Gardening, Puttering and Adventure Thread, Feb. 3

Bouquet, Switzerland
Remember that Valentines Day is not far away

Our local Atmospheric River did not result in the forecast rainfall for our area, but we have more coming, they say.

Rain has not been coming like a river. There has been a mixture of ominous clouds, rain, a little hail and some sun. How is your weather?

The rosemary is starting to bloom, and the bees were able to visit. This is the only plant we have that doesn't smell like pine. The bees had mostly left for the day by the time I got around to taking these photos. There will be more blossoms later:

We planted Rosemary when we first moved in because gophers don't eat it, and we had GOPHERS.

Anyway, there are not a lot of flowering plants around right now. The earliest flowering pears are in bloom, and some of the low-chill stone fruits are starting to bloom, just in time to have the blossoms wrecked by blight due to rain. Get that copper spray ready.

Weeds

The green early February world is beautiful though. All the green vacant lots will be brown later. Foxtail grasses are the most dangerous weed around here. Goatheads are the most persistently painful, but they haven't become a presence yet this year. Annual Nettle (Burning Nettle) is a focus right now. If allowed to go to seed, it will make thousands of seedlings that burn the skin. Young leaves are edible after cooking. Don't eat after it flowers (even as Nettle Pesto):

Here it is intermingling with a relative of Lamb's Quarters (related to beets), also edible, but it doesn't look real tasty to me. Right now, I can pull out the Lamb's Quarters if I grasp it low on the stem, but gloves are necessary to avoid the nettles. I think I would be careful about how much of this plant I ate. It may accumulate nitrates:

And here is my common mallow (( think), cheeseweed. Like Little Mallow, it is edible, but also accumulates nitrates to some extent. It is a big plant already.

I was able to yank it out with my bare hands, paying attention to the nettle. Look at those tap roots!

The lamb's quarters resisted.

Edible Gardening/Putting Things By

Got chickens?

Consider leaving some pecans in the tree to attract some crows.

The reason I don't have to worry about hawks. They are currently picking pecans from the tree, and dropping them onto the concrete driveway to break them open. If that doesn't work, they'll drop them in the middle of the street to be broken by vehicle traffic. Corvids are awesome.

Ah, Nature

Drawing an invisible tree trunk (Anamorphic 3D illusion)

🎞️ Howard Lee pic.twitter.com/oouY905I4P
— Echos of Wisdom (@EchosofWisdom) January 28, 2024

Adventure

Community Action

Boat owners moving a large floating island out of the way on Wisconsin's Lake Chippewa
pic.twitter.com/oq8vh7lSVD
— Science girl (@gunsnrosesgirl3) February 1, 2024

Gardens of The Horde

What are your worst weeds?

Anything going on in your yard or garden?

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. 27

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.

Posted by: K.T. at 01:33 PM

Comments

(Jump to bottom of comments)

1 >>> The reason I don't have to worry about hawks.

The crows keep them at bay?

Posted by: fluffy at February 03, 2024 01:43 PM (86W+h)

2 Hello green meanies!

Posted by: All Hail Eris at February 03, 2024 01:44 PM (+RQPJ)

3 Toad strangler rain forecast for San Fernando valley tonight through next week. Winds too.

Posted by: Commissar of Plenty and Lysenkoism in Solidarity with the Struggle to maintain Moron standards at February 03, 2024 01:44 PM (LIuoq)

4 Why does Lake Chippewa have floating island and who was careless enough to let it get in the way?

Posted by: FeatherBlade at February 03, 2024 01:47 PM (t1XYa)

5 everything is coming up too soon here! or maybe at the right time, if the coin-flipping rodent is correct.

Posted by: BlackOrchid, I meant to say at February 03, 2024 01:48 PM (AcWfM)

6 Eh, nothing to report. Still leafing through seed and plant catalogs and dreaming. This sudden spate of springlike weather has me foolishly pondering seed starting. Wait until March/April and don't plant too early! But like a sucka I plant my tender starters right before the annual spring ice storm.

Posted by: All Hail Eris at February 03, 2024 01:48 PM (+RQPJ)

7 Snowing here, East of Colo. Spgs.

Posted by: Ronster at February 03, 2024 01:48 PM (mD/7n)

8 The mallows here get bigger (about 3 feet tall) than the ones I grew up with. Impressive! And the leaves are bigger than they look above. Almost 3 inches across already.

