Saturday Gardening Thread, End of September [KT]

Kindltot sent us the photo above, and a few more, of his September harvest:

As you can see, my Indian corn was all red this year. It is going to rain today, so I picked all the ripe and dry ears. This year I can get it hung dried without the mildew, I hope.

I like the way the hints of red in the husks, too.

The Edible Garden

Also, it is canning season, and I made applesauce and canned juice. There is something comforting about having a shelf full of apple sauce.

I print the labels on my desk top printer, cut them apart and glue them on with a paste made out of dry milk and enough water to make a thin paste. This shot the labels haven't dried completely

There are some tomato photos to, for later.

Kindltot lives west of the Cascades in Oregon, so melons are not the first crop you think of when you think of his area.

These are of my Korean Melons, Chamoe. They are yellow, sweet, thin skinned, and the seeds are apparently the best part.

I planted six plants and wound up with a lot of melons this year, so I gave a lot away to Koreans I know in the area, and they all tell me authoritatively that it is not possible to grow Chamoe in Oregon.

They also tell me these were really tasty and I should plant even more next year.

How do you like that knife?

Critters

Remember this South Carolina spider from mid-month?

Well, Hank Curmudgeon thinks it is a Yellow Garden Spider. Also found widely outside South Carolina. Maybe you've seen one hanging in the air in your garden. One of its other common names is "Zipper Spider". If you look at the web in the photo above, you can guess why.

gp sent in this great close-up:

I take lots of bug pix! Here's a wolf spider from a local prairie this week. He's in alien-face-hugger pose because he's playing dead.

Hank Curmudgeon thinks it's one of these.

gp's daughter took the following photo. I thought it was a Katydid nymph.

Maybe. I haven't looked that one up yet. I'll defer to the taxonomists. Note the clear carapace over the top of the head/thorax.

That's a good example of the awesome power of modern inexpensive digital cameras, that a little kid on her first photo shoot can get a pic that good, especially handheld.
When I shot 35mm film, with a foot-long macro lens and tripod,
I'd be lucky to get one shot that good all summer.

I think photography with kids is a great idea.

Hank Curmudgeon thinks the insect is a Black-legged Meadow Katydid. . .

in her last instar (growth period) prior to maturity. I would not be surprised if the legs would darken once fully grown and the ovipoistor becomes more curved. Also keep in mind that there is always going be slight local and regional variations in appearance and coloration.

Man, we are getting scientifical here.

Katydids are considered to be good luck in parts of Mexico. I could tell you a story . . . . .

Hardscaping

Under water restriction? You could build some Lego plants. This is the world's largest Lego cherry blossom tree.

You doing any hardscaping in the yard?

The Invisible Hand and his wife have done some major work in their back yard. I'm not sure that Tiger Turf qualifies as "hardscaping", but next week, I'll post some photos showing how the new installation fits in with the definite hardscaping and the plants in the yard.

It helps with his dogs' allergies. I think it looks great.

If you would like to send information and/or photos for the Saturday Gardening Thread, the address is:

ktinthegarden
at g mail dot com

posted by Open Blogger at 01:00 PM

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