Gardening, Nature and Home Thread, June 21

Well, we're slowly catching up with a backlog of early photos from The Horde. Here are a couple from Don in Kansas:

I took the camera out to the local community college garden this afternoon. It’s early, but I did find a few things in bloom.

Do they look enticing? More at the link.

Edible Gardening/Putting Things By

By-Tor has started a container garden and has his first harvest now:

Salads coming up?

Fresh herbs, perfect for great homemade Italian dishes:

Oregano

Basil

Ah, Nature

NorCal Sierra Foothills Lurker here, hoping you are healing and getting well. This is a gopher snake we saw on our property. It’s about 4’ long. We watched it slither down a gopher hole and disappeared.

Gopher snakes are much more endearing than rattlesnakes. In my opinion, anyway.

I would much prefer to see a kitty following a gopher snake than a rattlesnake (though gopher snakes sometimes try to look like rattlesnakes).

Orange dragonflies have arrived.
NorCal Sierra Foothills Lurker

Looks kind of exotic, I think.

Puttering

Great idea from Teresa in Fort Worth:

I decided that I am going to start having flowers delivered to the house while I am still around to enjoy them! I have never seen Peonies before (they don't grow very well around these parts), so I am starting with these

Gardens of The Horde

Catching up with 40 Miles North, whose garden started showing signs of life a while ago:

Hi KT,

I was hoping to find some shots good enough for your garden thread, and the lighting is really good before and after the rain. Everything is waking up at the same time. Irises are getting ready to bloom, and I'm going to get nectarines this year:

The grapes are already waking up. The first leaves always have a touch of blue :

Here is one of my smaller fig trees in front of an ocean of amaryllis and some irises:

There is one, and only one, swallow tail aquilegia:

A Gaillardia:

I love the aquilegia. Excited for nectarines!

Hope everyone has a nice weekend.

If you would like to send photos, stories, links, etc. for the Gardening 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.

Posted by: K.T. at 01:21 PM

Comments

(Jump to bottom of comments)

1 Good afternoon Greenthumbs

Posted by: Skip at June 21, 2025 01:25 PM (+qU29)

2 HI, Skip!

Posted by: KT at June 21, 2025 01:27 PM (xekrU)

3 Never did get any tomatoes, only bought cucumbers and Anaheim peppers. Have lots of some kind of squash volunteers a day still waiting to see if a crop of bunnies start.

Posted by: Skip at June 21, 2025 01:28 PM (+qU29)

4 It's 99 today with a 25 mph wind. So far, I am keeping things going but I really need to transplant tomatoes. We have one more fairly hot day and then some rain. I''m going to try and get it all done then.

Posted by: Notsothoreau at June 21, 2025 01:28 PM (AcTAo)

5 No gardening, but I mowed about 3/4 of 'lawn'. Had to double-cut the bahia. I have a new set of blades but Mrs. E won't let me change them by myself.

Posted by: Eromero at June 21, 2025 01:30 PM (LHPAg)

6 I get the hydroponic basil sold at grocery store. I think they are for inside window box. Again this year they are struggling. I really should get basil and oregano fresh for salads every day but don't always.

Posted by: Skip at June 21, 2025 01:31 PM (+qU29)

7 I just learned that I can lookup photos of the local South Carolina flora from the photos app on my phone. I’ll submit some for next week.

Posted by: Unkaren at June 21, 2025 01:37 PM (8Rozl)

8 Bow, Minnifer wants to sit on my lap cause I smell like grass

Posted by: Eromero at June 21, 2025 01:38 PM (LHPAg)

9 I have some Anaheim peppers well started, the first ones never seem to get ripe no matter if I leave them on the plant or pick them.
And mom bunny has a nest in my oregano patch for over a week but no crop of bunnies yet.
She did it last year in the other oregano patch

Posted by: Skip at June 21, 2025 01:49 PM (+qU29)

10 Aha! I'm not the only one with a bumper crop of basil!

What exactly are we supposed to do with basil? I can't eat it all while it's fresh.

Posted by: Bombadil at June 21, 2025 01:54 PM (MX0bI)

11 >>What exactly are we supposed to do with basil? I can't eat it all while it's fresh.

Make pesto!

Lots of recipes online.

Posted by: JQ at June 21, 2025 01:56 PM (rdVOm)

12 I put fresh basil and oregano in lots of food. But don't save the fresh and dry it for off season.
Take fresh and put inside in a bowl, it will dry out and then grind or chop fine

Posted by: Skip at June 21, 2025 01:57 PM (+qU29)

13 I've made a native carnivorous plant bog planter: Venus flytrap, Sarracenia, and two types of sundew. So far, they are thriving on the combo of SC sun, rain, and bugs.

The only maintenance is to take it in when using auto sprinklers in the lawn, as tap water kills them.

Posted by: Field Marshal Zhukov at June 21, 2025 01:59 PM (wBaIH)

14 I could chew up some basil in pesto form. I can probably get pine nuts somewhere. I've also got San Marzano tomatoes coming, so I can dry some basil and add it when I can the tomatoes.

