Gardening, Puttering and Adventure Thread, Sept. 7

Happy Saturday! Labor Day is over. Do you feel summer leaving? The photo above, from Diana, reminds me that some flowers still survive in the garden. But our hottest day of the week has been postponed by forecasters until today. It's not the same without those hot nights, though.

Edible Gardening/Putting Things By

Hello KT,
A few years ago I got seeds to grow a black goji, I tried off and on for a few years to get one to go and I never got one to start. Last year I came across the seeds and I decided I was going to plant all the seeds that were left in one pot and if I got one great, if not at least I didn't have the seed packet anymore, and the seeds were old. Lo and behold ONE took. It is now over a year old and I finally got some fruit. I will say that the black goji fruit is much better than the regular. I think the regular goji is pretty astringent, but the black is definitely sweeter. I have attached a couple of pictures. It is a pretty thorny bugger as well. My regular goji doesn't have thorns. Wondering if anyone else has a black goji?
WeeKreekFarmGirl

Fascinating. Thorny and black.

Ah, Nature

Is love in the air in your yard? I haven't seen our toads in a couple of weeks. I think they are hiding from the heat. But these are frogs.

Male frogs may clasp onto anything during breeding time

But on discovering their mistake, they usually move on

pic.twitter.com/SuRAqiR3SP
— Science girl (@gunsnrosesgirl3) September 6, 2024

From Diana:

The centipede pic is of a type that I see fairly frequently in one location. They are 4-6" + long.

Looks kinda like a millipede to me. Don't try to make it lift one foot at a time.

Good morning,
Long time lurker Harrison Flint here. My sister in law sent me the attached photo of praying mantis's (manti? mantises?) in her rose moss. Thought it was a great image.
Take care,
HF

Glad to see you de-lurk! Great photo!

Wonder if they are close to mating?

Puttering

What to do with those grow lights after the season is over:

How to make shadow puppets
1930 article, Modern Mechanix

Adventure

You might actually want to think twice about this adventure:

Topiary, Montreal Botanical Garden
(Everything Beautiful and Amazing)

Gardens of The Horde

Thistle (see top photo) and a pear tree framed in a gazebo. From Diana.

She decided to send in some photos of "garden problems". Here's one. Any experiences, tips or suggestions?

Pears - Korean pears are good, resistant to most things except for concerted attacks from yellow jackets. Anjou, bosc, etc. are good but need spraying. I only use copper or sulphur compounds and they generally work pretty well. Japanese pears tend to sag and need staking. The fruit also cracks - see pic - which is a problem. Not recommended unless one wants to stake and spray with don't know what.

Anything going on in your 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, August 31

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 Good afternoon Greenthumbs

Posted by: Skip at September 07, 2024 01:34 PM (fwDg9)

2 Finally seeing a few tomatoes starting to rurn ripe.
Still getting lots of cucumbers, and gave away a bag of chili peppers. Getting lots of them.

Posted by: Skip at September 07, 2024 01:36 PM (fwDg9)

3 Japanese pears tend to sag

Out of the gate it's a boob thread.

Posted by: Commissar of Plenty and Lysenkoism in Solidarity with the Struggle at September 07, 2024 01:40 PM (6/uTi)

4 Gave away chili pepper, Skip? Great!

Posted by: KT at September 07, 2024 01:41 PM (xekrU)

5 I just placed a bet in Vegas that the Chicago White Sox win the 2024 World Series...,,,,,

Posted by: Tim Walz at September 07, 2024 01:42 PM (hbjSA)

6 Last year the chili peppers I grew could put all you want in a pot, spicy but not hot, 3 batches this year and 11 in each it was as hot as I wanted it.

Posted by: Skip at September 07, 2024 01:46 PM (fwDg9)

7 Number 2 son saw a huge Ocotillo was about to be trashed after it was knocked over by last weeks microburst in a high school parking lot. He asked if he could have it and they said yes. On Tuesday we went with our pickup truck to pick it up. It was at least 16 feet tall. Nope not going in the pickup.
We cut as many 'limbs' (wands?) off as we could fit and though we'd be able to pickup the bare root. That wasn't going to happen the wands exceeded 3" diameter.
We spend Wednesday getting them out of the truck, shorting them (really just spreading them in the yard) and knocking off when we noted the temp was 106F.
Thursday we dug a long trench against a wire fence, used rooting hormone on the bottom 3-4" and planted about 70 of them in 20ft.
We only have 67 left...

