What did you do in the garden today?

[Battles house]

Evening all. Been without tv, internet (including phone data) since sally cane through. Thankfully we only lost a little power here. Tree is uprooted leaning on the garage not sure what to do about that right now. Had my newly pla.ted seedling and seeds covered as best as I could. Hoping all the rain did not destroy them. We faired well considering. Most people are starting to get power back around town. My neighborhood has so many trees just completely uprooted and some snapped. Been working on cleanup. Sure have not been watering the garden.

Had a birthday this week and the hubs and girls bought some little toys for the chicks. We are working on finishing up the coop this weekend cooler weather on its way. Not cold like some of you, I'm glad for the 70's we have coming. Also thankful to hear our smoked out friends finally got some rain. I know that was surely welcomed.

@sourland sounds like you have a nasty nest on your hands. All of y'alls crops and harvests look so nice. I need to pick some of the jalapeños just waiting on these bell peppers that are almost ripe. Want to get some pepper jelly made and need the red and yellow bell peppers to cooperate.
Pics of some of the new babies toys.

 

[WthrLady]

Glorious day. Skipped out on housework this morning and hit the local orchard at opening to load up a 5 gallon bucket of the new Rosalee apples. I've been waiting three years, and am not disappointed. They taste like a red sweet tart candy. They didn't plant many trees and I'm sure they sold out of them today.


I cut down my Russian sage today for a friend who does floral arrangements. I love the look of the stuff, but not the smell.

I picked anything with any shade of red/orange in the garden. Then when back through and cut the stalks at the ground. This will force all the remaining energy into the tomatoes left on the vine. Then I'll pull anything that has any chance of ripening in the basement. Then I MIGHT make some green salsa to sell. I still need to make horseradish.

I've most definitely lost a few of the new apple trees. I'll replant. I can't believe how stunted the trees on this hill are. They grow at half the rate as trees in other parts of the valley. ARGH..

 

[sourland]

we make a death box for our ground hornets. Old rubbermade with a hole and a bit of screening on the top. They can see daylight and want to come out, The screen has a hole large enough for the end of the spray can. They can get out of the ground, but not from the rubbermade. Then we gas them.

I learned something today. Great idea.

 

[WthrLady]

I learned something today. Great idea.

Be careful. They are in survival mode this time of year and get MEAN in a hurry. Morning is better than afternoon.

 

[sourland]

Be careful. They are in survival mode this time of year and get MEAN in a hurry. Morning is better than afternoon.

It's all about protecting the queens which will become next years reproductives. They are very protective.

 

[igorsMistress]

I love fresh sage never been able to tolerate a dried or food that contain it ..

Me too. It’s not an herb I keep or grow, I think that’s Texas sage, ornamental only.

 

[pennyJo1960]

Have a photo rain coming straight down but torrential

 

[Sueby]

@Wee Farmer Sarah would you mind sharing your recipe for the green tomato salsa verde (or enchilada sauce, I forget which one it was)? I know you've posted it a million times, I promise to save it this time! I think I'm going to can up a bunch, I'm over tomatoes this year.

ETA: & do you find canning mellows the hotness of the peppers? I can never seem to get the salsas hot enough. I might try Habanero this time instead of jalapeno.

 

[Wee Farmer Sarah]

Good golly, I was having a blast doing some online window shopping, LOL! I scanned the page out of the Ball Canning Book. I hope it's readable. Yes, I have found that canning does mellow the peppers. I don't like as much heat in my salsas because I can always add more. However, if you prefer it out of the jar spicy hot, then double up on the heat before canning. I didn't see any frost this morning even though it was 35F when I finally woke up. I need to take the bags off the okra, but I'm sure they are fine. I found another farmer that is closer than the other orchards that grow concord grapes. I'll be running out to pick some up later. Happy cqanning. One thing I love about the green salsa and corn salsa recipes: no peeling of the tomatoes. And, these recipes are so quick and easy. Yay!
Happy canning!

 

[igorsMistress]

Oh it is wonderful to step out take a breath fresh air yes..
May have a little dog for me soon hope she is as goofy as yours

That’s great Penny! I’m so happy you guys are getting some relief! This is what some foothills looked like yesterday when we get the new roo. It’s pretty gross