I don't use a hell of a lot of basil in my regular cooking, but there's a basil-intensive recipe for "Sunday Sauce" on kitchn. I tried it once and it came out fan-freakin-tastic.

Posted by: Bombadil at June 21, 2025 02:08 PM (MX0bI)

15 I I am trying to decide what to plant in front of my black wooden fence in my side yard that will look pretty year round, and would have flowers. I'm in growing zone 7A, and the fence is in part shade although usually gets some afternoon sunshine. Because it faces West.

Any ideas?

Posted by: Beverly at June 21, 2025 02:13 PM (Epeb0)

16 Costco sells pine nuts in kilo bags that will last a lifetime (if refrigerated)

Posted by: Field Marshal Zhukov at June 21, 2025 02:15 PM (wBaIH)

17 I have a sprinkler system for the first time in my life. Sure does make watering a lot less time consuming though I enjoyed getting the hose out and just zoning out , lost in my thoughts when watering previously.

Posted by: polynikes at June 21, 2025 02:16 PM (rWvc2)

18 The only maintenance is to take it in when using auto sprinklers in the lawn, as tap water kills them.

Posted by: Field Marshal Zhukov at June 21, 2025 01:59 PM (wBaIH)

I've been worrying whether the tap water I have now is hurting because it seems to have a lot of chlorine in it.

Posted by: polynikes at June 21, 2025 02:18 PM (rWvc2)

19 Such beautiful flowers today. It's good to have you back, KT.

Posted by: AlmostYuman at June 21, 2025 02:22 PM (bj34f)

20 Carnivorous plants can only take distilled, reverse osmosis or rain water. Also no fertilizer/soil -- they depend on bugs for nutrients.

Posted by: Field Marshal Zhukov at June 21, 2025 02:33 PM (wBaIH)

21 "What exactly are we supposed to do with basil? I can't eat it all while it's fresh."
"Make pesto!"

We had a huge basil plant about 15 years ago and I did just that with its output--and froze a lot of it. I still kind of like pesto, but that binge pretty much cooled me on it as a frequent ingredient.

FYI, you can make pesto with pretty much any green or herb and any nut. Being a Texan I've made pecan/cilantro pesto. Any pesto made with raw spinach is good, too.

Posted by: Art Rondelet of Malmsey at June 21, 2025 02:35 PM (FEVMW)

22 You can use walnuts to make pesto

Posted by: Notsothoreau at June 21, 2025 02:36 PM (AcTAo)

23 Wish I had some gardening news to share but the weather this week has been uninviting. Nasty thunder storms kept popping up, some severe. Now we have sunlight and unusually high temps. Don't care for either type.

OTOH, the folks at the VaMoMe should at least have dry conditions instead of Amazon jungle humidity.

Posted by: JTB at June 21, 2025 02:51 PM (yTvNw)

24 KT and all,
Thanks for those gorgeous photos in the thread. Looking at them, enjoying the delicate forms and colors, is so relaxing.

Posted by: JTB at June 21, 2025 02:56 PM (yTvNw)

25 Wish I had some gardening news to share but the weather this week has been uninviting. Nasty thunder storms kept popping up, some severe. Now we have sunlight and unusually high temps. Don't care for either type.

OTOH, the folks at the VaMoMe should at least have dry conditions instead of Amazon jungle humidity.

Posted by: JTB at June 21, 2025 02:51 PM

We had that two weeks ago. Violent thunder storms came through last Sunday night close to 11pm. Our phones went off with a tornado warning and then the town warning sirens went off. We got dressed and started heading to our safe room. A tornado went right over our house according to the NWS tracking map.

It blew up the neighborhood, trees down all over the place. smashed cars and houses on every block, people are still cleaning up from it. Luckily not a single person was hurt. All we lost was our last surviving rose bush, all of the others were killed in the freeze we had five years ago. The tornado flattened it.

Posted by: Mister Scott (Formerly GWS) at June 21, 2025 02:58 PM (e5NfL)

26 Congratulations on your tomato, By-Tor. A true herald of summer.

My first maters out the gate are little Striped Romas, Green Giants, and Sun-Arctic Plenties. Every plant is loaded with buds though. I have banana peppers bustin' out too.

My home pollinator garden is bursting with flowers. The local deer cropped off my pretty lavender Canterbury Bells. Grrrr...

Posted by: All Hail Eris, She-Wolf of the 'Ettes 'Ettes at June 21, 2025 02:59 PM (kpS4V)

27 Teresa in FT Worth

The peonies are beautiful. Is the peach colored flower a peony or a rose? It looks like a David Austin Rose

Posted by: CaliGirl at June 21, 2025 02:59 PM (QsMb/)

28 Really should get the weed trimmer out but it's getting very hot. Always put on rain pains and fast shield on as nasty stuff gets flying then a shower immediately aftrr

Posted by: Skip at June 21, 2025 03:00 PM (+qU29)

29 25 ... Mister Scott,

Glad you are OK. We've had some tornado watches here but nothing touched down, fortunately. The storms did have high enough winds to take down some trees and power lines. This week is sunshine and high temps. Already looking forward to autumn. :-)

Posted by: JTB at June 21, 2025 03:06 PM (yTvNw)

30 You can use walnuts to make pesto
Posted by: Notsothoreau at June 21, 2025 02:36 PM

Roasted almonds work too.

