Ace of Spades HQ

April 17, 2021

Saturday Gardening and Puttering Thread - April 17 [KT]
— Open Blogger

Happy Saturday, Horde! Weird week here, but not because of the garden or weather or anything. It's been a while since we featured a rose here. The one above is from Cybersmythe. A nice image to start the weekend.

A while ago, I asked a question about pruning my rose bush. My daughter had planted it many years ago, but she's moved out now so it's mine to take care of, and I got around to pruning it a week before the Big Texas Freeze in February. I was afraid that the combination of the pruning and the freeze might have killed it, but this morning I got my first bloom of the year.

So red!

Critters

Larro sent in the following adorable pest:

"Grandsonâ€™s little friend enjoying the winter rye...

I wish I could train it to eat the POA!( that weed is a pain to control)"

Annual bluegrass, in the family Poaceae, is a winter annual, clump-forming grass with a yellow-green color, prow-shaped leaf tips, and a distinctive whitish flower head. It is primarily a weed of lawns and turfgrass. Preferring moist, shady areas, it emerges from fall through spring, flowers, and then dies with the onset of warm weather.

Other names:

Hey! I think I have some of that grass dying in the yard. I'll take it any day over foxtails. Larro has an actual lawn, though.

Hardscaping

whitecollar redneck has sent in this great first attempt with a greenhouse:

I'm starting hot peppers, Carolina Reapers among others, and some bedding flowers.

Fantastic. Let us know which is the hottest.

Note: Those peat pots can dry out quickly when it gets warm. Watch 'em.

ALH sent in these lovely photos:

Hi, our azaleas put on quite a show this year!

The flowers are breath-taking, but I put them in the hardscaping section because they go so well with their surroundings.

Edible Gardening

Hey KT,

I am not sure if we have discussed my love of Mulberries. My grandfather had a Mulberry tree in Wisconsin and I used to love eating them right off the ground when I was a little girl. When I moved to Arizona I didn't think that a Mulberry tree would do well here. I have since learned they do amazingly well. I have two different varieties in my yard. A Pakistani Mulberry and I wish I knew the other variety but I don't.

I went to a funny plant seller here in Phoenix and said "What fruit tree don't I have that I should have?" And he said a Mulberry. I already had the Pakistani one and told him that but he said I should try this one to and put it in my cart. I never asked what kind it was but he was right. The berries are a little smaller and plumper and always a bit sweeter than the Pakistani ones.

I harvest them and throw them into the freezer for my favorite spring cocktail. Mulberry Margaritas. They are an amazing color, delicious and I have convinced myself that they are healthy for you, because of all the anti-oxidants. That is my story and I am sticking to it. I will send a picture of my Margarita later. It is a bit too early to partake yet.

Wee Kreek Farm Girl

They look so much better than the berries that grow on the self-seeding trees around here.

Recipe?

I am pretty much a dump in the blender and eyeball it bartender, however if I broke it down it would be 2 shots of tequila, a half a shot of triple sec, fresh squeezed lime juice from one lime, and a splash of sweet and sour mix. Put that all in the blender then add your frozen Mulberries (I freeze all my fruit for margaritas so I don't have to add ice and water down the booze), add enough so it comes to the top of all the liquid. Blend away and you should have a nice slushy Margarita in the most beautiful color. It tastes like summer in a glass.

Why does honey last forever?

Well, it's partly the hydrogen peroxide. Hmmmm. Peroxide?

Gardens of The Horde

Hey KT,

Here is the latest agave update. You can see that the stalk is in bloom almost to the top. The bees are loving it. They are all over it, you walk by and all you can hear is buzzing. The agave leaves are starting to drupe as it is putting all its efforts into the stalk. No baby agave pups yet but I am sure they are coming soon. Hope you are getting some good gardening weather. It has been fantastic here.

