Weekly Garden Thread - June 3-9, 2023 ['Shady Characters' Edition]

June 3, 2023 | Diana in WI/Greeneyes in Memoriam

[Diana in Wisconsin]

The Weekly Gardening Thread is a weekly gathering of folks that love soil, seeds and plants of all kinds. From complete newbies that are looking to start that first potted plant, to gardeners with some acreage, to Master Gardener level and beyond, we would love to hear from you.

If you have specific question about a plant/problem you are having, please remember to state the Growing Zone where you are located.

This thread is a non-political respite. No matter what, you won’t be flamed, and the only dumb question is the one that isn’t asked.

It is impossible to hijack the Weekly Gardening Thread. Planting, Harvest to Table Recipes, Preserving, Good Living - there is no telling where it will go - and that is part of the fun and interest. Jump in and join us! Send a Private Message to Diana in Wisconsin if you'd like to be added to our New & Improved Ping List.

NOTE: This is a once a week Ping List. We do post to the thread during the week. Links to related articles and discussions which might be of interest to Gardeners are welcomed any time!

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Yes, ‘Lily’ is back from $500.00 worth of repairs, but she runs like new!

Borage - I have some coming up in my Beneficial Bug Mix. I have Calendula that was the LAST thing that went to seed last season - and boy, did it ever! I have volunteers all over the place, but they’re not in the way so they’re staying. The smallest new leaves on Borage taste like Cucumber if you’re willing to try it. The bigger leaves are too prickly to eat, but the flowers look lovely on top of a cupcake or frozen in an ice cube. Your Mom might get a kick out of that!

Great deal on the tank tops. I am cleaning out closets and drawers to take stock - I haven’t bought clothes much over the past 5 years, so I am really due for a work and ‘Going To Town’ overhaul of my clothing! I’m with you on using the second-hand market whenever it’s feasible.

I haven’t had to mow; we’ve been so DRY the grass is browning. The loaner they gave us (she was gone 3 weeks, but it was over the holiday weekend AND she needed parts) was a 52” deck and that puppy could GO! Beau did the mowing for me last week. It usually takes me 2 hours to mow with my 42” but he got it done in an hour!

Spent 4 hours watering the fruit trees this morning; the apple trees (in another area) are on the list for early tomorrow AM, then we have a Graduation Party to go to. My BFF’s 70th was today and her daughters threw her a surprise party and they ALMOST pulled it off, but her husband took a really bad fall and while doped up he spilled the beans, yesterday. D’Oh! But, we had a blast this afternoon. Lots of Family, Grandbabies to cuddle and Army Folk who are just LIKE family. (She and I met in the Army 44 years ago.)

I’ve got salad greens to eat up and that’s about it. I’m moving into the ‘Weed, Water and Wait’ phase of the growing season.

And I’ll be whining about how tired I am of canning soon enough! :)

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Beautiful as always! Your ‘Garden Helpers’ must be relaxing in the A/C. ;)

I LOVE those ‘black’ Hollyhocks so much! We are remodeling/upgrading our barn, and there is a spot just BEGGING to be filled with Hollyhocks when the walls and roof are re-painted.

[Pollard]

Peak sunlight hours are between 10 am and 2 pm.

Having lived off grid for a few years with a few solar panels, I can definitely confirm this.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

There are quite a few cultivars available now. When I would get them in at the Garden Center, blooming and beautiful, I’d tell my Nursery Crew to make a display of them on the front walkway of the store and then we’d bet one another on how fast they’d sell.

Usually gone within a few hours! They’re really special. :)

[Diana in Wisconsin]

That’s sad news on the Peaches! BUT - my tree has quite a few of them on, so if I keep her watered (we’re heading into a drought at this rate!) I’m hoping to have a decent crop this season.

She really outdid herself last season. :)

[Diana in Wisconsin]

We have a HUGE (taller than the 3-story house!) Maple in the house yard, before you get to the garden beds.

My garden area gets full sun from about 11am until sundown due to that tree, but nothing seems to suffer at all from a shady morning. It’s PERFECT for morning watering in the high heat of summer, that’s for sure!