Posted by: KT at February 03, 2024 01:50 PM (rrtZS)

9 Fall was late and mild enough that the irises started putting out leave in early December.

Then it snowed and we had a week of subzero temperatures and it snowed some more and now we have a January thaw. I haven't gone out to see if the irises are still leafing, but I suspect not.

Puttering wise, my plan for the day was to go out and dig a trench along the property line, and fill it with concrete flakes to create a visual curb so that the track guys know where the property line is and stop putting the neighbor's dumpster in my parking spot.

... of course it's already 11, and the sledge hammer disappeared weeks ago, so I'm not sure how I'm going to put the stakes in the ground...

Posted by: FeatherBlade at February 03, 2024 01:52 PM (t1XYa)

10 I have centipede grass which tends to choke out weeds.

Posted by: vic at February 03, 2024 01:57 PM (A5THL)

11 I love those multicolored eggs! I've grown Rosemary, but never all that successfully. I've seen other people grow it into full bushes and I've wondered how they do it.

Posted by: Tom Servo at February 03, 2024 02:02 PM (qfwwg)

12 What are your worst weeds?
--------

Bittersweet, if it can be called a weed. Nasty, agressive, invasive stuff.

Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at February 03, 2024 02:05 PM (XeU6L)

13 Bittersweet, if it can be called a weed. Nasty, agressive, invasive stuff.
Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc.
----

And English ivy.

Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at February 03, 2024 02:05 PM (XeU6L)

14 Rain/snow mix here in CO. Got my errands done before it freezes. Can't remember the last time I saw rain in February.

Posted by: Pug Mahon, Disgustipated at February 03, 2024 02:06 PM (T/Lqj)

15 Here's the story of the floating island:

http://tinyurl.com/2k3m6293

The Internet is here for you.

Posted by: Quarter Twenty at February 03, 2024 02:11 PM (NBVIP)

16 Nasty, agressive, invasive

Used to date her.

Posted by: Commissar of Plenty and Lysenkoism in Solidarity with the Struggle to maintain Moron standards at February 03, 2024 02:12 PM (LIuoq)

17 The tree trunk artist is very impressive.

Or a deep fake.

Posted by: Quarter Twenty at February 03, 2024 02:13 PM (NBVIP)

18 the sledge hammer disappeared weeks ago

Paul Pelosi has entered the chat.

Posted by: Commissar of Plenty and Lysenkoism in Solidarity with the Struggle to maintain Moron standards at February 03, 2024 02:14 PM (LIuoq)

19 hiya

Posted by: JT at February 03, 2024 02:19 PM (T4tVD)

20 Witch hazel is blooming. So is the rosemary.

Hummingbirds are hitting the feeder pretty hard.
All is well on the beach. We have a fog bank moving in. I love the fog.

Posted by: nurse ratched at February 03, 2024 02:23 PM (uns/F)

21 The worst weeds I have are from thistle plants. I have to pull them up immediately and wear heavy gloves while doing it. The seeds are blowing over from my neighbor's yard, where they grow 4 feet tall. (Neighbor's entire property is neglected and every weed you can imagine has a home there).
And gophers. Boy do I have a story about those, and my remedy to them. Basically to dig up about 2/3 of my backyard area, get rid of ALL plants, put down very fine gopher wire, borders and resurface with decomposed granite. Now we can walk on it without fear of twisting an ankle. If the little devils get thru that I will eat my shoe.

Posted by: gourmand du jour at February 03, 2024 02:24 PM (MeG8a)

22 Texas gulf coast here, southwest of Houston. We’ve been getting El Niño rain by inches the past two weeks.

The fall and winter so far was mostly mild but dry. Our winter carrots have done well, but the cauliflower was disappointing. Now that it’s February, we need to get peas planted and tomatoes started. Start much later and they’ll burn up before yielding very much. June will bring in cantaloupes, and peppers. July is only peppers, as the cantaloupe can’t take full summer sun here.

For July and August, the main thing is to keep the weeds down until it’s cool enough to plant the fall/winter garden again. And all summer, bugs, bugs, bugs!

