Gardening, Home and Nature Thread, March 21

Happy Spring! With Easter and Passover coming up, we're starting with some seasonal flowers today:

My Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter cactus blooms for all 3 holidays. Here is the most recent one.
sharon(willow's apprentice)

Truly amazing that you get three holidays from that cactus! Beautiful photo.

From Neal in Israel:

Katy, shalom,
Things in the garden started acting like springtime a few weeks ago.
Alstroemeria: After the die-off of all above ground stems towards the end of the summer, the plantings came back strong during the winter, and all but one are already well into flowering.

Love the markings on those flowers.

Edible Gardening/Putting Things By

From Neal in Israel:

Lime: The tree is strong, and is the first of my little collection of fruit trees to begin significant blossoming in the spring. Fruit has begun to set. I'll be hoping that the strong storm predicted for the coming week won't strip the tree of the beginning of this year's yield.
Best regards,
Neal

The blossoms look promising. Hope they stick!

Thought about growing spaghetti squash this year? I like them under-ripe, and I'm good with simmering the squash instead of roasting if the weather is warm.

I can’t believe I’ve never made spaghetti squash.

Step-by-Step Guide

1. Prep the Squash:
- Cut squash crosswise into rings.
- Remove seeds and pulp.
- Drizzle with olive oil, salt, and pepper.

2. Roast:
- Place cut-side down on a baking sheet.
- Roast at 400°F… pic.twitter.com/WH5EE3fHLG
— @dsware123 🗽 (@dsware123) March 14, 2026

Ah, Nature

The Piedmont Azaleas at blooming down by our creek. I’ll send a close up in a minute.
- fd

Such a lovely, delicate color! The photos are kind of dramatic, considering the color of the flowers.

Gardens of The Horde

From 40 Miles North:

First poppy of the season. A reminder of what California once was.

When Iris Eyes are Smilin'

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, March 14

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 01:29 PM

Comments

(Jump to bottom of comments)

1 Good afternoon Greenthumbs

Posted by: Skip at March 21, 2026 01:30 PM (Ia/+0)

2 My chives are doing well, no Oregano yet.
Some very mild year witers it doesn't die off. Ghis was bad

Posted by: Skip at March 21, 2026 01:32 PM (Ia/+0)

3 I am counting birds this weekend

Posted by: vmom deport deport deport at March 21, 2026 01:34 PM (Jj1OR)

4 my chives are up too Skip!

pretty quiet here still I'm at a high elevation with a lot of trees

some crocuses and daffodils is basically it for now

and those unkillable chives lol

btw I also have an xmas cactus that blooms all the time. it's blooming now, so I guess this is Easter, and it does Thanksgiving and Christmas (ish)

Posted by: BlackOrchid(j+aD2) at March 21, 2026 01:36 PM (j+aD2)

5 Nice photos as usual! I’ve been told that azaleas are mostly hybridized rhododendrons, but that some azaleas are natives. Is this true?

Posted by: Tom Servo at March 21, 2026 01:36 PM (M1V8X)

6 The desert is turning yellow with blossoming trees.

Posted by: AZ deplorable moron at March 21, 2026 01:36 PM (MZJrA)

7 The Guatemalan family who cuts my lawn has not fled the country. Maybe they are legit?

Posted by: Field Marshal Zhukov at March 21, 2026 01:39 PM (wBaIH)

8 Gardener Andrew is beginning the process of movin' more dirt/compost into garden beds this weekend because the weather is so nice!

Posted by: Bad Andrew at March 21, 2026 01:46 PM (qIH9H)

9 The good news is the old apricot tree in my backyard is covered in blossoms.

The bad news is there is one last hard freeze predicted for next week.

The good news is I don't really like apricots.

Posted by: Idaho Spudboy at March 21, 2026 01:47 PM (exU9W)

10 Those Alstroemeria look great, Neil.

Posted by: Keir Starmer at March 21, 2026 01:49 PM (EaLNz)

11 I suppose cutting a spaghetti squash cross-wise would be easier than cutting it length-wise

The iris - hardy flowers that they are - are putting up leaves.

It always amuses me that they seem to prefer to have their corms (rhizomes?) only half way into the dirt.

Also I've got snapdragons coming up between the patio bricks. Normally they die over winter and come back from seeds. These just overwintered entirely because we didn't have any hard freezes this year.

Posted by: FeatherBlade at March 21, 2026 01:55 PM (HZLgH)

12
just saw on the twits that Robert Mueller has assumed room temperature

Posted by: AltonJackson at March 21, 2026 01:59 PM (tljrc)

13 My daffodils have buds but not opened

Posted by: Skip at March 21, 2026 02:01 PM (Ia/+0)

14 Spring must be getting strong; the Garden Thread pix are especially pretty.

Here in North-East Home of the Red Man, we shifted last week from Winter 20-degree lows to Summer 90+ degree hights. Spring was about one day.

The grass isn't growing much yet, but the clover is high. The fruit trees are budding out. Son's peach trees have lots of flowers. Redbuds and Hawthornes are full of flowers.

