Gardening, Puttering and Adventure Thread, Feb. 17

Above, sunrise after a rainstorm in our territory, with eucalyptus trees and a mud puddle. Things are green. The first foxtails are starting to come out, so we really have to get on that weed control.

How are things in your yard and neighborhood?

Below, a reminder from By-Tor to get busy. Fair seasons vary by state and region:

Fair season isn't until May for the casual participant but for us competitors, it starts now. Registration for the culinary arts competition is this week; actual entries due March 2.
I don't like to brag but I have had success in the last few years with pickles, jerky and apple butter with best of class and best of division awards for each at the Los Angeles County Fair. I don't like to repeat what I have already done so this year I will submit peach jelly and applesauce. I suspect the jelly competition will be tough; lots of people enter that one.

I see something that looks delicious there.

Edible Gardening/Putting Things By

NorCal Sierra Foothills Lurker here. This picture was taken a couple/few years ago but thought it's appropriate with Valentines Day approaching. Thank you so much for the gardening thread! It's like dessert!

Appropriate after Valentines Day, too! One of those fun garden-related experiences.

And By-Tor has been making pumpkin pie. Try it for breakfast. It's not just for Thanksgiving. You can make it with winter squash if you want to.

These look good:

Red bananas
pic.twitter.com/yH0ooRWhpC
— Science girl (@gunsnrosesgirl3) February 10, 2024

The navel oranges are good right now locally. How is the produce in your stores?

Puttering

Preparing to Putter

Guy arranges nails in a box by shaking the box 1/🧵
https://t.co/XKiuGOhmbD
— Science girl (@gunsnrosesgirl3) February 14, 2024

The history of color photography

This photo is 113 years old.

It was taken by Sergey Prokudin-Gorsky, an early pioneer of colour photography.

If you've ever wondered what the world used to look like, Prokudin-Gorsky's photos will show you... pic.twitter.com/NAASmGMS4F
— The Cultural Tutor (@culturaltutor) February 12, 2024

Adventure

Visiting Moab in winter. Photos by Annie Giles:

Arches National Park

Double Arch

Potash Road

Arches National Park near Courthouse Towers

moab winter 4 Arches NP by courthouse towers.jpg

Kaboom Siberian Iris from Brecks. Just for The Horde.

Gardens of The Horde

Nothing is happening right now besides pruning, but my Indian Plum (Oemleria cerasiformis) is blooming. It is a native here, and is the earliest blooming shrub, it usually blooms when the witch hazel blooms. I put it in because it is supposed to bring in the earliest native pollinators to the yard. It has a purple fruit that is mostly seed, and tastes vaguely soapy, so I am happy the birds eat them all.
Kindltot

Glad you are thinking of the birds.

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, Feb. 10

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 01:22 PM

Comments

(Jump to bottom of comments)

1 Not even

Posted by: Hokey Pokey at February 17, 2024 01:28 PM (as3uC)

2 Odd? OK

Posted by: Hokey Pokey at February 17, 2024 01:29 PM (as3uC)

3 Check the video on the red bananas. I think it's a good idea to increase the genetic diversity of bananas, since most commercial bananas are clones.

Posted by: KT at February 17, 2024 01:30 PM (rrtZS)

4 Did they mention coffee?

Posted by: Hokey Pokey at February 17, 2024 01:30 PM (as3uC)

5 Thank heaven! Put away the paddles.

Posted by: Hokey Pokey at February 17, 2024 01:31 PM (as3uC)

6 Ima guess about Sergey's snap: decorated Ottoman?

Posted by: Hokey Pokey at February 17, 2024 01:32 PM (as3uC)

7 My crocus have finally started popping up.
Either they're late, or I'm just getting anxious for Spring. Being over 29, each Spring is kinda precious.

Posted by: Diogenes at February 17, 2024 01:37 PM (W/lyH)

8 My crocus have finally started popping up.

Posted by: Diogenes at February 17, 2024 01:37 PM (W/lyH)

Hell of a euphemism!

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at February 17, 2024 01:43 PM (QUE6P)

9 That's the first I've heard of Gorsky. You sent me down a rabbit hole looking at his work. I always got a kick out of The Countess of Castiglione (aka Virginia Elisabetta Luisa Carlotta Antonietta Teresa Maria Oldoini Rapallini ). The woman would be right at home in this wretched selfie world. However, there is one photo in particular that is rather amusing. Her ex was threatening to take away her son. So she sent her ex a photo that looks normal on the surface until you look closely. She has a knife in her hand. Form you own opinion as to what that meant.