Posted by: Advo at February 03, 2024 02:24 PM (VHN21)

23 Our worst weed is creeping charlie. It's everywhere. [sigh] But I keeps soldiering on. It's part of the mint family. I tried making vinegar out of it, but the vinegar smelled terrible. [sigh] It even grew under black plastic we used to solarize a big patch. We left the plastic on a full spring and summer. [sigh] Not going to use chemicals, so I keepit cut short and pull out (by the roots, of course) any that tries to get into food plots. [grrrrrr]

worked more in the hoop house this week. We are going to use a part of it to dry firewood for next winter, so I was pulling up a few perennials I had in that spot. My goal is to 'winter sow' brassicas in the HH before we go visit my father--in-law at the end of the month.

We're also beginning our plan of planting out the trees and bushes we heeled in last fall (apple, osage, willow, and maple), transplant other shrubs and trees to better places (apple, peony,
hazel, redbud), train and cut the grapes, espalier'd fruit tree. Lots of work needed in the orchard: some regular trims, some pollarding, some coppicing. Still working on the new kitchen garden, putting out refrigerator science projects and compost.

Posted by: Question Authority bumper sticker at February 03, 2024 02:25 PM (Rbu5d)

24 Oh, and that rosemary is so beautiful! I must bring ours inside each winter, and I can keep it barely alive. Makes me sad. But this year, I need to keep it trimmed and less woody. It always seems to get away from me. "NEXT YEAR!"

Posted by: Question Authority bumper sticker at February 03, 2024 02:26 PM (Rbu5d)

25 Worst weed in my garden is horsetail.

You cannot eradicate it. It propagates from all parts. I cannot find any beneficial property it may possess.

Just drives me insane.

Posted by: Derak at February 03, 2024 02:27 PM (QO3ex)

26 "Here's the story of the floating island:"

That's really cool.

I'd have thought they were artificial constructions like what some people have proposed doing with floating chunks of reeds to clean heavy metals out of Lake Coeur d'Alene.

Posted by: FeatherBlade at February 03, 2024 02:27 PM (t1XYa)

27 The invisible tree trunk guy. So cool.

Posted by: m at February 03, 2024 02:28 PM (weK7N)

28 My early yellow plum, the asian pear an the Indian plum are all breaking bud, so I went out and pruned the suckers on the yellow plum today. It is a lovely sunny day out there.

I am also trying to tame my grapes, the ancient ones that have had almost no care for the time I have been here. Last year I took care of the younger muscats and what I suspect are Interlakkens and they went wild last year, I wound up unable to use them all. The Interlakens I dry for grapes, and they are soooooooo good.

Hoping for the same on the Concords, and if not, then they will be great the year after.

My wife saved me cuttings off of a friends black Korean grape arbor, last summer I had it in water until one of them got some roots, and I potted it outside. I planted it yesterday in with my grapes in the hopes that it survived the cold snap.

Posted by: Kindltot at February 03, 2024 02:31 PM (D7oie)

29 "Not going to use chemicals, so I keepit cut short and pull out "

You might try agricultural vinegar, which is acetic acid in 30% concentration. It's very good at killing broadleaf foliage which, for some plants is enough to kill the roots. But it's not systemic.

Or you could try pouring boiling water over it, which parboils the leaves and stems and probably part of the roots if the ground isn't too cold.

The problem, of course, is getting enough boiling water out to the plants.

Posted by: FeatherBlade at February 03, 2024 02:31 PM (t1XYa)

30 I think with Lamb's Quarters the problem is the saponin, aka soap. You have to cook it to remove some of it. It shouldn't be eat raw, or given to kids or the elderly.

The roots can be used to make an ad hoc soap.

Posted by: weft cut-loop at February 03, 2024 02:32 PM (IG4Id)

31 rosemary is fun to sprout, all you need are a couple of cuttings and a cup of water, it will put out roots and then start growing. My wife's daughter gave her a mothers' day bouquet, and I saved some of the rosemary, and now I have five plants potted up ready to plant, somewhere.

Posted by: Kindltot at February 03, 2024 02:32 PM (D7oie)

32 It's above freezing here at the moment (SC WI) but at about 04:40-ish while driving I got this area's speciality: freezing fog. It looks like regular fog but when you drive into it, it becomes instant ice coating on everything and if your windshield isn't fully warmed up it's impossible to see to drive. If you enter it, it's like some horror movie.
One contract I had, it would occur in a dip in the road, happen instantly, and I would have to roll down the driver's window and poke my head out to even see.
No gardening here yet, nowhere near it!

