Gardening, Home and Nature Thread, Jan. 3

My husband was in the Army for 38 years and we lived in several different climates (coastal CA, central valley CA, Baltimore, Tidewater VA, and Hawaii). We retired to Las Vegas and while I was never much of a gardener, I managed to keep our living quarters looking OK over the years. Not here. Unless you love cactus, this is easily the most challenging garden environment ever. Fortunately I can buy amaryllis bulbs. They are from Eden Gardens, a wonderful garden supplier. They were badly hit by the North Carolina floods, but still managed to fulfill their orders on time.
Anyway, here’s part of my “harvest” this year. The flowers are so large that they sometimes fall over, but this is not a problem because they do really well when cut and put in a vase.
Ps. I always enjoy your thread. Thanks.
Margsnow

A low-key thread on a busy day today, starting with some beautiful flowers!

It's okay to switch between specialty and news threads on the weekend.

Edible Gardening/Putting Things By

There are some different varieties of citrus in season here in the Central valley. We recently got some big pink oranges resembling blood oranges, mild and a little on the bland side. They looked a lot like this:

Winter’s sweetest secret! 🍊✨ Packed with vitamin C, fiber, and antioxidants, blood oranges are perfect for juicing, salads, desserts, or even cocktails, delicious and versatile!#McFarlinMindyFarms #BloodOrangeSeason #WinterFruit #HealthyAndDelicious #BloodOranges pic.twitter.com/DcPIc5fyR3
— McFarlin Mindy Farms (@cmcfarlinfamily) December 30, 2025

They were a real contrast to some deep orange, zesty tangerines. Both varieties were seedless. Don't know their names.

The tangerine was smaller than this, and not as juicy.

The juice of Ehime Jelly oranges.

A hybrid of oranges and tangerines originating in Japan, coated with Kaolin, a clay-based powder sprayed on fruit trees for sunburn and insect protection. pic.twitter.com/vlAmUxeP3a
— Nature is Amazing ☘️ (@AMAZlNGNATURE) November 16, 2025

Have you had any interesting citrus lately?

Puttering

Curled up with a catalog?

Did you know the Internet Archive has 1,000 seed catalogs?

Well, you'd be wrong, because we have over 50,000 seed catalogs.https://t.co/44WxG8ZMUI and https://t.co/meAfqxwynX are the way to start. They're glorious explosions of verbiage and promise towards the ultimate farm. pic.twitter.com/vpAsIs3z7t
— Jason Scott (@textfiles) November 6, 2019

Adventure

Winter in Zurich

They feed Mangels to cattle in Switzerland (see last week's post).

Gardens of The Horde

From Intrepid Liason, in October:

A few updates at the acreage. First up, there are several large pokeweed plants covered in berries. It's an interesting native plant with neat (but inedible) berries and striking reddish/purple stalk. It can get pretty large, too!
I'll probably harvest my quince soon. They are huge, much larger and lumpier than apples or pears, and have lost their fuzz and turned bright yellow.

Finally, as a curiosity, if you've never left your asparagus unharvested and wondered what its seeds or berries look like, I've got a picture for you. I guess they're technically seedy pods, and they were a fairly bright orange for a while, but have gotten fuller over the weeks.

Hope everyone has a nice weekend.

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

Week in Review

What has changed since last week's thread? Gardening, Home and Nature Thread, Dec. 27

Any thoughts or questions?

I closed the comments on that 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 01:04 PM

Comments

(Jump to bottom of comments)

1 Good afternoon KT and Greenthumbs

Posted by: Skip at January 03, 2026 01:08 PM (Ia/+0)

2 Howdy, beloved Horde!

Posted by: Emmie -- be strong and courageous! at January 03, 2026 01:09 PM (FMtrg)

3 The "quince power" fist amuses me.

Posted by: mikeski at January 03, 2026 01:09 PM (nhCoE)

4 Ooooh, trolls are mad and stomping their tiny feet.

Posted by: Emmie -- be strong and courageous! at January 03, 2026 01:11 PM (FMtrg)

5 Flowers!

Look at the flowers, Lizzie.