Posted by: AZ deplorable moron at September 07, 2024 01:48 PM (lf4Ya)

8 Wow, AZ deplorable! Ambition!

Posted by: KT at September 07, 2024 01:52 PM (xekrU)

9 Added a topiary in Montreal that I lost somehow earlier.

Posted by: KT at September 07, 2024 01:52 PM (xekrU)

10 Zod installed eight of these in 4' x 8' in the garden area this summer. Will fill with leaves over the fall and top off with soil in early spring:

https://tinyurl.com/mt6h6ypj

Food will be grown.

Posted by: ZOD at September 07, 2024 01:58 PM (P+D4R)

11 goldfinches love the globe thistle.

I used to let the thistle grow in my foundation planting, just for the goldfinches, but someone complained to the HOA.

Posted by: kallisto at September 07, 2024 02:00 PM (dCxaZ)

12 Added a topiary in Montreal that I lost somehow earlier.
Posted by: KT

That is a really impressive work!

Posted by: AZ deplorable moron at September 07, 2024 02:02 PM (jP4Fm)

13 Main thing I know about gardening is this:

Canada Thistle MUST DIE!!

My house calls it "Devil Weed".

Posted by: Axeman at September 07, 2024 02:10 PM (krQz2)

14 I guess the Canucks are good at sculpting bushes or something.

Posted by: Cicero (@cicero43) at September 07, 2024 02:13 PM (muwun)

15
Crops starting to slow down here in SE PA. I'm a firm believer in 'meteorological' seasons. So, fall to me arrived on the first of September. The days are shorter, nights are cooler, 90 degree days are a thing of the past.

Still have a ton of green tomatoes on vine, cucumbers every other day instead of every day, zucchini just about played out. Had some fun growing lima beans of the bush variety, but not a great yield. Started fresh batch of seeds for lettuce, spinach, and arugula to grow indoors in the coming months. When I purchased the home I live in now I didn't look at any other, it had a southern exposure and lots of glass. Exactly what I wanted for plants, art work and against seasonal affective disorder (SAD) which makes me sad.

Posted by: Divide by Zero at September 07, 2024 02:15 PM (RKVpM)

16 Deer still come by every few days to eat the leaves only of my cucumbers, some critter got small tomatoes in corner not the bigger ones in the fenced area.

Posted by: Skip at September 07, 2024 02:22 PM (fwDg9)

17 If anybody has read the novelette I Have No Mouth And I Must Scream by Harlan Ellison, the way that AM describes his hatred for his human creators is a good paraphrase of how much I hate Canada Thistle.

I have had its spines instantly poke through thick leather. And then after having some luck with chemical gloves, I tried to pull down a 7-footer that had gotten away from me and the needle went just as effortlessly through my thick poly gloves.

The only way you can handle this plant without getting stung seems to be my loppers, dug in about a quarter of an inch. And then you take a spade to get to the roots.

I do blame Canada.

Posted by: Axeman at September 07, 2024 02:22 PM (krQz2)

18 I guess the Canucks are good at sculpting bushes or something.
Posted by: Cicero (@cicero43) at September 07, 2024 02:13 PM (muwun)
---
It's funny. I didn't hate Canada quite as much until looking up the name of this weed after dealing with it weekend after weekend.

Posted by: Axeman at September 07, 2024 02:24 PM (krQz2)

19
Oh yeah, hoping new compost bin (80 gallon) will up crop yields next year. I have a huge supply of leaves I collect every fall to cover almost daily household scraps. Outside fire pit for ash/minerals, 'scum pond' produces a lot of algae, and grass clippings I either bag or scrape from bottom of mowers. It's almost 90% full now but settles some everyday so no danger of running out of room.

Looking forward to steam rising from it this winter. Yeah, I'm easily entertained by this planet.

Posted by: Divide by Zero at September 07, 2024 02:25 PM (RKVpM)

20 I hope the thistle haters know they can't have artichokes ever...

Posted by: AZ deplorable moron at September 07, 2024 02:31 PM (jP4Fm)

21 The only way you could get a bird like that so sit still is for it not to be a bird.

Posted by: no one of any consequence at September 07, 2024 02:32 PM (+H2BX)

22
Deer still come by every few days to eat the leaves only of my cucumbers...

Posted by: Skip at September 07, 2024 02:22 PM

We have half a dozen plastic crates (think old fashion milk bottle crates) that we use for shopping at Aldi's and transporting food home. My wife uses them to cover 'her' cucumbers every night in a very exposed part of our garden. She tucks all the leaves in about four o'clock every afternoon. Otherwise the deer would eat them every single night.