Posted by: LenNeal at February 03, 2024 02:33 PM (OJ1IG)

33 1 >>> The reason I don't have to worry about hawks.

The crows keep them at bay?
Posted by: fluffy at February 03, 2024 01:43 PM (86W+h)

The crows around here (when they're in the neighborhood) sound the alarm when the redtails come around. I thank the crows profusely when they do that. But haven't heard nor seen the crows for a while. Oh, yeah, it's winter.

But we had two YUGE, luxurious redtails here this week. Must be a mated pair, looking for an easy chicken dinner. I heard the rooster give a big alarm, looked out the window and saw those two suckers land in the tree by the hen house. I ran out with my "broom of doom" and yelled at them and waved my broom at them. Stayed out for a while, while they circled the farm calling to each other. Haven't seen them today.

Posted by: Question Authority bumper sticker at February 03, 2024 02:34 PM (Rbu5d)

34 I have to go putter, sweeping the snow off the cement entry pad. Otherwise it compacts into ice. I might need to shovel it today, rain turned to snow so it is probably very slushy. Usually our snow is pretty fluffy.

Congrats to the green thumbs with pretty blooming plants and edibles.

Posted by: PaleRider at February 03, 2024 02:36 PM (3cGpq)

35 Just keeping up on winter feeding of the local dove and quail.
And by proxy hawks.
I might try the Pecans in the tree thing. See if crows would come around and maybe chase some of them hawks off.
I'm going to cultivate whatever grows under the feeder this year and let go to seed.
Got a limping deer running around. He eats what the birds drop.
Looks like the poor guy got hit by a car. Doesn't go far from the neighbors yard he lives in.

Posted by: Reforger at February 03, 2024 02:36 PM (7zcIB)

36 So.
Flock of ten hens, produces a rainbow of eggs just like the picture above. Noticed one hen in September was gasping, coughing sneezing. Immediately quarantined her. Treated her for everything with those symptoms. She was being bullied as well.

No one else got "sick". It's been five months and sick chick has not 1) died 2) quit gasping sneezing coughing 3) regained any kind of voice.

She finished molt, has beautiful new feathers, and is laying. She is ,five months later, still quarantined ....as the rest of the flock wants to kill her.

I guess we'll just let her free range and take our chances with the other outdoor hazards. Can't be worse than getting killed by her flock mates.

Posted by: Derak at February 03, 2024 02:36 PM (QO3ex)

37 29 Posted by: FeatherBlade at February 03, 2024 02:31 PM (t1XYa)

Thanks for the tips.

Posted by: Question Authority bumper sticker at February 03, 2024 02:37 PM (Rbu5d)

38 Or you could try pouring boiling water over it, which parboils the leaves and stems and probably part of the roots if the ground isn't too cold.

The problem, of course, is getting enough boiling water out to the plants.
Posted by: FeatherBlade'

Boiling water is the way to kill weeds, and the transport issue is exactly why most people don't do it. The best way is one of those turkey boilers and fire it up near what is to be removed, and use a dipper.

Posted by: LenNeal at February 03, 2024 02:37 PM (OJ1IG)

39 Posted by: Kindltot at February 03, 2024 02:31 PM (D7oie)

Neat about the grapes!

Posted by: Question Authority bumper sticker at February 03, 2024 02:38 PM (Rbu5d)

40 Interlakens I use for "raisins", since they are seedless. I have no idea what they are, but the look like interlakens.

Posted by: Kindltot at February 03, 2024 02:39 PM (D7oie)

41 I wonder what that bouquet would set you back. I know it'll vary depending on where you are, but yikes.

Posted by: m at February 03, 2024 02:41 PM (weK7N)

42 Neat about the grapes!
Posted by: Question Authority bumper sticker at February 03, 2024 02:38 PM (Rbu5d)

I am also trying to grow Osage orange for a hedge and I am hoping that putting the pots in a trench over winter saved them from the freezing, tell me about yours, are you in its natural range?

Posted by: Kindltot at February 03, 2024 02:42 PM (D7oie)

43 The worst weeds I have are from thistle plants. I have to pull them up immediately and wear heavy gloves while doing it. The seeds are blowing over from my neighbor's yard, where they grow 4 feet tall. (Neighbor's entire property is neglected and every weed you can imagine has a home there).'