Wee Kreek Farm Girl

Daffodils in the woods are a sign of spring here in the Great White North. About 15 years ago I drove by a commercial greenhouse operation & noticed a huge pile of wilted daffodils & bulbs in a pile along the edge of the farm. The farmer had grown the crop for the Canadian Cancer Society's annual spring fundraiser & this pile contained the remnants of that crop. Apparently the growers don't need all the bulbs for the following year so many are discarded. On asking him if I could have some he said to take as many as I wanted. So I filled up my little trailer & proceeded to plant over 1,000 in the woods around our house. The critters here leave daffodils alone, unlike tulip or crocus bulbs which the squirrels & chipmunks decimate. Every few years I split up the expanded clumps of daffodils & replant.

PointyHairedBoss

What a great idea! What a lot of work!

We have more great things in store for later, but I am trying not to press my luck too much with the alternate site.

Have a great week! Hope you get some gardening or puttering time.

Posted by: Open Blogger at 01:20 PM | Comments (80)
Post contains 998 words, total size 11 kb.

1 How green does my garden grow?

Posted by: Skip at April 17, 2021 01:25 PM (Cxk7w)

2 Finding daffodils on a walk through the woods is always a treat! It's neat that you keep them going by dividing and replanting.
Someone must be doing that on the wooded path near my mom's house. It always makes me smile when we can enjoy them on our walks.

Posted by: My life is insanity at April 17, 2021 01:28 PM (JXjJC)

3 Even us Bro's know how to appreciate a rose in or out of the gym

Posted by: Draki, Bro Of the Siedons at April 17, 2021 01:29 PM (UW+yo)

4 The azaleas are beautiful

Posted by: My life is insanity at April 17, 2021 01:29 PM (JXjJC)

5 Oh good. The Garden Thread just in time for me to go out and start on what I ironically refer to as my lawn. I do look to have a bumper crop of Salsify this year. Thanks KT for the thread.

Posted by: Winston GOPe not one dime, not one vote at April 17, 2021 01:29 PM (8s6Nt)

6 Have all of 2 years ago compost sifted and in garden, but only oregano, green onions end a attempt at cabbage core growing so far. Will get some Anaheim peppers , 1 sweet and a tomato very soon for in my greenhouse.

Posted by: Skip at April 17, 2021 01:30 PM (Cxk7w)

7 Lots of bunnies at home. I'm sure they will be eating my tulips as soon as they bloom. Such cute animals but oh so frustrating!

Posted by: My life is insanity at April 17, 2021 01:31 PM (JXjJC)

8 What ever does make honey crystallized in a jar?

Posted by: Skip at April 17, 2021 01:31 PM (Cxk7w)

9 Thanks for the bit on the edible gardening. My blackberry bushes survived the winter and am looking forward to have them infest my backyard.

Posted by: Draki, Bro Of the Siedons at April 17, 2021 01:32 PM (UW+yo)

10 No planting to speak of this week but I did pull the elephant ear tubers out of the root cellar and they are now being hydrated. The ground here is still a bit too cool to put them in.

Posted by: Tonypete at April 17, 2021 01:32 PM (Rvt88)

11
Weeding this week. Spring weeds are the worst -- they come on strong and the really exploitative ones go to seed so damn fast.

Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars (TM) at April 17, 2021 01:35 PM (jN9H6)

12 Well, the Mason bees have hatched from their cocoons and are starting to fill the tubes with babies. I took a some of pics of the cocoons, bee houses, and mud pond that I would like to send to KT. Problem is I need the email address.

Posted by: Beartooth at April 17, 2021 01:36 PM (GIu18)

13 I got a gopher in my back "yard" (for values of yard).

I'm not gonna go do all that work just for him and the squirrels to eat.

It's a shame too because I've got some berry bushes that want to grow but they're getting crowded out by the weeds. The previous owner(s) planted a lot of stuff and much of it still comes up without any help. (good thing too)

That's a picture of your rose? WOW!