Posted by: Orson at February 17, 2024 01:45 PM (dIske)

10 I saw a bluebird on the back fence yesterday! I'm not sure if I've seen one here before. They were semi-common in Missouri and a rare treat in Colorado.

Posted by: Polliwog the 'Ette at February 17, 2024 01:45 PM (nC+QA)

11
There is a lot of yard and a bunches and bunches (like a bright green carpet) over most of it.
Roundup has started to be applied 2 gal at a time.
Glad the last owner left a big container of dry roundup!

Posted by: AZ deplorable moron at February 17, 2024 01:46 PM (Z8YL4)

12 Last night's snow is melting even though the outside temperature is 26 degrees. The sun has some warmth.

But, that damn groundhog lied about an early spring.

Posted by: Martini Farmer at February 17, 2024 01:46 PM (Q4IgG)

13 I saw a bluebird on the back fence yesterday! I'm not sure if I've seen one here before. They were semi-common in Missouri and a rare treat in Colorado.
Posted by: Polliwog the 'Ette at February 17, 2024 01:45 PM (nC+QA)

I had a girlfriend who lived in the countryside and would have bluebirds perch on her deck. They would fly along a single path to the nearest treeline, and along that path we could get wildflowers popping up in the yard.

Posted by: Kindltot at February 17, 2024 01:48 PM (D7oie)

14 Good afternoon Greenthumbs and Snow Men
Tis the winter of my disconnect

Posted by: Skip at February 17, 2024 01:49 PM (fwDg9)

15 The fig I planted at the end of last year made it through the freeze and is budding. Yay!

a couple, of the many, grape hyacinth have bloomed and the leaves of the daffodils are about 8-12 inches tall. This year I can check my nature journal from last year and see when the irises and (singular) daffodil bloomed.

Posted by: Polliwog the 'Ette at February 17, 2024 01:49 PM (nC+QA)

16 Kind of need a boat on Potash Rd

Posted by: Skip at February 17, 2024 01:51 PM (fwDg9)

17 They would fly along a single path to the nearest treeline, and along that path we could get wildflowers popping up in the yard.
Posted by: Kindltot at February 17, 2024 01:48 PM (D7oie)

How cool!

I need to get a different feeder for the back yard. The one I have is really cute, but it's wood and lets way too much mold develop on the seeds.

Posted by: Polliwog the 'Ette at February 17, 2024 01:52 PM (nC+QA)

18 13 I saw a bluebird on the back fence yesterday! I'm not sure if I've seen one here before. They were semi-common in Missouri and a rare treat in Colorado.
Posted by: Polliwog the 'Ette at February 17, 2024 01:45 PM (nC+QA)

I had a girlfriend who lived in the countryside and would have bluebirds perch on her deck. They would fly along a single path to the nearest treeline, and along that path we could get wildflowers popping up in the yard.
Posted by: Kindltot at February 17, 2024 01:48 PM (D7oie)
_____________________________________

Bluebirds turned into an inadvertent hobby of mine. I had some wood left over from the deck, so I decided to make some bird houses. I researched bluebirds and determined what they preferred. Then I put a small dish on a metal rod and placed it between three of the bird houses. I kept the dish loaded with meal worms. In less than a week all three houses were occupied, and they've been here year round (Mid-Atlantic state) every since.

Posted by: Orson at February 17, 2024 01:53 PM (dIske)

19 Beautiful pictures. Here, we have any color you'd like as long as it's white.

Posted by: t-bird at February 17, 2024 01:56 PM (XCbjz)

20 Sergey Prokudin-Gorsky

Lots of very cool pictures seen after a search.

Posted by: AZ deplorable moron at February 17, 2024 01:57 PM (Z8YL4)

21 I need to hire someone to put up my birdhouses. I bought two open sided ones for the doves and one
for the woodpeckers. And one for the squirrels.

Posted by: Notsothoreau at February 17, 2024 02:02 PM (USTAS)

22 Red bananas

Jamaican Blue Bananas:
http://tinyurl.com/2s4c32ja

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at February 17, 2024 02:02 PM (ynpvh)

23
Here in SE PA I have bulbs starting to pop. Starting some indoor seeds, making lists. Could have 50 degree temps next week.

I go by the meteorological definition of seasons because it's kind of more accurate for my planting zone, so only 12 more days of winter left. That doesn't mean I'm planting anything outside in two weeks, just getting ready indoor.

Posted by: Divide by Zero at February 17, 2024 02:03 PM (nIvob)

24 Ima guess about Sergey's snap: decorated Ottoman?

The guy was, apparently, the "Emir of Bukhara Ural"

Lots of very cool pictures seen after a search.

