)

22 Sounds like woke plant and animal renaming is becoming a dis-Aster.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at January 27, 2024 02:24 PM (tkR6S)

23 Happy Saturday green thumbs. I burned some tumbleweeds today. I'd love to burn the road ditch and our pasture but don't because I don't have a crew to make sure the fire doesn't get out of control.

Posted by: PaleRider at January 27, 2024 02:32 PM (3cGpq)

24 I saw the first snowdrops blooming today, and my Narcissus is starting to put up green shoots.
Posted by: Kindltot at January 27, 2024 02:06 PM (D7oie)

It’s been raining a lot here in western NC. Temperatures have been very moderate for the last few days. My Lenten Roses are staring to bloom. Maybe spring is on the way. Sigh.

Posted by: Rufus T. Firefly at January 27, 2024 02:34 PM (gxRWI)

25 The best part of the strap-the-kid-to-the-luggage video is the older sister, who has seen this before, and knows to hold the luggage steady.

Like other Arizoniacs, my dandelion crop is responding to the near inch of rain we got. Unlike Wee KFG, my outdoor garden (one two year-old basil) survived the cold snap, and continues to draw in the bees.

There was one really well-kept example of a castle in northern France. The Germans used it as a HQ in WWI. When it became clear that Germany was going to lose, Ludendorff had it blown up, because he was a dick.

That was the problem with saying the German Army were not the bad guys, the SS were. In both world wars the Germans were nasty to civilians, sometimes stuffing the entire population of a village in the church, and firing it.

Historians shake their heads at the English "they're bayoneting babies!" propaganda. But it wasn't far off. Oh-so-proper and cultured in the drawing room, but on the battlefield total shits. The eastern front: The Sovs and the Nazis deserved each other.

Posted by: Gordon at January 27, 2024 02:37 PM (RqRK2)

26 Alberta Oil Peon at January 27, 2024 02:24 PM

And now the punsters strike!

Posted by: KT at January 27, 2024 02:42 PM (rrtZS)

27 S. IL rain here.
From ONT I loved:
"Once you're a pickle you can never be a cucumber again"

(Posted by: Sanitybreak2 at January 27, 2024 09:20 AM (y2fsI) )

Posted by: Ciampino - don't garden any longer. I don't kitchen either. at January 27, 2024 02:47 PM (qfLjt)

28 I haven't mentioned our rosemary plants in a while. The love the water that Gorden mentions and have responded with a plethora of purple flowers. The hummingbirds love them.

Posted by: AZ deplorable moron at January 27, 2024 02:48 PM (rY/ZL)

29 I keep frost protection cloth on hand for unexpected cold snaps. Obviously this is small scale, but you could probably wrap pepper plants in this and save them. Use stakes or wire to hold it in place.

My rogue clematis bud got smacked hard in the polar vortex; I decided not to protect it because it was presumptuous and deserved what it got.

Posted by: Miley, okravangelist at January 27, 2024 02:48 PM (w6EFb)

30 btw, an aster by any other name is not much for fragrance, IIRC.

Posted by: Miley, okravangelist at January 27, 2024 02:49 PM (w6EFb)

31 maplesyrup maplesyrup
maplesyrup maplesyrup
maplesyrup maplesyrup
maplesyrup maplesyrup
maplesyrup maplesyrup
maplesyrupmaplesyrup
maplesyrupmaplesyrup
maplesyrupmaplesyrup

On French toast.

Posted by: mmm...maple syrup at January 27, 2024 02:52 PM (iODuv)

32 Not a whole lot going on out there. Currently -6 and possibly rising to 0. Even the birds and the dogs are disgusted.

Posted by: tcn in AK, Hail to the Thief at January 27, 2024 02:53 PM (sRfrW)

33 I should look next time I am up to see if Daffodils are popping up

Posted by: Skip at January 27, 2024 02:53 PM (fwDg9)

34 Our daffodils will pop up sometime in June.

Posted by: tcn in AK, Hail to the Thief at January 27, 2024 02:56 PM (sRfrW)

35 February is when the daffys appear here in the Upstate. Up north it was April. February was crocus month.

In Sweden the snowdrops began to bloom in early March. They are so pretty.

Posted by: Miley, okravangelist at January 27, 2024 03:02 PM (w6EFb)

36 I am doing a glue-up for a cabinet fascia board for my under-sink cabinet in the kitchen. Since I am doing the glue-up on an outside table in the sunshine, I guess it counts as "puttering".

I think my little bottle of Gorilla Glue has given its last hurrah. Was all solid-looking in the bottom of the bottle. Microwaved it for 13 seconds, and it became soft, but still would not pour. Cut the top off the bottle, and found it had a tough skin on top, like paint. Pierced that, and there was syrupy liquid beneath the skin. Used an acid brush to apply glue to my glue joints (edge-gluing MDF board with fauxk finish), and, of course, to my fingers. Soap and water would not remove it from my fingers, but spray-can brake cleaner, the non-chlorinated kind, on a piece of tissue, did the trick.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at January 27, 2024 03:06 PM (tkR6S)

37 Well...nothin' growing much in the sodden mess we call our gardens. I do have one last amaryllis blossom from this year's bulb. We got NINE blossoms this year!

However, the chickens are very happy to be let out of the hen house, now that it's not below zeroF.