I love thistles. I know, I know. I let one go, one year and it got almost 12 feet tall, and we got every kind of bird and critter imaginable around that one plant! Hummingbirds, finches, turkeys, all kinds of stuff just flocked to it. My elderly close-crop-grass neighbor hated that thistle, and told me so but admitted I did improve the house itself so... she let it go.
I miss Fran. She was awesome and grew the most amazing roses. Now that house is owned by some 'investor' and looks like a set from The Walking Dead.

Posted by: LenNeal at February 03, 2024 02:43 PM (OJ1IG)

44 Here in SE Wisconsin, I have a small city lot. So, my worst weed is the common dandelion. Each spring, I spend hours uprooting the latest crop. The nastiest one around here is wild asparagus: its sap, if exposed to sunlight, will give you a nasty chemical burn that takes months to clear up. (I know, I was careless once while handling the stuff.) Fortunately, it's not very aggressive and is relatively easy to control, but gloves are a must.
As for redtails, nobody around here keeps chickens, so I welcome them. They take squirrels and young rabbits, which are the bane of the backyard gardener. Also, crows raid squirrel nests to take the young: harsh, but that's nature.
We've had an exceptionally mild winter, but we'll see if that translates into an early spring. If this keeps up, I'll be sowing spring greens in my cold frame in a week or so.

Posted by: Nemo at February 03, 2024 02:45 PM (S6ArX)

45 Himalaya blackberries. Nature's concertina wire. It gets everywhere and it is so hard to get rid of.
Everything else is just an annoyance and looks bad, I can mow it or rake it out of the garden as it sprouts, but blackberries are hand-to-hand combat, and they can grow ten feet into a hedge.

Posted by: Kindltot at February 03, 2024 02:48 PM (D7oie)

46 Lamb's quarter is another one of those hippy weeds you could feed to urban jackholes like the Obamas with their arugula, so they can be smug and superior about sustainability for the environment.

Posted by: Dr. Bone at February 03, 2024 02:52 PM (EEgXH)

47 We've had an exceptionally mild winter, but we'll see if that translates into an early spring. If this keeps up, I'll be sowing spring greens in my cold frame in a week or so.
Posted by: Nemo'

In response, our city approved chickens years ago. So there are constant hawks seeing if anyone gets careless. Sometimes they do! Whoops.
I have a, I think generation of Coopers Hawks that like to pick off smaller birds, which is pretty hilarious to me. They lurk in the belfry of the Catholic church across the way and swoop low, then up over the fence and
WHAP
It's really loud when they do it, it's right on the back porch.
Then the sparrows, finches, and juncos lay low for a while, probably gossiping: "Whoa, did you see what happened to Dave?"

Posted by: LenNeal at February 03, 2024 02:52 PM (OJ1IG)

48 Himalaya blackberries. Nature's concertina wire. It gets everywhere and it is so hard to get rid of.
Everything else is just an annoyance and looks bad, I can mow it or rake it out of the garden as it sprouts, but blackberries are hand-to-hand combat, and they can grow ten feet into a hedge.
Posted by: Kindltot'

For a hedge, in Upper Midwest, mulberry bushes. They just go everywhere. Holy hell good luck getting through that if you keep them low, they get so dense it's impossible to unravel. You can't even get to the base.

Posted by: LenNeal at February 03, 2024 02:55 PM (OJ1IG)

49 42 Neat about the grapes!
Posted by: Question Authority bumper sticker at February 03, 2024 02:38 PM (Rbu5d)

I am also trying to grow Osage orange for a hedge and I am hoping that putting the pots in a trench over winter saved them from the freezing, tell me about yours, are you in its natural range?
Posted by: Kindltot at February 03, 2024 02:42 PM (D7oie)

Yes, natural range for osage. Farmers around here evidently used them for hedgerows, there are some large trees on old farm land, now light industrial land.

I collected some hedgeapples from a stand a few years ago, broke them open, and just planted the pieces in an airprune bed. They grew nicely, about 6-8 inches the first year. we planted them out in a nursery bed last year, and the SMALLest of 17 grew to over 4 feet. The largest is probably 7 feet. We will plant them along the 4 foot fence around our orchard to discourage the dear. Big, blowsey hedge roses on one side, big thorny osage on the other side of the fence. Hopefully will do the trick!