Boy, there sure are.

Posted by: t-bird at February 17, 2024 02:04 PM (XCbjz)

25 This photo is 113 years old.

Gorgeous photo.
My brain goes, "19th Century?"
And then I remembered, we're already in 2024...

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at February 17, 2024 02:05 PM (ynpvh)

26 3 Check the video on the red bananas. I think it's a good idea to increase the genetic diversity of bananas, since most commercial bananas are clones.

Posted by: KT at February 17, 2024 01:30 PM (rrtZS)

Pretty much ALL bananas we eat today are clones. They're mostly triploid (three sets of chromosomes instead of two) and can't sexually reproduce.

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at February 17, 2024 02:08 PM (ynpvh)

27 Helped wife replant three bromiliads and a coconut.
Coconut involved taking out water bucket where it was floating and sprounted and putting on top of a 15 gal pot full of dirt.

Posted by: Itinerant Alley Butcher at February 17, 2024 02:09 PM (cOq4q)

28 Snow on our Snow Drop flowers, I know Daffodils have been popping up a couple weeks, not 4 inches high yet

Posted by: Skip at February 17, 2024 02:10 PM (fwDg9)

29 It looks like I have irises that survived. And some of the roses are fine. I pulled back the frost protection last week to check and found Troubles sleeping in one of the pots! So I'll wait and try checking next week when it warms back up. Looks like some strawberries survived. I still need to asemble the raised beds and I have a small outside greenhouse to put up.

Posted by: Notsothoreau at February 17, 2024 02:11 PM (USTAS)

30 My yard is still covered in about 4 feet of snow. Except the parts where the dogs have been digging. No gardening until end of May up here. We have been feeding the birds and saw a lovely Steller's Jay yesterday.

I won't be expanding the garden this year due to shoulder surgery. A one-armed gardener does about half the work I'm told.

Posted by: tcn in AK, Hail to the Thief at February 17, 2024 02:11 PM (sRfrW)

31
I planted some 'Heritage Seeds' last year - cucumbers. The ugliest damn things I ever grew. No self respecting super market would ever try to sell such ugly discolored and mangled things.

Wife loved them. She didn't care they were ugly 'cause they tasted phenomenal.

:: shrugs ::

Posted by: Divide by Zero at February 17, 2024 02:12 PM (nIvob)

32 Had some broken plastic containers, drilled holes in bottoms, added soil, and planted some Basil I bought from the store (made my version of Chicken Grapow, needed basil leaves, store only had live plants in vegetable aisle).

Put some bell pepper seeds (red, yellow), and found some very old vegetable seeds, so planted some carrot seeds to see if they'll germinate.

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at February 17, 2024 02:12 PM (ynpvh)

33 31
I planted some 'Heritage Seeds' last year - cucumbers. The ugliest damn things I ever grew. No self respecting super market would ever try to sell such ugly discolored and mangled things.

Wife loved them. She didn't care they were ugly 'cause they tasted phenomenal.

:: shrugs ::

Posted by: Divide by Zero at February 17, 2024 02:12 PM (nIvob)

Grew bitter melon years ago from seeds taken from store-bought. Yeah, ugly things, but strangely, I find their bitterness appealing, unlike the bitterness of medicines and coffee.

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at February 17, 2024 02:13 PM (ynpvh)

34 27 Helped wife replant three bromiliads and a coconut.
Coconut involved taking out water bucket where it was floating and sprounted and putting on top of a 15 gal pot full of dirt.

Posted by: Itinerant Alley Butcher at February 17, 2024 02:09 PM (cOq4q)

Dwarf kind, or kind that gets 20ft+ tall?

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at February 17, 2024 02:14 PM (ynpvh)

35 18F and work tonight. No gardening or puttering.

Posted by: LenNeal at February 17, 2024 02:16 PM (9yXr+)

36 Notsothoreau, if the cat is sleeping among the flowerpots you know it means they are the warmest place around.

I put some rose cuttings in the dirt here, I am hoping for a long wet spring so they will root. If they don't root I will look into rooting them in water.

Posted by: Kindltot at February 17, 2024 02:17 PM (D7oie)

37 Years ago planted Chayote right at my neighbors fence. Produced prodigious amounts of fruit, but died within about two years. Dunno why.

Had bad luck with avocados (all from seed). Tried three times in my yard, with the tree getting to about 5' high and getting flowers before it went to the great beyond. No more avocado trees for me.

