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The Garden Thread - January, 2025
January 1, 2025 | Diana in WI/Greeneyes in Memoriam

Posted on 01/01/2025 7:08:47 AM PST by 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.


TOPICS: Agriculture; Food; Gardening; Hobbies
KEYWORDS: food; garden; gardening; hobbies; january2025
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

Speaking of Wisconsin wildlife....I was treated to one Amercan Bald Eagle sighting over my field that borders the Sugar River today around noon, and then around 4pm another one flew over my barn. I have to buy a nice pair of bird-watching binoculars that fit in a coat pocket. My giant size binocs are always in the house. 🦅🦅


241 posted on 01/11/2025 3:46:07 PM PST by TheConservativeParty
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To: TheConservativeParty

Those Eagles are really something. So magnificent!

Thanks for the encouragement on the Pansies. I Brought in dirt today from the greenhouse. :)


242 posted on 01/11/2025 3:59:41 PM PST by Diana in Wisconsin (I don't have, 'Hobbies.' I'm developing a robust Post-Apocalyptic skill set.)
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To: TheConservativeParty

Please tell me which binoculars you’re thinking of for your coat pocket. I love keeping an eye on the birds around me. Thank you! I keep my good ones 8n the house, too. It would be good to have a back up when we hike or just walk.


243 posted on 01/11/2025 6:03:18 PM PST by FamiliarFace (I got my own way of livin' But everything gets done With a southern accent Where I come from. TPetty)
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To: MomwithHope; Diana in Wisconsin; Qiviut; Pollard
Ha!! Little Southern girl has success in wintertime in the Midwest! My recipe for dinner tonight called for fresh thyme. Well, I have dried thyme, yes, but as I was chopping onions, I realized that last summer I planted “Winter Thyme” in my herb garden out front. So I ran outside to where I thought it might be. Dug a bit in the 10”+ snow, and figured out quickly where I had placed it. Still there, and in perfect shape!

IMG-7406

Here it is with the areas I dug first.

IMG-7408

Don’t know why I’m so surprised, but I am. Who knew that I could get fresh thyme in the middle of real winter from my own “garden”?! Not me!

244 posted on 01/11/2025 6:27:11 PM PST by FamiliarFace (I got my own way of livin' But everything gets done With a southern accent Where I come from. TPetty)
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To: FamiliarFace

Hi there, I have no idea what to buy for a good quality pocket size binoculars.
Was hoping someone on this thread could offer suggestions.
😅


245 posted on 01/11/2025 6:42:11 PM PST by TheConservativeParty
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To: FamiliarFace

Hey Congrats on the harvest!


246 posted on 01/11/2025 6:42:50 PM PST by MomwithHope (Forever grateful to all our patriots, past, present and future.)
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To: MomwithHope

Thank! I was thrilled to see it under the snow! I’d forgotten about it completely once Thanksgiving came. It was a fun surprise!


247 posted on 01/11/2025 7:01:50 PM PST by FamiliarFace (I got my own way of livin' But everything gets done With a southern accent Where I come from. TPetty)
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To: TheConservativeParty

Well, this is a good place to go for help in this regard. Maybe someone else will read about this, and be able to give us some good info!


248 posted on 01/11/2025 7:03:59 PM PST by FamiliarFace (I got my own way of livin' But everything gets done With a southern accent Where I come from. TPetty)
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To: FamiliarFace

What a great surprise! :-)


249 posted on 01/11/2025 7:34:03 PM PST by Qiviut (The mountains are calling & I must go ..... John Muir )
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To: Qiviut; All

It was wonderful! Made me smile all the way through dinner prep! That means it was a good day! ;)

P.S. corned beef with gnocchi was a huge success! (Cooked the corn beef a couple of nights ago. This is how we used the leftovers.)
https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchen/gnocchi-with-corned-beef-and-cabbage-5562226


250 posted on 01/11/2025 7:39:32 PM PST by FamiliarFace (I got my own way of livin' But everything gets done With a southern accent Where I come from. TPetty)
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To: FamiliarFace

Two springs ago I was thrilled to ee a patch of parsley had survived through the winter with no mulching. I always had to plant new seed every year. That patch must have rooted deep Hoping to see it this spring too.


251 posted on 01/12/2025 4:07:19 AM PST by MomwithHope (Forever grateful to all our patriots, past, present and future.)
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To: MomwithHope

I love that! Fingers crossed for you!


252 posted on 01/12/2025 5:36:08 AM PST by FamiliarFace (I got my own way of livin' But everything gets done With a southern accent Where I come from. TPetty)
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To: All
Editor at breitbart who lives in Palisades.

Plenty of quick replies about what a prepper is.

