The Garden Thread - May, 2024

May 1, 2024 | Diana in WI/Greeneyes in Memoriam

[Diana in Wisconsin]

The MONTHLY Gardening Thread is a 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 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/removed from our New & Improved Ping List.

NOTE: This is a once a MONTH Ping List, but we DO post to the thread all throughout the month. Links to related articles and discussions which might be of interest to Gardeners are welcomed any time!

[FamiliarFace]

Gorgeous! I’m so jealous!

[MomwithHope]

If you are looking for advice I would have some.
First what does he want them for? Meat, dairy, pets, mowers.
Well they do not mow grass they will eat tall weeds and shrubbery. Stay away from Nubian goats, the ones with the floppy ears. They are very high strung. If you are looking for tame and easy to manage, trim hooves, etc, get bottle fed young ones. The Swiss breeds are all good. Gentle. We dehorned all our baby goats so the horns don’t grow. Safer for everyone and if you use a dehorning iron when they are just starting to grow, easy. I was goat superintendent for the county 4h fair for 5 years, saw more goats who did not have good health care than the flip side. Plus we raised our own for 25 years.

[MomwithHope]

We used to be members for years hubby was not impressed with their steaks. The flavor.

[FamiliarFace]

We have loved the prime cuts here. We just started our membership last summer, and I’m planning to renew it.

[FamiliarFace]

I went to the garden center today, the one I really like but is the furthest away from me. They always have the best stuff, very healthy. I tried hard to behave, and did pretty well until I saw a purple queen bougainvillea, offered as a hanging basket or in a container with a small trellis to climb. Actually the ones as a trellis were a very dull purple, not the vibrant color of the hanging basket. I succumbed. I have wanted one for many years, even though I know it will be very hard to overwinter inside my house. So I’m going to just enjoy the heck out of it this season, and if it hangs on through the winter, that’ll be a bonus. I’m not sure I will leave it as a hanging basket, but I might. It’s just beautiful. When something brings you this much joy, it’s hard to turn it away. I hope I don’t kill it right away.

[Bon of Babble]

Thanks!

I think the amaryllis is from my neighbor - she brought over a whole bunch of bulbs last year and asked if I wanted them, some were amaryllis, some were Peruvian lilies.

Bulbs like that run around $20-25 apiece in my local garden store so I was glad to get them. I rarely see Peruvian (or spider) lilies for sale.

I planted around 10 amaryllis bulbs from the neighbor - and I had others I inherited from my mother when she died, from Christmas past, I never thought they'd come up, but they did.

I put these in a hidden part of my garden so they are little seen:

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Yes, you are my Go-To Gal for goats. I think he wants them mainly for pasture mowing more than anything. Let’s see how he does as a ‘Chicken Daddy’ first, LOL!

[FamiliarFace]

Spectacular!

Do you happen to have any suggestions for bougainvillea care? I know they need a lot of sun, but I’m wondering about watering and fertilizing.

[xoxox]

Well drained soil (mediterranean origin, so think “sandy”).

The thrive in FL which can have daily downpours here and there for weeks on end.

Which isn’t to say you want to over-water them — because that’s almost impossible in sandy FL “soil.”

HTH.

[xoxox]

re: Hydrangea (in 1 gal pot):

bloomed nicely for a while, then, as all things do, that passed.

pruned the dead off. what’s left are a few woody stems and some leaves.

the leaves are turning grey, curling up, and drying out in the most morbid way.

soil is not soaked but not entirely dry, so I can’t figure out if it’s getting too much or not enough water.

light is a problem. filtered at best for several hours a day.

had it on the porch for a while until it got too hot (yes, we’re there already) so now it resides in a climate-controlled environment.

any advice helpful!

[FamiliarFace]

Thank you so much! I’m going to leave this plant in its current container for the time being, until I decide where I will put it. Then I will put it in a southern window during the winter, maybe even add a grow light for extra assistance. The tag says it blooms in the spring and then again in the fall. Is that right? I have no experience with them other than enjoying what others have done.

[xoxox]

You know, I never really notice them until they are blooming, which they are right now and have been for some time. Honestly I don’t pay attention to them when they’re not so I can’t say when the bloom season(s) is/are. Sorta thought they always bloomed — which, in a way, since I only notice them when they do, they do for me.

[FamiliarFace]

I guess I thought that too, but it makes sense that they don’t bloom year-round. BTW, welcome to FR.

[MomwithHope]

Trust me they will not mow anything.

[xoxox]

Thank you and Godspeed.

[FamiliarFace]

When I went to the garden store yesterday. I found a new-to-me plant called moneywort. It had small yellow flowers and variegated leaves. It said it was a perennial and good for zones 5-9, needs 3-6 hours of sunlight.

Does anyone have experience with this plant? I bought one (Proven Winners) just to give it a try.

Suggestions or recommendations appreciated. Thanks in advance!

[Pollard]

Sheep are better for mowing. They’re grazers while goats are browsers.

Won’t hardly touch fescue. They like clover and alfalfa. They’ll eat a little broad leaf grass. They’re eat all the wild flowers and anything with a thorn, except thistle. Blackberry, raspberry and multi flora are a favorite snack.

Harder to fence than dogs, cattle or sheep or most anything. Dry soil and a 6,000 volt electric fence? They’ll laugh as they walk through it.

[Bon of Babble]

Where I live in So Cal, bougainvillea need very very little care. They are able to withstand our searing heat and especially our hot summer winds for months on end - and continue to put out bracts in all sorts of beautiful colors.

They need little water or fertilizer - but like a lot of sun and do not like to sit in soggy soil - I let mine dry out almost completely before I water them.

I don't think they like cold - so I would put it somewhere warm if you live in an area that freezes in the winter.

This is Thai Delight.

There are SO many things I'd love to grow - rhododendrons, which I keep losing, peonies, tuberous begonias, tulips - but none of them are able to tolerate our hot, dry winds, unfortunately so I try to stick to what grows around here. Best advice I ever got is to walk around your neighborhood to see what works in other people's yards.

[FamiliarFace]

Thanks, I realize it’s a long shot here. They’re just so beautiful, I had to give it a try.

[Pollard]

Cool, looks like my brackets will be here for the weekend. Gonna be sunny, 75 Saturday and 79 Sunday. It ought to look like a high tunnel frame this weekend.

Today; Mad downpours, hail and a couple of tornado warnings due to rotations in the storms. My boss said his neighbor got 3” of rain in his rain gauge from two quick storms. Storms formed along I-44 just West of where I work and headed to St Louis. Didn’t start raining here until I was probably half way home.

The rain gauge said 0.54 when I got home and it’s at 0.70 now.

Highest wind gust here was 52 mph at 4:43pm. Seven gusts over 30 and four over 40 but most were 20 or less.

Would have been a day to have the tunnel sides close 1/2 to 3/4 of the way for the two hours of gusty wind.