On a cost/benefit analysis probably a win in the long run, since the environmental people claim plastic will last for 15,000 years or so.

Posted by: Divide by Zero at September 07, 2024 02:34 PM (RKVpM)

23 I never knew this!
https://commonsensehome.com/thistle/

Posted by: AZ deplorable moron at September 07, 2024 02:35 PM (jP4Fm)

24 Yet another beautiful post from the estimable KT. We are fortunate!

Posted by: Huck Follywood at September 07, 2024 02:38 PM (GSnii)

25 No gardening going on now. I watered all the pots outside. It was about 110 yesterday and it's going to get hot again today. I bet it's the same your way KT.

Posted by: CaliGirl at September 07, 2024 02:39 PM (uHd5d)

26 What is that in the pic labeled "adventure"? Some kind of bee hive?
We didn't plant much this year because we knew that we were going to be gone for much of the growing season (road trip!!!), but had a packet of corn seeds, so just threw them all in a little 3'x3' area. We now have about 20 stalks with 7 or 8 ears. Density really is the key with corn.

Posted by: buddhaha at September 07, 2024 02:39 PM (cqufw)

27 There is nothing as amusing as watching goats eat Canadian thistle. They love the stuff

Posted by: Notsothoreau at September 07, 2024 02:42 PM (MpVUb)

28 Posted by: CaliGirl

I laughed at the 'end of summer' comment above!
113F last Thursday.
106F slated for today.
~83F for the nightly lows.

Summer ends at the end of Oct here.

My sister above the beach in Santa Barbara is whining about 80F today and 90F tomorrow. I wish...

Posted by: AZ deplorable moron at September 07, 2024 02:43 PM (jP4Fm)

29 I hope the thistle haters know they can't have artichokes ever...
Posted by: AZ deplorable moron at September 07, 2024 02:31 PM (jP4Fm)
---
I specified Canada Thistle. It's not a zero-tolerance(/brain) proposition.

Posted by: Axeman at September 07, 2024 02:44 PM (krQz2)

30 We have three 90+ degree days next week predicted. I hope it's the end of it. At least the nights are cooler. I want to take the trailer out but won't go when it's that hot. (Although I should check the weather in NE. Some areas are cooler than here. )

Posted by: Notsothoreau at September 07, 2024 02:46 PM (MpVUb)

31 And they've updated that to six days of it.

Posted by: Notsothoreau at September 07, 2024 02:48 PM (MpVUb)

32 I love the topiary! Yet another reason to go back to Montreal.

I am done gardening until after the first frost. While pulling weeds from a coralbelle pot, I made the acquaintance of the hornets that made their nest in it. I was stung several times but managed to avoid the worst by pulling my blouse up over the ones stinging my torso, twisting the fabric to form a bag, and running inside to submerge it in the sink.

Sorry no boob pics, morons. My hands were full!

I think there's another nest in the ground near the rhubarb I need to break up and transplant. Not sure if I can do that in the spring.

My hands and arm aren't swollen today, but they still hurt.

I think the Canada thistle that we're getting is from seeds that a neighbor puts out for the birds. The local plant is the bullthistle, which grows over 6' but can be handled with pigskin gloves. The only way I can tell the difference is to grab hold.

I harvested three small heirloom tomatoes from my plants and then threw them onto the pyre. Only one zucchini. No sign of acorn squash, although it's a climber.

Fortunately, the neighbors are great gardeners and shared their surplus.

Posted by: NaughtyPine at September 07, 2024 02:53 PM (ohvUQ)

33 From Boise area: Highs between 99 and 81, lows 55 to 70. Air quality back to questionable.

Tomatoes coming in so fast! - we eat tomatoes every day yet we're losing ground! Occasional zucchini. I'm working on gathering basil. We stripped the corn, froze whatever we could get off the ears, and cut down the stalks for the fall burn pile. Harvested 2 bags of fingerlings, over 11 and a half pounds - unfortunately found vole tunnels under them. Husband is talking about barn cats for next year.

I dug up and emptied out the thyme bed, which was full of spearmint roots. I tried starting thyme seeds indoors but the sprouts all just died - probably better to do it in spring anyway.

Under puttering, I finished weeding the asparagus bed, and we dumped the potato bag soil onto that to fill up the soil level. We power-washed the back of the house, the patio, and the cement driveway. Husband started a batch of "whipped red raspberry" liqueur - whip cream vodka and red raspberries. Will post recipe ratios here if asked.