Posted by: Question Authority bumper sticker at February 03, 2024 02:55 PM (Rbu5d)

50 We got a lot of rain and I did notice lots of green stuff coming up. I have two tasks I need to so pretty soon. We had what I think is ragweed come up. The seeds are like spikes and I keep picking the out of Jakes's hair. I need to dig those up and get rid of it. Also I have a concrete walkway to the alley. Got to get the grass cleared off it while it's this soft.

Posted by: Notsothoreau at February 03, 2024 02:55 PM (L8hCM)

51 43... Now that house is owned by some 'investor' and looks like a set from The Walking Dead.
Posted by: LenNeal at February 03, 2024 02:43 PM (OJ1IG)

Neighbors across the road are moving to assisted living this spring, wife has alzheimers. Awful. They just put up the signs for a property auction. It's about 5 acres, nice home and outbuildings. beautiful big trees, ledge of lilacs and rose of sharon, lovely flat 1/2 acre garden. I'm so afraid we're going to get a Chicago refugee who will cut everything down and be horrible neighbors. I need to pray more. I wish we had the $$ to buy it ourselves...

Posted by: Question Authority bumper sticker at February 03, 2024 02:59 PM (Rbu5d)

52 Those boaters probably violated about a dozen federal laws, and will soon be SWATTED by the FBI...

Posted by: Angzarr the Cromulent at February 03, 2024 03:00 PM (XMwZJ)

53 46 Lamb's quarter is another one of those hippy weeds you could feed to urban jackholes like the Obamas with their arugula, so they can be smug and superior about sustainability for the environment.
Posted by: Dr. Bone at February 03, 2024 02:52 PM (EEgXH)

Yep we don't like to eat it. But the chickens do, so we keep it around!

Posted by: Question Authority bumper sticker at February 03, 2024 03:00 PM (Rbu5d)

54 I'm so afraid we're going to get a Chicago refugee who will cut everything down and be horrible neighbors. I need to pray more. I wish we had the $$ to buy it ourselves...
Posted by: Question Authority bumper sticker'

I made real efforts to buy it as there was no way it would pass FHA or anything, but the daughters took possession and looted the place, then sold it for cash to some vulture. Three ghetto Section 8 tenants, your worst nightmare believe me, now it froze up last winter and has placards on it declaring it Off Limits due to lead content.
What a tragedy.

Posted by: LenNeal at February 03, 2024 03:03 PM (OJ1IG)

55 "Yep we don't like to eat it. But the chickens do, so we keep it around!
Posted by: Question Authority"

Do chickens like thistles?

Posted by: FeatherBlade at February 03, 2024 03:04 PM (t1XYa)

56 10 feet into a hedge? My husband and I helped a guy reclaim a house from blackberries. We used machetes and some of the canes were as big as your wrist. People don't understand how invasive they are

Posted by: Notsothoreau at February 03, 2024 03:05 PM (L8hCM)

57 My whole attitude towards February 14 is summed up in a line from Nightwish’s “Bless the Child”:

“Why am I loved only when I’m gone?”

Posted by: Catch Thirty-Thr33 at February 03, 2024 03:05 PM (8jCIK)

58 55...Do chickens like thistles?
Posted by: FeatherBlade at February 03, 2024 03:04 PM (t1XYa)

UGH!!! TOo ThoRny!! OUCH!
-our chickens.

Posted by: Question Authority bumper sticker at February 03, 2024 03:06 PM (Rbu5d)

59 For me with that next door neighbor, that accusation, "You don't like it, why don't you buy it yourself?" didn't work. I tried, for real.
Now it's a hulk. But thankfully, so far it's been lowering my property taxes and I am neighbor and therefore annoyance free!

Posted by: LenNeal at February 03, 2024 03:07 PM (OJ1IG)

60 Do chickens like thistles?
Posted by: FeatherBlade'

Chickens like chicken.
They will eat anything.

Posted by: LenNeal at February 03, 2024 03:08 PM (OJ1IG)

61 Creeping charlie is the worst, followed by thistles and the dandelion-looking broadleaf that grows eight feet tall. Real dandelions I eat.

I'm going to sweep leaves out from the crocus bed.

Posted by: NaughtyPine at February 03, 2024 03:08 PM (B2ytg)

62 The weekend is coming after my long drive home

Posted by: Skip at February 03, 2024 03:08 PM (vczew)

63 UGH!!! TOo ThoRny!! OUCH!
-our chickens.

Posted by: Question Authority'

Your chickens are either too well fed or need to man up.