Posted by: Jakee308 at April 17, 2021 01:37 PM (LS3oW)

14 KT, I want to send you a pic, but don't see your email in the post. Where do I send it?

Posted by: Duke Lowell at April 17, 2021 01:37 PM (kTF2Z)

15
What ever does make honey crystallized in a jar?

A nucleating agent or event. Honey is a supersaturated solution of sugars in water.

Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars (TM) at April 17, 2021 01:39 PM (jN9H6)

16 Isn't there anything pretty that can grow by itself and keep coming back every year.

I just can't do much bending and kneeling these days.

Posted by: Jakee308 at April 17, 2021 01:40 PM (LS3oW)

17 Love those pictures of the azaleas and daffodils. Daffies are my favorite flowers and, when scented, they are better than roses. White azaleas always look so pretty. They have a pure white color that can't be beat. Thanks for the photos and, always, for the thread. We are actually home and awake while it's up.

Posted by: JTB at April 17, 2021 01:41 PM (7EjX1)

18 Beartoothat and Duke
it is kt inthegarden
at that gmail place. You know the one.

Posted by: KT at April 17, 2021 01:42 PM (BVQ+1)

19 What ever does make honey crystallized in a jar?
A nucleating agent or event. Honey is a supersaturated solution of sugars in water. Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars (TM) at April 17, 2021 01:39 PM (jN9H6)

Yeah I think that dry air will cause it. Happens in the winter when the air gets real dry or if you have an AC that you have on high during the summer.

I think you put it in a pan of water and heat the water and it goes back to normal? Something like that. Google is your friend. (well for values of "friend")

Posted by: Jakee308 at April 17, 2021 01:43 PM (LS3oW)

20 Yeah. the Googles says to put it in water (the jar dummy) and take the lid off and let the water heat up and stir the honey as it warms up.

Posted by: Jakee308 at April 17, 2021 01:44 PM (LS3oW)

21 Jakee308at April 17, 2021 01:37 PM
You can plant rosemary if it is hardy where you live. Gophers won't eat that.

Posted by: KT at April 17, 2021 01:44 PM (BVQ+1)

Isn't there anything pretty that can grow by itself and keep coming back every year.

I just can't do much bending and kneeling these days.
Posted by:Jakee308at April 17, 2021 01:40 PM (LS3oW)

Daffodils and lilies. Kinda depends where you are and what else wants to crowd them out.

Posted by: hogmartin at April 17, 2021 01:45 PM (t+qrx)

23 The white azaleas do look great against the deep red brick and black and white trim.

Posted by: kallisto at April 17, 2021 01:47 PM (DJFLF)

24 Posted by: KT at April 17, 2021 01:42 PM (BVQ+1)
Thanks! Once I get a pic of a full bee tube I'll send them.

Posted by: Beartooth at April 17, 2021 01:48 PM (GIu18)

25 Jakee308at April 17, 2021 01:37 PM
You can plant rosemary if it is hardy where you live. Gophers won't eat that.

Posted by: KT at April 17, 2021 01:44 PM (BVQ+1)

agreed, Rosemary and Thyme are hard as hell .Mint will take over a place if you let it, as well as lemon balm. I could never get basil and especially cilantro to last. From what i hear, the slugs will eat the crap out of cilantro.

Posted by: Quint at April 17, 2021 01:48 PM (TPY/s)

26 Skip, last week you said you were working in Aston, but I missed that comment because I logged off. Are you still there?
I'll probably miss your reply because I'm getting ready to log off again.

Posted by: kallisto at April 17, 2021 01:48 PM (DJFLF)

I could never get basil and especially cilantro to last.

Try successive plantings of basil. Or experiment with different types, there are so many!

Posted by: kallisto at April 17, 2021 01:50 PM (DJFLF)

28 you want to get serious, try tobacco. You have to nurture it from seeds that make pepper flakes seem large. Then you have to find a ton of sun, like 12 hours a day or more. If you have that, go for it. If you don't, you will be like me, and have to move plants around during the day. A labor of love really because it was fun to finally grow a crop. And once you get one, the work is only starting.