Posted by: BurtTC at January 03, 2026 01:11 PM (lPqCT)

6 Nature-related, we are in the late stages of planning a trip in Feb. to Puerto Rico for a long weekend around my birthday. The highlight appears to be a horseback ride through the "only tropical rainforest in the U.S.". The pics look great, can't wait to see it for myself.

Posted by: Lincolntf at January 03, 2026 01:12 PM (vV6n9)

7 Love the amaryllis blooms!

I was gifted an amaryllis 4 years ago. It bloomed the first year, but so far, no more flowers, only leaves that keep growing longer and longer.

Posted by: kallisto at January 03, 2026 01:14 PM (dCxaZ)

8 Not getting above freezing much, but snow coating is slowly disappearing.

Posted by: Skip at January 03, 2026 01:15 PM (Ia/+0)

9 I have a huge pyracantha bush, it's about 20' x 15'. It fruits biennially, and this year was a bloom year.

the plant was covered with thousands of the orange-red berries a couple months ago. Looked carefully at the bush this morning, it's all but stripped bare by the birds.

Posted by: kallisto at January 03, 2026 01:16 PM (dCxaZ)

10 I get quince and persimmon mixed up.

Posted by: Emmie -- be strong and courageous! at January 03, 2026 01:18 PM (FMtrg)

11 I was gifted an amaryllis 4 years ago. It bloomed the first year, but so far, no more flowers, only leaves that keep growing longer and longer.
Posted by: kallisto

You have to force them to go dormant. Dark room, no water. After they look dead, bring them out into light and water. They will bloom again.

Posted by: Idlan at January 03, 2026 01:19 PM (LV9xd)

12 The common "consensus" is that the Quince fruit was, in fact, the actual "forbidden fruit" in the Garden of Eden. Not the apple. Apparently, the fruit originated in the Middle East and has legacy ties to love and fertility.

So...be careful.

Posted by: Orson at January 03, 2026 01:19 PM (dIske)

13 You have to force them to go dormant. Dark room, no water. After they look dead, bring them out into light and water. They will bloom again.

ok

i think I have done this already, unintentionally though

lol

Posted by: kallisto at January 03, 2026 01:20 PM (dCxaZ)

14 Those are pretty, Margsnow.

Posted by: tankdemon at January 03, 2026 01:21 PM (4kXuG)

15 Have you had any interesting citrus lately?

--
Had a sumo orange from Wegmans yesterday.
Very sweet.

Posted by: vmom deport deport deport at January 03, 2026 01:23 PM (6U1c2)

16 Last bag of Mandarins had were horrible, but usually good.
They wete very small, not sure if that was problem

Posted by: Skip at January 03, 2026 01:25 PM (Ia/+0)

17 i think I have done this already, unintentionally though.

I do it unintentionally to a lot of my plants. The only thing that it helps are my amaryllis.

LoL

Posted by: Idlan at January 03, 2026 01:26 PM (LV9xd)

18 Hey. Keep that kaolin out of my OJ!

Posted by: No one at January 03, 2026 01:26 PM (qFwJc)

19 Good story and pretty flower, Margsnow. Makes for an optimistic day.

Posted by: Eromero at January 03, 2026 01:28 PM (LHPAg)

20 "the "only tropical rainforest in the U.S.""

None in Hawaii?

Posted by: No one at January 03, 2026 01:28 PM (qFwJc)

21 I love blood oranges and I can get them at the farmers market. I have lemons and limes ready now.

The amaryllis are beautiful.

I have big tree covers for them and the two avocado trees I planted and I hope they make it. I found a variety of Avocado that's supposed to do well in zone 9 but we will see.

It's pouring here too, I've had over 5 inches in the past week and I haven't checked the gauge yet this am. I think we've had 15 inches of rain already this rain season and I'm worried about trees falling.

Posted by: CaliGirl at January 03, 2026 01:31 PM (jbmHx)

22 12 The common "consensus" is that the Quince fruit was, in fact, the actual "forbidden fruit" in the Garden of Eden. Not the apple. Apparently, the fruit originated in the Middle East and has legacy ties to love and fertility.

