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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: Paul R.

It’s for crankcase ventilation, sort of a crude version of a PCV valve. Regular fuel hose from auto parts store would work and they sell by the foot. To get the right OD, the ID will be smaller than the original hose due to the wall being thicker but it should work fine, if it will make the bend(s) without kinking.

Issue would be if it fits over a fitting on the engine end and inside a hole on the air cleaner end. Then you kind of need the right wall thickness.

Small engine shop likely has the genuine article in stock. Sometimes it’s just easiest to get the right thing.


721 posted on 05/31/2025 5:15:36 AM PDT by Pollard (Zone 6b)
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To: FRiends
No PING today, as we start a new thread tomorrow and I'll ping everyone then. Carry on. :)


722 posted on 05/31/2025 6:29:56 AM 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

Great.

I was just thinking that would be a great idea.


723 posted on 05/31/2025 7:17:07 AM PDT by metmom ( He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon." Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.”)
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

I was wondering if you’d ping today or not.

Spent 3 hours pulling weeds and grass in the tunnel. It has never been cleaned up completely and won’t be for a while but I got it knocked back and then some.

Not even quite 80 but I had a headache from the heat/sun by the end of it. Aside from a few warm days here and there, it’s been cool, cloudy and rainy a LOT. Set a long term rain record for April and probably May too. Later on today, I need to rearrange some black plastic/rubber to kill off some more weeds/grass.

The gravel roads around here are wrecked and it seems as far as road maintenance, the county is just not into that sort of thing anymore.

What little bit I planted in the one row is doing good but peppers and maters aren’t real big fans of 50s to 60s and cloudy. Got a few days of sunny with high around 80 and then still around 80 but cloudy, chance of rain for the rest of the forecast.

Finally getting to the point of having spending money, but for a while, it will be spent on fixing vehicles. Alternator will be here Monday for the car and then it’s a waterpump for the truck. Started seeping a little and then a few days later, took 2 gallons of water to get home. Been driving a borrowed truck for a week. Car’s needed an alternator for months now.

As far as me spending, I’m getting a new coffee maker tomorrow($12 woo hoo) because this one’s taking 45 minutes to make the 3 cup pot when it used to be 15 minutes. We got limey water here.

Vehicle registrations are up for renewal. It will be a couple of months before I start spending on the tunnel again. Closed in for Winter. Same goal, different year.


724 posted on 05/31/2025 1:40:40 PM PDT by Pollard (Zone 6b)
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To: daniel1212
Planted too soon in my zeal: 50 or so Toms largely decimated tomato plants that went in 3 weeks previously, due to 4'' of rain in two days (5-23,24) and with strong winds, and cool temps, and into soil that already had lots of rain (more wet days this month than dry, and rainfall amounts are more than 4″ above average, with more today). After today the forecast looks like the rainy season may be over, thank God. I trimmed off many bad leaves and will see if any can recover. I did put just a little fertilizer in a mixture of dirt in each hole before I planted seedlings, but I find it hard to believe that would be the reason for this:

(!st pic is from before)
But these flowers survived well, thank God in all things.


725 posted on 05/31/2025 1:54:08 PM PDT by daniel1212 (Turn 2 the Lord Jesus who saves damned+destitute sinners on His acct, believe, b baptized+follow HIM)
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To: Qiviut

Dear FRiends - Two weeks ago I could have cared less about anything and two days ago I decided yes I will have a veggie garden. Very scaled back but I can’t let that beautiful bed sit empty. A few tomato plants, some zucchini, cukes, the chinese long beans, and a couple of shishito pepper plants. I already had 3 long planted boxes going with lettuce and radishes. Did not start any seeds this spring but I might try outside. Your support love and prayers have helped hold me together and garden talk will help a lot. Took a nice bunch of irises and some rosa rugosa bloom to the cemetery. It’s a parish cemetery so lenient on flowers. Many of the graves have irises and other flowers blooming. That will be for next year. Thanks to you all. Hugs.


726 posted on 05/31/2025 4:30:00 PM PDT by MomwithHope (Forever grateful to all our patriots, past, present and future.)
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To: MomwithHope

I am glad you are going to do some gardening.

