Gardening, Home and Nature Thread, April 19

Sakura blossoms, JR, Japan

Happy Easter Weekend! What could be nicer than some blossoming trees?

By-Tor sent in a couple of photos of cherry trees from D.C.:

People love those trees:

More Trees

Hi KT, hope you're doing well!
The other day I was at Home Depot and saw woven pillars of living willow, forming a leafy green crown. I was seduced by this, and wanted to find out how it would grow over the years. In my quest for this, I came across amazing cunning structures. Here is one such video, but there are many more Bonnie Gale - Living Willow Structures

I suddenly thought, "Hey, do deer eat willow?" and of course they do, so forget about willow planting around here!
The denizens of the garden thread might get a kick out of this.
xoxo
Miley

Lotsa fun! Thanks!

If willows, won't work, maybe eight similar trees, some with showier flowers, or even TWENTY.

Edible Gardening/Putting Things By

There are illegal alien fruit flies in California. The county hung, then removed, traps from some of our fruit trees recently.

Rules and regulations at the link.

the bowl of peas we picked from the three or four plants, the best parsley plant we’ve ever had, and next to that our first time planting celery.
Heat got over 100 this week so some of the others took a hit.

The veggies look great! Hope the weather holds for a while for Nan in AZ.

Gardens of The Horde

Spring is in full bloom at Casa Bohunk here in SW Florida. Here's a few of the flowers that are strutin' their stuff around the house.
Petunias and Geranium are hot, hot hot...pink!

Patriotic petunias and delphinium

The delphinium is a nice find.

Portulaca and dianthus are showoffs too.

The Crossandra is crushin' it with blooms and deep green leaves!

Proof that containers can look great!!!!

Finally got the first photo right!

Hope everyone has a nice weekend. Happy Easter!

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

A note from the past in the last comment: Gardening, Home and Nature Thread, April 12

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 01:30 PM

Comments

(Jump to bottom of comments)

1 Good afternoon Greenthumbs

Posted by: Skip at April 19, 2025 01:31 PM (ypFCm)

2 Now I want some peas.

Posted by: KT at April 19, 2025 01:32 PM (xekrU)

3 Have oregano and chives going already, used fresh oregano on a pizza last night. Still slowly gathering Fall leaves blown in to piles under trees and against fences so need to get tractor out to chop them up soon.

Posted by: Skip at April 19, 2025 01:33 PM (ypFCm)

4 Rooty toot toot

Posted by: Commissar of plenty and festive little hats at April 19, 2025 01:40 PM (6MHxU)

5 Tomato and pepper seedlings are growing rapidly, and in a couple weeks I hope to plant them outside. I took a chance with the nice weather we've been having and tucked some zinnias in the flower bed, along with some asclepias.

Daffodils are finally blooming.

Posted by: All Hail Eris, She-Wolf of the 'Ettes 'Ettes at April 19, 2025 01:41 PM (dnU9n)

6 We had a weeks worth of sun and temps in the 60s here in Seattle. My lilac tree is exploding!

Now it’s 50 and drizzling. The plants are loving it.

So am I.

Posted by: nurse ratched at April 19, 2025 01:41 PM (mT+6a)

7 So the wasps have taken over my shed. I can't find their nest but I saw maybe 10 flying around the ceiling.

Do I need some sort of bug bomb for it? Not looking forward to peaking around crevices and moving things to find the nest.

Posted by: 18-1 at April 19, 2025 01:55 PM (t0Rmr)

8 That living willow structure looks nice. I recently saw a video about gardening practices that have gone out of fashion. One that caught my eye was using poles of some kind, joined at the top, as supports for peas. When the plants climbed up the poles it made a little teepee and kids could play in it like a tent. Didn't disturb the peas. Sounded like something my friends and I would have loved as little kids. We were always looking for ways to make a fort at that age.

Posted by: JTB at April 19, 2025 02:00 PM (yTvNw)

9 18-1 to find exact location try very early in morning, hopefully still cool where your at, they won't be so moving

Posted by: Skip at April 19, 2025 02:00 PM (ypFCm)

10 I love it when the dogwoods are blooming. Especially the pink ones.

Posted by: Quarter Twenty at April 19, 2025 02:04 PM (dg+HA)

11 I did a small weaved willow thing in a container once. You need a good nursery usually to try something like that.

Posted by: KT at April 19, 2025 02:04 PM (xekrU)

12 Our lilac is in full bloom right now. This is the best it has done for several years. On a still morning their scent fills the yard. Glorious.

