Gardening, Home and Nature Thread Apr 25

Didn't know what to do with this amaryllis a couple years ago, stuck it in the flower bed and it's done marvelously well!
tom servo

Not everyone can get their gift Amaryllis to re-bloom in the garden. More people might have some luck with tom's second plant below:

The oak leaf hydrangea has come out nicely this spring

Edible Gardening/Putting Things By

The first strawberry ripened! After taking the picture I tried it, it is indeed as flavorful as advertised. They are very small, though. I'd say this one was maybe 5/8 inches, seems to be the typical size. It's continuing to flower, and there are more berries forming--as long as the squirrels don't find the bowl on my porch I might get a few more. It also looks like I probably should divide the plants, they're rather over filling the bowl!
There seems to be some confusion among various sources on line about this plant, Fragaria vesca. I've seen it called the wild strawberry, woodland strawberry, alpine strawberry. I've also seen pictures of the fruits varying from the cone shape of mine to almost round. Don't know, I'll just enjoy the plant I have.
Lirio100

Whichever it is, YAY!

Ah, Nature

Mountain laurel blooming at the creek this week.
- fd

Such interesting flowers . . . . .

Want to try growing it at home?

Lurker here: SmokyMtVol
I sent pics of our dog once before about a year ago for the pet thread.
Not much of a green thumb here, so we often go hiking to experience God's garden - particularly, starting this time of year.

Springtime is in full swing in East Tennessee - and if you're a hiker, you'll discover large patches of "Virginia Bluebells" (Mertensia virginica) on hillsides and in hollows at this time of year. We always pause when we come upon on them.
Thanks for all y'all do.
-SmokyMtvol

We love bluebells here. Thanks for the photos. Keep in touch.

These bluebells tolerate rabbits and black walnut.

Puttering

Interesting rooting technique to try, courtesy of NorCal Sierra Foothills Lurker.

We'll see if Kindltot has some commentary.

Gardens of The Horde

The iris is "Bequest" from Schreiner's Gardens last summer. It's the first of them to pop. I've got 2 others, "Air Time" and "Ghost Train." Pics to follow later, as they flower.
This peony is now 3 years old and has bountiful buds. We're not expecting rain for the next week, so we'll be able to enjoy them for a long while. I've got some of those curved support posts for when it does rain and they want to flop over onto the ground. They look like the ones Mom-Mom had when I was a little girl.
Miley

What's happening in your garden?

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, April 18

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 01:26 PM

Comments

(Jump to bottom of comments)

1 35gvbwv5yv

Posted by: Blonde Morticia at April 25, 2026 01:30 PM (n7rxJ)

2
I swear to allah, I read the content.

Posted by: Blonde Morticia at April 25, 2026 01:30 PM (n7rxJ)

3 Thanks for the garden thread.

My lawn is overrun with dandelions and violets. I have no idea why. I put our weedkiller last fall thst was supposed to prevent it. Ugh.

Posted by: NaughtyPine at April 25, 2026 01:30 PM (LncTM)

4 Good afternoon Greenthumbs
Chilly day here, outside stuff to do but not going outside

Posted by: Skip at April 25, 2026 01:31 PM (Ia/+0)

5 We do have a rabbit nest in Lilly of Valley patch

Posted by: Skip at April 25, 2026 01:32 PM (Ia/+0)

6 Miley's flowers are extraordinary!

Posted by: KT at April 25, 2026 01:34 PM (7vIsy)

7 That apple/tree branch rooting video is like a horror movie. Constantly cutting towards his hand...I was anxious the whole time, waiting for the blade to slip and cut him.

Posted by: Moron Analyst at April 25, 2026 01:46 PM (ycI94)

8
I was astonished at the amaryllis that bloomed at a friend's place. WOW. The wilting is just as dramatic, of course, and her gardener has now cut it down to a stub. A few days per year doesn't seem like anything. Why God, why??