Daughter has discovered a couple of volunteer Ponderosas which we're going to attempt to transplant. We have three mighty ones from my grandfather's day and would enjoy having more.

But the real key to it's already Summer is: hornets and skeeters and ticks, oh my! The bugs do seem to be anxious to get going. And snakes. It's a jungle out there.

Posted by: mindful webworker is in full broom at March 21, 2026 02:02 PM (jrd4M)

15 In sadder news, Nicholas Brendan died

Posted by: vmom deport deport deport at March 21, 2026 02:11 PM (DoBxX)

16 Those pink azaelas are OUT OF CONTROL! They grow pretty big in the wild.

Posted by: Chairman LMAO at March 21, 2026 02:17 PM (cWLG3)

17 Things are coming up a bit in N Illinois -- snow last weekend and back in the 70s today. Menards is starting to stock pansies for us can't-wait gardeners.

Posted by: Big Fat Meanie at March 21, 2026 02:19 PM (qwx/I)

18 It hit 100 this week in SoCal, with temps in the 80s going forward as far as the eye can see.

Mid-March seems early for these kind of numbers. Maybe Professor Hockey Stick is onto something.

Posted by: Cicero (@cicero43) at March 21, 2026 02:22 PM (wTn/p)

19 Afternoon all. Would have been here sooner but got caught up in Spring cleaning. Opening door and windows. 65 degrees here so need to walk.
I love those purple irises. Do they last? If I do them in container will they bloom for awhile?
Trying to decide if I am going to do veges. Just ran out of home grown basil I dried and one cube of pesto left so definitely basil. Tomattoes? Jalapeños? Limited to containers.

Posted by: Sharon(willow's apprentice) at March 21, 2026 02:22 PM (t/2Uw)

20 I'll be pruning.

Posted by: Hokey Pokey at March 21, 2026 02:27 PM (YlWIZ)

21 15 In sadder news, Nicholas Brendan died
Posted by: vmom deport deport deport at March 21, 2026 02:11 PM (DoBxX)
---
He was 25 years old the 1st season of Buffy, playing a high school kid -- I bought it! Charisma Carpenter was the least convincing as high school age, but I was willing to overlook that.

Posted by: Chairman LMAO at March 21, 2026 02:31 PM (cWLG3)

22 Happy Spring!

Posted by: toby928(c) at March 21, 2026 02:40 PM (4NO2D)

23 The flowers are, as usual, beautiful. Love the colors. I tried spaghetti squash once. Didn't care for it.
We hit 110 one day this past week so even a little too hot here.
AZ deplorable, are the yellow bud trees Palo Verde. They always look nice but what a mess when they shed their beauty.

Posted by: AlmostYuman at March 21, 2026 02:42 PM (xEtvN)

24 Two of my Christmas cactuses are blooming and the newest is considering it. My little orchid is reblooming for the second time. I am thinking about going straight to summer crops like tomatoes planted in the beds now. If it doesn'twork out, I will have time to put in plants. And I got a Golden Delicious from Tractor Supply to plant.

The Asian pear and persimmon are planted. They are really good looking trees from Raintree.

Posted by: Notsothoreau at March 21, 2026 02:45 PM (gQ15S)

25 23 The flowers are, as usual, beautiful. Love the colors. I tried spaghetti squash once. Didn't care for it.

Try it as summer rather than winter squash (pretend it's a zucchini instead of a butternut and pick before ripe), steamed, with spaghetti sauce.

Posted by: KT at March 21, 2026 02:47 PM (7vIsy)

26 Upon hearing of the death today of Robert Mueller, Trump charitably posted on X "good. I am glad he is dead"
Unlike Trump fought in Vietnam. He volunteered for the Marines but was refused because of a bad knee. He regained for 12 months and was accepted. He served as a platoon leader and received the Bronze Star. Also The Purple Heart.
I think it sad that a man like that is our President

Posted by: Aliassmithsmith at March 21, 2026 02:49 PM (RCxqg)

27 Spring has just exploded this week. Stands of daffodils, ornamental pear and cherry trees in full flower, buds on most of the maples and magnolias, and more bird activity. Considering what January and February were like, this looks and feels miraculous. Maybe it is.

Posted by: JTB at March 21, 2026 02:49 PM (yTvNw)

28
12
just saw on the twits that Robert Mueller has assumed room temperature
Posted by: AltonJackson at March 21, 2026 01:59 PM (tljrc)

A name that shall live forever in infamy.

Eh, who am I kidding, it’ll be forgotten 5 minutes from now.

Posted by: Tom Servo at March 21, 2026 02:49 PM (M1V8X)

29 Thanks to all for submitting the photos. It's a pleasure just to sit back and look at them.

Posted by: JTB at March 21, 2026 02:50 PM (yTvNw)

30 It has been hellmouth in socal.

Posted by: Commissar of plenty and festive little hats at March 21, 2026 02:51 PM (Kt19C)

31 Fruit trees are blooming, along with daffodils, primrose, hyacinth, grape hyacinth and probably other stuff. New green leaf buds starting.

