Gardening, Home and Nature Thread, Aug. 22

From Neal in Israel:

Katy, shalom,
I'd like to pass on some photos from the spring and early summer, before they become ancient history. They're already outdated, I know. Kept delaying in the hope of coming up with a killer photo.

Starting with white and pink amaryllis.

Love these. Wish they bloomed all year.

Edible Gardening/Putting Things By

GOT ZUCCHINI?

Need zucchini dessert recipes?

You also might be able to make some fall pies.

5, 2, 7.
Blueberry is my all time favorite.
I make a legendary pumpkin pie every Thanksgiving.
And my lemon meringue is nothing short of wicked.
(I know, I know - I’m far too modest). https://t.co/3IxqkTeanP
— Judianna (@Judianna) August 18, 2026

But even though we are in "harvest season", some people might want to check their extension agency calendars for fall planting: bush beans, peas, beets, turnips, kohl rabi, carrots, greens and more. Don't be shy. Take a chance.

Sunflowers

It's not exactly a garden but I thought you might like these photos of a local field of sunflowers. Still a few weeks out from harvest.
I post as Notsothoreau

Fun! I've seen some very dwarf commercial sunflowers growing near Sacramento.

They look quite different from the typical tall garden types.

From July 20:

Hello KT!
I have a joyous profusion of sunflowers blooming. We have had to prop up a few of them because they are so top heavy. The cleome and cosmos are starting to look like space aliens. The bees are having a great time!
Thanks again for all you do!
Mrs. Leggy

What a happy place for pollinators! The yard looks nice for people, too!

Gardens of The Horde

If you haven't seen something you sent in to me recently, try it again. Email oddities lately.

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, Aug. 15

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 01:41 PM

Comments

(Jump to bottom of comments)

1 I noodalated.

Posted by: Noodist at August 22, 2026 01:46 PM (2Ez/1)

2 For fall plantings of veggies, climate, varieties and luck all play a part. For bush beans, you need a variety that will germinate in hot soil but won't turn leathery if it starts making beans in hot (or cold) weather.

Posted by: KT at August 22, 2026 01:47 PM (1RGZ5)

3 Oh boy, the garden!
I can kill some ducks!

Posted by: Commissar of plenty and festive little hats at August 22, 2026 01:47 PM (bKH3D)

4 Good afternoon Greenthumbs

Posted by: Skip at August 22, 2026 01:52 PM (Ia/+0)

5 I put the tarps down to start catching the plums. The dead ripe ones I can and dry right away, the ones I pick last longer so I can give them away.

my bush beans are up and thriving, and my carrots are just sprouting so I should have carrots by the end of Fall, hopefully both will be ready in time for the first frost.

Posted by: Kindltot at August 22, 2026 01:52 PM (rbvCR)

6 Good afternoon all
I finally had enough tiny tomatoes for salad. They are so small though they can't even be cut. Have to spear them with a fork. lol Definitely doing a different variety next year. Done three jars of pickled jalapeños. Last week people were complaining theirs were too hot. I did giant jalapeños. The normal ones I planted are much smaller and I bet they are hotter. I'll take a picture and send it in.
The poblanos are all getting ripe at once. Any ideas of how to preserve them?

Posted by: Sharon(willow's apprentice) at August 22, 2026 02:23 PM (kJmSS)

7 Purty flars.

Posted by: Eromero at August 22, 2026 02:28 PM (LHPAg)

8 The poblanos are all getting ripe at once. Any ideas of how to preserve them?
Posted by: Sharon(willow's apprentice) at August 22, 2026 02:23
Chow-chow.

Posted by: Eromero at August 22, 2026 02:29 PM (LHPAg)

9 Sharon, I char my poblanos on the grill, remove their skins and seeds, put them in baggies and squeeze out the air, and store them in the freezer. When I want to add them to something, I use a sturdy knife to chop off the amount I need.