Posted by: Question Authority bumper sticker at January 27, 2024 03:08 PM (Rbu5d)

38 but spray-can brake cleaner

Contact cleaner, AKA contact water

Posted by: Commissar of Plenty and Lysenkoism in Solidarity with the Struggle to maintain Moron standards at January 27, 2024 03:13 PM (viKyA)

39 36 ... About glue. I no longer get wood glue or similar in large containers. I never use up more than a fraction before it turns to stone. And I'm a big fan of vinyl gloves when using the stuff. No matter how careful I am, the glue ends up on my hands. It's a gift.

Posted by: JTB at January 27, 2024 03:20 PM (zudum)

40 I must give canning a try, thanks for the tips.
No big cooking revelations except experience with the air fryer, which I have decided is a very useful appliance.
Mine is a 1500 watt 4 quart capacity which is fine for the 3 of us. First I air fry 4 or 5 slices of bacon, less than 10 minutes (depending on how crisp you like it). The fat drains down below the crisper. THEN I cut up some russet potatoes into 1 to 2 inch cubes (soak for 15 minutes then let dry) and into the basket they go. Air fry for 20-25 minutes, turning or agitating every 5 minutes. Salt to taste.
Wow. Bacon fried potatoes.

Posted by: pay no attention to the man behind the curtain at January 27, 2024 03:21 PM (MeG8a)

41 Hubbymayhem is using scrappy old boards from the old house porch to build a red neck sidewalk to the new house. It ain't pretty but its free and helps us avoid wading thru mud from the house to the drive way. So much rain here in Southern half of Indiana my yard is mud soup.

Posted by: Madamemayhem (uppity wench) at January 27, 2024 03:22 PM (cRrcX)

42 We are in the path of totality for the total solar eclipse. Hotels and rentals in all of the towns around us are fully booked up, which is VERY unusual. Gonna be a big deal in central Texas.

Posted by: Art Rondelet of Malmsey at January 27, 2024 03:23 PM (FEVMW)

43 And now it's pouring rain again! Swell.

Posted by: Madamemayhem (uppity wench) at January 27, 2024 03:26 PM (cRrcX)

44 We are in the path of totality for the total solar eclipse. Hotels and rentals in all of the towns around us are fully booked up, which is VERY unusual. Gonna be a big deal in central Texas.
Posted by: Art Rondelet of Malmsey at January 27, 2024 03:23 PM (FEVMW)

I am hoping to get down there for that, or somewhere along the path.

I've seen two almost total eclipses, and one when I was a kid, sort of. It was mostly cloudy, which was a bummer. But eclipses are a weird, wonderful thing.

Posted by: Pug Mahon, Disgustipated at January 27, 2024 03:29 PM (T/Lqj)

45 Kinda in the puttering department.

I have a great Fireplace, but can't burn wood anymore most of the time due to Calif restrictions.

Anyone have one of those electric inserts for fireplaces? See them online and wonder how they look in real life.

Could run a gas line, but trying to avoid it.

Posted by: Romeo13 at January 27, 2024 03:29 PM (xaFKb)

46 Whoops, I not only mistook this for the cooking thread but I had a several days old sock in the name field... (slaps forehead).

Posted by: gourmand du jour at January 27, 2024 03:30 PM (MeG8a)

47 agitating every 5 minutes

Hey potatoes does this bug you yet?

Posted by: Commissar of Plenty and Lysenkoism in Solidarity with the Struggle to maintain Moron standards at January 27, 2024 03:30 PM (viKyA)

48 I've seen two almost total eclipses, and one when I was a kid, sort of. It was mostly cloudy, which was a bummer. But eclipses are a weird, wonderful thing.
Posted by: Pug Mahon, Disgustipated at January 27, 2024 03:29 PM (T/Lqj)

A total eclipse of the Sun????

Posted by: Seymor Krelboid at January 27, 2024 03:32 PM (xaFKb)

49 I love asters! I don't care what smartypants call them.

I picked up branches yesterday before dark. Tried to knock down the Sword of Damocles with another limb, but that sucker is really hooked up. May need to use a polesaw.

I pulled a few things from the shed to survey it. Nothing but insects wintered there. Phew! Cleaned up the ol' emergency snow shovel I used to carry in my car. A friend in TN wants it for the next big storm.

I also hauled out the bucket of seeds and poured it over the pile of branches. Since the cage-style feeder broke, there was no way to put out seeds without leaving the little birds exposed to hawks. This works pretty well despite the squirrel chasing all rodents away.

I saw a squirrel do the Sparta maneuver to a bluejay perched in the neighbors' blue spruce. The squirrels are building a nest and no other critters need apply.

Posted by: NaughtyPine at January 27, 2024 03:33 PM (4GLpL)

50 .

NOOD

Pet Thread is up

Posted by: Grumpy and Recalcitrant at January 27, 2024 03:34 PM (qPw5n)

51 PET NOOD

Posted by: Skip at January 27, 2024 03:34 PM (fwDg9)

52 We converted our wood burning fireplace to a gas fireplace some years ago (CA clean air restrictions). It wasn't cheap to do. The fireplace is on the 2nd floor and has a 1.5 inch steel plate below it. The poor installer said it was like trying to drill a hole in a battleship.

Posted by: gourmand du jour at January 27, 2024 03:42 PM (MeG8a)

53 #23 Pale Ride-We burn tumbleweeds, our fence line and when the wind is right burn our pasture before spring. We use our ATV with the 25 gallon sprayer filled with water to put out any fire that shouldn't be.

Posted by: S.Lynn at January 28, 2024 07:40 PM (kbs5a)

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