Posted by: Quint at April 17, 2021 01:51 PM (TPY/s)

I could never get basil and especially cilantro to last. From what i hear, the slugs will eat the crap out of cilantro.

Posted by: Quint at April 17, 2021 01:48 PM (TPY/s)

Basil does OK here in the shade. I can never get cilantro going without it immediately bolting on the first slightly-warm day.

Posted by: hogmartin at April 17, 2021 01:51 PM (t+qrx)

30 4 types of lettuce bolting and the swiss chard is bolting also. They all need to be pulled. 3 tomatoes have gone riot filling the 4x6 raised bed. There were 2 tomatoes set when planted, those ripened and have been consumed. They were delicious. Carrots looking good, pulled one, it was about 5" of edible, also delicious.
Cactus and palo verde trees are blooming and as WKFG the bees love this time of year.

Posted by: AZ deplorable moron at April 17, 2021 01:51 PM (gtatv)

31 I got some daffodils in back. And some orange flowered thing. And I think I may have seen some rosemary or something like it out there too.

I just let the yard go back to nature. It's not that big and I can't mow much so I just mow around the house and let the rest go. And the front of course that's all mowed and looking nice except for the bluegrass tufts and the dandelions.

When I let the back yard go I got all these red maples started growing. (my neighbor has 2 red maples and I guess the seeds all blow into my yard.

I've thought of having someone dig a few up and put them in the front yard but I keep forgetting to get it done when you're supposed to (fall?) so it waits another year. I would like some shade in front during the summer.

Posted by: Jakee308 at April 17, 2021 01:52 PM (LS3oW)

32 After uncovering the hostas this past week, I have to cover them again. Late arctic blast making its way south to the Ohio-Miami region after dumping snow on MI and NW OH. Everything else is growing just fine!

Posted by: exdem13 at April 17, 2021 01:52 PM (W+kMI)

33 Our area had a rather mild winter, as the OFA predicted. So far, the spring has been a bit cool but with a few hot days that brought out the early flowering tree blossoms. Now we are getting the second batch with lilacs and dogwoods. Mrs. JTB brought in a few flowers from our lilac bush yesterday. What a delightful aroma. When in full blossom, that one bush can scent the entire yard. It's a delight to just stand there and breathe in the scent.

Our dogwood has survived another winter (much to my ongoing surprise) and is leafing out. This is the last year it can stay in its container. Next year it will have to go in the ground or in a much larger container. Glad it's not needed sooner since I'll need the time to rehab and regain some strength. That takes longer than it did 50 years ago. Bummer!

This is the prettiest time of spring in my estimation. Color and soft textures everywhere you look. And when bright sunlight hits the blossoms it looks celestial. Never get tired of that appearance.

Posted by: JTB at April 17, 2021 01:55 PM (7EjX1)

the Googles says to put it in water (the jar dummy) and take the lid off and let the water heat up and stir the honey as it warms up.
Posted by: Jakee308

Based on personal experience you can re-melt honey in a microwave; but, the little containers deform too. The large container from costco didn't blow out; but, it would no longer stand up right. YMMV.

Posted by: AZ deplorable moron at April 17, 2021 01:56 PM (gtatv)

35 We are awash in daffodils in our garden beds. The all-yellow ones have come and gone; now it is the whites and whites with yellow or orange centers. Daffodils are a plant 'em and let them go offering. We dig them up and divide the bulbs maybe once per decade.

Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars (TM) at April 17, 2021 01:57 PM (pNxlR)

36 We are putting in the cold crop seeds over the next few days, mostly leaf lettuce. Some herbs are starting to show from last season and the chives are ready to use now. I've been craving garden fresh produce and those chives will be a nice way to start.

