What did you do in the garden today?

[AllenK RGV]

Do we by chance have any folks here that might also be cacti experts? I have several cacti that I am stumped finding genus/species/subspecies info on. They are growing in the back yard.

Also today I was out digging up Prickly pear cacti from the back yard, chainsawing through the large ones that have grown through the fence, and tossed about 150lbs of those into the compost bin, then stabbed them mercilessly to encourage composting. Had to stop by noon as it was just too dern hot and muggy. I might another go at it later tonight and then drop a bag of grass clipping on em and stir em in.

Looks like I have some brush clearing to do as well very soon to get them all exposed to more sunlight. I keep procrastinating on that task as it will require chainsawing down 4-500lbs. of prickly pear.

Anyway, here are the snaps of my "Fishhook Cacti" that I can not narrow down, flowers are long lasting and open during the day and close in the evening, tunas are oblong peas 2cm high and 1cm wide, bright red in appearance. Middle image is I suspect a "Ferocactus" genus or it might be the same as all the others:

 

[pennyJo1960]

Beautiful would love to grow them here wish I could be of help
welcome to thread

 

[AllenK RGV]

Hi garden people! Back from my trip to FL, haven't had time to catch up here yet.

Garden is just cranking out the tomatoes! Picked a cuke too.

My newest Dahlia:
View attachment 1916887

I used to love dahlias when I was new to gardening in North Texas years ago you've got a real beauty there @Sueby . @penny1960 Thank you so much for the welcome. I live on horrible clay that has yet to produce any vegetables for me this year and only the tomatoes in pots had a chance. Then came the chicken or horn-worms(BT worked but the damage was done). We keep trying. I hope I can get some artichokes established this late fall/winter for my first springtime harvest. Hopefully all of the thistle eating butterflies will not be a problem for us. Thankfully, pineapples work well for us in 10 gallon containers.

Here is our planting schedule for the Lower Rio Grande Valley just for informational sake:

 

[karenerwin]

Do we by chance have any folks here that might also be cacti experts? I have several cacti that I am stumped finding genus/species/subspecies info on. They are growing in the back yard.

Also today I was out digging up Prickly pear cacti from the back yard, chainsawing through the large ones that have grown through the fence, and tossed about 150lbs of those into the compost bin, then stabbed them mercilessly to encourage composting. Had to stop by noon as it was just too dern hot and muggy. I might another go at it later tonight and then drop a bag of grass clipping on em and stir em in.

Looks like I have some brush clearing to do as well very soon to get them all exposed to more sunlight. I keep procrastinating on that task as it will require chainsawing down 4-500lbs. of prickly pear.

Anyway, here are the snaps of my "Fishhook Cacti" that I can not narrow down, flowers are long lasting and open during the day and close in the evening, tunas are oblong peas 2cm high and 1cm wide, bright red in appearance. Middle image is I suspect a "Ferocactus" genus or it might be the same as all the others:

View attachment 1917009 View attachment 1917010 View attachment 1917011

I always thought the name of the 2nd and 3rd picture was barrel cactus. But I have no idea if that is a "real" name or not. Good luck!
Did your Prickly Pear cactus have any fruit? You can eat those or make jelly out of them!

 

[AllenK RGV]

I always thought the name of the 2nd and 3rd picture was barrel cactus. But I have no idea if that is a "real" name or not. Good luck!
Did your Prickly Pear cactus have any fruit? You can eat those or make jelly out of them!

Oh yes but the Green Jays call dibs on the tunas, I have better luck getting those from the local fruit market.

 

[AllenK RGV]

I always thought the name of the 2nd and 3rd picture was barrel cactus. But I have no idea if that is a "real" name or not. Good luck!
Did your Prickly Pear cactus have any fruit? You can eat those or make jelly out of them!

They are a very similar genus to the Golden Barrel Cacti( https://urbanxeriscape.com/product/...MI-J_71ODq5AIVHR-tBh2v7go7EAQYASABEgLoSvD_BwE ) however the long spines in the photos often re-curve on themselves at the tips making them fishhook cactus.

 

[DiYMama540]

A green Jay! Had to google it but how beautiful!! We have blue Jays here that are among my favorite wild birds!

 

[karenerwin]

I picked some more cherry tomatoes and a few green beans. I mowed ( with the push mower because the riding lawn mower is blocked in by my hubby and his friend's stuff) the area by the mailbox so it doesn't look like an abandoned property!
The tree guy called and they came by and cut down 2 of the 4 trees. They will be back either Saturday or sometime near the end of next week to take down the last 2 trees.

I have apple skins cooking on the stove so I can get apple juice to make apple jelly.
I also need to make more salsa but that will have to wait for another day.

I had a meeting today with the rehab place in regards to my mom. They said they expect her to move back to her apartment in assisted living sometime next week!!
She goes back to her surgeon tomorrow. Hopefully he will say that she is able to attend my son's wedding in 3 weeks!

 

[DiYMama540]

That's wonderful news @karenerwin ! Hoping for the very best...no wedding would be complete without a guest of honor!

Also...you're making me so jealous with your garden goodies!

 

[karenerwin]

That's wonderful news @karenerwin ! Hoping for the very best...no wedding would be complete without a guest of honor!

Also...you're making me so jealous with your garden goodies!

I've been very jealous of everyone else's tomato hauls! My regular size tomatoes have not produced much at all this year and the Roma tomatoes haven't done anything.
At least I am getting an okay amount of cherry tomatoes.
But I've gotten 0 zucchinis and all my bell peppers have been very small.


Oh, I did go to Farm Aid this past weekend and they had a seed exchange!! You could even take some seeds even if you didn't bring any to share ( which I didn't because I didn't know about it). One guy gave me a packet of Sacre Blue Beans. They are a pole bean. I'm going to plant them next year. I'm not sure if you just use them in soups and stuff or if you also eat them like a green bean. I'm going to have to do some research!