My dad is in a country church cemetery. He loved flowers & was always bringing something home for us to plant when he was still able to drive. After our move last year, we are now 15 minutes away from the church (we attend every Sunday too) and I love taking him flowers. If we don’t have anything on our place, I can usually find wildflowers of some sort. We still have some peony buds yet to bloom & the zinnias are coming up so there will be flowers soon. For Christmas last year, from my old herb garden, I made him a simple rosemary wreath with some lavender & holly berries. I find considerable solace in taking dad flowers.


727 posted on 05/31/2025 6:11:45 PM PDT by Qiviut (Come! Live in the light! Shine with the joy and the love of the Lord!)
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To: Pollard; Bon of Babble

“What little bit I planted in the one row is doing good but peppers and maters aren’t real big fans of 50s to 60s and cloudy.”

We’ve had a few days of total overcast (no Sun!) and cooler thanks to the Canadian Wildfires and their smoke.

Nothing like what Bon experienced with the fires, but my tomatoes & peppers are pretty much just sitting there, twiddling their thumbs!


728 posted on 05/31/2025 6:18:09 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: daniel1212

Those yellow flowers are ‘Columbine.’ They like the cool of the Spring and are early bloomers. :)


729 posted on 05/31/2025 6:19:33 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: Qiviut; MomwithHope

“I find considerable solace in taking Dad flowers.”

My Dad is buried here (cremated) on our farm. He has a GORGEOUS view of the pasture where he can watch the seasons change and watch to cows graze. He has two wild apple trees to enjoy and a wind chime to listen to. Beau found the most gorgeous big, flat rock to put on top of him, and he and I sit there and either ‘chat with Dad’ or hunt...which Dad would also appreciate. ;)


730 posted on 05/31/2025 6:34:16 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
thanks to the Canadian Wildfires and their smoke

Well that makes a little more sense of this forecast

Aside from the two hour window of "areas of smoke" -- 5pm tp 7pm

731 posted on 05/31/2025 6:55:15 PM PDT by Pollard (Zone 6b)
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To: MomwithHope

Tonight at Mass I thought about you and your hubby, so said some extra prayers for you. There was another parishioner there who recently lost her husband, and she had two family members with her comforting her.

I’m glad you will be doing something in your garden. I hope you find tending to it is helpful.

Continuing my prayers for your well being.


732 posted on 05/31/2025 7:08:53 PM PDT 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

My dad has a great view of the Blue Ridge mountains ..... and so will I one of these days.


733 posted on 05/31/2025 7:09:05 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

Raccoons can do a lot of damage. Trap them if you can and do whatever your state allows I suppose! Good luck!


734 posted on 05/31/2025 9:00:25 PM PDT by Pete from Shawnee Mission
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To: Qiviut

Sounds like a very similar situation. Thanks.


735 posted on 05/31/2025 11:43:01 PM PDT by MomwithHope (Forever grateful to all our patriots, past, present and future.)
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To: FamiliarFace

So many years attending Mass in that church, same pew. I do find him there next to me.


736 posted on 05/31/2025 11:45:38 PM PDT by MomwithHope (Forever grateful to all our patriots, past, present and future.)
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To: MomwithHope

((Hugs))


737 posted on 06/01/2025 4:01:46 AM PDT 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

Hi Diana, please add me to your ping list! I read most comments over the weeks, the bad news is I work in one of the larger greenhouses in the country and often 7 days a week in the spring both in sowing and retail and then back to retirement. BTW, it is 34° SW MI in June this morning...ugh. Been a terrible year here for gardeners, weatherwise more like the beginning of April.


738 posted on 06/01/2025 5:08:15 AM PDT by quantim (Victory is not relative, it is absolute.)
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To: quantim

You’re in! I’ll be starting the June Thread in a minute and you will get a ping. Welcome!


739 posted on 06/01/2025 5:43:29 AM 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 am still dealing with the fallout from all of the ash! Find it piled up against my front door when the wind blows - I clean it out about once a week.

I feel for the people in the path of the smoky air and ash fall-out from Canada. My neighbor told me her cardiologist said when the particulate rate is above 50 the air is unhealthy, to stay inside with air purifiers running. If you have an iPhone, air particulate rate is listed with the weather on the weather app. I check it every morning.


740 posted on 06/01/2025 6:07:15 AM PDT by Bon of Babble (You Say You Want a Revolution?)
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