Posted by: JTB at April 17, 2021 01:58 PM (7EjX1)

This is the prettiest time of spring in my estimation. Color and soft textures everywhere you look. And when bright sunlight hits the blossoms it looks celestial. Never get tired of that appearance.
Posted by: JTB at April 17, 2021 01:55 PM (7EjX1)

Some Japanese cherry and redbuds are exploding here, it looks amazing.
Of course I call them "redbutt", on account of it's funnier to say that.

Posted by: hogmartin at April 17, 2021 01:59 PM (t+qrx)

38 kallisto yes been there often, doing a big job there, not Monday but no doubt will be there a lot. Nice scenic ride home but it's long.

Posted by: Skip at April 17, 2021 02:04 PM (Cxk7w)

39 The Tulip Festival is happening this year after being "cancelled" last year.
The varieties and colors and sheer numbers of flowers is just incredible.

Posted by: nurse ratched at April 17, 2021 02:05 PM (3ofGF)

40
We are providing a new home for the Hosta and Asiatic Lilies that our sone and DiL no longer wish to have. One half of them I dug up on Tuesday and we are trying to get them in the ground prior to getting the second half this coming Tuesday.
There are many, many, many lily bulbs, some as big as my fist. The hosta clumps we easily can divide into quarters when we replant them. The weeding work to which I referred earlier is an effort to get cleared spaces in which to plant these freebies.

Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars (TM) at April 17, 2021 02:05 PM (pNxlR)

41 I love it when the honey crystallizes. Honey crystals in some plain Greek yogurt is one of my favorite treats that I don't get often because it so rarely happens.

Posted by: huerfano at April 17, 2021 02:07 PM (DzhEB)

42 That rose is gorgeous!
And I love the white azaleas against the red brick. I have just the opposite: red azaleas against white siding.
My summer squash is taking sweet time to germinate. The wait for seeds to come up is always the worst part of gardening for me.
I've been fighting bamboo this morning. Oy. I can't wait to move out of this house.

Posted by: G. Gnome at April 17, 2021 02:08 PM (OQcPl)

Mint will take over a place if you let it, as well as lemon balm.

I have a couple of plantings of peppermint and spearmint that I have drug around with me to every new house for decades. The original plants came from my grandparent's farm. I make tea with them and pick a few arm loads each season to dry so I can use it in the winter.

As you said though, they WILL take over if you don't keep an eye on them.

Posted by: Tonypete at April 17, 2021 02:09 PM (Rvt88)

44 42 I've been fighting bamboo this morning.
Posted by: G. Gnome at April 17, 2021 02:08 PM (OQcPl)
What's up with the bamboo?

Posted by: m at April 17, 2021 02:15 PM (RYc1G)

45 Well, the snow is still melting, so the back yard mostly smells like thawing dog poo. However, DH is building my garden beds, he has three of them complete, 4' x 2', and has only about 20 more to go. I think that may take most of the summer. I have peppers and hot peppers in the front window, as well as a new crop of basil I'll keep indoors. Cukes, too. I'm hoping that, once it finally warms up well, I can put tomatoes and cukes along the south-facing wall and bring them in when it gets cold. The greenhouse will have to wait until next year. I'm going to build it directly on the west face of the house, with southern exposure, so I can use it all year. I'll be starting green beans indoors this year, so that happens this week, along with some ornamentals like cardinal vines. Once it is warm enough, I'll get everbearing strawberries, some raspberries, plant some potatoes, peas, carrots, lettuces, the usual. We will be eating well this year.

Posted by: tcn in AK, Jail to the Thief at April 17, 2021 02:17 PM (4LwIn)

46 Beautiful flowers ... chance of snow here Tuesday, and a hard freeze. ... But grapes aren't budding out yet, and nothing else in the garden in danger. ... Call that bunny Stewart ... as in Rabbit Stew (insert Elmer Fudd laugh here).

Posted by: illiniwek at April 17, 2021 02:18 PM (Cus5s)

47 37 ... Hognartin,
Thanks for reminding me about the flowering cherry trees. They are almost full in our area, the regular and the weeping style both. I like the weeping variety but the blossoms showing against that dark, almost black, bark and crooked branches is spectacular.

