The Garden Thread - March, 2025

March 1,2025 | 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.

[left that other site]

God puts us where He can use us best. 😄

[metmom]

Thanks for the ping. I sent the links to my son. He likes trying new stuff.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Been there! Lived that! :)

[left that other site]

Amen.

[MomwithHope]

Kids table in the kitchen, all the platters filled the dinig room table ad adults satvwherever they could squeeze in This was on the south east side of Chicago. Grandpa likely went to a slaughterhouse to get his lamb and pig . Pit dug in the backyard.

[MomwithHope]

Les are too much for us now except for Easter and Christmas. Too many leftovers but we always make lamb and cabbage and onion soup.

[Bob434]

We make lamb stew out of leftovers too- the drippings make for a real robust tasting broth for the stew- and that wil l take us a couple of days- -

[FamiliarFace]

God bless you!

[FamiliarFace]

I’m still curious. 8 families? How many people including kids? I can only recall a couple of times when there were much more than 40 at the family homestead. Maybe as much as 45; two grandparents with the families of 6 children.

The table in the kitchen wouldn’t have held us kids. There were easily 25 of us. The big dining room table was expanded to hold maybe 14 adults, which would’ve been my parents, aunts, uncles, and grandparents. We sat anywhere we could, family room, or porch. Anywhere. Bedtime was the same way. I don’t know how we all spent the night in that little house. Boggles the mind.

(By the way, after both of my grandparents passed, the aunts and uncles all asked us to move there, to keep the place from being vandalized. We moved in when I was 12, though we lived across town for several years before that. It was a great blessing for our family. After both of my parents passed, we left the property to one of my brothers, and he lives there now. Had a fun family reunion last June, and I still feel my entire family’s presence when I go there. It’s pretty cool. My brother better leave it to his kids. It will be awful if it’s not in the family somehow. Was built by my grandpa and uncles in 1936, when my Mama was a little girl.)

[Pete from Shawnee Mission]

“builds aerospace components”

If they make components that use Beryllium be careful of the dust. Not something you want to inhale.

(I worked next to a Bendix plant here in KC that assembled missle systems components and had some problems with beryllium dust contamination.)

[Pete from Shawnee Mission]

Thank you for posting This Diana!

10 Reasons to garden

“Gardening Provides Outdoor Exercise”

And as it mentions, Sunshine....UVB ultraviolet light which everyone needs in order to produce Vitamin D.

https://ouraring.com/blog/benefits-of-morning-sunlight/

https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/time-for-more-vitamin-d

11) You will be happy when you share any extra garden produce with others!

[left that other site]

Thank you. May He bless you, too!

[Pollard]

Everything I saw was aluminum and one stainless steel part

[Qiviut]

The “Greening” has begun. Between a couple of mild days & some heavy showers last Sunday, the grass is waking up & starting to get scraggly in a couple of places. For sure, I will have to mow some areas by next weekend.

Mom needed a cart to haul stuff she’s trimming off the fences so I tried to start the mower to pull the cart - no luck. Even after being on the battery charger & showing a full charge, no luck. What to do? The company in the area recommended to me for servicing only services what they sell & I don’t have that brand mower. :-(

My brother texted Friday night - he & the SIL wanted to visit today, go to church with us & she is bringing lunch. I asked if he would be trailering Clyde & mom’s golf cart on this trip & he said ‘no’. He had promised to service Clyde before he brought it to me & had not had time. I told him the mower I have won’t start & he said he’d look at it.

Yesterday afternoon, I got a text with a picture .... Clyde, sitting on my brother’s trailer. He had serviced it (oil change, etc), sharpened the blades, power washed it, & Clyde will be here today! Great brother, no? It is such a relief to know I can keep the 3+ acres of grass under control from the get-go this year!

Birds are singing up a storm, lots of sunshine - it’s a beautiful morning!

[MomwithHope]

Thats nice the house is still standing. My Grandparents house in Chicago was bulldozed decades ago, still an empty lot. They had 9 children, and they were all in the area. One died at Anzio. My memories are for all but one my youngest aunt was not married yet. And some of the couple had no kids yet. This was a long time ago. So kids table, about 12 or so.

[MomwithHope]

Made some white rice before church and added the lamb leftovers with the onions. probably one serving left.

[Bob434]

Lamb and rice one of my favorites- rather have that than most anythin.g

[MayflowerMadam]

We entertained my husband’s English friend and his wife about 20 years ago. She made some wonderful scones, showed how she made them, and gave me the recipe. I know I do it the same way ‘cause I watched her, but mine just don’t “turn out” the same. I guess it takes a special touch. Not a fan of those with chocolate chips — am partial to cranberried.

[Liz]

Classic French Tuna Nicoise Salad / 4 Servings
The perfect combination of flavorful ingredients, perfect for a quick lunch or dinner.

Ing Vinaigrette: 6 tbl ol/oil 2 tbl red wine vinegar 1 tsp minced fresh garlic salt/Dash of pepper. Salads 12 ounces baby new potatoes, halved or quartered ¼ tsp gar/powder ½ tsp salt divided 2 tbl olive oil divided 12 oz fresh green beans trimmed 6 c Boston lettuce, chopped Romaine, or baby arugula 1 cup cherry or grape tomatoes halved 4 hard-boiled eggs sliced 20 whole pitted olives 1 2 oz can flat anchovy fillets in small pieces (optional) 2 4.5 oz cans tuna fish, packed in olive oil; drained and flaked ¼ cup chp fresh parsley

Instructions Vinaigrette: Shake all ing in sealed jar til completely combined. Set aside. Roast Veg: Toss gently to coat in lge ziplok, potatoes, 1 tablespoon of olive oil, ¼ teaspoon gar/powder, ¼ tsp salt. Spread onto sprayed sheetpan. Roast 400 deg 15 min, stirring once.

While the potatoes roast, toss/coat in ziplok green beans, tbl olive oil, ¼ tsp salt. After potatoes roast 15 min, remove pan. Spread green beans onto pan w/ potatoes in a single layer. Roast tender 10-15 min (stirring halfway thru). Very small potatoes will be done in about 20 min, larger potatoes will need 30 min. They should be crispy on the outside and soft on the inside.

Set aside to cool slightly while you assemble the salad. Layer in serving bowls salad greens, tomatoes, hd-boiled eggs, olives, anchovies, tuna, roasted potatoes and green beans. Drizzle w/ vinaigrette; garnish with fresh parsley.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Sounds like using my Grandma’s method for homemade bread.

“Recipe? I don’t need a recipe!” ;)