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at February 17, 2024 02:17 PM (ynpvh)

38 And one for the squirrels.
Posted by: Notsothoreau at February 17, 2024 02:02 PM (USTAS)

______________________________

You are much nicer to squirrels than I am. I went to Birds Unlimited and bought a special birdfeeder that birds can use no problem....but if a squirrel tries to climb up the pole they get a shock. It's solar, so no batteries

Posted by: Orson at February 17, 2024 02:18 PM (dIske)

39 38 And one for the squirrels.
Posted by: Notsothoreau at February 17, 2024 02:02 PM (USTAS)

______________________________

You are much nicer to squirrels than I am. I went to Birds Unlimited and bought a special birdfeeder that birds can use no problem....but if a squirrel tries to climb up the pole they get a shock. It's solar, so no batteries

Posted by: Orson at February 17, 2024 02:18 PM (dIske)

Oh, it has batteries inside, they're just charged by sunlight instead of wall power.

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at February 17, 2024 02:19 PM (ynpvh)

40 39 38 And one for the squirrels.
Posted by: Notsothoreau at February 17, 2024 02:02 PM (USTAS)

______________________________

You are much nicer to squirrels than I am. I went to Birds Unlimited and bought a special birdfeeder that birds can use no problem....but if a squirrel tries to climb up the pole they get a shock. It's solar, so no batteries

Posted by: Orson at February 17, 2024 02:18 PM (dIske)

Oh, it has batteries inside, they're just charged by sunlight instead of wall power.

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at February 17, 2024 02:19 PM (ynpvh)

Unless it only operates when the sun is up.

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at February 17, 2024 02:20 PM (ynpvh)

41 >>> Dwarf kind, or kind that gets 20ft+ tall?
Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia)

Probably full size.
I think wife got it from local Thrifty Market that bins full of cocnuts 2 for $5.

Posted by: Itinerant Alley Butcher at February 17, 2024 02:20 PM (cOq4q)

42 Puttering about the garden was done with a snowblower today.

Posted by: Cosda at February 17, 2024 02:22 PM (VFY+M)

43 There are, as always, wonderful photos in the thread. But those Indian Plums starting to leaf out really catch my eye. They would make a great study piece for sketching and make me think of the kind of thing Beatrix Potter would use for her botanical drawings.

Posted by: JTB at February 17, 2024 02:22 PM (zudum)

44 I really love old photos, besides what the people wear, love to see anything in the surroundings

Posted by: Skip at February 17, 2024 02:22 PM (fwDg9)

45 I rooted one grape cutting last year, it is a black Korean grape variety I got from my wife's friend. I am still not sure if it survived the winter, but I transplanted it a couple of weeks ago. Just in case I got some more cuttings this year and I have them trying to root in a vase in the back window. The worst case of course is that I will wind up with lots of rooted cuttings I don't have room for, and that is the sort of problem I am happy to deal with.

Posted by: Kindltot at February 17, 2024 02:23 PM (D7oie)

46 41 >>> Dwarf kind, or kind that gets 20ft+ tall?
Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia)

Probably full size.
I think wife got it from local Thrifty Market that bins full of cocnuts 2 for $5.

Posted by: Itinerant Alley Butcher at February 17, 2024 02:20 PM (cOq4q)

Do you live in a warm locale? Them trees is tropical.

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at February 17, 2024 02:23 PM (ynpvh)

47 I bought a dormant plastic wrapped blackberry bush for $11 bucks at Home Depot.

I’ll plant it on Monday in my small interior court yard . If I can get any blackberries at all I’ll call it a success.

Posted by: Sap Green at February 17, 2024 02:23 PM (MNhXM)

48 Lots of elk tracks out in the yard. They came to the empty bird feeder (that they'd emptied on their last visit) and in trying to get more out of it bent the pole it was on. Can't leave a hummingbird feeder out there either, because they'll tip it and drink all the sugar water.

Elk are jerks. And if they keep hitting the hummingbird feeders they're going to be diabetic jerks with bad teeth.

Posted by: Blanco Basura - Z28.310 at February 17, 2024 02:25 PM (dZVON)

49 46 41 >>> Dwarf kind, or kind that gets 20ft+ tall?
Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia)

Probably full size.
I think wife got it from local Thrifty Market that bins full of cocnuts 2 for $5.

Posted by: Itinerant Alley Butcher at February 17, 2024 02:20 PM (cOq4q)

Do you live in a warm locale? Them trees is tropical.

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at February 17, 2024 02:23 PM (ynpvh)

http://tinyurl.com/yfppsxxm
Full grown can take temps down to 30°F IF the tip doesn't die.