Posted by: JTB at April 17, 2021 02:19 PM (7EjX1)

What's up with the bamboo?
Posted by:mat April 17, 2021 02:15 PM (RYc1G)

My neighbor planted it years ago. It has invaded my backyard. Unfortunately, it's on a steep hill, so it is difficult for me to get to it to chop it down. It grows stinkin' fast. I can't keep up.

Posted by: G. Gnome at April 17, 2021 02:20 PM (OQcPl)

49 disappointed that they didn't watch me for 20 minutes to make certain i didn't spontaneously combust after having the first batch of microsoft tracking chips installed. i should've spontaneously combusted just to spite them.

Posted by: Comrade Anachronda, behind the Newsom curtain at April 17, 2021 02:23 PM (5br8a)

My neighbor planted it years ago. It has invaded my backyard.

In my yute I earned extra money gardening. One place had cement wells for the bamboo. The bamboo didn't like the cement containers and broke them. We had to break the corms weekly to keep it in check.

Posted by: AZ deplorable moron at April 17, 2021 02:24 PM (gtatv)

51 Posted by: Comrade Anachronda, behind the Newsom curtain at April 17, 2021 02:23 PM (5br8a)

I'd pay good money to see you spontaneously combust.

Make it a pay per view and you could rake in millions. Well not YOU but your heirs.

Posted by: Jakee308 at April 17, 2021 02:25 PM (LS3oW)

52 Well bamboo is a grass and they do grow like it too.

Start harvesting it and then preserve it (only takes little bit of time) and then sell it to gardening shops and craft stores.

Posted by: Jakee308 at April 17, 2021 02:27 PM (LS3oW)

53 48 My neighbor planted it years ago. It has invaded my backyard. Unfortunately, it's on a steep hill, so it is difficult for me to get to it to chop it down. It grows stinkin' fast. I can't keep up.
Posted by: G. Gnome at April 17, 2021 02:20 PM (OQcPl)
How awful.

Posted by: m at April 17, 2021 02:28 PM (RYc1G)

54 It grows stinkin' fast. I can't keep up. Posted by: G. Gnome at April 17, 2021 02:20 PM (OQcPl)

Chain saw. Or get a limb saw so you can reach it. They have electric limb saws that can extend 12' or so. Cheap.

Posted by: Jakee308 at April 17, 2021 02:31 PM (LS3oW)

55 Well, my ongoing saga of the cactus removal. I'm about a third of way done. Got some good suggestions the other day (other than burning it down). But we have crappy weather moving in this week so I won't get back to it for awhile. Sorry I ever planted it.

Posted by: jewells45 is having a sale! at April 17, 2021 02:31 PM (nxdel)

56 I've been fighting bamboo this morning.
Posted by: G. Gnome at April 17, 2021 02:08 PM
You need a pet Panda

Posted by: Skip at April 17, 2021 02:32 PM (Cxk7w)

Start harvesting it and then preserve it (only takes little bit of time) and then sell it to gardening shops and craft stores.
Posted by:Jakee308at April 17, 2021 02:27 PM (LS3oW)

If I let it get big enough for that, my HOA would send me mean letters. Again.

Posted by: G. Gnome at April 17, 2021 02:34 PM (OQcPl)

58
On the "family heirloom plants" front, we are mostly doing well. The day-lilies we have in this category have always thrived. A group of Pink Hyacinths, formerly five in number, are now down to one, and I am not sure that this isn't its last year.
I transplanted two different Peonies out from one of our beds around a maple tree last summer and both are coming back just fine. Many of our Daffodils have been gathered from various yards of family members who have passed on (just don't ask me which ones they are).
It will be interesting to see what happens with our German Irises this year, as practically all of them will have been in their places for two years now. I am hoping for a lot of blooms and an opportunity to put them together in visually pleasing combinations by transplanting them later this fall.

Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars (TM) at April 17, 2021 02:35 PM (jN9H6)

Chain saw. Or get a limb saw so you can reach it. They have electric limb saws that can extend 12' or so. Cheap.
Posted by:Jakee308at April 17, 2021 02:31 PM (LS3oW)

I've been using a pole saw/pole hedge clipper combo thingie. It mostly reaches it. It's heavy, so I can't use it too much at one time.

Posted by: G. Gnome at April 17, 2021 02:37 PM (OQcPl)

60 I've got an earworm of "Everybody was bamboo fighting"!

Posted by: m at April 17, 2021 02:39 PM (RYc1G)

I've got an earworm of "Everybody was bamboo fighting"!
Posted by: m at April 17, 2021 02:39 PM (RYc1G)

That sh** grows fast as lightning.

Posted by: hogmartin at April 17, 2021 02:41 PM (t+qrx)

62 eaat coast question - at some point the ash tree in our yard will die of emerald ash borer
what's a good replacement tree? one that doesnt attract spotted lantern flies?

Posted by: vmom sic semper stabbicus at April 17, 2021 02:41 PM (GBZnB)

I've got an earworm of "Everybody was bamboo fighting"!
Posted by:mat April 17, 2021 02:39 PM (RYc1G)

Lol. Now I do too.

Posted by: G. Gnome, Bamboo Killer at April 17, 2021 02:42 PM (OQcPl)

64 Yeah. electric limbsaw is light. Mostly all plastic except for the blade and the motor. And like I said cheap too.

Posted by: Jakee308 at April 17, 2021 02:48 PM (LS3oW)

65 Crystallized Honey ... One of these days I'm going to test a theory that's tickled my brain for years -- adding a small amount of maple or corn syrup into an almost-empty jar of honey to learnits effects on crystallization.

My high school Chem teacher used various forms of sugared syrups one day to help the class better understand carbon atoms. And while all the syrups were made from sugars, he said knowing that the carbon atoms were not structured all the same could help when making dessert sauces.

I think the example he gave was simmering together water and granulated sugar and adding some Karo corn syrup to "break" the granulated sugar's carbon stru ture -- thus preventing the recrystallization of the granulated sugar as the water evaporated. Twas a long time ago, though, and I've never tested the theory when it's crossed my mind.

Posted by: Kathy at April 17, 2021 02:54 PM (h3RRP)

66 Cybersmythe sounds like an early 90s sci-fi B movie

Posted by: Pendulu at April 17, 2021 02:56 PM (AlYYP)

67 LoL

Posted by: Skip at April 17, 2021 02:59 PM (Cxk7w)

68 PET NOOD IS UP

Posted by: Skip the guy who says Nood at April 17, 2021 03:00 PM (Cxk7w)

69 I love my landscapers, Mexicans one and all. Man they work hard and know what they are doing.

Posted by: Gringo at April 17, 2021 03:01 PM (i1Xfq)

70 NOOODDD????

Posted by: Gringo at April 17, 2021 03:02 PM (i1Xfq)

71 Had old tablet and pictures were not showing up yet everyone was commenting on colors, OK. So when pets came up no pictures so went and got new tablet and Color!. Wonder what went on old tablet to change it.

Posted by: Skip at April 17, 2021 03:12 PM (Cxk7w)

72 Animals are not wearing clothes are they?

Posted by: Skip at April 17, 2021 03:13 PM (Cxk7w)

73 2 Finding daffodils on a walk through the woods is always a treat! It's neat that you keep them going by dividing and replanting.
A year or 2 after I planted the daffodils, a woman I'd never met stopped me as I was coming out our driveway to thank me for planting them. She & her terminally ill husband had walked our long driveway when he was still able & she told me that seeing them the first time lifted his spirits. Best thank-you ever.