Posted by: Blonde Morticia at April 25, 2026 01:47 PM (n7rxJ)

9 I've got a 1000 amaryllis planted everywhere, & they all seem to be red. They start different colors when I get them at the holidays but they always revert to red .
I've have been told that Mountain laurel makes terrible Honey & maybe even poisons. What do I know?

Posted by: Bob at April 25, 2026 01:48 PM (cNhbl)

10 I love that Iris! I’ve got an iris bed in which the foliage does nicely, but I have a devil of a time getting them to bloom.

Posted by: Tom Servo at April 25, 2026 01:54 PM (yGkmH)

11 I thought about a old small plastic table and putting it over that nest but wife thinks let it as is

Posted by: Skip at April 25, 2026 01:55 PM (Ia/+0)

12 I mowed the lawn for the first time in my part of Canada on Monday. And cleaned up the yard of branches, pine cones, etc.

I don't really care about yardwork but I'm blessed to have a beautiful house and yard. A guy is coming to spray for weeds this week. The trees and bushes don't really need trimming so that's good.

The yellow picnic table looks great after I cleaned it. The yard is very colorful. And I submitted a call before you dig ticket so I should be able to put in my concrete pedestal and monkey soon. It'll look really cute.

Posted by: Stateless - He ain't heavy, he's my dog. Old, but full of life. at April 25, 2026 02:18 PM (Sco7b)

13 Has any one grown Jerusalem artichokes ?

Posted by: Bob Ben Had at April 25, 2026 02:20 PM (DIbRX)

14 That apple/tree branch rooting video is like a horror movie. Constantly cutting towards his hand...I was anxious the whole time, waiting for the blade to slip and cut him.
Posted by: Moron Analyst

That was unnerving, wasn't it? I cringed, too.

Posted by: JQ at April 25, 2026 02:25 PM (rdVOm)

15 Apple root guy is some weird shit. I have never seen anything like it. Usually water, soil and light will trigger a grow response.

I have green onions in my refrigerator growing gangbusters in just water. I add fresh water every couple of days and they just grow. They only die when you cut the roots, and sometimes not even then.

Posted by: Rev. Wishbone at April 25, 2026 02:30 PM (Fbc0I)

16 Love Miley's peony!

I have some, but they're only a foot tall now, no buds yet. Full bloom here is usually first week in June.

Lilac, dogwood and redbud are the show-stoppers around town this week.

My clematis montana is slowly recovering from the killer-freeze of 2 years ago, and has hundreds of flowers & buds. (formerly 1000s)

Posted by: JQ at April 25, 2026 02:33 PM (rdVOm)

17 14 That apple/tree branch rooting video is like a horror movie. Constantly cutting towards his hand...I was anxious the whole time, waiting for the blade to slip and cut him.
Posted by: Moron Analyst

That was unnerving, wasn't it? I cringed, too.
Posted by: JQ at April 25, 2026 02:25 PM (rdVOm)
I sharpened all our knives one week and cut myself with the oldest one the next week. Mrs. E said that old thing won't cut.

Posted by: Eromero at April 25, 2026 02:38 PM (LHPAg)

18
13 Has any one grown Jerusalem artichokes ?
Posted by: Bob Ben Had at April 25, 2026 02:20 PM (DIbRX)

I haven’t, but I remember my grandfather who was a farmer and a great gardener, loved them and had a 20’ by 40’ plot of them on his land. The plants were huge!

Posted by: Tom Servo at April 25, 2026 02:38 PM (yGkmH)

19 Greetings fellow green thumbz! Cannas are booming here as are the petunias and the portulaca.The pond lillys are up and open; one purple, a couple of yellow ones, and one that looks like it’ll be pink .

Posted by: CrotchetyOldJarhead at April 25, 2026 02:40 PM (3Ope8)

20 OK, I am in a DEER PRIORITY region/area. I have had 12-15 Deer in my front yard in the Fall when the acorns start dropping (mostly Does and yearlings).

So i have been "TRYING" to get the front plants revamped with something that is NOT immediate deer chow.

I think I have discovered an answer: LAUREL! They seem to leave it alone and it stays nice and green year round. I'll give you all an update in November.

