Gardening, Puttering and Adventure Thread, Jan. 25

Happy Saturday! There are still fires in California, with prospects of mudslides, but there is snow elsewhere, so we have a little content featuring snowmen today. Ready to go to work?

Or maybe not so much?

Think about the well-being of your snow people.

Edible Gardening

Finding anything interesting in those seed catalogs?

What I do like about the latest Johnny seed catalog for home gardeners is the categories of tomatoes... this is the paste tomatoes - climbing/ indeterminate page... that San marzano was always a favorite of mine a few years back for high yield and thick / juicy. pic.twitter.com/qkJhrmaT8x
— BrenHaas (@BrenHaas) January 3, 2025

If you have been considering making your own tequila:

Did you know?

Agave plants are used for making tequila, and their fibers are also used to make shoes.pic.twitter.com/iw1fY2ytb0
— Massimo (@Rainmaker1973) January 21, 2025

FIRE RESISTANCE

Okay, the categories here are from NPR, but the article is not bad. There's audio.

Some Los Angeles homes made it through the firestorm. Here's how

Steve Hawks is a forensic analyst, of sorts. Not for crime scenes, but for buildings.
In Pasadena, he walks up a narrow cul-de-sac with several homes destroyed in the Eaton Fire, which consumed or damaged more than 7,000 structures. Hawks is here with a team from the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety, a non-profit research group that studies how buildings burn, funded by the insurance industry. After major fires, the group deploys to study how buildings fare in such extreme conditions.
He squints at a building that was once a detached garage, now a heap of blacked debris with only fragments of walls still standing.
"With the winds that were pushing the fire that night, I'm sure this was pretty high-intensity," he says scanning the charred hills above.
But nearby, the house is standing, looking largely unscathed. Hawks' job is to try to figure out why.

#1 Clearing vegetation that connects to the house

California is drafting more rules . . .

#2 Putting space between buildings

I have read elsewhere that this was a big factor in the destruction in Malibu.

#3 Using fire-resistant building materials

I think cedar shake shingles have been losing popularity in California. The Mister is allergic to them. He used to roof.

There's quite a bit of detail in the article. Got any other ideas? Thinking about any changes to your yard or your house as a result of these fires?

Ah, Nature

Never ask a Saguaro for simple directions. Aric J. Monnin

Some Eucalyptus species bloom this time of year. This time lapse is beautiful.

Eucalyptus flowers have no petals, but instead decorate themselves with the many showy stamens and they are enclosed in a cap known as an operculum.

This is an Eucalyptus flower blooming.pic.twitter.com/sj81OCicUU
— Massimo (@Rainmaker1973) January 21, 2025

Puttering

Making snow roses

pic.twitter.com/QguZcCb95y
— Science girl (@gunsnrosesgirl3) January 5, 2025

Gardens of The Horde

One of my croton shrubs at Maison de Bohunk is blooming now. It's a long heavy bloom that lays on the leaves of the shrub and has a small single red/pink petal at the base of the flower.
2025 gardening cheers, Dirk Bohunk

Cheers! Dramatic leaves and cute flowers! Great to see them this time of year.

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. 18

As a follow-up to last week's bird tracks, here are some chicken tracks. They look like primitive art to me.

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 01:16 PM

Comments

(Jump to bottom of comments)

1 So that's why tequila tastes like feet.

Posted by: Commissar of Plenty and Lysenkoism in Solidarity with the Struggle for festive little hats at January 25, 2025 01:27 PM (WXok8)

2 Hi everyone who is likely in a cold clime today!

and everyone else where it is milder too

Posted by: kallisto at January 25, 2025 01:27 PM (dCxaZ)

3 Do not go to the Saguaro for directions for they will point both East and West.

Posted by: Grump928(C) at January 25, 2025 01:28 PM (aD39U)

4 Great opening memes/cartoons!

Saguaros can grow into all kinds of hilarious shapes and positions. When I was going to graduate school at Thunderbird, I would frequently drive out to the White Tank Mountains, and I recall always getting a chuckle out of two particular saguaros. They were standing about 12 feet apart, and each one had two "arms" that were bent at the "elbow", facing each other like a couple of guys preparing for a fight. There was also one out there that had one arm bent at the elbow, the end pointing down, and the other arm bent at the elbow, the end pointing up, like he was waving goodbye. It also had a flat crown that made it look like it had a flat top haircut.