So...be careful.
Posted by: Orson

There's also a Greek story where translations mention an apple, but was probably a quince: Acontius, a young man in love with Clyppa, wrote the words "I swear by the temple of Artemis that I shall marry Acontius" on an apple and threw it at her feet while she was at the Temple of Diana (Artemis).
When Clyppa picked up the apple and read the inscription aloud, the act of repeating the vow in front of the altar bound her to the promise, making her obligated to marry Acontius.

Interestingly, Quince are rock hard and very dry raw, so they aren't so great to eat without preparation, which makes the Adam/Eve story odd. They're also quite lumpy, so they wouldn't roll very well in the second Greek story.

Posted by: Intercepted DU Transmissions brought by the Intrepid AoS Liaison at January 03, 2026 01:33 PM (ycI94)

23 20 "the "only tropical rainforest in the U.S.""

None in Hawaii?
Posted by: No one at January 03, 2026 01:28 PM
El Yunque in PR.

Posted by: Eromero at January 03, 2026 01:34 PM (LHPAg)

24 Speaking of seed catalogs, Burpee catalog arrived over the holidays. Several dog-eared pages already.

-SLV

Posted by: Shy Lurking Voter at January 03, 2026 01:36 PM (e/Osv)

25 I wish we could ship some of that excess California rain here to Colorado. December is normally fairly dry anyway so hopefully we get good snows in our wet months. I don't farm or ranch so I don't have the direct hit from bad growing years, but the price of hay for the horses is higher when the hayfields get little water.

Posted by: PaleRider at January 03, 2026 01:36 PM (hhkIi)

26 I planted about 50 tulip bulbs yesterday and I hope they all grow. The ground was really hard where I wanted to plant them and so I found other spots where I didn't have to hand till the ground. I wasn't planning on this much rain and the bulbs arrive of course when the weather is terrible.

Posted by: CaliGirl at January 03, 2026 01:42 PM (jbmHx)

27 22 12 The common "consensus" is that the Quince fruit was, in fact, the actual "forbidden fruit" in the Garden of Eden. Not the apple. Apparently, the fruit originated in the Middle East and has legacy ties to love and fertility.

So...be careful.
Posted by: Orson

Although of course we will never know for sure, but in ancient, pre-Christian art the Tree of Life was a common artistic motif in several cultures, and it was always shown as being a pomegranate.
The claim that it was an apple didn’t begin until Christianity became accepted in northern lands among peoples who had no idea what a pomegranate was.

Posted by: Tom Servo at January 03, 2026 01:43 PM (otNgF)

28 Interestingly, Quince are rock hard and very dry raw, so they aren't so great to eat without preparation, which makes the Adam/Eve story odd. They're also quite lumpy, so they wouldn't roll very well in the second Greek story.
Posted by: Intercepted DU Transmissions brought by the Intrepid AoS Liaison at January 03, 2026 01:33 PM (ycI94)
_____________________________
They, actually, address that issue in their conjectures. First, a quince holds an intense alluring fragrance. Then, they explain that it requires cooking to (I'm quoting here) "reveal its delicious rosy-pink flesh, mirroring the transformation from raw temptation to revealed delight."

(shrugs)

Posted by: Orson at January 03, 2026 01:44 PM (dIske)

29 It wasn't apples for quince.

It was figs.

Posted by: No one at January 03, 2026 01:45 PM (qFwJc)

30 Thank you for the Garden Thread KT

Looks like commenting on previous thread is finally slowing down in the low 900's so maybe folks will migrate over or just go about their business.

I like the pics of winter in Zurich. Alas, I knew him well....

Posted by: Anonymous Rogue in Kalifornistan (ARiK) at January 03, 2026 01:48 PM (QGaXH)

31 FIRST!!!!!

Posted by: Sponge - F*ck Cancer at January 03, 2026 01:49 PM (Zz0t1)

32 The "quince power" fist amuses me.

Posted by: mikeski at January 03, 2026 01:09 PM (nhCoE)

Well, we now know the fruit of anarchists.