I don't know about the lilac's politics but noticed it didn't do well while Biden was in office. Coincidence? Maybe, maybe not. :-)

Posted by: JTB at April 19, 2025 02:05 PM (yTvNw)

13 18-1, if the nest is not visible inside the shed it might be on the bottom of the eaves or in the soffit outside the shed so you might try to search a bit on the outside, if there is a nest outside the shed, a bug bomb would only kill the few wasps in the shed and not get the nest.

Posted by: PaleRider at April 19, 2025 02:09 PM (CKOCg)

14 The weather has been perfect for the roadside strawberry growers this year. Flavorful and tender even though they are a big variety.

Nice!

Posted by: KT at April 19, 2025 02:18 PM (xekrU)

15 I've always thought those striped petunias look like candy.

Posted by: Rodrigo Borgia at April 19, 2025 02:23 PM (W5ArC)

16 All the flower pictures from Casa Bohunk are beautiful and so colorful, especially the vivid orange Crossandra.

Posted by: PatAZ at April 19, 2025 02:31 PM (bj34f)

17 I'll probably post it on the hobby thread too, but if you haven't gotten one of those $30 or so battery powered handheld chainsaws, they are great. I managed a 4 inch maple limb repeatedly with the one I bought. Keep your wits about you but an absolutely outstanding little yard tool.

Great gift idea, too.

Posted by: Boron Quidquid - you realize Darwin disproved evolution, right? at April 19, 2025 02:34 PM (km43Y)

18 The red bud in the front yard is kind of scary. Despite pruning, it always threatened to take over the driveway and side walk. On night a drunk driver missed the curve by our house and plowed through it. Ripped the guts out of the underside of his van. The next year it was back as big as ever. Last year we cut it back to a stump at ground level. Yep. The thing is making a comeback again. I shudder to think how deep the roots must go. This time I'm going to try to keep it pruned to noninvasive levels. Wish me luck. I feel like Sisyphus.

It reminds me of an old song we used to perform when I was in a folk music group many many years ago: "The Cat Came Back the very next day".

Posted by: JTB at April 19, 2025 02:37 PM (yTvNw)

19 Looks like we're going to have a bumper crop of strawberries. Also, our two pink lemonade blueberry bushes are laden with fruit (as yet unripened). We needed to rotate our sweet potatoes, but since we didn't have anywhere to rotate them to, we're experimenting with planting them in pots this year.

Plenty of evidence of rabbits and deer on the property, but so far, our bootleg repellant is doing the job of keeping them away.

Posted by: Paco at April 19, 2025 02:39 PM (mADJX)

20
I'll probably post it on the hobby thread too, but if you haven't gotten one of those $30 or so battery powered handheld chainsaws, they are great. I managed a 4 inch maple limb repeatedly with the one I bought. Keep your wits about you but an absolutely outstanding little yard tool.

Great gift idea, too.
Posted by: Boron Quidquid

Where do you get one?

Posted by: Bertram Cabot, Jr. at April 19, 2025 02:43 PM (63Dwl)

21
Where do you get one

-

Walmart or Lowes and similar probably have them, but here's the one I got.

Trying this Amazon link tool for the first time BTW

https://a.co/d/0S3nJkn

Posted by: Boron Quidquid - you realize Darwin disproved evolution, right? at April 19, 2025 02:46 PM (km43Y)

22 19 ... As a blueberry fanatic, those pink lemonade blueberries sound interesting. A large pot or two might work for us and they are supposed to be hardy in our zone.

Posted by: JTB at April 19, 2025 02:51 PM (yTvNw)

23 Weeding and Spring clean up going on right now. Lost the North fence over the Winter. It's now held up by a project truck and the awning on my shop. That's next weeks project. Tomorrow is re-plumb the freeze proof spiggot outside. Still debating intalling the stuff needed for a sprinlkler system while I'm 2 feet dug out already.
Deer population has exploded this year so doing a garden is just pointless. Wish the damn things ate weeds and not my attempts at growing food.
I should eat them.

Posted by: Reforger at April 19, 2025 02:52 PM (xcIvR)

24 Thanks for the info.

Posted by: Bertram Cabot, Jr. at April 19, 2025 02:53 PM (63Dwl)

25 Inside beltway, our double blossom cherries are just past peak, blossoms are beginning to fall.

Posted by: actually inside the beltway at April 19, 2025 02:56 PM (BW+Gb)

26 a smidgen of rain coupled with warm weather has the weeds growing like crazy. The drag behind the quad is currently being used to knock them back.

Posted by: AZ deplorable moron at April 19, 2025 03:09 PM (ok1wo)

27 I like a slice of tomato on a burger or most of my sandwiches. It doesn't even have to be a great tomato.

Questions for the Horde:

Which tomato variety yields for the longest period?