Posted by: Paco at January 25, 2025 01:30 PM (mADJX)

5 Scarecrow from wizard of oz giving directions

Posted by: Tom Servo at January 25, 2025 01:32 PM (GvJdg)

6 Is that cactus giving a n*zi salute?!?!

Posted by: Democrats at January 25, 2025 01:34 PM (DgGvY)

7 the backyard birds have kept me busy keeping their feeders topped off.

In the morning thread, a moron complained about the gangsta sparrows he was experiencing. My situation presents a motley crew of characters, with the juncos leading the parade.
I had seen them show up over the years, when the weather got colder, to feast on the plant material I'd left on the deck. When I discovered they were ground feeders, I just started casting birdseed on the deck floor, as well as putting up a tube feeder.
Now I have a junco army, and they are so occupied with protecting their turf and battling over territory, they forget to eat... and the finches, chickadees, and titmice swoop in to nom nom nom.

Posted by: kallisto at January 25, 2025 01:34 PM (dCxaZ)

8 That eucalyptus flower opening was wonderful. Like watching a firework explode in slow motion.

Posted by: JTB at January 25, 2025 01:37 PM (yTvNw)

9 One thing about that pointing cactus--it's almost never wrong!

Posted by: BeckoningChasm at January 25, 2025 01:37 PM (CHHv1)

10 I put up a cage feeder when I saw the cardinal having trouble setting on the tube feeder perch, he was a little too big for it.

One day I went to check on the cage to see how much of the seed cake had been consumed, and I saw that *someone* had tried to pry it open! The intrusive squirrel, no doubt, that I've had to shoo away a few times. So I took some floral wire and secured the cage shut. There was a sort of safety catch preventing it from being opened all the way by backyard mammals other than humans.

There was another moron this morning who said he put up "spiky cloth" or something to discourage the squirrels. Does anyone know about that type of product?

Posted by: kallisto at January 25, 2025 01:38 PM (dCxaZ)

11 Good afternoon Greenthumbs and Snowbirds
I like the recliner snowman

Posted by: Skip at January 25, 2025 01:43 PM (fwDg9)

12 Actually think it's getting to 40 today and ground is snow covered

Posted by: Skip at January 25, 2025 01:44 PM (fwDg9)

13 KT,
Thanks for the threads as always. The cartoons will keep me smiling and that 'lazy' snowman is beyond clever.

No gardening news here. Just trying to keep the house plants healthy.

Posted by: JTB at January 25, 2025 01:44 PM (yTvNw)

14 https://www.reneesgarden.com/

If you are doing a small garden, this is where you buy seeds. And they have the most beautiful catalog!

Posted by: Notsothoreau at January 25, 2025 01:46 PM (NQtI0)

15 Willlowing:

219 I'm taking notes from this guy.
Posted by: eleven at January 25, 2025 01:11 PM (fV+MH)

"I'm taking notes from this guy" posted by 'eleven' >> "We're taking notes on this guy" posted by 'Bob from NSA'

Posted by: Anonymous Rogue in Kalifornistan (ARiK) at January 25, 2025 01:46 PM (QGaXH)

16 I could been first but my todger was frozen to the sidewalk.

Posted by: The Phantom Penguin at January 25, 2025 01:49 PM (Qub3l)

17 Sparrows are nothing. I get grackles. They can clear out the bird feeder and suet cake in a couple of hours. And they eat the dry cat food. There's a flock of about forty.

Posted by: Notsothoreau at January 25, 2025 01:49 PM (NQtI0)

18 Today is the first time in over a week with temps above the teens and low 20s. Starting Sunday we are supposed (hope they aren't optimistic) around 50 for the high for at least a few days. Good. The icy conditions that have kept us in the house are getting old and annoying. We are VERY careful about slipping and falling these days.

The OFA has a lot of 'splaining to do.