Posted by: Sponge - F*ck Cancer at January 03, 2026 01:50 PM (Zz0t1)

33 delicious rosy-pink flesh, mirroring the transformation from raw temptation to revealed delight."

Used to date her.

Posted by: Commissar of plenty and festive little hats at January 03, 2026 01:52 PM (Kt19C)

34 I get the local climate impact on gardening. I grew up in the Midwest, and our black raspberries grew wild all around our house. I planted some in zone 9 Texas, and got some beautiful long canes that were promptly destroyed by borers and never produced fruit. Likewise with some amazing iris bulbs from a neighbor back home that failed to flower in a hot climate and then burned up in the subtropical sun.

On the other hand, we’re about to harvest our first lemons from our new tree. Can’t get that back in the Midwest.

Posted by: Advo at January 03, 2026 01:56 PM (jO4mz)

35 Oh, those blood oranges look so good....

(makes note on grocery list)

Posted by: Barkingmad59, wandering lurkette at January 03, 2026 01:58 PM (0lzjf)

36 They, actually, address that issue in their conjectures. First, a quince holds an intense alluring fragrance. Then, they explain that it requires cooking to (I'm quoting here) "reveal its delicious rosy-pink flesh, mirroring the transformation from raw temptation to revealed delight."

I can confirm both. It has a wonderful unique aroma while ripening (many Balkans homes would put some fruit in various rooms like potpourri), and when cooked, it does soften and turn a rosy/salmon color

Posted by: Intercepted DU Transmissions brought by the Intrepid AoS Liaison at January 03, 2026 02:05 PM (ycI94)

37 33 delicious rosy-pink flesh, mirroring the transformation from raw temptation to revealed delight."

Used to date her.
Posted by: Commissar of plenty and festive little hats at January 03, 2026 01:52 PM (Kt19C)

LOL Commissar - how are things in the Valley today?

Posted by: Anonymous Rogue in Kalifornistan (ARiK) at January 03, 2026 02:05 PM (QGaXH)

38 From Boise area: Lows 25-43 F, highs 37-45. A wet week, with another to follow. We could use the water! And we would like some snow - not one flake here in the valley, yet.

I have an amaryllis I got at a party - the bud-stem passed one foot in height, then the bud split open. By next week, I should have a flower. The bulb came with instructions, so I should be able to get it to bloom next winter.

Not much news at this season - I did see a flicker at our seed feeder. I peeled, cut, and froze the last 3 butternut squash, so all our processing is done. Now it's just enjoying potatoes, onions, and all the things we canned or froze...

...until it's planting time. Husband has already run the fireplace twice, but eventually will come the night when we sit by that fireplace and create the garden plan for the coming year. I have my one catalog now, Territorial Seed Co. (unless some other company sends a catalog randomly). We probably won't start any seeds indoors until March.

I do have one broccolini seed that was planted in spring, sprouted in the fall - it has one leaf that's yellow, but the other leaves look OK - wonder if it will survive the whole winter.

Posted by: Pat* at January 03, 2026 02:16 PM (KqoRw)

39 I planted about 50 tulip bulbs yesterday and I hope they all grow. The ground was really hard where I wanted to plant them and so I found other spots where I didn't have to hand till the ground. I wasn't planning on this much rain and the bulbs arrive of course when the weather is terrible.
Posted by: CaliGirl at January 03, 2026 01:42 PM (jbmHx)
====
I've planted those bulbs here and they are dug up and consumed by pests in 24 hours.

Posted by: San Franpsycho at January 03, 2026 02:22 PM (RIvkX)

40 If I get my act together, I will get some winter greens planted before school starts back up. I have seeds for arugula, mizuna, and lettuce.

Posted by: Emmie -- be strong and courageous! at January 03, 2026 02:26 PM (FMtrg)

41 18 Hey. Keep that kaolin out of my OJ!
Posted by: No one at January 03, 2026 01:26 PM (qFwJc)

I wonder how many have long enough memories to catch the reference.