Alternatively, which variety yields earliest in the season and which variety yields latest in the season? (So I could get by with two plants.)

I am in Zone 6. Thanks for any help.

Posted by: Pillage Idiot at April 19, 2025 03:11 PM (HlyYF)

28 Got more leaves gathered, lots more area to go.
But better when it's nearly 80 than in 30s or 40s

Posted by: Skip at April 19, 2025 03:17 PM (ypFCm)

29 Pillage, indeterminate tomato varieties have the longest production season. Mine produce until a hard frost. These kinds of tomatoes require support, though, unless you have space to let them ramble and the conditions in your area and soil allow them to not get sick on the ground.

Good early tomatoes are Stupice and Early Girl. Both are indeterminate. The most reliable tomato in my garden is Sungold. It's a very flavorful orange cherry tomato, and it keeps fruiting even if it's half dead from neglect or disease. Since it's a cherry tomato, I don't try to use it on sandwiches.

Posted by: Emmie celebrates the Audacity of Trump! at April 19, 2025 03:20 PM (Sf2cq)

30 We're losing Mrs Salty

Posted by: Notsothoreau at April 19, 2025 03:26 PM (cvWHI)

31 We're losing Mrs Salty
Posted by: Notsothoreau

NaCly Dog

Prayerrs up for the Saltys

Posted by: AZ deplorable moron at April 19, 2025 03:31 PM (ok1wo)

32 Wasp traps. Get them at hardware store or big box store. Your local hardware store might better know which traps are most effective in your locale.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at April 19, 2025 03:31 PM (8zz6B)

33 We're losing Mrs Salty
Posted by: Notsothoreau at April 19, 2025 03:26 PM (cvWHI)

Well, damn! I read this morning she had gone into afib, but was revived. And that she had had a stent successfully placed yesterday.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at April 19, 2025 03:33 PM (8zz6B)

34 They've removed the support systems and are down to morphine and valium

Posted by: Notsothoreau at April 19, 2025 03:34 PM (cvWHI)

35 I put up wasp traps two weeks ago and have caught 6 so far. That was only after I put real meat in.

Posted by: Reforger at April 19, 2025 03:34 PM (xcIvR)

36 Prayers for Mrs. Salty.

Posted by: Reforger at April 19, 2025 03:35 PM (xcIvR)

37 Lord Jesus Christ, Savior of the World, have mercy on your servant Mrs Salty.

Posted by: vmom deport deport deport at April 19, 2025 03:36 PM (Wx316)

38 Pet thread is up... but VERY sorry to hear the news about 'Mrs. Salty'...

Posted by: gdgm+ at April 19, 2025 03:41 PM (FyLCZ)

39 I plowed my garden! Just the right time it is well cleanly tilled, and ready to plant, and this year was not so early I made terracotta lumps from mud!

I have corn in a jar trying to sprout it, I have potatoes ready to dig in, I bought my first tomatoes and peppers, and the weather outside is sunny, and the light breezez feels electric. It is so nice out, the perfect spring weather here.

It is a frabjious day out. The best part of Spring

Posted by: Kindltot at April 19, 2025 03:41 PM (D7oie)

40 Kindltot-- I sprout corn between wet paper towels. Put them in a zip bag or sealable container, on top of fridge or other warm place.

Usually takes only 24hrs!

Posted by: JQ at April 19, 2025 03:46 PM (rdVOm)

41 I dug up a volunteer apple seeding from my dad'shouse's foundation four years ago and put it in my yard, figuring that it could be a hearty local root stock for something I like, and I never got around to grafting it. I also broke the root planting it and I babied it to keep it alive. It has small leaves for an apple, but they are so deep green - probably from the worm tea and fertilizer I have dosed it with.
I grafted one sprout of it with a cider apple variety, and started dithering about what to do with the other, larger stem. I decided to leave it for the year since it was getting late, and today I noticed it is putting out its first blossoms, so I may find out what sort of apple I have got.
I also have some other apple varieties I grafted onto another tree and they are all putting out blooms for the first time this year too. I mislabeled one of the varieties, I know that because it put out fruit last year and Ribston apples are NOT bright green, and I also got New Hampshire greening wood at the same time but I thought it was in a separate bundle.

Remember, kids. Clearly label your scion wood and your grafted trees. don't be like me

Posted by: Kindltot at April 19, 2025 03:47 PM (D7oie)

42 So the wasps have taken over my shed. I can't find their nest but I saw maybe 10 flying around the ceiling.

Do I need some sort of bug bomb for it? Not looking forward to peaking around crevices and moving things to find the nest.
Posted by: 18-1 at April 19, 2025 01:55 PM (t0Rmr)

I put some old mail boxes along my fence because paper wasps like to build nests in them, and the wasps eat bugs out of my garden. I have found that if I leave them alone they are happy to ignore me.
I am not sure if I would put up with a yellow jacket or a black-faced hornets' nest but they are overly aggressive.