Posted by: JTB at January 25, 2025 01:51 PM (yTvNw)

19 Growing agave looks like making cocaine. Just sayin’.

Posted by: Eromero at January 25, 2025 01:53 PM (jgmnb)

20 I have raised beds to put together, about 12 bags of potting soul that's been here over a year. I have all my garden seeds, with more berry bushes on the way. I'm gonna see what survives the winter. And I have grow bags for potatoes. I think I have someone that I can hire to break up the ground. That's really about all I can do in January. I do have some seed starter flats and a small walk in greenhouse, so that's covered too. Just gotta make it happen this year.

Posted by: Notsothoreau at January 25, 2025 01:53 PM (NQtI0)

21 17 ... Notsothoreau,

Maybe there's a reason a flock of grackles is called a 'plague'. From my observations they are like a plague of locusts, eating everything around.

Posted by: JTB at January 25, 2025 01:55 PM (yTvNw)

22 Brome Squirrel Buster bird feeders have served me well, but not the squirrels. Also, squirrel baffles for pole feeders - the long torpedo kind work great.
The Chinese hats, not so much

Posted by: kactus at January 25, 2025 01:57 PM (twS2i)

23 They are awful, although they are handsome birds. When they hit the cat food, I see them fly past the kitchen window. Go outside and it looks like The Birds as they are sitting on the cables to the house and in the neighbors' trees.

Posted by: Notsothoreau at January 25, 2025 01:59 PM (NQtI0)

24 I bought Ice Trax and Yak Trax. Ice Trax are like mini crampons, with small spikes for traction. Yak Trax are like cable tire chains. Both slip over your shoes. Buying them caused both snow and ice to go away.

Posted by: Notsothoreau at January 25, 2025 02:01 PM (NQtI0)

25 https://youtu.be/vKcruJ36BfM?si=Zf5mFy8M-LEIYMle

Squirrel Boss!

Posted by: Commissar of Plenty and Lysenkoism in Solidarity with the Struggle for festive little hats at January 25, 2025 02:03 PM (WXok8)

26 Last week I did an interim tasting of my not-quite-finished applejack, inadvertently aged because it didn't get cold enough for long enough last year to slush it off.

It's done now. I get several nights below 15, and boy that did it. The total volume of fluid decreased from the starting amount by 50%, so it should be in the 70-80 proof range.

There are different kinds and levels of "side sugars" that develop in a strong yeast, which makes some unenhanced fruit liqueurs...odd. An early strong apple wine I made seemed a lot like lacquer thinner for several years, then came around. This one mellowed off a little in the last stage of concentration, so I'm pleased with it. I put it through filter paper one last time before bottling, but I don't think that made much difference.

I think I will be making a lot more strong cider next season.

Posted by: Way,Way Downriver at January 25, 2025 02:04 PM (zdLoL)

27 Squirrel Boss could be used selectively on undesired birds...
https://youtu.be/vKcruJ36BfM?si=Zf5mFy8M-LEIYMle

Posted by: Commissar of Plenty and Lysenkoism in Solidarity with the Struggle for festive little hats at January 25, 2025 02:06 PM (WXok8)

28 I have had 2 commercial apple jack,. It was long ago and don't remember brands but 1 was what I expected and other wasn't

Posted by: Skip at January 25, 2025 02:08 PM (fwDg9)

29 I put together a whole house full of Ikea stuff and was amazed at seeing no matter how huge the bag of fasteners, when you wrap up there are zero parts left, and you are never short.

Posted by: M. Gaga at January 25, 2025 02:10 PM (KiBMU)

30 You can use Aloe and agave for medical sutures in the wild.

If you are a wild man type.

Posted by: eleven at January 25, 2025 02:13 PM (fV+MH)

31 You could probably use aloe needles for tats, if you wanted.

Posted by: eleven at January 25, 2025 02:15 PM (fV+MH)

32 I bought a latge potted rosemary last year. Didn't do anything with it except keep it alive. I brought it in before the cold snap and put it on the floor by the back door. It seems to be a good spot as it get morning sun there.

Posted by: Notsothoreau at January 25, 2025 02:15 PM (NQtI0)

33 30 You can use Aloe and agave for medical sutures in the wild.

If you are a wild man type.
----

I'll keep that in mind.

Posted by: Guy who gets his todger too close to the icy sidewalk at January 25, 2025 02:16 PM (dg+HA)

34 I looked into Ice Trax and Yak Trax. Sadly, they don't come big enough to fit my rather large gun boats. Bummer. I should have ordered some of those coconut fiber mats to put down on the ice but didn't remember that our old ones had disintegrated from years of use. Double bummer.