Posted by: LenNeal at February 03, 2024 03:09 PM (OJ1IG)

64 10 feet into a hedge? My husband and I helped a guy reclaim a house from blackberries. We used machetes and some of the canes were as big as your wrist. People don't understand how invasive they are
Posted by: Notsothoreau at February 03, 2024 03:05 PM (L8hCM)

then they double over and grow to the ground and start another plant on the other side.

I found the best tool is a hand sickle. You grab a cane, pull it taut, then cut it as far in as you can reach without being savaged. Then repeat over and over again.

I mean, I like it when my wife picks enough berries in an hour to make a double batch of blackberry jam, just it winds up taking they hedge and yard if I don't cut it back.

Posted by: Kindltot at February 03, 2024 03:13 PM (D7oie)

65 For me with that next door neighbor, that accusation, "You don't like it, why don't you buy it yourself?" didn't work. I tried, for real.
Now it's a hulk. But thankfully, so far it's been lowering my property taxes and I am neighbor and therefore annoyance free!
Posted by: LenNeal at February 03, 2024 03:07 PM

A man of my own heart! The flipper who bought the hoarded house next door wants more than $195k for it. That will raised my house's value through the roof!

Posted by: NaughtyPine at February 03, 2024 03:13 PM (B2ytg)

66 Denny’s Joins In-N-Out Burger Abandoning Its Sole Oakland Store Due To Crime
Oakland, California, is ceding control of its local commerce to criminals, due to a Soros-backed prosecutor and chronic short staffing at the Oakland PD, which cannot recruit enough new cops to replace retirements and resignations — despite six-figure starting salaries. There’s more going on than that, though. The departure of two prominent restaurant chains from the city reveals a horrifying pattern that the national media entirely miss.

Posted by: andycanuck (2yu8s) at February 03, 2024 03:14 PM (2yu8s)

67 "UGH!!! TOo ThoRny!! OUCH!
-our chickens."

Lol.

That's a pity. The garden area at my parents' place didn't have any thistles until they cleared it and burned a slash pile.

Now they're everywhere, and they are spending all their time and energy on finishing the house, and hve none to spare for the garden.

Cleaning up the beehive - if it survives this winter - will be an absolute mess. it's been left to its own devices for two winters now.

Posted by: FeatherBlade at February 03, 2024 03:14 PM (t1XYa)

68 "Chickens like chicken.
They will eat anything.
Posted by: LenNeal "

Hm. Maybe I should start asking what kind of chickens everyone has.

Get the ones with the stainless steel beaks

Posted by: FeatherBlade at February 03, 2024 03:17 PM (t1XYa)

69 63...Your chickens are either too well fed or need to man up.
Posted by: LenNeal at February 03, 2024 03:09 PM (OJ1IG)

Pffft! We eat frogs and japanese beetles and grasshoppers and all sorts of things...and we leave it to the cockerals to man up...
--our chickens

Posted by: Question Authority bumper sticker at February 03, 2024 03:17 PM (Rbu5d)

70 Denny’s Joins In-N-Out Burger in creating racist food desert!

Posted by: Commissar of Plenty and Lysenkoism in Solidarity with the Struggle to maintain Moron standards at February 03, 2024 03:19 PM (3UMb5)

71 66...The departure of two prominent restaurant chains from the city reveals a horrifying pattern that the national media entirely miss.
Posted by: andycanuck (2yu8s) at February 03, 2024 03:14 PM (2yu8s)

...that the national media entirely IGNORES, they mean.

Posted by: Question Authority bumper sticker at February 03, 2024 03:19 PM (Rbu5d)

72 "I mean, I like it when my wife picks enough berries in an hour to make a double batch of blackberry jam, just it winds up taking they hedge and yard if I don't cut it back."

I think that's what everyone should strive for in their yards: multifunctional plants.

It provides food and acts as an impenetrable defensive wall!

Posted by: FeatherBlade at February 03, 2024 03:22 PM (t1XYa)

73 If chickens ate stink bugs, I might be able to convince the spouse!

Taking a break from raking leaves.

Have a seasoned pork shoulder waiting for me to fire up the smoker...

Oh look! Cocktail time!

Posted by: Heirloominati at February 03, 2024 03:24 PM (CtJ/Z)

74 seasoned pork shoulder

Used to date her.