Posted by: toby928 at June 21, 2025 03:09 PM (jc0TO)

31 Lovely pictures. Thanks so much. Today on my travels I saw a small field with these. They were one of my mother's favorite flowers and I am always reminded of her when I see them:

https://tinyurl.com/4t7p9xpw

Cornflowers!

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at June 21, 2025 03:19 PM (2GCMq)

32 I forgot to send pics. I will this week KT !

I see a snake, I chop it up.

Posted by: jsg at June 21, 2025 03:22 PM (iGK7y)

33 Snakes do eat mice and other rodents, they are not after you

Posted by: Skip at June 21, 2025 03:28 PM (+qU29)

34 Wow! That aquilegia has the longest tails I think I have ever seen on one!

Posted by: Emmie celebrates the Audacity of Trump! at June 21, 2025 03:29 PM (rF2iL)

35 33 Snakes do eat mice and other rodents, they are not after you
Posted by: Skip at June 21, 2025 03:28 PM (+qU29)

I already have rodent control.

Snakes chose poorly if I see them.

Posted by: jsg at June 21, 2025 03:32 PM (iGK7y)

36 I cut up at least an 8 foot black snake last spring.

With my lawnmower. It looked like a race track across my lawn until I straightened up the lines. Fast sunnuva B.

Posted by: jsg at June 21, 2025 03:34 PM (iGK7y)

37 I've never seen a columbine with those long tails! Would love one of those.

Posted by: Miley, okravangelist at June 21, 2025 03:36 PM (w6EFb)

38 I like the bud break picture too.

Great pictures today.

Posted by: CaliGirl at June 21, 2025 03:45 PM (QsMb/)

39 Miley, okravangelist at June 21, 2025 03:36 PM

I think that's the state flower of Arizona.

Posted by: KT at June 21, 2025 04:03 PM (xekrU)

40 If anyone has a Trader Joe around, you can treat yourself to beautiful flowers from peonies to roses, and orchids weekly.

Posted by: Nan in AZ at June 21, 2025 04:14 PM (xDvzW)

41
I grabbed the Red Phone and yelled, "Hello!
These plants look all spindly and yellow!"
"Why, don't poke and tease 'em,
Give Epso-Magneezyum."
Said an amiable internet fellow.

Posted by: Bombadil at June 21, 2025 04:32 PM (MX0bI)

42 My backyard maple was taken down. It took two days.

To get the bucket into place, the two-man crew had to drive it over my big, beautiful hosta. So they used shovels to loosen it and hoist it out with a scoop. I mentioned I planned to replant it in the fall because it prefers more shade. THEY MOVED IT FOR ME!

The backyard is an unholy mess of mud and crushed-to-oblivion sedum. But the hosta is alive! All 100+ pounds of it!

Posted by: NaughtyPine at June 21, 2025 04:34 PM (l0yA3)

43 I planted groundcover strawberries years ago to make a barefoot-friendly spot near the deck. They were tiny berries which the birds would eat and spread. There are almost none now because rabbits love them.

Eastern fox snakes live around here. I was disturbed the first time I saw one in a tree, but they're non-venomous. This is the only place I've ever been where kids are taught to move snakes to safety. The neighbor kids called them "stinky snakes" because they give off a musky smell if dogs or cats disturb them.

Posted by: NaughtyPine at June 21, 2025 04:57 PM (l0yA3)

44 From Boise area: A hot week, until today - major cool front came through, with some sprinkles last night.

I finally caught up on weeding the raised beds, and even completely weeded the rows of beans and peas in the "corn" patch. Not many beans came up, so I replanted. I did see the first pods on the shelling peas.

Strawberries have gone from a flood to a trickle. I pick every 2nd-3rd day. I eat a lot of lettuce because the new variety is ... enthusiastic. I do need to remember next year, to actually follow the spacing instructions on the package; I tend to grow stuff too close together. Cabbages *really* need more space than I gave them.

We topped up the bags of Yukon Golds and Russet Burbank potatoes, using the last of our homemade compost, plus some from a planter pot we weren't using. (I decided not to grow sweet potatoes this year.) Hopefully the current bins-in-process will be ready for next year.

Our best flowers are by the back shed, where only we see them - Johnny Jump-Up pansies, fireweed, and red penstemon - and the marigolds are in the vegetable beds. The linden tree is blooming, but needed to be trimmed, so I brought some of the flowers indoors for a vase.

Posted by: Pat* at June 21, 2025 11:55 PM (nN4Sp)

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