Posted by: Anonymous Rogue in Kalifornistan (ARiK) at January 03, 2026 02:27 PM (QGaXH)

42 Previous thread just cracked a thousand comments.

Posted by: From about That Time at January 03, 2026 02:29 PM (sl73Y)

43 I am thinking about planting a few cold hardy seeds under the straw mulch, just to see if they survive. It's been a mild winter here, but I know February can be bad.

Posted by: Notsothoreau at January 03, 2026 02:30 PM (+mUZM)

44 Previous thread kept going strong - past 1000 now...

Posted by: Anonymous Rogue in Kalifornistan (ARiK) at January 03, 2026 02:31 PM (QGaXH)

45 how are things in the Valley today?

Moar rain forecast later today thru tomorrow. Calif cold.

Posted by: Commissar of plenty and festive little hats at January 03, 2026 02:39 PM (Kt19C)

46 "I wonder how many have long enough memories to catch the reference.
Posted by: Anonymous Rogue in Kalifornistan"

LOL. I hadn't thought of that. I saw a chunk fall into the Orange Juice.

But LOL. Kaolin in the OJ?

Posted by: No one at January 03, 2026 02:47 PM (qFwJc)

47 Has anyone tried container gardening black raspberries? One of our potential life changes is moving to an apartment from our house. It has plenty of window space, but there's no usable ground space at all. (City code enforcement would not like me planting a prickly bush in their stupid little decorative grassy 'bump-outs.)

Posted by: Barkingmad59, wandering lurkette at January 03, 2026 02:49 PM (0lzjf)

48 >>Kaolin in the OJ?

Maybe to offset the laxative effect of fruit juice? LOL!

Posted by: JQ at January 03, 2026 02:51 PM (rdVOm)

49 My wife was disabled from MS. When George Zimmerman was acquitted, her Home health aid was upset.

I said "Now you know how white people felt when OJ got acquitted."

The next day she told me that she understood. Great, sweet gal. Got a better job with the school district with pension, health insurance, vacations, etc. I am happy for her.

Posted by: No one at January 03, 2026 02:51 PM (qFwJc)

50 Of course, I didn't go into the issue of OJ begin guilty as sin and George Zimmerman being guilty of self-defense.

But, she had feelings.

Posted by: No one at January 03, 2026 02:53 PM (qFwJc)

51 I should move my mini greenhouse somewhere. It just doesn't get much sjn anymore

Posted by: Skip at January 03, 2026 02:53 PM (Ia/+0)

52 California cold = 57°.

Posted by: Commissar of plenty and festive little hats at January 03, 2026 02:54 PM (Kt19C)

53 There's a non- gardening thread above

Posted by: It's me donna at January 03, 2026 02:57 PM (VE6XX)

54 Growing dark here!

Posted by: Commissar of plenty and festive little hats at January 03, 2026 02:57 PM (Kt19C)

55 AOT

nood

But don't abandon the pretty flowers. And speaking of oranges, Japanese boob oranges are back in season. Get them while they're perky.

Posted by: banana Dream at January 03, 2026 02:57 PM (3uBP9)

56 Please accept my apologies. Not a proper topic for the gardening thread.

Posted by: No one at January 03, 2026 02:58 PM (qFwJc)

57 How did Japan end up perfecting oranges. They have the absolute best varieties now. Could someone get them working on tomatoes pretty please?

Posted by: banana Dream at January 03, 2026 03:06 PM (3uBP9)

58 PET NOOD

Posted by: Skip at January 03, 2026 03:31 PM (Ia/+0)

59 Having once bit into a Quince fruit, I can tell you that they are almost onomatopoetic; they taste like they sound. Very pucker inducing. One bite was enough. OTOH, throw a pile of sugar at them, and they make a wonderful jam.

Right now, I'm procrastinating. The wife wants the outside lights taken down, but I'm arguing for Epiphany. I am watching the weather. It's supposed to be clear and mild through tomorrow, but after that it's supposed to cool down with an increasing chance of moisture. If the forecast turns bad, I'll get them down before Tuesday.

Posted by: buddhaha at January 03, 2026 05:50 PM (M5t5H)

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