I have some trees (Logan, Lychee) that can't take freezing. I used to cover in plastic and put incandescent (now halogen) lights to keep them warm. Nowadays, I just don't give a damn, and they're still alive despite going through some freezing weather below 32°F.

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at February 17, 2024 02:26 PM (ynpvh)

50 47 I bought a dormant plastic wrapped blackberry bush for $11 bucks at Home Depot.

I’ll plant it on Monday in my small interior court yard . If I can get any blackberries at all I’ll call it a success.

Posted by: Sap Green at February 17, 2024 02:23 PM (MNhXM)

They took over my yard. They invaded my neighbors' yards. I've been hacking them back a bit.
Is the one you bought thornless, or the painful kind, like mine?

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at February 17, 2024 02:28 PM (ynpvh)

51 I have a colony of cardinals in the green space next to my house. They’ve nested there for at least 10 years from my observations.

Posted by: Sap Green at February 17, 2024 02:28 PM (MNhXM)

52 48 Lots of elk tracks out in the yard. They came to the empty bird feeder (that they'd emptied on their last visit) and in trying to get more out of it bent the pole it was on. Can't leave a hummingbird feeder out there either, because they'll tip it and drink all the sugar water.

Elk are jerks. And if they keep hitting the hummingbird feeders they're going to be diabetic jerks with bad teeth.

Posted by: Blanco Basura - Z28.310 at February 17, 2024 02:25 PM (dZVON)

Maybe you need the bird feeder Orson mentioned in comment #38.

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at February 17, 2024 02:29 PM (ynpvh)

53 51 I have a colony of cardinals in the green space next to my house. They’ve nested there for at least 10 years from my observations.

Posted by: Sap Green at February 17, 2024 02:28 PM (MNhXM)

Can't wait for them to vote for the next Pope; this one's a commie.

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at February 17, 2024 02:30 PM (ynpvh)

54 They took over my yard. They invaded my neighbors' yards. I've been hacking them back a bit.
Is the one you bought thornless, or the painful kind, like mine?
Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at February 17, 2024 02:28 PM (ynpvh

Have no idea. But they really can’t spread far in my court yard as I only have patches of soil.

Posted by: Sap Green at February 17, 2024 02:31 PM (MNhXM)

55 54 They took over my yard. They invaded my neighbors' yards. I've been hacking them back a bit.
Is the one you bought thornless, or the painful kind, like mine?
Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at February 17, 2024 02:28 PM (ynpvh

Have no idea. But they really can’t spread far in my court yard as I only have patches of soil.

Posted by: Sap Green at February 17, 2024 02:31 PM (MNhXM)

Their roots travel underground and sprout up in other places. I have a sidewalk on the side of my house, and the neighbor poured concrete along his side of the fence as well. Blackberries found the cracks and exploited them.

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at February 17, 2024 02:33 PM (ynpvh)

56 I have seen (few) coconut trees here in east coast central Florida. But only close to the coast.
Heard there used to be a lot until the hard.freeze in '77/78 that also wiped out most citrus groves. Word is most didn't bother replanting the coconuts.

I expect a hard freeze here every twenty years or so.

Posted by: Itinerant Alley Butcher at February 17, 2024 02:33 PM (cOq4q)

57 I filled our bird feeders this morning. Looking out the window I see a bunch of finches, a lone cardinal, a couple small woodpeckers, sparrows and one, big, fat dove.

If the blackbirds keep away the feed might last into tomorrow.

Posted by: Martini Farmer at February 17, 2024 02:34 PM (Q4IgG)

58 hiya

Posted by: JT at February 17, 2024 02:34 PM (T4tVD)

59 56 I have seen (few) coconut trees here in east coast central Florida. But only close to the coast.
Heard there used to be a lot until the hard.freeze in '77/78 that also wiped out most citrus groves. Word is most didn't bother replanting the coconuts.

I expect a hard freeze here every twenty years or so.

Posted by: Itinerant Alley Butcher at February 17, 2024 02:33 PM (cOq4q)

Global Warming for ya. Oh, excuse, me, CLIMATE CHANGE. How much climate change can I get for a $20 bill, mister?

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at February 17, 2024 02:34 PM (ynpvh)

60 Related:

300 pounds of poop delivered to Nancy Pelosi’s house this morning.

This about sums up her reputation in San Francisco at this point. Stop arming Israel
@TeamPelosi

Posted by: SMOD at February 17, 2024 02:35 PM (RovqD)

61 Five of my neighbors have blackberries trying to grow in their yards.

N | N | N
N |me| N
STREET

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at February 17, 2024 02:36 PM (ynpvh)

62 >>>Kaboom Siberian Iris from Brecks. Just for The Horde.

