Garden Stew

EEK...a snake!!! (reply) :: Wildlife in the Garden

eileen — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 21:21:40 -0400

Author: eileen
Posted: Fri Jul 03, 2009 1:21 am (GMT 0)

You've got me curious now. Did your friend achieve all three or not? I wouldn't mind seeing a snake or smelling cow manure but I think I'd draw the line at the first whiff of a skunk somehow!!
_________________

Balloon Day Celebration (reply) :: The Village Square

eileen — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 21:17:55 -0400

Author: eileen
Posted: Fri Jul 03, 2009 1:17 am (GMT 0)

What a shame that more people didn't show up. Mind you the ones that did seemed to be enjoying themselves. I'd have loved to have been there to see the skeleton of that cat - I know I'm really weird that way!!
_________________

This gigantic Zucchini made me laugh (reply) :: Member's Gallery

eileen — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 21:15:34 -0400

Author: eileen
Posted: Fri Jul 03, 2009 1:15 am (GMT 0)

WOW now that's what I call BIG!! I hope mine don't grow quite as big as that as their are only two of us to tackle the job of eating them.
_________________

Cool Spring...Look Out For Sick Potato Plants (reply) :: Fruit and Veg Gardening

eileen — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 21:13:28 -0400

Author: eileen
Posted: Fri Jul 03, 2009 1:13 am (GMT 0)

Oh heck I hope that disease doesn't spread to your whole crop Sjoerd. Do you have to sterilize the soil after you've dug up the infected plants? I guess you won't be using the company that supplied those seed potatoes again.
_________________

This gigantic Zucchini made me laugh :: Member's Gallery

Tammyd — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 21:10:07 -0400

Author: Tammyd
Subject: This gigantic Zucchini made me laugh
Posted: Fri Jul 03, 2009 1:10 am (GMT 0)

These super sized zucchini are so ridiculously large that it made me laugh! I guess all of the rain that we had contributed to their ginormous size (and perhaps over 40 eyesight not seeing them lounging amongst the leaves).

giant zucchini! ( photo / image / picture from Tammyd's Garden )
_________________
Tammy
"My garden of flowers is also my garden of thoughts & dreams." Abram L. Urban
"You can bury a lot of troubles digging in the dirt."
Unknown

Hummingbirds caught in action (reply) :: Member's Gallery

eileen — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 21:05:21 -0400

Author: eileen
Posted: Fri Jul 03, 2009 1:05 am (GMT 0)

Really great photographs of a delightful little bird. How I wish we had hummingbirds here in Scotland.
_________________

Hummingbirds caught in action :: Member's Gallery

Tammyd — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 20:49:27 -0400

Author: Tammyd
Subject: Hummingbirds caught in action
Posted: Fri Jul 03, 2009 12:49 am (GMT 0)

I managed to photograph a hummingbird while sitting on the front deck this evening. This ruby-throated one has been hanging around for a while and I finally managed to capture a shot. I am so fascinated by these little critters!

hummingbird approaching feeder ( photo / image / picture from Tammyd's Garden )

hungry hummingbird ( photo / image / picture from Tammyd's Garden )
_________________
Tammy
"My garden of flowers is also my garden of thoughts & dreams." Abram L. Urban
"You can bury a lot of troubles digging in the dirt."
Unknown

The Good Evening All Thread (reply) :: The Village Square

GrandaddyDayCare — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 20:49:19 -0400

Author: GrandaddyDayCare
Posted: Fri Jul 03, 2009 12:49 am (GMT 0)

Have a nice trip Droopy, and while you are in the area will you look for the windmill on the river Flandre for me, Thank's GDC.

( photo / image / picture from GrandaddyDayCare's Garden )

Balloon Day Celebration (reply) :: The Village Square

Netty — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 20:40:46 -0400

Author: Netty
Posted: Fri Jul 03, 2009 12:40 am (GMT 0)

What a great day Sjoerd!

Cool Spring...Look Out For Sick Potato Plants (reply) :: Fruit and Veg Gardening

Netty — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 20:39:03 -0400

Author: Netty
Posted: Fri Jul 03, 2009 12:39 am (GMT 0)

So sorry to hear you lost some of your crop Sjoerd. We have had cold wet weather too and I have some plants with the same sort of symptoms...namely Impatiens. I have had to rip them out of all the beds (22 or so flats worth!)Don't even get me started on the Blackspot! I hope you don't lose any more potatoes Sjoerd.