Posted by: Commissar of Plenty and Lysenkoism in Solidarity with the Struggle to maintain Moron standards at February 03, 2024 03:27 PM (3UMb5)

75 Denny’s Joins In-N-Out Burger in creating racist food desert!
Posted by: Commissar of Plenty and Lysenkoism'

i was at our local Denny's (24 hour truckstop) this Zero Dark Thirty and I think I was the only White customer. The coffee by me is very good and the food is always, for some reason, outstanding.

Posted by: LenNeal at February 03, 2024 03:32 PM (OJ1IG)

76 Have a seasoned pork shoulder waiting for me to fire up the smoker...

Oh look! Cocktail time!
Posted by: Heirloominati

I'll eat that.

Posted by: Chickens at February 03, 2024 03:32 PM (OJ1IG)

77 The weekend is coming after my long drive home
Posted by: Skip at February 03, 2024 03:08 PM (vczew)

Safe travels !

Posted by: JT at February 03, 2024 03:33 PM (T4tVD)

78 " The best way is one of those turkey boilers and fire it up near what is to be removed, and use a dipper.
Posted by: LenNeal"

Now I'm wondering what it would take to make a portable boiler with hose and spray nozzle for killing weeds.

Probably not something one would want to make out of plastic.

Posted by: FeatherBlade at February 03, 2024 03:34 PM (t1XYa)

79 73 If chickens ate stink bugs, ...
Posted by: Heirloominati at February 03, 2024 03:24 PM (CtJ/Z)

If only...

"we have SOME standards!"
--our chickens

Posted by: Question Authority bumper sticker at February 03, 2024 03:34 PM (Rbu5d)

80 Pet Thread up.

Posted by: Question Authority bumper sticker at February 03, 2024 03:34 PM (Rbu5d)

81 There was a story here on AoS a while back about a fire that destroyed a chicken coop, and the other coop that wasn't burned up, the chickens ran into the smoldering ashes and gobbled up all the fried chicken.

Posted by: Chickens at February 03, 2024 03:34 PM (OJ1IG)

82 Im trying to learn watercolor painting and now realize how complex and interesting every flower (and weed) are.

That invisible tree trunk is incredible!!

Posted by: LASue at February 03, 2024 03:37 PM (Kcw7x)

83 Late but bush machetes have a hook cut into the end, use it to snag the cut cane and throw it out of your way.

Posted by: Notsothoreau at February 03, 2024 03:42 PM (L8hCM)

84 41 I wonder what that bouquet would set you back. I know it'll vary depending on where you are, but yikes.

People send flowers and take them as gifts when visiting friends in Switzerland a lot more often than people do here.

Posted by: KT at February 03, 2024 03:51 PM (rrtZS)

85 My MiL talks about "Hitler weed" - something that showed up during the war and hadn't been seen before. All I know is it's got yellow flowers.

Posted by: Miley, okravangelist at February 03, 2024 04:20 PM (w6EFb)

86 From Boise area: lows 34-47 F, highs 48-64. It rained all last night and is snowing today. Despite that, I just found tulip tips on the north side of the front sidewalk! - when the puddle behind the kitchen dries out, I'll look for hyacinth and crocus tips.

I ate the last home-grown apple of last season, on Monday.

Husband raked maple leaves and put those in the compost bins. He cut down some tomato plants and marigolds, and put them on a burn pile. My contribution to the burn pile was dead asparagus and herbs.

Husband did some sycamore trimming. He carted the logs off. We both dragged the slash away, then raked up all the little sticks. I raked up wet sycamore leaves, and put them in the trash, atop the dead leaves off our 3 day-lilies. We still need to trim and trash all the Siberian Iris and bunchgrass leaves around the foundation, plus more garden debris, and a butt-ton more sycamore leaves... One day at a time, right?

Posted by: Pat* at February 03, 2024 06:39 PM (WAYaX)

87 62 degrees here in East TN this weekend, after 2-3 weeks of temps in the teens with snow and rain and sleet. Yard never did turn winter brown - it's still green from last fall. Swept out the garage Saturday and was thinking about my crepe myrtle trimming strategy to encourage the best blooms come June-July. John Deere mower scheduled for spring tune-up at the JD dealership. THINK SPRING y'all!

Posted by: SmokyMtVol at February 04, 2024 07:57 AM (930y1)

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