What could possibly be prettier than that?!

Posted by: m at February 17, 2024 02:37 PM (1BWJp)

63 60 Related:

300 pounds of poop delivered to Nancy Pelosi’s house this morning.

This about sums up her reputation in San Francisco at this point. Stop arming Israel
@TeamPelosi

Posted by: SMOD at February 17, 2024 02:35 PM (RovqD)

I guess gardening related. properly aged and mixed with soil, can grow quite a bit.

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at February 17, 2024 02:37 PM (ynpvh)

64 63 60 Related:

300 pounds of poop delivered to Nancy Pelosi’s house this morning.

This about sums up her reputation in San Francisco at this point. Stop arming Israel
@TeamPelosi

Posted by: SMOD at February 17, 2024 02:35 PM (RovqD)

I guess gardening related. properly aged and mixed with soil, can grow quite a bit.

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at February 17, 2024 02:37 PM (ynpvh)

Once they get all the syringes and other paraphernalia out of it.

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at February 17, 2024 02:40 PM (ynpvh)

65 How's this for a shit day. Last week some miscreant busted open all of the mailboxes at the shop, so I had to stop by the post office to get our mail. There's about 30 people in line, and two clerks...

Posted by: IllTemperedCur at February 17, 2024 02:41 PM (PkUlJ)

66 After several days of weather reports telling us we will get 4 to 6 inches of snow, we got a dusting. That is the kind of error I can live with. Shoveling snow and dealing with ice is not fun. But it's another reason I question so much 'science' from media and government. And that definitely involves the food supply. If I were 50 years younger and had the resources I would be looking at a mostly self-sufficient life style.

In the meantime, I try to stay informed about these matters and minimize their presence.

Posted by: JTB at February 17, 2024 02:43 PM (zudum)

67 65 How's this for a shit day. Last week some miscreant busted open all of the mailboxes at the shop, so I had to stop by the post office to get our mail. There's about 30 people in line, and two clerks...

Posted by: IllTemperedCur at February 17, 2024 02:41 PM (PkUlJ)

Last week I went to the SS office to report wife's death. There was a line outside the office. After about 20 minutes, security guard comes out, tells the folks there are only FOUR workers and FORTY people inside, and the wait time will be TWO to THREE HOURS. I'd already been on the phone with SS (can't di it online; bastards!). So I rolled the dice, figuring it would be faster and more productive to leave and continue the phone call. Less than two hours later, I was on the phone with a live person...

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at February 17, 2024 02:43 PM (ynpvh)

68 I was just out looking at the yard, it is a raw wind out there on cold day.

The grapes are just starting to look like they are going to bud out, and my native black raspberries and the thimble berries are starting to break their buds.
Thimble berries spread by putting out roots, and the black raspberries send out runners that root at the tips if you let them hit dirt. This is my second or third year on both of them and I am hoping we will get decent amounts of berries on them, finally.

My black currants are starting to bud out too, but I never really get much fruit off of them. Mostly it is the sort of thing you go by and pick a handful to eat right there. I like having the leaves available since they are a good substitute for pickling.

Posted by: Kindltot at February 17, 2024 02:45 PM (D7oie)

69 ...and it turns out they were already told by funeral home. I had asked funeral home if they did it, and said they did, but that I should make sure by contacting SS.

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at February 17, 2024 02:45 PM (ynpvh)

70 I have various seeds for herbs and vegetables that have been stored for about 20 years. Think any will still germinate?

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at February 17, 2024 02:49 PM (ynpvh)

71 ...and it turns out they were already told by funeral home. I had asked funeral home if they did it, and said they did, but that I should make sure by contacting SS.
Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at February 17, 2024 02:45 PM (ynpvh)

Jim, you may want to send or fax a copy of the death certificate to the state tax people too, especially if you are going to be dealing with any sort of trust or account work.
I was advised to keep a bank account open in my dad's name after he passed because checks were still coming in in his name, and the Pension people didn't get the news for six months and then wanted to get their money back they paid after his death.

Posted by: Kindltot at February 17, 2024 02:49 PM (D7oie)

72 I have a jackfruit that I need to bear fruit again as it had a couple times before. One of the wife's friends said you wack the trunk with a stick...