EEK...a snake!!! (reply) :: Wildlife in the Garden

kaseylib — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 20:31:41 -0400

Author: kaseylib
Posted: Fri Jul 03, 2009 12:31 am (GMT 0)

Wow, Eileen...you can keep your pet snake. I like the warm, furry kinds myself. My friend who transplanted from here up to Alaska was visiting here a few weeks back, and one of her goals was to see a snake while she was here (as they don't have any in Alaska). She also wanted to smell a skunk and drive past a dairy farm to smell the cow manure as they don't have skunks or dairy farms in Alaska either!!!
_________________
The more you read, the more you know.
The more you know, the smarter you grow.
The smarter you grow, the stronger your voice when speaking your mind or making a choice.

Please identify my mystery plant. :: Plant ID

flower1lady2000 — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 20:25:14 -0400

Author: flower1lady2000
Subject: Please identify my mystery plant.
Posted: Fri Jul 03, 2009 12:25 am (GMT 0)

has a very strong odor and a sticky substance on leaves ( photo / image / picture from flower1lady2000's Garden )

This is the leaves ( photo / image / picture from flower1lady2000's Garden )

up close of leave ( photo / image / picture from flower1lady2000's Garden )

We had a little rain yesterday :) (reply) :: Member's Gallery

Netty — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 20:13:53 -0400

Author: Netty
Posted: Fri Jul 03, 2009 12:13 am (GMT 0)

We've had a lot of rain this week, but yesterday's was torrential. All of my Petunia blooms looked like they were shredded and thank goodness I had thought to stake my taller plants the day before!
Yes, that is my daughter, Ivy, in the pink boots. She's 5 and loves nothing better than jumping in puddles with her boots on

Cool Spring...Look Out For Sick Potato Plants :: Fruit and Veg Gardening

Sjoerd — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 20:13:13 -0400

Author: Sjoerd
Subject: Cool Spring...Look Out For Sick Potato Plants
Posted: Fri Jul 03, 2009 12:13 am (GMT 0)

The Blackfoot may be a tribe of Indians in North America, but here it's a nasty sickness that has gotten into a few of my potatos.

It is called Zwartbenigheid in dutch; literally translated into english that would be, "Blacklegness". I know, I know--I can see you smiling now, but I don't have any idea what it is called in english, so the literal translation looks and sounds a little silly, I reckon.

Well, I can tell you, this disease is not a silly one at all. It can be very contageous and quickly ruin one's crop and the crops of the neighbours.

Zwartbenigheid is an illness that occurs when the temps are moderately cool (±19°C is the optimum temp where the sickness begins to develop and manifest itself).
The lower stem begins to rot and turning black, a process that eminates from the seed potato.

The blackness can not only be seen in the portion of the stem most proximal to the seed potato, but can involve the entire stem.
One hallmark of this sickness is the fishy odor that the infected stems give off once pulled out of the ground.
The leaves turn light green and curl inwards from the outer edges, eventually yellowing and withering.

The bacteria, Erwinia carotovora subsp. atroseptica; as far as is known, only infects potatos.
Originally the tubers become infected during the harvesting process by coming in contact with other tubers that are already infected. They can also become infected when the foliage is being destroyed.
Of course, further contamination can be spread from plant to plant by spattering rain as well as insects.

There isn't alot that one can do to combat this bacterial insult in a conventional sence, ie spraying or dusting...what you must do is to remove all infected 9yellow/light green) stems, foliage when the disease is detected, and remove the tubers at harvest time (including the 'mother' tuber and isolate and destroy all this.
Take special care to wash and and clean your digging tool thoroughly as well as your hands, once the removal process has been completed.
Harvest only when the ground is good and dry.
Preventative measures are not so numerous either: order your seeding potatos from a reputable firm (and do not use storebought or small potatos that you have raised yourself).

Keep an eye out for this in your patch, the foliage will be light green or yellow and the plant 'stunted' in contrast to it's neighbours.

I am mentioning this because of the coolish weather that we have had this spring.

_________________
Sjoerd http://www.volkstuindersvereniginghoornenomstreken.nl/Page11.html

EEK...a snake!!! (reply) :: Wildlife in the Garden

Netty — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 20:10:27 -0400

Author: Netty
Posted: Fri Jul 03, 2009 12:10 am (GMT 0)

Cool! I would love to see a snake in my yard...haven't seen one here for a few years now. I've never seen one like that so I may have been a little scared .

EEK...a snake!!! (reply) :: Wildlife in the Garden

eileen — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 19:54:21 -0400

Author: eileen
Posted: Thu Jul 02, 2009 11:54 pm (GMT 0)

We have a pet Western Hognose Python that's about two and a half feet long. It's pattern is much the same as yours but it's colours are different to the Eastern one. I'd love to own one just like yours. I know I'm strange but I really like snakes.