253 posted on 01/12/2025 7:12:46 PM PST by Pollard (Zone 6b)
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To: FamiliarFace; Diana in Wisconsin

The housewarming party yesterday was a big success! We had 18 people attend - those who did not had good reasons: out of state, one spouse in hospital, another very ill. Those who did attend had what appeared to be a great time talking, eating, enjoying their surroundings. Everyone loved the house & said how beautiful it was (still decorated for Christmas which added a lot). One person said it was better than the family get-together dinner in December - people were not lined up on tables & could mingle/talk more easily. Our kitchen eating area with the bay window & farm table was the place where people gathered. It was also near the food/drinks on the counter top. My cousin’s young son (just graduated HS this past spring), was on the bay window seat next to the cheese & sausage tray - I think he ate most of the meat ... long arms & just reached over LOL.

The food all turned out pretty tasty & I had one recipe request - we have leftovers, at least half the dips were eaten, all but 2 or 3 sliders, half the Lil Smokies in bacon, quite a few vegetables, the pineapple bowl was emptied, etc. Of 3 dessert plates, one was pretty much empty & the others had large gaps in their contents - I was surprised at the ‘sweets’ consumed. Mom and I will eat well the rest of the week; however, no one left our place hungry yesterday ... we just had a very large volume of food. I wanted to take pictures, but ran about a half hour short of time (my niece showed up early & helped out) & didn’t have a chance to take pictures before folks were already into the food.

Mom cleaned up last night - quite the chore, but I was whipped. Saturday night, I got to bed about midnight & was up again at 5:30 am Sunday morning. Being on my feet from about noon Saturday until midnight, then all morning Sunday had my plantar fasciitis foot screaming & my back was hurting, too. Who knew preparing food was just short of the equivalent of a hard day of trail maintenance in the mountains? LOL!

We have appointments to make/keep, I still have stair railings to put up (my cousin said he’d cut my Newell posts off for me so I get a straight, flat cut), we need haircuts (have to try a new stylist - scary, but at least hair grows back if you get a bad cut), trip to town 45 minutes away for various things, etc. Life isn’t slowing down much .... I need a vacation :-)


254 posted on 01/13/2025 5:27:38 AM PST by Qiviut (The mountains are calling & I must go ..... John Muir )
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To: Qiviut

I knew it would be a big success! Now you can take the rest of 2025 off.

Yeah, right! ;)


255 posted on 01/13/2025 6:43:55 AM PST by Diana in Wisconsin (I don't have, 'Hobbies.' I'm developing a robust Post-Apocalyptic skill set.)
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

Mom had not been up 10 minutes before she declared “ we have GOT to get GOING”!!!

I am going on strike for a week or so :-)


256 posted on 01/13/2025 7:56:33 AM PST by Qiviut (The mountains are calling & I must go ..... John Muir )
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To: Qiviut

I’m so happy that it all went swimmingly! I love that you were able to do this for your mom, extended family, and friends. It is way better to make more than you need than to not have enough, in my opinion.

I have developed a heel spur or some plantar fasciitis issue. It doesn’t always bother me, but it does after a long day. You have definitely earned a vacation! Now will you let yourself take one? ;)


257 posted on 01/13/2025 2:22:33 PM PST by FamiliarFace (I got my own way of livin' But everything gets done With a southern accent Where I come from. TPetty)
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To: Qiviut

LOLOL, that’s hilarious!


258 posted on 01/13/2025 2:24:12 PM PST by FamiliarFace (I got my own way of livin' But everything gets done With a southern accent Where I come from. TPetty)
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

Had to put down a goat just now. He’s been under the house for two days with the other bucks constantly going under and beating up on him. Woke us up at 4am bumping up on the floor of the cabin. Guess he got sick or just was just chosen by the rest as being defective enough for them to want to delete from the herd.

Either way, he was never going be accepted back into the herd and they were never going to let him eat or drink so I had to do what I had to do. It’s not like anyone wants to take on new animals in the middle of winter when they have to feed them. Not knowing if he’s got a transmittable condition, I wouldn’t do that to someone else anyway. Only the one doe has ever been vaccinated for anything.

Nice quick take down. As good as it could have gone. Can’t eat him because he might have been sick with who knows what.

Can’t wait til Spring when I can get rid of all of them. The buyer will be made aware of the vaccine status. If I have the freezer fixed by then, which is a cheap fix, I’ll put a couple of bucks in it. Bring it down to 1-2 bucks to get rid of. Probably just the big boy.


259 posted on 01/13/2025 3:53:34 PM PST by Pollard (Zone 6b)
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To: Pollard

That must’ve been hard, but necessary. Life isn’t always very pretty. Sometimes it’s a kindness to put an animal out of its misery.


260 posted on 01/13/2025 7:29:10 PM PST by FamiliarFace (I got my own way of livin' But everything gets done With a southern accent Where I come from. TPetty)
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