Posted by: Itinerant Alley Butcher at February 17, 2024 02:50 PM (cOq4q)

73 Red bananas?
Dog dicks.

Posted by: Commissar of Plenty and Lysenkoism in Solidarity with the Struggle to maintain Moron standards at February 17, 2024 02:51 PM (ztvSc)

74 I loved last winter, nor a snow flake to move, first ever I think I ever experienced

Posted by: Skip at February 17, 2024 02:51 PM (fwDg9)

75 jim (in Kalifornia) at February 17, 2024 02:43 PM

So sorry you are going through all of this bureaucracy on top of everything else. Four hours for a call-back to me from the DMV. But they DID call back.

Hope you get some outdoor time.

Posted by: KT at February 17, 2024 02:51 PM (rrtZS)

76 I have various seeds for herbs and vegetables that have been stored for about 20 years. Think any will still germinate?
Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at February 17, 2024 02:49 PM (ynpvh)

Last fall I threw handfuls of old seed into a bed I had dug all the potatoes out of. A lot of it did grow, and I got a second crop by the time the frosts came.
One of the winners for me was cranberry bean, which was a good green bush bean, and apparently is a fantastic dry bean as well. I canned the green beans and made dilly beans from them.

Posted by: Kindltot at February 17, 2024 02:53 PM (D7oie)

77 The peeple of Brattleboro wants wish everyone a Happy Presdent Obama Day.........

Posted by: Mary Clogginstein from Brattleboro, Vt at February 17, 2024 02:56 PM (/1UO6)

78 71 ...
Posted by: Kindltot at February 17, 2024 02:49 PM (D7oie)

Learned the hard way with credit cards that it turned out I was only an authorized user. All frozen, all cancelled. Well, except one that I haven't notified yet. I hope the life ins folks don't keep dragging their feet. I called Friday and asked what the hold-up was, as I gave all the info they'd requested and they said they would finish processing in 5-7 business days (was on 8th when I called).
ins: "Oh, it's still in review."
me: "why?"
ins: "Don't know. They're still reviewing it."
me: "They said it'd be finished by now and I'd have a check sent out."
ins: "it takes 5-7 business days, not counting weekends."
me: "I know. It's been 8 business days."
ins: "I'll make sure you're contacted when anything changes."
me: "Do they need any more info? I mean, if it's because she died of cancer, she was diagnosed at 40, years after we bought the insurance".
ins: "It's not that. It's just still in review."
me: "..."

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at February 17, 2024 03:00 PM (ynpvh)

79 75 jim (in Kalifornia) at February 17, 2024 02:43 PM

So sorry you are going through all of this bureaucracy on top of everything else. Four hours for a call-back to me from the DMV. But they DID call back.

Hope you get some outdoor time.

Posted by: KT at February 17, 2024 02:51 PM (rrtZS)

I'm a vampire; sun hurts. It's the meds I take. Also makes me susceptible to skin cancer, so I try to avoid it, doing outside stuff in the morn or the eve.

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at February 17, 2024 03:01 PM (ynpvh)

80 77 The peeple of Brattleboro wants wish everyone a Happy Presdent Obama Day.........

Posted by: Mary Clogginstein from Brattleboro, Vt at February 17, 2024 02:56 PM (/1UO6)

I thought we had to wait for pride month.

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at February 17, 2024 03:02 PM (ynpvh)

81 73 Red bananas?
Dog dicks.

Posted by: Commissar of Plenty and Lysenkoism in Solidarity with the Struggle to maintain Moron standards at February 17, 2024 02:51 PM (ztvSc)

And the blue ones? Pining for the fjords?

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at February 17, 2024 03:04 PM (ynpvh)

82 300 pounds of poop delivered to Nancy Pelosi’s house this morning.

This about sums up her reputation in San Francisco at this point. Stop arming Israel
@TeamPelosi
Posted by: SMOD at February 17, 2024 02:35 PM (RovqD)

300 pounds? That's enough to build a new Nanzi. If only I had a hammer!

Posted by: Paul Pelosi at February 17, 2024 03:08 PM (tkR6S)

83 I mowed my front yard (all weeds). Looks like I have a respectable yard now. LOL. It's all the rain we got last month and the beginning of this month. More rain coming in a few days, maybe.

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at February 17, 2024 03:12 PM (ynpvh)

84 Not gardening, but definitely puttering, with a purpose. Working on my kitchen cabinets. A little here, a little there, but things are beginning to take shape. Immediate next job: hang a piece of sheet rock on the ceiling, so the over-the-range cabinet that supports the range hood can be made and installed.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at February 17, 2024 03:13 PM (tkR6S)

85
300 pounds of poop delivered to Nancy Pelosi’s house this morning.