Posted by: Emmie at August 22, 2026 02:54 PM (OlzlW)

10 Pies!
Choose 3?
Blueberry
Blueberry
And...blueberry!

Oh. Can't be the same? OK then.
Blueberry
Apple
Key Lime

Posted by: Diogenes at August 22, 2026 03:07 PM (2WIwB)

11 Pies
4,3,2

As for yard work, see it and just not motivated

Posted by: Skip at August 22, 2026 03:16 PM (Ia/+0)

12 Cherry
Lemon meringue
Key lime

Posted by: Piper at August 22, 2026 03:17 PM (ZdaMQ)

13

Pumpkin
Black raspberry
Custard

Posted by: Bertram Cabot, Jr. at August 22, 2026 03:22 PM (Cqx++)

14 I cannot face up to the prospect of doing without any of those pies. They are all essential.

Posted by: San Franpsycho at August 22, 2026 03:31 PM (RIvkX)

15 Wait, I thought Pi went on forever anyway? 3.14 etc etc

Posted by: Common Tater at August 22, 2026 03:32 PM (QuHm8)

16 What is the main, or maybe essential components of "Chili Powder"? Poblanos chilis?

Posted by: Common Tater at August 22, 2026 03:33 PM (QuHm8)

17 In fact there are several missing, chiefly banana cream, coconut cream, and peach.

Posted by: San Franpsycho at August 22, 2026 03:34 PM (RIvkX)

18 Key Lime
Cherry
Apple

Posted by: All Hail Eris, She-Wolf of the 'Ettes 'Ettes at August 22, 2026 03:35 PM (kpS4V)

19 I would expect I've never had a Key Lime pie, not a good exemplar anyhow.

I've had some fine Apple pies over the years. I've been told a Pumpkin pie comprised of canned pumpkin is a poor imitation of the real thing. That sort of rings true, it would seem. I can testify that any commercial brand name Pecan pie is just awful, they are just phoning it in. I used to buy those cans of Oregon blueberries just to eat them right out of the can, but I bet fresh Blueberries are the way to go, if you can get them.

Posted by: Common Tater at August 22, 2026 03:38 PM (QuHm8)

20 My Indigo Rose plants are shooting out tomatoes by the dozen every day. They're TOO prolific. Tasty tho.

Ditto Independence Day.

Next year I probably won't grow any cherry tomatoes, just beefsteaks.

Posted by: All Hail Eris, She-Wolf of the 'Ettes 'Ettes at August 22, 2026 03:39 PM (kpS4V)

21 Pies: Of the options available? Pecan, key lime, cherry.

It's a close race for cherry and pecan, vs apple and strawberry. Pumpkin and chocolate are too hard to get them 'good', commercially.

Meringues like that are too much for me.

Posted by: RandomDave (if you can spare a bit, please click) at August 22, 2026 03:57 PM (aJQbY)

22 Common Tater at August 22, 2026 03:33 PM

Poblano chiles would make a dark, sweet chili powder. They probably use something mostly like Anaheim in most places. "Chile California". Or New Mexico Chile.

Posted by: KT at August 22, 2026 03:57 PM (1RGZ5)

23 Also, Commen Tater, Chili Powder contains various other spices and some hot Chile.

Chiles used in dishes like Pozole vary regionally, and often include both red and dark chiles.

Posted by: KT at August 22, 2026 04:01 PM (1RGZ5)

24 Apple
Coconut cream
Strawberry rhubarb.

Posted by: nurse ratched at August 22, 2026 04:05 PM (VDe78)

25 Emmie, that's a great idea. I was thinking the best I could do was put them in oil. Freezing them will also let me keep them separate so I can stuff them.
Thanks!

Posted by: Sharon(willow's apprentice) at August 22, 2026 05:02 PM (kJmSS)

26 Poblanos are not really spicy so I don't think they would make good chili powder.
I usually roast them, put them in plastic and peel the skin. Usually use them when I make enchiladas by laying them on the tortilla before putting down the filling. They add a lot of flavor. If they're big enough stuff them with cheese and sausage or other meat.