Posted by: Pat* at September 07, 2024 02:54 PM (u6C5k)

34 PS: Not available next Sat. 14th, possibly also 21st.

Posted by: Pat* at September 07, 2024 02:55 PM (u6C5k)

35 I specified Canada Thistle. It's not a zero-tolerance(/brain) proposition.
Posted by: Axeman at September 07, 2024 02:44 PM (krQz2)

Here in Alberta, I think it's called "Russian Thistle". Roundup kills it dead. I have a worse hate on for dandelions, and some mf'er imported those.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at September 07, 2024 02:57 PM (2iPee)

36
My sister above the beach in Santa Barbara is whining about 80F today and 90F tomorrow. I wish...
Posted by: AZ deplorable moron at September 07, 2024 02:43 PM (jP4Fm)

My house is really old and I don't have A/C. I could really use it this week. I love AZ, I think it's so pretty but I like it better in the spring/fall/ winter. You guys usually all have A/C but that's so expensive. My brother lives in Paso and he won't turn it on unless it's over 100. He opens his windows at night like I do.

Posted by: CaliGirl at September 07, 2024 02:57 PM (CmlIW)

37 23 I never knew this!
https://commonsensehome.com/thistle/

Posted by: AZ deplorable moron at September 07, 2024 02:35 PM (jP4Fm)

What gives? According to that, I should be full of pinholes from the bull thistles!

Posted by: NaughtyPine at September 07, 2024 02:58 PM (ohvUQ)

38 I have a question about succulents. I just got some really different ones and some of them died. I think it got too hot. I had been sticking my fingers in the pots and watering them when they feel dry.

My friend just told me to water them every day when it's over 90. Is this true?

I did move all of them into all shade during the heat spell.

I do have a tendency to over water.

Posted by: CaliGirl at September 07, 2024 03:00 PM (CmlIW)

39 Pat* voles and chipmunks are agents of the Devil! I hope your cats have a feast.

Am I wrong in thinking that you had a bigger fingerling harvest last year?

Posted by: NaughtyPine at September 07, 2024 03:02 PM (ohvUQ)

40
Under puttering, I finished weeding the asparagus bed, and we dumped the potato bag soil onto that to fill up the soil level. We power-washed the back of the house, the patio, and the cement driveway. Husband started a batch of "whipped red raspberry" liqueur - whip cream vodka and red raspberries. Will post recipe ratios here if asked.
Posted by: Pat* at September 07, 2024 02:54 PM (u6C5k)

I just want you to know that you're inspiring.

Posted by: CaliGirl at September 07, 2024 03:05 PM (CmlIW)

41 I have a question about succulents. I just got some really different ones and some of them died. I think it got too hot. I had been sticking my fingers in the pots and watering them when they feel dry.

Could be a case of keratin poisoning. Try not sticking your finger in their pots.

*puffs pipe thoughtfully*

Posted by: Cicero (@cicero43) at September 07, 2024 03:06 PM (muwun)

42 suck on it *ichigan

cheating bastards

Posted by: ghost of hallelujah at September 07, 2024 03:10 PM (sJHOI)

43 Here in Alberta, I think it's called "Russian Thistle". Roundup kills it dead. I have a worse hate on for dandelions, and some mf'er imported those.
Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at September 07, 2024 02:57 PM (2iPee)
---
It grows in all 12 provinces, which is why I think it is more properly called "Canada Thistle". It says it's also known as "Creeping Thistle", but the articles I have read treat the former as it's official name.

Like I said their spines go through thick leather like nothing and the bigger bushes can have the same effect on chemically-rated poly gloves, which I use to pull the smaller ones.

Posted by: Axeman at September 07, 2024 03:12 PM (krQz2)

44 Here we already have some trees turning yellow.

But tomorrow I have to mow again, which is the second year in a row that I've mowed the lawn in September. Usually the lawn goes dormant in late June, early July, but we have gotten several nice soaker rainfalls, and not too many super hot days.

Although I am certain we will start seeing HOTTEST SUMMER EVER, YOU GUYS "news" reports soon. And yes, I know plenty of places were hotter than normal. But it's all or nothing with the panic-inducing media.

Posted by: Pug Mahon, Telling War Stories at September 07, 2024 03:14 PM (Ad8y9)

45 I have a question about succulents. I just got some really different ones and some of them died. I think it got too hot. I had been sticking my fingers in the pots and watering them when they feel dry.

My friend just told me to water them every day when it's over 90. Is this true?

I did move all of them into all shade during the heat spell.