300 pounds of poop ain't what it used to be.

Posted by: Commissar of Plenty and Lysenkoism in Solidarity with the Struggle to maintain Moron standards at February 17, 2024 03:14 PM (ztvSc)

86 I know potatoes grow well in one area of my yard. Grew them a few years ago from leftover potatoes that had turned green. They were the most marvelous potatoes I've ever eaten. Wife loved them too, kept saying it was the "Terre Noir".

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at February 17, 2024 03:15 PM (ynpvh)

87 NOOD pets.

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at February 17, 2024 03:17 PM (ynpvh)

88 I have various seeds for herbs and vegetables that have been stored for about 20 years. Think any will still germinate?
Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at February 17, 2024 02:49 PM (ynpvh)
==
Well, it's kind of Russian roulette so to speak. Certain seeds last better than others - tomatoes are the best. Cucumbers are terrible. I toss last years seeds out every year I start my seeds.

I'd suggest soaking them in water for a few hours first and then throw them in pots with a heating pad underneath or if its warm enough outside in a good well worked warm garden bed you could try that.

So sorry about the troubles with dealing with the bureaucracy following your wife's passing. I had to deal with that about 10 years ago, but all the insurance companies, investment companies, banks, and government agencies I had to deal with were pretty efficient.

Trust me, it will get better. You have my prayers.

Posted by: Black JEM at February 17, 2024 03:37 PM (UVyKP)

89 jim (in Kalifornia) at February 17, 2024 02:49 PM

Well, you can forget about parsnip seeds germinating after 20 years.

Posted by: KT at February 17, 2024 03:48 PM (rrtZS)

90 From Boise area: Lows 28-37 F, highs 46-52. Rain on Thursday - light in the morning, then heavier in the evening and night.

This morning, in the area behind the kitchen window, I spotted 2 crocus showing purple - not quite open yet. Earlier this week, I found Johnny Jump-Ups blooming in the paddock. Our large silver maple "Jupiter" is flowering. The tulip sprouts by the front sidewalk are numerous now. The 3 daylilies are showing tiny sprouts.

We continue to prune trees, and dispose of sycamore leaves. I pulled those leaves from atop our one bearded iris clump so rot doesn't get in. I'm chopping up and freezing the butternut squash stored in the garage, as they're starting to show signs of dehydration.

(Regarding the photo of Siberian Iris - are those doubled flowers? Can you even have "doubled" irises? They don't look like the ones I have.)

Posted by: Pat* at February 17, 2024 03:53 PM (TL3TN)

91 Parsnip seed, like onion seed must be fresh. One year, I bought parsnips in the store. One was sprouting, so I saved the top and planted it. It grew to an impressive size, flowered and produced seed.

Posted by: Notsothoreau at February 17, 2024 03:55 PM (USTAS)

92 Those red bananas look more like plaintains when he cut into them.
My crocuses are coming up too.
I would love to see an owl in the wild. When I used to live in MA I could hear them in the woods behind the house but never caught sight of one.
I've been to Arches in Utah but it was dry dry dry. I remember crawling across Delicate Arch because I ws so afraid of falling.

Posted by: sharon(willow's apprentice) at February 17, 2024 04:35 PM (t/2Uw)

93 Just got my stock of M111 rootstock in from the Nursery.

This Grafting up Baldwin, Gravenstien, Cox Orange Pippin, Sptizenburg and Cortland apples.

Some Bud18 rootstock and Anakova is in. Might get some.

Probably going to take some cuttings and get them in Rooting hormone. Naval Oranges, Limes and Meyer Lemon.

Posted by: JustAnotherCabDriver at February 17, 2024 06:22 PM (nAs3q)

94 I'm going to roast some pumpkin seeds tonight. On a city lot in the backyard I got 45 small pumpkins off of 7 plants. Roasted some seeds before and they were tasty. I'll have to look for a recipe. Anyone have a good one?

I've got some seeds from a Turban Head gourd I'll also roast. I'm assuming they are edible and not something nasty. Well I better check on that also. Again, anyone know?

Posted by: Farmer at February 17, 2024 08:07 PM (55Qr6)

95 We leave the crab apples on the 2 trees for the flickers that come and take them. Then we prune. Better the flickers eat them than our dogs. Had planted carrots last august and covered them with leaves and snow helped insulate them. I have some smallish ones so I'll have to adjust and plant them end of july. garlic was covered with leaves and snow. so many coming up. so looking forward to the spring...31 more days?

Posted by: S,Lynn at February 17, 2024 08:18 PM (9/PQM)

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