Posted by: Sharon(willow's apprentice) at August 22, 2026 05:06 PM (kJmSS)

27 21 Pies: Of the options available?

Have you ever tried the filling for a lemon meringue pie topped with whipped cream instead of meringue?

Posted by: KT at August 22, 2026 05:08 PM (1RGZ5)

28 Polblano become Ancho after smoking.
My preferred "go to" pepper enhancement.
If there's a name for it, there's a reason.

Posted by: MkY at August 22, 2026 05:32 PM (q6tQZ)

29 From Boise area: lows 63-70 F, highs 95-100.

Western Idaho Fair! Not my best year, but a decent showing given how the garden's been struggling. 20 entries, six blue ribbons, two 2nd places, two 3rd places and an Honorable Mention. I pick up all the ribbons, entries (and their canning jars), and a bit of cash on Monday. My 'Yellowstone' carrots from Territorial Seed Co. won blue for both Other Color Carrot and for Largest Carrot. A blue for Largest Potato (Yukon Gold), and for my fingerlings (La Ratte). I'm shocked that my purple carrot, with 9 or more tails, and a 19 inch "wingspan", did not take blue in the Novelty Vegetable category!, only a 2nd place.

Harvested all my carrots. Green bean plants starting to lose leaves. Starting to get Romas, already harvested some slicers and gold cherry tomatoes. Harvested all my fingerlings and Yukon Golds - letting the russets go long. Broccolini has aphids again, will only grow 2 plants not 4 next year - actually froze some. Brought in first cantaloupe today. Always more zucchini. Got one batch of sweet corn already, Husband is keeping an eye on when we can take more (just a small patch this year).
(post 1)

Posted by: Pat* at August 22, 2026 06:52 PM (9+hMp)

30 Our other yard project is behind the house. The right-angle corner behind the kitchen doesn't drain at all. First came me removing over 100 bulbs. Husband dug a drainage trench out into the lawn, which is being lined with a porous textile and filled with drain rock, then the fabric folded over to form a tube for the water to head outward.

Eventually we'll fill in the holes from the bulb digging, and build a raised bed for bulbs - hopefully we'll be ready by fall.

We're also replacing the cracked edging between the lawn and the blue slate rocks. The current edging curves around, and we're creating a straight line, so some areas need rocks removed. We're washing the rocks as we remove them (removing dirt to prevent weeds), and saving them for areas that will need them. Right now, we're in a "removal" area.

As far as amaryllis, I figure I'll water my indoor bulb when they start being sold at the grocery store.

As far as pies, apple, pumpkin, and anything chocolate.
(post 2/end)

Posted by: Pat* at August 22, 2026 07:01 PM (9+hMp)

31 I like Cherry, Key Lime, and Strawberry.

Mr. L likes Cherry, Cherry, and Cherry

The bottom three would be a good list.

Posted by: Mrs. Leggy at August 22, 2026 07:21 PM (dyL4B)

32 The last of my daylilies bloomed this week, about four weeks after the ones in ditches along the roads. I think it's because I live in a wooded area.

The sunchokes are blooming now; again, weeks later. I planted them for food, but they're spectacular.

A weird thing happened .with the hydrangea. It has three different colors of blooms. I dumped coffee grounds at its base, hoping to get a blue flower. I got one. Is it possible that it's more than one root system? I don't know much about hydrangeas except that it's finicky.

Posted by: NaughtyPine at August 22, 2026 07:25 PM (xR1cG)

33 Neal, those photos are plenty spectacular! Thanks for sharing them.

Posted by: NaughtyPine at August 22, 2026 07:30 PM (xR1cG)

34 Pat* that spunds like a ton of work. I'm daunted just by moving garden pavers and bricks. Good luck on it!

Posted by: NaughtyPine at August 22, 2026 07:44 PM (xR1cG)

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