Posted by: Kindltot at April 19, 2025 03:52 PM (D7oie)

43 Where do you get one?
Posted by: Bertram Cabot, Jr. at April 19, 2025 02:43 PM (63Dwl)

Ace Hardware sells Stanley brand, my wife bought me one. You will need a spare chain or three, know who can sharpen them for you, and make sure you have bar oil.

Posted by: Kindltot at April 19, 2025 03:54 PM (D7oie)

44 Prayers up for NaCly and Mrs. Salty.

Posted by: Pillage Idiot at April 19, 2025 03:55 PM (HlyYF)

45 Thanks for the tomato help, Emmie!

I have plenty of space in our garden and I have some tomato supports.

Bride of PI is our usual gardener, but she is swamped with year-end school crap, so the I am going to at least grow a few things she likes.

Posted by: Pillage Idiot at April 19, 2025 03:57 PM (HlyYF)

46 I don't know if I've mentioned this before, but I was gobsmacked to discover that the snapdragons we raised this year lasted all winter and are now flowering like maniacs. I assumed they were annuals, but they were green all winter (even to 12F). Also, the dahlias all came back! I was too lazy to dig them up and try to store them, so I went all Darwin on them, and they made it. Kudos to them. Also the yarrow, which didn't die back until new shoots were coming up.

Third year for the hostas, and they too are going crazy.

As usual, the clematis are very impressive and are literally covered with flowers.

Vegetable garden report: we have determined that we need to rein it in. Soon enough (due to aging) we'll be completely dependent on the raised beds. So this year we'll only be utilizing about 500 row feet total. I've promised myself that I'm only doing about 2 dozen tomatoes this year. I just can't handle the heat down south the way I used to.

On the upside, I've accomplished the goal of getting up by 9 am to make breakfast for Mama Publius. That's a plus for getting a few hours of gardening in, before it gets too hot.

Posted by: Miley, okravangelist at April 19, 2025 05:02 PM (w6EFb)

47 I'm so sorry to hear about Mrs. Salty. We've lost too many Horde and Horde-adjacent.

Posted by: Miley, okravangelist at April 19, 2025 05:10 PM (w6EFb)

48 The gardens of the Horde are so beautiful!

Posted by: Miley, okravangelist at April 19, 2025 05:12 PM (w6EFb)

49 From Boise area: My brain's fried because we spent the morning helping our usual gun range do annual maintenance, then spent the afternoon on our own projects, but I'll do my best here.

Out in the yard: We planted a small new maple on Monday. The Elberta peach blossoms have faded, but the Seckel pear is in full bloom; the Warren pear is blooming sparsely. Our crabapple is in full bloom or just past. The dogwood has opened, and the redbud next to it is in full bloom. All apple trees are just getting started.

We're only going to get a few daffodils in the forsythia bed. Along the front sidewalk, the first tulips were my favorites, red and gold, with black centers - today some others have opened. A few lilacs have started blooming, and I saw some open lily of the valley bells today. Johnny Jump-Ups are blooming wherever they feel like it.

Husband is building a dry stacked stone raised bed. Trench was already dug, and filled with road mix - a ton of stone bought - and the first course laid. Today we lined the inside with plastic, and filled in the first layer with dirt.
(part 1)

Posted by: Pat* at April 19, 2025 07:55 PM (zzVqr)

50 Boise area again: We took the chunks of sod from the tree planting, and patched a dead part of the front lawn.

We're harvesting a bit of asparagus. Some crazy strawberries have decided to flower.

I added more radishes, and had to replant cabbage, spinach, and 2 kinds of lettuce. Today, I replanted 4 kinds of carrots and started 2 more kinds of lettuce.

We decided which of the "corn bed" rows should be for beans and peas, and used a hoe to remove old corn stalks. Still working with soil test kit to see how we need to amend.

Lots of gophers... the exterminator has been called, but is slammed right now, so will get back to us when they have room in the schedule.

HOA irrigation is on - soon comes the fun of testing zones, repairing stuck sprinkler heads, and putting back together all the drip lines.

Tonight, prayers for all Horde members and friends who need them.
(part 2/end)

Posted by: Pat* at April 19, 2025 08:49 PM (zzVqr)

Processing 0.01, elapsed 0.0144 seconds.
15 queries taking 0.0065 seconds, 59 records returned.
Page size 49 kb.
Powered by Minx 0.8 beta.