Here's what ours looks like:

_________________

We had a little rain yesterday :) (reply) :: Member's Gallery

eileen — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 19:39:14 -0400

Author: eileen
Posted: Thu Jul 02, 2009 11:39 pm (GMT 0)

Good grief that's some rain you've been having if it created a puddle like that!!!
_________________

The Good Evening All Thread (reply) :: The Village Square

daisybeans — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 19:27:32 -0400

Author: daisybeans
Posted: Thu Jul 02, 2009 11:27 pm (GMT 0)

Sounds lovely, Droopy. I hope you get to do exactly whatever it is you want to do!
_________________
Daisybeans/MaryAnn

"Once the relation between poetry and the soil is well established in the mind, all growing things are endowed with more than material beauty." -Elizabeth Lawrence

I knew it was hot here but.... (reply) :: The Village Square

daisybeans — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 19:25:56 -0400

Author: daisybeans
Posted: Thu Jul 02, 2009 11:25 pm (GMT 0)

Everyone take it easy in the heat... Don't overdo!!
_________________
Daisybeans/MaryAnn

"Once the relation between poetry and the soil is well established in the mind, all growing things are endowed with more than material beauty." -Elizabeth Lawrence

Yellow flower, long green leaves, grow from tuber (reply) :: Plant ID

daisybeans — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 19:24:10 -0400

Author: daisybeans
Posted: Thu Jul 02, 2009 11:24 pm (GMT 0)

Well, gosh, if I could eat my tiger lillies, I wouldn't have to go to the grocery for weeks!

Very pretty pics of the buds and an interesting idea to look into.
_________________
Daisybeans/MaryAnn

"Once the relation between poetry and the soil is well established in the mind, all growing things are endowed with more than material beauty." -Elizabeth Lawrence

Im going to be gone until the 11th..... (reply) :: The Village Square

daisybeans — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 19:22:08 -0400

Author: daisybeans
Posted: Thu Jul 02, 2009 11:22 pm (GMT 0)

NICE! And that's a good long time to be away and relaxing... Have fun.
_________________
Daisybeans/MaryAnn

"Once the relation between poetry and the soil is well established in the mind, all growing things are endowed with more than material beauty." -Elizabeth Lawrence

Hello from the high desert of Idaho! (reply) :: Welcome to GardenStew

daisybeans — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 19:18:19 -0400

Author: daisybeans
Posted: Thu Jul 02, 2009 11:18 pm (GMT 0)

Welcome Peggy, from Maryland. I've always wanted to visit Idaho. I have heard the wildflower fields in the Springtime are amazing. What part of the State are you in?
_________________
Daisybeans/MaryAnn

"Once the relation between poetry and the soil is well established in the mind, all growing things are endowed with more than material beauty." -Elizabeth Lawrence

Off on our hols (reply) :: The Village Square

daisybeans — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 19:16:37 -0400

Author: daisybeans
Posted: Thu Jul 02, 2009 11:16 pm (GMT 0)

Have fun, be safe!

(P.S. Does A I Day mean American Independence Day? For Fourth of July?)
_________________
Daisybeans/MaryAnn

"Once the relation between poetry and the soil is well established in the mind, all growing things are endowed with more than material beauty." -Elizabeth Lawrence

Balloon Day Celebration (reply) :: The Village Square

daisybeans — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 19:10:10 -0400

Author: daisybeans
Posted: Thu Jul 02, 2009 11:10 pm (GMT 0)

What a nice event! The kids look quite engaged in it all. I wonder how far the furthest balloon will go? Your lottie complex continues to appeal. I like social activities too -- my neighbors and I are trying to organize a block party for the same reason... binds everyone together. Looks like it was a beautiful day for the balloon party too.
_________________
Daisybeans/MaryAnn

"Once the relation between poetry and the soil is well established in the mind, all growing things are endowed with more than material beauty." -Elizabeth Lawrence

Cannas (reply) :: Flower Gardening

toni — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 19:09:00 -0400

Author: toni
Posted: Thu Jul 02, 2009 11:09 pm (GMT 0)

You may have Canna Leaf Roller, it is the caterpillar of the Geshna cannalis moth. There is also another one Calpodes ethlius that has come up from Mexiso.

I had several leaves affected last year and cut the affected leaves off at ground level, that seems to have taken care of them. Over the early winter I moved all of those Cannas to another bed and none have a problem this year.
This fall when the leaves die, cut them down to the ground and throw them away, not in a compost pile. That will take care of any overwintering larvae
_________________
"Blossom by blossom the spring begins."
Algernon Swinburne (1837-1909)

"A little Madness in the spring, is wholesome even for the King."
Emily Dickinson (1830-1886)