Note: Hosta seems to do ok, since the deer wait until late Fall before they hit the Hosta Salad Bar, but then I don't have to cut it down, and it comes up next spring anyway.

-SLV

Posted by: Shy Lurking Voter at April 25, 2026 02:43 PM (7kJyR)

21 I completely mucked out the greenhouse this week, and hooked up the electricity. It appears the snow is melted off the raised beds now, although the ground around them is a mucky mess. Some of my indoor starts have exceeded their starter packs so I'm slowly transplanting them into real containers. Lots of soil sifting and mixing with a bit of new to make them better growing containers. Once the ground has dried up a bit I need to dig out the old strawberry plants and replace them with a better variety. Those tiny berries are just a PIA to process. The hascap bushes and the lilacs have tiny baby buds starting, and the pussy willows are out, so it is certainly spring here at last.

Posted by: tcn in AK at April 25, 2026 02:43 PM (DwqWV)

22 Knife sharpening is a talent, a hobby and a trade. So is being a knife maker. There are beautiful knives out there to be had, but quality and utility are paramount.

Posted by: Rev. Wishbone at April 25, 2026 02:43 PM (Fbc0I)

23 2
I swear to allah, I read the content.
Posted by: Blonde Morticia at April 25, 2026 01:30 PM (n7rxJ)

Allah says nice work!

Posted by: Anonymous Rogue in Kalifornistan (ARiK) at April 25, 2026 02:44 PM (1MXZf)

24 Happy Saturday!

Posted by: Anonymous Rogue in Kalifornistan (ARiK's Phone) at April 25, 2026 02:48 PM (1MXZf)

25 I love that Iris! I’ve got an iris bed in which the foliage does nicely, but I have a devil of a time getting them to bloom.

Posted by: Tom Servo at April 25, 2026 01:54 PM (yGkmH)

I purchased iris fertilizer from Schreiner's Gardens as well. 1 T scratched into the dirt around them.

I usually don't fertilize stuff because I'm lazy.

Posted by: Miley, okravangelist at April 25, 2026 02:49 PM (w6EFb)

26 My Lilac tree is in full bloom and I can smell it inside my apartment.

Peonies are my favorite flower. Yours are beautiful, Miley. Good for you!

Posted by: nurse ratched at April 25, 2026 02:50 PM (A5RD0)

27 Miley's flowers are extraordinary!

Posted by: KT at April 25, 2026 01:34 PM (7vIsy)

None of this would be possible without my brother doing the actually work.

Posted by: Miley, okravangelist at April 25, 2026 02:50 PM (w6EFb)

28 I have been out weed-whacking the yard (it's too rough to mow, even if I had a mower) before the dandelions go to seed.

If I'm not too wiped out after I finish the back yard, I might pull the snapdragons from my patio and try to put them somewhere in the street-side yard sections.

Posted by: FeatherBlade at April 25, 2026 02:52 PM (C0Nlv)

29 Peonies are my favorite flower. Yours are beautiful, Miley. Good for you!
Posted by: nurse ratched at April 25, 2026 02:50 PM (A5RD0)

Oooooo, growing up in the Midwest I realized that Peonies are just Ant Factories. Beautiful, but SOOOOOO many ants.

-SLV

Posted by: Shy Lurking Voter at April 25, 2026 02:52 PM (7kJyR)

30 Peonies are my favorite flower. Yours are beautiful, Miley. Good for you!
Posted by: nurse ratched at April 25, 2026 02:50 PM (A5RD0)

Thanks nurse - I wanted some from my grandmother's garden but I don't have those kind of relatives. These were an orange store find.

Posted by: Miley, okravangelist at April 25, 2026 02:54 PM (w6EFb)

31 Oooooo, growing up in the Midwest I realized that Peonies are just Ant Factories. Beautiful, but SOOOOOO many ants.

-SLV

Posted by: Shy Lurking Voter at April 25, 2026 02:52 PM (7kJyR)

I've got fire ant nests in my red hot pokers. They're worse!

