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

Posted on 05/01/2025 6:15:12 AM PDT 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: agriculture; food; garden; gardening; hobbies; may25
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To: Pete from Shawnee Mission

Ha! Well he is a Cubs fan like me and my family. Not easy to be a South side cubs fan. His parish was about 15 minutes away, further south and a little west. Very near our cemetery where my family is buried. He is 5 years younger than me. So far he looks pretty good.


301 posted on 05/08/2025 3:27:37 PM PDT by MomwithHope (Forever grateful to all our patriots, past, present and future.)
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To: Pete from Shawnee Mission

Whoops, I am only 4 years older and that one year makes a difference!


302 posted on 05/08/2025 4:08:32 PM PDT by MomwithHope (Forever grateful to all our patriots, past, present and future.)
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To: Liz

He’s got to attend a County Conservation conference this weekend, so I’ve squirreled away some leftover Walleye from dinner last week and am having myself a Fish Taco FEAST while he’s gone and I don’t have to cook for him. Ya-Hoo! :)


303 posted on 05/08/2025 4:09:55 PM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin (I don't have, 'Hobbies.' I'm developing a robust Post-Apocalyptic skill set.)
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To: Paul R.

I’m going heavy on the Dahlia and the Zinnia this season. I need more, ‘food for the soul’ than I’ve been planting. I’ll still have all the basics, just one bed less for flowers. ;)


304 posted on 05/08/2025 4:12:45 PM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin (I don't have, 'Hobbies.' I'm developing a robust Post-Apocalyptic skill set.)
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To: MomwithHope

“Glad you get to share all this with your mom. Savor it.”

I do! And she’s always been a letter-writer and a card-sender on EVERY holiday. I have one whole ‘fancy’ box filled with her letters. I know I will need to re-read them at some point and laugh and cry. ;)


305 posted on 05/08/2025 4:17:41 PM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin (I don't have, 'Hobbies.' I'm developing a robust Post-Apocalyptic skill set.)
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To: MomwithHope

Here’s a funny one that she pulled:

When I was in Army Basic Training at Fort Jackson, SC, it was a RULE at Mail Call that if you got a ‘Goodie Box’ sent to you from home, you had to pass it around and SHARE it.

I had called Mom and told her I needed a few more bras because that red sand in SC gets into everything. So, she baked me a batch of cookies, put them in a zip-lock bag, put the bras in the bottom of the box and sent it on.

I was in the first Co-Ed Training Platoon in 1979. The guy that had the box passed to him LAST for a COOKIE had a LOT of fun with my bras, waiving them around and putting one on his head, LOL!


306 posted on 05/08/2025 4:30:47 PM PDT 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

Dahlias & zinnias are what I have going in mom’s flower garden (3 raised beds). My niece gave me 4 dahlia seedlings: two Shooting Stars & two Bee’s Choice from Floret. The seedlings have ‘sturdied up’ a good bit since I got them (Easter) & fingers crossed they do OK - I have had them outside almost every day to harden off. The dahlia tubers & zinnias seeds aren’t planted yet - ran out of time Wednesday & spent all day on the mowers today & trimming, etc. for company tomorrow.

A “revelation” has occurred regarding my 4 galvanized beds still back at the old house. My 2 cedar beds are at the back of the shop, but the ground slopes off & to put the metal beds there would be problematic. It dawned on me while mowing to put them along the side of the barn (solid barn red siding). I paced it off & there is exactly enough room. I think Hollyhocks would be beautiful with the barn background & I am sure I can figure out other beautiful flowers to grow there. The ground is level, no other obstructions. Definitely morning & early afternoon sun, but should get sun 6 hours+. Deer generally don’t bother hollyhocks. I like the idea of delphiniums, but they are a deer favorite :-(


307 posted on 05/08/2025 4:54:36 PM PDT by Qiviut (Come! Live in the light! Shine with the joy and the love of the Lord!)
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

Fish tacos.....seventh Mexican heaven.


308 posted on 05/08/2025 5:01:26 PM PDT by Liz (This then is how we should pray...."Our Father, who art in heaven......" )
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

If mom had put the bras on top and hid the cookies you could have kept them all for yourself :) Oh well.


309 posted on 05/08/2025 5:34:16 PM PDT by Pete from Shawnee Mission ( )
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To: Liz

In another life I was married to a Navy man assigned to the USS Kitty Hawk. We moved to Imperial Beach, CA from Wisconsin...and we were broker than broke!