Posted by: PointyHairedBoss at April 17, 2021 03:16 PM (qwLCm)

74 I live on a small community lake. I planted a peach tree near the lake. It took a couple of years but grew to a nice respectable size and was starting to produce delicious peaches. One morning I walked out on my deck, and something didnâ€™t look right. It took me a few seconds to realize that the peach tree was GONE. All that was left was a stump with the unmistakeable teeth marks of a beaver. Over night a beaver chewed a hole through my fence, took down the peach tree and dragged it out entirely.
The next year to my surprise, the stump grew another peach tree. A couple of years go by. And... again, a god damn beaver stole my peach tree.
And believe it or not, the tree has regrown again, I am on tree number three. But this oneâ€™s trunk is encased in chickenwire.

Posted by: Eric at April 17, 2021 03:27 PM (a2F+C)

75 Kathy 02:54 PM

Interference with sugar crystallization is why you mix sugar types in candy recipes. Regular sugar with corn syrup is typical, but sometimes you see "invert sugar" in candy ingredients.

This is generally to allow the supersaturated syrup to cool sufficiently to get small crystals when you beat it to induce crystallization. Though you may not want caramel to crystallize at all.

Posted by: KT at April 17, 2021 03:56 PM (BVQ+1)

76 I'm not much for the gardening thread since I don't have a green or orange thumb, but right now our loquat tree is fruiting like you wouldn't believe. Had to take them up before the bee swarm comes.

Posted by: InCali at April 17, 2021 04:14 PM (ov5G+)

77 Hey, my hash changed. I used to like 9awn or whatever it was. Looked like fawn or dawn.

Posted by: InCali at April 17, 2021 04:15 PM (ov5G+)

78 I'm winning the fight against burr clover this year, but some new weeds have shown up to take their place.

Posted by: 40 Miles North at April 17, 2021 05:07 PM (uWF4x)

79 Pat from Treasure Valley will be making a trek to my home Sunday for a bite to eat and to explore my homestead. Very excited to host her and her hubby. It will be a beautiful sunny afternoon in the yard. Thank you for the introduction last year. Our orchard is in or has been in bloom. The plum blossom smell should be bottled to last all year. Hoping for apricots this year. Only 2 or 3 the past few years. I am wondering if I need a polinator for it. All my seedlings are up in my well house. Hubs is repurposing our turkey coop into a greenhouse. Cheaper than building new-have you seen the price of lumber?!? He even bought new double pane windows for it. They go in tomorrow, then the door. It will be insulated, drywalled, louver fan on a thermostat. He's going to town. I'll keep a couple of tomato plants in pots so I can move them in to the green house this fall and see how long they'll produce. He wants to get a lemon tree to keep over the winter inside.

Posted by: S.Lynn at April 17, 2021 09:47 PM (oJ5o5)

80 From Boise area: Home from the Project Appleseed event. Looking forward to seeing S.Lynn, meeting her hubby & 3 Dobermans tomorrow!
Dead strawberry leaf removal project finished; both beds soaked in Sevin to combat millipedes.
Indoors, tomato & poblano starts look good. Outdoors, all 6 planted spinach seeds have sprouted, yay. I see some orange and purple carrot sprouts; waiting on red and yellow ones. Only 3 radishes up out of 50; looking at replanting this week! Waiting for cabbage, lettuce to sprout. Already had to replant 18 of 20 peas - something was eating them - for protection, we cut bottoms off styrofoam cups, invert them above seed/plant, spear it in place with bamboo skewer through side of cup. (Have had to do this with beans every year.)
Trimmed dead stems from oregano. Cut down half of rangy overgrown sage plant and will let it grow back; will cut down other half next year. Trimmed back 1st lavender, didn't finish 2nd. Started trimming off dead spearmint stems - found out mint roots had invaded adjacent beds; tried to dig it all up and failed. I plan to dig up a chunk of the plant, put it into large pot, and kill what remains in the bed - it's just not a good neighbor.

Posted by: Pat* at April 17, 2021 10:46 PM (2pX/F)

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