Posted by: Miley, okravangelist at April 25, 2026 02:55 PM (w6EFb)

32 I love peonies and had some in Colorado but it’s too hot here in Cowtown.

Posted by: CrotchetyOldJarhead at April 25, 2026 02:56 PM (3Ope8)

33 So is being a knife maker.

Phill Hartsfield

Posted by: Commissar of plenty and festive little hats at April 25, 2026 03:03 PM (Kt19C)

34 The herb section of the garden is going well after a few days of light rain and cool temps. The oregano in particular is gonna need a drastic pruning here shortly. I have some Thai basil that is full of flowers and some thyme that’s struggling to survive. Pretty sure the dogs aren’t helping it….

Posted by: CrotchetyOldJarhead at April 25, 2026 03:03 PM (3Ope8)

35 I planted caladium bulbs yesterday and I already see what I suspect are exploratory holes. I don't know whether to blame deer or that damn woodchuck.

I just tucked in blue and white salvia (never red! NEVER!), snapdragons, violas, and pansies in my front urn and pot. Hopefully no predation.

Wild temp fluctuations, like Mother Nature is reading off lottery numbers.

Posted by: All Hail Eris, She-Wolf of the 'Ettes 'Ettes. at April 25, 2026 03:06 PM (kpS4V)

36 My tomato seedlings are now full-on foot tall plants that need to be potted up once again. Two more weeks, maybe three, until I can chance planting. I have backups.

Posted by: All Hail Eris, She-Wolf of the 'Ettes 'Ettes. at April 25, 2026 03:08 PM (kpS4V)

37 We are doing a huge house renovation this summer, so gardening and canning may be a bit of a challenge. I'm trying to figure out how to pull it all off, and I think it involves heavy use of a couple of our big sheds and my ancient Coleman stove. Or, the contractor can just work very fast and be done by the time canning season rolls around, which is usually the middle of July.

Posted by: tcn in AK at April 25, 2026 03:10 PM (DwqWV)

38 36 My volunteers need to be thinned out this weekend.

Posted by: Miley, okravangelist at April 25, 2026 03:10 PM (w6EFb)

39 38 36 My volunteers need to be thinned out this weekend.
Posted by: Miley, okravangelist at April 25, 2026 03:10 PM (w6EFb)
'Have thee volunteers push the conscripts through the minefield.'
-Field Marshall Voroshilov

Posted by: Eromero at April 25, 2026 03:14 PM (LHPAg)

40 We love bluebells here.
----

She's standing behind me, isn't she?

Posted by: All Hail Eris, She-Wolf of the 'Ettes 'Ettes. at April 25, 2026 03:16 PM (kpS4V)

41 37 We are doing a huge house renovation this summer,

Posted by: tcn in AK at April 25, 2026 03:10 PM (DwqWV)

Good luck with the renovation and I hope it goes smoothly.

If and when you get frustrated, keep in mind how fortunate you are to be able to get house renovations done.

Posted by: Stateless - He ain't heavy, he's my dog. Old, but full of life. at April 25, 2026 03:19 PM (Sco7b)

42 I have a blue larkspur. It’s the only blue flower I have. I’d really like to have some sweet violets.

Posted by: CrotchetyOldJarhead at April 25, 2026 03:20 PM (3Ope8)

43 'Have thee volunteers push the conscripts through the minefield.'
-Field Marshall Voroshilov

Posted by: Eromero at April 25, 2026 03:14 PM (LHPAg)

I guess that makes us the conscripts.

Posted by: Miley, okravangelist at April 25, 2026 03:32 PM (w6EFb)

44 When my son was small he wanted a blue flower garden. That was tricky, but I found lobelia, vinca, a pansy, and a cornflower.

Posted by: Lirio100 at April 25, 2026 03:33 PM (ky7/T)

45 I have a blue larkspur. It’s the only blue flower I have. I’d really like to have some sweet violets.

Posted by: CrotchetyOldJarhead at April 25, 2026 03:20 PM (3Ope

Lobelia is also nice. I have it in the shade. It might get some sun by the end of June.