So I found all the FREE and fun things I could do, as he was either on that ship working, or was on short-term cruises for a few weeks at a time. I DID work, but I still had time to fill if he was away. ;)

I spent a lot of time at Balboa Park, which was FREE for service members and their families. They had a Zoo, AWESOME Museums, BEAUTIFUL gardens...and a Taco Truck that got me hooked on Fish Tacos!

I’m not kidding when I tell you that any ‘couch cushion’ spare change I found, cashed in cans and bottles for recycling, money my Own Dear Mother sent me or even PENNIES found in the STREET went to support my Fish Taco addiction!

And here I am...45 years later, still jonesin’ for Fish Tacos. I’m not PROUD of myself, but it is what it is. ;)


310 posted on 05/08/2025 6:04:28 PM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin (I don't have, 'Hobbies.' I'm developing a robust Post-Apocalyptic skill set.)
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To: Pete from Shawnee Mission

D’Oh! NOW ya tell me! ;)


311 posted on 05/08/2025 6:05:24 PM PDT 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

i dont see anything wrong with that.


312 posted on 05/08/2025 6:07:32 PM PDT by Liz (This then is how we should pray...."Our Father, who art in heaven......" )
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To: FRiends

I got SO MUCH DONE today, it was scary!

FOURTEEN beds are cleaned up, mulched with a 2-3” layer of fresh straw and are ready to receive any and all plants! I have a bale and a half left which I am saving for when the tulips and daffs finally ‘shed their mortal coil’ and I can mulch the other two beds...which are mostly Spring Bulbs for cutting, but there’s some room for Garlic later in the season. ;)

All of my Roses got their first ‘shot’ of Go-Go juice; I think I lost one rose over winter - we had NO snow cover at all and northern roses desperately NEED that snowy layer of insulation. If so, a pretty Perennial Grass will take her place. If you die in my garden (and it’s not MY fault!) you are replaced by someone that is of more hardy stuff! ;)

Mowing is on the agenda for tomorrow, but I want to get in my Kale and my Broccoli and more Lettuces and Spinach. I also have to water (again) my new Nanking Bush Cherries and the newly planted Asparagus crowns. Looks like we’re going straight to HOT this Spring - which kinda sucks - and not much for rain in the near future. :(

So, dragging the hoses out of the barn is also on the ‘Things To Do’ list, as well as bringing up the tomato cages from the Milk House and placing them where they need to go for planting tomatoes at the end of the month. Peppers? I’ll have a dozen plants, but I just support them with Bamboo stakes I’ve picked up along the way.

I’ll also need one of Beau’s rattiest t-shirts to make some ‘soft’ ties for said Peppers. Luckily, he’s gone for the weekend, so I can raid his closet, LOL!


313 posted on 05/08/2025 6:18:11 PM PDT 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

What fun to be in a mixed gender unit! (Happy I was out before they started that in the Navy!)


314 posted on 05/08/2025 6:20:35 PM PDT by Pete from Shawnee Mission ( )
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To: Liz; Diana in Wisconsin

I was gonna have leftover chicken for dinner... Now, I’m heading out for fish tacos.. 😋


315 posted on 05/08/2025 6:27:45 PM PDT by dakine
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To: dakine

Good idea.


316 posted on 05/08/2025 6:29:35 PM PDT by Liz (This then is how we should pray...."Our Father, who art in heaven......" )
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To: Pete from Shawnee Mission

All I can say is that it was incredibly TIRING, dragging those BOYS along with us every day! ;)

I really, REALLY miss that 18 year old ‘Army Ready’ body I used to have; she would be VERY helpful these days, out here on the farm.


317 posted on 05/08/2025 6:38:08 PM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin (I don't have, 'Hobbies.' I'm developing a robust Post-Apocalyptic skill set.)
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To: dakine

Keep a separate checkbook account for Fish Tacos; it’s going to get expensive, LOL!


318 posted on 05/08/2025 6:40:16 PM PDT 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

Unbelievably gorgeous ....

https://library.floretflowers.com/collections/dahlias-a-z


319 posted on 05/08/2025 8:01:01 PM PDT by Qiviut (Come! Live in the light! Shine with the joy and the love of the Lord!)
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To: Qiviut

I have their book, 'Cut Flower Garden.' Every time I look to buy seed from them, they're sold out! I'll have to keep checking back. Their website is SO beautiful...

320 posted on 05/09/2025 7:08:43 AM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin (I don't have, 'Hobbies.' I'm developing a robust Post-Apocalyptic skill set.)
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