Posted by: JTB at January 25, 2025 02:16 PM (yTvNw)

35 There was another moron this morning who said he put up "spiky cloth" or something to discourage the squirrels. Does anyone know about that type of product?
Posted by: kallisto

Use powdered pepper or some cheap hot sauce on the seed. There are also suet cakes and seed pre treated with hot pepper.

Birds do not react to capcaisin compound in peppers but mammals like squirrels do finding it unpleasant.

This has saved us from getting our feeders torn up. Squirrels leave them alone now as do other mammals like deer.

Posted by: whig at January 25, 2025 02:17 PM (ctrM5)

36 As a kid my mom always had a Aloe plant growing, any burn and she would cut off a leaf and squeeze the Aloe on it

Posted by: Skip at January 25, 2025 02:19 PM (fwDg9)

37 "As a kid my mom always had a Aloe plant growing, any burn and she would cut off a leaf and squeeze the Aloe on it
Posted by: Skip"

I had a scar on my face that I treated with aloe. An actual aloe plant, not a commercial product.

After a few years it went away.

Posted by: eleven at January 25, 2025 02:24 PM (fV+MH)

38 You could order real crampons but the big spikes would be overkill. Mine are women's size 10. They have a stretchy rubber piece that holds them onto the sole. Wonder if you could jury rig an extension?

Posted by: Notsothoreau at January 25, 2025 02:26 PM (NQtI0)

39 14 https://www.reneesgarden.com/

If you are doing a small garden, this is where you buy seeds. And they have the most beautiful catalog!
Posted by: Notsothoreau at January 25, 2025 01:46 PM (NQtI0)

Thanks for the heads up.. Just went there and ordered some seeds

Posted by: It's me donna at January 25, 2025 02:27 PM (VE6XX)

40 36 ... "As a kid my mom always had a Aloe plant growing, any burn and she would cut off a leaf and squeeze the Aloe on it"

I read about a guy who loved to grill but wasn't too deft. He kept a big aloe plant by the grill to treat the frequent burns he got. He swore it let him keep up his hobby.

Posted by: JTB at January 25, 2025 02:29 PM (yTvNw)

41 I've had a couple of rosemary plants that I bought in pots and put in the ground, in northern Ohio. Keep them out of the end spot in the wind, and they'll come back and last several years. Very pretty plant, with a strong aroma that makes you want to cook.

They might work in nicely with a garden-scale railroad, because they kinda-sorta look like bonsai'd big evergreens.

Posted by: Way,Way Downriver at January 25, 2025 02:33 PM (zdLoL)

42 If there is anyone in need of seeds, can't afford them and is a gambler, I'd be happy to see you a bunch. They've been in the fridge, except for the move. I decided that I just needed fresh stuff.

Posted by: Notsothoreau at January 25, 2025 02:34 PM (NQtI0)

43 There was another moron this morning who said he put up "spiky cloth" or something to discourage the squirrels. Does anyone know about that type of product?
Posted by: kallisto

Use powdered pepper or some cheap hot sauce on the seed. There are also suet cakes and seed pre treated with hot pepper.

Birds do not react to capcaisin compound in peppers but mammals like squirrels do finding it unpleasant.

This has saved us from getting our feeders torn up. Squirrels leave them alone now as do other mammals like deer.
Posted by: whig
_________

I posted about the spikey wrap. So far so good with the squirrels, but it was a hassle to bend the strip and wrap the pole, and I did poke myself.

The suet I use is hot pepper, but the squirrels laughed at me and ate it anyway.

Posted by: Biff Pocoroba at January 25, 2025 02:34 PM (Dm8we)

44 After a few years it went away.

The plant?

Posted by: Commissar of Plenty and Lysenkoism in Solidarity with the Struggle for festive little hats at January 25, 2025 02:34 PM (sgnGu)

45 Birds don't react to peppers bevause they have dry mouths. Learned this from my husband. It's the saliva that activates the heat. That's why it would bother the squirrels.

Posted by: Notsothoreau at January 25, 2025 02:36 PM (NQtI0)

46 The suet I use is hot pepper, but the squirrels laughed at me and ate it anyway.
Posted by: Biff Pocoroba
========
Put the powder on it in addition. Ups the dose to painful levels but no harm for birds as they cannot metabolize it.