Weird winter and weird dry spring, but they bloom anyway. Not the normal pretty green mountains and grass with the blooms, but I'm moving on.

If the Western mountains drought continues I see myself in a Grapes of Wrath scenario by August, but I'll cross that bridge when I have to. Or go north almost to Canada to escape for two weeks.

I want large heavy ceramic urns for the patio for dahlias.Husband said no (which is rare). My son witnessed a brief rare disagreement of us about this. I am going to focus on son's brain to get me heavy urns for my May birthday. Husband said it would hurt his back, even with a dolly. I may hire illegals then be murdered for my cause.

I have had dahlias in gardens but don't have the time or energy to dig them up in the fall and store them. Urns it is!

Posted by: ChristyBlinkyTheGreat at March 21, 2026 03:01 PM (WONhk)

32 And emergency chainsawing

Posted by: Skip at March 21, 2026 03:02 PM (Ia/+0)

33 If any of you have Japanese Magnolias I am jealous. You can pamper one here in the mountains and they might grow to 3' tall.

I grew up with a very large one in my grandmother's side yard. I love them. They were blooming like crazy the St. Patrick's Day we got married in a botanical garden. Thrilled!

Posted by: ChristyBlinkyTheGreat at March 21, 2026 03:04 PM (WONhk)

34 Neighbor showed me a large maple branch fell over a our fences

Posted by: Skip at March 21, 2026 03:08 PM (Ia/+0)

35 >> it’ll be forgotten 5 minutes from now.

Did you say something?

Posted by: 40 Miles North at March 21, 2026 03:12 PM (EaLNz)

36 Hummingbird season (when they migrate north, or south) is approaching. Here in mid-north KY that's around 1 April.

If they find a suitable food source they'll hang around for up to 3 weeks. Feeding hourly.

Super cool to see.

Some fly as far as Panama for winter. Non-stop over the Gulf of America. It's why they hyper feed. They need the energy. Same going north.

Posted by: Martini Farmer at March 21, 2026 03:12 PM (AkEZC)

37 My tomato and pepper seeds are sprouting!

Let the madness begin anew!

Posted by: All Hail Eris, She-Wolf of the 'Ettes 'Ettes. at March 21, 2026 03:22 PM (kpS4V)

38 Urns it is!

Gott mit urns

Posted by: Commissar of plenty and festive little hats at March 21, 2026 03:24 PM (Kt19C)

39 >> [ Cicero ] Mid-March seems early for these kind of
>> numbers. Maybe Professor Hockey Stick is onto something.

We're hit a Solar maximum near the end of 2025. The Sun appears to affect the climate more than C02.

Posted by: 40 Miles North at March 21, 2026 03:24 PM (EaLNz)

40 DJT made a crass comment, and said what most of us were thinking. Mueller is dead, now it is up to God to deal out his punishment or forgiveness. For me, his eternity can't be hot enough.

Posted by: Indy Bill at March 21, 2026 03:25 PM (X6hcS)

41 My early plum is in bloom and the native pollinators are pollinating it. Mostly I am seeing sweat bees and hoverflies. No honey bees yet, though I saw a big bumble bee on a cherry a block over when I was out walking.
My later plum is just starting to bud out, but the graft I did on wild rootstock is blooming after just one year. I doubt I will get much in the way of fruit off a 3' sapling but it is good indication that the graft really took.

I still don't know what I am doing, but I have upped my percentage of survivals to about 60%!

Posted by: Kindltot at March 21, 2026 03:26 PM (rbvCR)

42 >> My tomato and pepper seeds are sprouting!
I really need to finish these stupid taxes, and plant more tomatoes. [ scowls ]

Posted by: 40 Miles North at March 21, 2026 03:27 PM (EaLNz)

43 Cat ate her own dish of yogurt and is now eyeing mine. I cannot eat in peace.

Speaking of overwintering snapdragons, I don't think mine survived the repeated cold snaps this time. Hope my coneflowers did.

Posted by: All Hail Eris, She-Wolf of the 'Ettes 'Ettes. at March 21, 2026 03:40 PM (kpS4V)

44 PET NOOD

Posted by: Skip at March 21, 2026 03:40 PM (Ia/+0)

45 Just got back from my walk. Absolutely gorgeous day. Trail full of walkers, bikers, baby carriages, runners, walkers. It was glorious. Should have cherry blossom pictures soon.

Posted by: Sharon(willow's apprentice) at March 21, 2026 03:45 PM (t/2Uw)

46 I also just went out to look at pots. My pot of cherry pits that I set up last fall is starting to sprout cherry seedlings. I am most likely going to be using them for a windbreak or something similar. If the survive.

Posted by: Kindltot at March 21, 2026 03:45 PM (rbvCR)

47 Posted by: Aliassmithsmith at March 21, 2026 02:49 PM (RCxqg)

You are a lying piece of shit. That is a fake screenshot, but you know that already, don't you?

Why do you do this? For 10 cents a fucking reply? You pathetic fucking worm.

Posted by: SSBN 656 (G) at March 21, 2026 04:01 PM (dmDsy)

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