There are so many cardinals around here this year. Also bluebirds and finches. I guess putting seed out for them really works.

No crows to seduce.

Posted by: Miley, okravangelist at April 25, 2026 03:35 PM (w6EFb)

46 Now that you mention it, I don't see crows anymore. Growing up out in the sticks, their cawing woke me up in the morning.

Posted by: All Hail Eris, She-Wolf of the 'Ettes 'Ettes. at April 25, 2026 03:49 PM (kpS4V)

47 "So i have been "TRYING" to get the front plants revamped with something that is NOT immediate deer chow." That's the story of my (gardening) life. When we first moved here I thought I would get into gardening but I soon realized that the deer just thought a great new salad bar had opened. I quickly discovered why everyone in our area has mostly lantana and salvia.

Comment I read on a gardening forum: I think deer eat plants that they aren't supposed like just out of spite.

Posted by: Art Rondelet of Malmsey at April 25, 2026 03:50 PM (FEVMW)

48 That Mountain laurel has little pink buds that look like candy but don't eat them, all parts of the plant are toxic.

We have blue Spiderwort growing wild in the yard. I let grow until May or so and then it gets cut with the rest of the lawn.

Posted by: fd at April 25, 2026 03:59 PM (vFG9F)

49 That technique is called "air layering" and usually is done with a bag or cup of potting soil, or some sort of media similar so the peeled twig can keep moist and start rooting. They sell specific globes, and there is a way of doing it with a couple of solo cups, or black plastic bag.
It is suggested that you use rooting hormones as well. If the bark is not peeled back far enough it will just heal, so you need to strip the bark back.

a couple of side notes, I failed doing this several time and got bored, but I never kept the soil damp enough nd used baggies.
You know that blackberries will root themselves by rooting where the tips of the vines hit in the fall, this is called layering, and you can do most berries like this.
I have made rooted apple and rose starts by layering, too, but I bent the branches down to dirt, took cut on the branches' bark and kept the cut buried in the dirt over winter and Spring with a metal wire bent into a staple to keep it from springing back up. Those worked well.
Figs you can just start like grapes by cutting first year wood after the tree is dormant and sticking it into dirt to let it root on its own

Posted by: Kindltot at April 25, 2026 04:17 PM (rbvCR)

50 One day I will follow through on my plan to start plant cloning, and bore you all with my building of glove boxes and the search for the correct media for meristem propagation.

Posted by: Kindltot at April 25, 2026 04:21 PM (rbvCR)

51 Also, I live strawberries of all sorts, and I have transplanted various types of wild strawberries against my south facing wall foundations. My wife then got commercial berries to plant in too, so they kind of grow together.
The first couple of years I didn't get any berries, and I have no idea why, I suspect I nabbed a bunch of identical clones of the same plant and they may have not been self fertile, or something, who knows. I mostly have them for the leaves and the flowers in the spring, and let the birds eat them. They make a tasty ground cover that is much less aggressive than most.

Posted by: Kindltot at April 25, 2026 04:25 PM (rbvCR)

52 tcn, I do my canning in the back yárd on a two burner propane stove, a Camp King that cost me $98 in 2007. I go through one and a half 5lb cylinders a summer. It makes it much nicer in the kitchen when I am doing boiling water canning.

ALSO: I just got my lids yesterday, Fillmorecontainer.com is having a sale on Epic canning lids, to get the really good price you have to buy the case amounts. Now I have lots of standard lids
Pack of 60 $10.60
Case of 35 (2100) $170.00

they deliver by USPS or ground delivery so there is shipping charges added.

Posted by: Kindltot at April 25, 2026 04:36 PM (rbvCR)

53 I grew the F. vesca from seed last year just because but there were no berries even though it's supposed to be self-fertile. I figured first year explained no berries but I was really surprised at berry set this year since I hadn't expected it to survive the winter. Tough plant! I am resigned to them becoming a treat for squirrels now that there are berries. At least I got one!

Posted by: Lirio100 at April 25, 2026 04:43 PM (ky7/T)

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