Posted by: whig at January 25, 2025 02:37 PM (ctrM5)

47 While the crocus have been shy here lately, the tulips have poked their tops out. Ought to be a colorful Spring.

Posted by: Diogenes at January 25, 2025 02:38 PM (W/lyH)

48 Interesting, did not know that.

Posted by: whig at January 25, 2025 02:38 PM (ctrM5)

49 A couple of the famous old European tire companies used to make those rubber-stretch outers for shoes, with fierce little tungsten-core spikes like they used for serious ice tyres. I still have a pair -- but whatever you do, don't wear them to walk across a wood deck or porch. Do not ask how etc...

Posted by: Way,Way Downriver at January 25, 2025 02:38 PM (zdLoL)

50 Comment Directed at NST which I forgot to put. I cannot multitask to save my life.

Posted by: whig at January 25, 2025 02:39 PM (ctrM5)

51 Put the powder on it in addition. Ups the dose to painful levels but no harm for birds as they cannot metabolize it.
Posted by: whig
________

I'll try that. The feeders I use for seed are the ones with the sliding cage, and they've worked perfectly for years at keeping the squirrels out.

Posted by: Biff Pocoroba at January 25, 2025 02:41 PM (Dm8we)

52 Thanks for mentioning the Renee's Garden seed site. Should be useful and informative. And I love the watercolor art for each packet.

On the ice walking stuff, I ordered a pair a few years ago but they couldn't begin to stretch enough to sit my men's size 16 5w shoes. (Yes, buying shoes can be 'interesting'. Thank goodness for King Size and similar.) Boots would be even worse. These days I just don't go out if things are icy and we have supplies so we don't have to.

Posted by: JTB at January 25, 2025 02:50 PM (yTvNw)

53 I like Huggy Cactus.

Posted by: Pory Q. Pine at January 25, 2025 02:57 PM (PiwSw)

54 I'll try that. The feeders I use for seed are the ones with the sliding cage, and they've worked perfectly for years at keeping the squirrels out.
Posted by: Biff Pocoroba
----------
One warning about using the fine grained pepper powder, make sure it is a calm day.

On a windy one, filling a feeder, I have gotten a dose of it and it is like being pepper sprayed. Nasty.

Posted by: whig at January 25, 2025 03:04 PM (ctrM5)

55 I took cuttings of the nearly-died last winter clematis, and got 2 to root. Potted up & growing well!

Bought a new poinsettia just after Thanksgiving and it's still lovely & red. Leaves have been dropping, bracts are next. Once I can see new side sprouts, will cut it back and repot it. The foliage is nice, even if it doesn't rebloom. Mostly, over the years, I've gotten them to rebloom-- just not exactly at Holiday times. No biggie.

Posted by: JQ at January 25, 2025 03:23 PM (YoCnN)

56 Christie Noem is an idiot and will be a disaster as Secretary of Homeland Security.

I know these things from experience.....

Posted by: Alejandro Mayorkas at January 25, 2025 03:30 PM (H8ppk)

57 From Boise area: lows 16-22 F, highs 28-41. Nothing going on. We put electric heating pads on the beds. I keep filling the bird feeder. Husband is starting to make a batch of plum wine the (juice was a gift from a friend). We put a wild bird seed block out back, and occasionally see the local California Quail there.

Posted by: Pat* at January 25, 2025 04:21 PM (0+1R3)

58 I love snow! Loved the snow rose but our snow is powder in the Intermountain West. it's all beautiful!

Posted by: ChristyBlinkyTheGreat at January 25, 2025 05:09 PM (gi+MR)

59 As far as the homes that survived the fires in CA. I know of a home in Northern CA, near Placerville that long ago figured it out. He has a rather large property, up in the hills. Lots of trees. He constantly clears under brush and dead fall. Has a small dozer to move dirt fast if needed. Culls dead or dying trees. Has a natural water source that comes down from the hills above his place, a deep well, a generator, and he installed a sprinkler system on top of his house. If any homes survive I think it will be his.

Posted by: Sergeant Major at January 25, 2025 08:04 PM (hM+Ep)

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