Saturday Gardening and Puttering Thread 2/15/20 [KT]

Come into the garden! Time for all gardeners, putterers and dreamers to think about the possibilities . . . This is an actual garden from an actual member of The Horde, Indiana lurker:

I just wanted to drop a couple photos on you of what we have done with our 1/5 acre of suburban heaven. When we built the house twenty years ago the wife told me she was going big on flower beds and small on grass. At the time I though that's cool, it'll be less mowing. Maintaining the beds is made easier by using lots and lots of perennials mixed with small ornamental trees and a couple larger trees on the property line. This first picture is the path from the side of our garage to the back of the house.

And there's more:

In the back of the house we decided to go with a large stone patio with a fire pit. It was the best thing we ever did. It has become the gathering place for many a cocktail hour and evening party. It's a kind of neighborhood magnet for bringing us all together to have a few drinks and talk about anything that comes to mind. The pond is nothing more then a man-made retention pond. In this part of the country all developers have to have a drainage plan which ties into the county drainage plan, so retention ponds are required. We're lucky to have like-minded neighbors, who have also put landscaping in there backyards which gives us a view which is a bit park like. There is absolutely nothing organic in the view from the patio. Everything was planted and the pond was man made, but I think it all comes together well.

Remarkable. We may have questions. Love the part about the like-minded neighbors.

Travel, Art and Gardening

Thought about doing some art in the snow, maybe in Colorado? Try some in your yard if it's too early to garden.

Simon Beck's art is inspired by the natural wonder and intricate nature of snowflakes; he travels the world carving large-scale artworks (around 300 pieces to date) into snow-covered landscapes using only his manpower and a pair of snowshoes. Many of his ideas come from patterns found in nature (snowflakes, spiraled cactus spears, cannabis leaves); crop circles; mathematical equations; and even iconic artists such as Vincent Van Gogh.

When it gets a little warmer, you might want to visit Watkins Glen State Park in New York. Anybody been there?

Watkins Glen State Park is the most famous of the Finger Lakes State Parks, with a reputation for leaving visitors spellbound. Within two miles, the glen's stream descends 400 feet past 200-foot cliffs, generating 19 waterfalls along its course. The gorge path winds over and under waterfalls and through the spray of Cavern Cascade. Rim trails overlook the gorge. Campers and day-visitors can enjoy the Olympic-size pool, scheduled summer tours through the gorge, tent and trailer campsites, picnic facilities and excellent fishing in nearby Seneca Lake or Catherine Creek, which is renowned for its annual spring run of rainbow trout.

Jake Holenhead sent the following from the Everglades:

The Southern Cross constellation taken April 2012 in the Everglades near Flamingo, FL. The cross is in the center right of the photo.

A funny sign in the Everglades with a "controlled" burn in the distance.

This is a Cardinal Airplant or Quill-Leaf Airplant. It's one of the Bromeliad species. They usually attach themselves to trees, but they're not parasitic. Airplants get their nutrition from the air and absorb water through their leaves. The flower for this type is the tiny yellow thingy at the end of the purplish thingy growing out of the red quill like stalk. Airplants can be grown indoors, don't require soil, just mist them with water every now and then. They're perfect for a lazy gardener. I took these photos in the Everglades.

Sharon (willow's apprentice) sent in some intriguing photos:

The Tower Hill Botanic Gardens I frequent was closed the month of January and reopened with an interesting Orchid Show. I use "interesting" instead of spectacular because I am not sure the premise of the show worked. I'll be interested in the Horde's opinions. It combined the orchid display with Street Art. I've always thought of orchids as being elegant and this concept was really different. Not sure all my photos show the art bits intertwined with the flowers. My favorite is the statue of the lady which is a permanent piece in the garden unlike the rest of the street art but I thought the orchids draped over her shoulder was very elegant and sexy.

The Edible Garden

Around here, kale is one of the few veggies that is edible, with the frost, other than weeds. Here are 9 ways to use kale that don't involve salad. I think the tips for using kale stems are sort of over-the-top. I usually toss them.

You got other ideas? I like Red Russian kale and its variations. It is a different species of kale from the others. More tender. Often missing in markets because it wilts. Might want to grow some. The blossoms are pretty tasty, too.

More recipes and tips for kale, other cole crops and their edible blossoms, and some leftover Valentines Day blooms you can eat are discussed in this past thread. I closed the comments so nobody gets accidentally banned. Here's Kung Fu Kitty with some bolted cole crops. Broccoli on the right, turnips on the left.

And I still want to try Bulgarian Triumph tomatoes. I love the name, and it gets good reviews.

Have you chosen your tomato varieties for the coming season yet?

Gardens of The Horde

It is frosty most mornings here in the Central Valley right now, warming up later in the day. We didn't have a hard freeze until February this year, which was good for the citrus growers. Navel oranges are still in good shape. The tangerines currently available locally are on the tart side.

Our rosemary is starting to bloom.

40 miles north is further south:

Rosemary is in bloom. There isn't much for the bees right now, so they visit this every morning.

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

ktinthegarden
at g mail dot com

Include your nic unless you want to remain a lurker.

posted by Open Blogger at 01:19 PM

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