Weekly Garden Thread - December 10-16, 2022 [The Legend of the Poinsettia Edition]

December 10, 2022 | 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!

[Pete from Shawnee Mission]

Glad to hear the surgery went well! I think he made the right choice. I am glad his Doctor went along with it. Living out your life in a bed is no life.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Even thought they all look the same, there are different cultivars and some bloom at Easter, or in October, November or December up here. I’m sure in desert conditions, they’d bloom quite often.

Either way, they are such a pretty sight. :)

I need to clean her up, today. She’s losing quite a few blooms already. She won’t make it to the 26th when we’ll have a houseful of family. :(

[MomwithHope]

Just saw this and asked to join. Seed savers sharing site. Started on this day 10 years ago. https://www.facebook.com/groups/SeedCollectorsHeaven/

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Thanks! :)

[Pete from Shawnee Mission]

Ms. Peach is doing good work shielding your blue vacuum cleaner!

My late Mother had a Christmas cactus. Not sure where it is now, but it is fortunate that it did not end up in the hands of Mrs. Pete.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

I leave the vacuum out so it looks like I actually DO something around here, LOL!

[Pete from Shawnee Mission]

Pollard, glad to hear it!

A good amount of time off so you can do other things. (I you are not too tired!)

[Pete from Shawnee Mission]

I have no doubt you do, and in winter at times, what else is there to do?

Snow emergencies across southern Wisconsin

I dunnoh....just looks like Thursday to me.

[Pollard]

Thanks Pete

Pre-employment physical this morning and employee orientation this afternoon which is paid so I clocked in and out for. That makes it finally official.

12 hour shifts, 3 days one week, 4 the next. They pay the 8 hours overtime on that week. Breaks and lunch paid so 12 hours is 12 hours. Steel toe shoes required but 50% shoe allowance so if I buy $120 boots, they pay $60 and it’s annual.

I’ve had three plant tours now and have yet to see a person that looked stressed, pissed or that was working like a dog.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

We got 4” of wet, sticky YUCK. Beau was kind enough to drive me into Madison today so I could have my Christmas Brunch with my 3 BFFs of 43 years. :)

While we were dining, he got his ‘Winter Shearing’ and no longer looks like a crazy Mountain Man - which is much appreciated with Christmas Family Photos coming up, LOL!

We’re in for snow and cold. ‘Christmas’ is at our house on the 26th, but we’re flexible if, in fact, we get The Big Dump they are now hinting at for next week.

Unseasonable cold - though I was still able to harvest lettuces in the greenhouse yesterday, so I broke my old record by one day! Yay! :)

[Pete from Shawnee Mission]

Its a nice trip! I think you passed through Verona and over the Sugar river.

(Thinking Summer things.... I sent my daughter a blog with pictures about somebody who kayaked the Sugar river starting in Verona. Its almost a drainage ditch at that point, but you can do it in a Kayak! https://www.wisconsinrivertrips.com/segments/sugar-river)

0928 and Its 25 degrees right in my corner of 6B. Supposed to be 40 degrees tomorrow. Time to do a wrap on 2022 gardening. I have 3 raised beds that I am still keeping covered and heated with cables (brassicas of course) but its looking like a lot of below freezing from this point on. There is not really enough sunlight for much growth and they are mostly just marking time. Will harvest the Kaitlin cabbage tomorrow and see how the Chinese Golden Beauty are doing. (Something chewing on the leaves of the C GBeauty. will they grow faster than the the damage? Will determine tomorrow...(Set out some Sluggo, but I think its just sow or pill bug damage.))