[Pollard]

Just ordered the little drip irrigation kit that will run off of the little pump on the little tank sprayer I just bought to water my little garden and the tank also fits perfect on my little tractor for other little uses.

Thinkin’ about naming this place Little Bitty Acres

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Perfect! :)

[Qiviut]

Calendula.... I want it in my garden!!

I have been using Calendula cream for cuts, scratches & skin irritation. My mom had a really nasty seed tick bite - red welt about the size of a quarter (no bullseye, etc). It was itching & hurting & she wanted to put something on it so ... the Calendula cream was tried. One application gave her relief. I think she used it a second time just to make sure - red welt & itching/hurting were gone.

I tried it on a seed tick bite myself. Results were good - itching came back a couple of times, but not intense. Used the cream & got relief. I am highly allergic to tick bites - got one in August some years back & that bite was still itching in December, no joke. Anyway, Calendula cream also worked well on a mosquito bite, too.

For those not familiar with all the uses of calendula other than for skin issues (that would be me!), here’s an article I found on Calendula with info on lots of uses!

https://chestnutherbs.com/calendula-sunshine-incarnate-an-edible-and-medicinal-flower/

[Pollard]

Got a true White Oak 30-40 foot to the Northeast side of where the high tunnel's going. Will make for some morning shade on one end of the tunnel about like your maple does. Got trees to the West that will cut off sun at 3-4pm in mid Summer. Other than that, going for 8-10am morning sun for growing things but will have plenty of shady spots.

I had to cut enough trees down right off the bat when we moved here to get the solar panels to work. I'm still cutting towards the East and South and leaving a few nice ones dappled in. The South will eventually be a view of a ridge 1/4 mile away that's got mixed pine and deciduous trees on it. Always has some green and has decent Fall foliage.

Something like this but with nicer shaped trees.(and a house and garden)

The pic is typical MO Ozarks and I probably have that much land but flatter and as much land that's heavily sloped and rocky land with a wet weather creek.

[8] Little Bitty Acres

[FamiliarFace]

Good to know about Calendula cream! Thank you!

[MomwithHope]

Late tonight only enough time for a short message. Garden doing great this year. Diana your bug mix growing great and some flowers already. Now I just have to figure out what’s what. Speaking of canning, hubby discovered this group on gab, recipes and canning porn. Haven’t had a lot of time to explore. https://gab.com/groups/388

[Qiviut]

The cream I have is made by Boiron, which seems to be a good homeopathic brand.

[FamiliarFace]

Have you ever heard of Rose Glory Bower? Also called Mexican Hydrangea. We saw those when we were in Tennessee, too, and THAT was a beautiful shrub! Oh, if only that could be made into a hardy variety, I would surely have it in my yard!!

Sometimes I think if I could have one of every plant, shrub, flower, or tree, I would be so happy. A girl can dream, can’t she? Maybe in Heaven. Probably wouldn’t matter one bit by then.

[FamiliarFace]

Thank you, will check in to that!

[Bon of Babble]

I most likely would. I’m tending to dead head more and more things lately. It seems to work for me - I’ve heard arguments on either side to dead head or not.

[FamiliarFace]

Ok, thank you!

[Bon of Babble]

I was in a bit of a rush this morning and forgot to add the last photo of my helpers:

The black hollyhocks are all volunteers, not as large as the original plant, which was massive in height and volume. I wanted them to cover up an ugly garage wall but they seem to be growing everywhere but along the wall. Next year I'll thin them out and transplant them back where I wanted them in the first place.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Rose Glory Bower - WOW!

Having worked at the Garden Center all those years, my other farm ended up with lots of 'orphans' that were heading for the dump when I thought, "I could probably save that!"

My favorite find was a Quaking Aspen Tree. They are so pretty in the sunshine and the slightest breeze moves their leaves around so they're always interesting to look at. Gorgeous in the fall.

[FamiliarFace]

That’s a beautiful tree!

I have a few orphan houseplants that I pick up for peanuts. Most are still hanging around.