I do have a tendency to over water.
Posted by: CaliGirl at September 07, 2024 03:00 PM

I watered them like it rains, soaking them, and let them dry completely. Sometimes I watered them only once a month tbh. They're going gangbusters. I keep the aloe vera in the back of the pot so it's in the shade most of the day because it will get sunburned. There's a tendril-type succulent that also likes shade, but I don't know what it's called.

The roseum, jade, zebra, and zudlaya like direct sun.

Posted by: NaughtyPine at September 07, 2024 03:15 PM (ohvUQ)

46 Pluck'd my last tomatoes, methinks. It's too cold at night. Time to clean up the plot.

Posted by: All Hail Eris at September 07, 2024 03:15 PM (kpS4V)

47 The potted plants on my deck were very unhappy with me leaving over laborday weekend. I tried moving them to the shade, but they were still dangerously wilted by the time I got back. They all bounced back after a couple waterings, but, still, it just goes to show how risky it can be to leave your plants alone...

Posted by: Castle Guy at September 07, 2024 03:18 PM (Lhaco)

48
The roseum, jade, zebra, and zudlaya like direct sun.

Posted by: NaughtyPine at September 07, 2024 03:15 PM (ohvUQ)

I had a jade plant in morning sun only and it's been so hot the leaves were sunburned so I moved it to all shad until it cools off.
The succulents I forget about do better. I'm sure a combination of the heatwave and me overwatering are the problem.

Posted by: CaliGirl at September 07, 2024 03:30 PM (CmlIW)

49 PET NOOD IS UP

Posted by: Skip at September 07, 2024 03:31 PM (fwDg9)

50 I love the topiary, I'm going to search to see if I can find a video of them taking care of it. It's stunning.

Posted by: CaliGirl at September 07, 2024 03:32 PM (CmlIW)

51 The thistle is huge! We have what I believe is the same thing growing on the ranch. But it's in the thick brush where no one walks.

Natures fence.

Posted by: CaliGirl at September 07, 2024 03:33 PM (CmlIW)

52 Russian thistle came over in the early 1900's with Russian immigrant's wheat seed. Russian thistle grow up to be tumbleweeds.
Canada thistle forms clumps of plants and doesn't form tumbleweeds.

Posted by: AZ deplorable moron at September 07, 2024 03:37 PM (jP4Fm)

53 > Am I wrong in thinking that you had a bigger fingerling harvest last year?

NaughtyPine at September 07, 2024 03:02 PM (ohvUQ)

That's only two out of eight 20 gallon bags...

Posted by: Pat*'s Hubbie at September 07, 2024 03:48 PM (u6C5k)

54 Cicero, I have a special note for you.
Out mowing the farthest reaches of the property yesterday, I was running along the fence line on the road side and found a piece of heavy art paper with bold lettering. It was half of the dust cover of a hard-cover edition of "A Pillar of Iron" by Taylor Caldwell. I engaged the safety and climbed down off the Gravely to retrieve it, like a message from Beyond.

That was a little startling in my neighborhood. Taylor Caldwell was, by my lights, the second-best known female conservative author of the 1950's. Now it is a generally Christian (or as the history falls out, 'proto-Christian') story, so it might have been from someone's church circle. But you know who it's about. Just not a lot of classics scholars on this road.

So there you go, a little gardening, a little meditation, and your daily ration of Marcus Tullius. Trying to cipher the Roman-Numerology to get a lotto ticket number out of this.

Posted by: Way,Way Downriver at September 07, 2024 03:58 PM (zdLoL)

55 buddhaha at September 07, 2024 02:39 PM

Yes, the first "adventure" is a home with natural beehives in the living room. They may have come through a window or a crack in the ceiling.

Posted by: KT at September 07, 2024 04:10 PM (xekrU)

56 AZ deplorable moron at September 07, 2024 02:35 PM

Yes, thistle plants are edible. Including artichokes and cardoon.

I have eaten wild thistle stems in early spring after peeling them (removing spines and strings). Not too bad. You could eat it if you were starving. Though the roots might have more starch.

Posted by: KT at September 07, 2024 04:12 PM (xekrU)

57 That's only two out of eight 20 gallon bags...
Posted by: Pat*'s Hubbie at September 07, 2024 03:48 PM

Great!

Posted by: NaughtyPine at September 07, 2024 05:13 PM (0bmLN)

58 Thistle would give me heartburn. I'm sure of it.

Posted by: USA at September 07, 2024 05:28 PM (9n8Rx)

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