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

Posted on 10/01/2025 5:23:58 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: food; gardening; hobbies; preppers
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To: Augie

I want the Hot Sauce, not the seeds, LOL! :)


721 posted on 10/28/2025 3:36:44 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: FamiliarFace
"I’ve just noticed the juncos are back for the season!"

Glad to hear that! I've been waiting on them. :)

A few weeks ago I had a flock of Eastern Phoebe through here. They hung around for a week or so, fed, rested, and then moved further south. According to my Bird Book the last time I saw them was in 2016, so it's been a while. It doesn't mean they weren't here - I was just pretty busy from 2016 forward between my move out here and still taking care of my Dad.


722 posted on 10/28/2025 3:55:55 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: Augie; left that other site

When I was a kid, Grandpa had a neighbor/fishing buddy at the lake who had a dog named ‘Brownie.’ I don’t remember that he was a specific breed - just a friendly mutt.

That dog would climb a tree that was at the perfect angle out over the lake, and then when he got to the top he’d jump into the lake! Mr. Ben should’ve charged admission, we kids got such a kick out of it. :)


723 posted on 10/28/2025 4:04:30 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

Awww..That’s So Cool! :-)🐶


724 posted on 10/28/2025 4:24:49 PM PDT by left that other site ( For the Lord is our judge, the Lord is our lawgiver, the Lord is our king; He will save us Is.33:22)
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To: Augie

Thanks - that sounds fairly promising for my spot(s) out by the road. :-)


725 posted on 10/28/2025 4:39:08 PM PDT by Paul R. (Old Viking saying: "Never be more than 3 steps away from your weapon ... or a Uriah Heep song!" ;-))
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To: goodnesswins
I actually think Brave's searches usually turn up better info. than Google, especially when asking lengthy questions, so long as they don't get TOO long. For example, I asked Brave about 4 different RAM combinations for my wife's computer (making a total of 5 detail elements to my question), and the fairly lengthy discussion that came back was quite good.

I've NOT tried Google Lens, though, and when I asked Brave if it has a similar function, that resulted in:

The Brave browser does not have a fully functional, built-in Google Lens equivalent as a standard feature. However, Brave has implemented a feature called "Brave Lens," which is essentially a rebranded version of Google Lens, providing image search and recognition capabilities. This feature allows users to right-click on an image and search for it using Google Lens, which can identify objects, text, and provide related results.

Despite this, users have reported significant issues with the functionality. The "Search image with Google" option, which was previously used for reverse image search, has stopped working properly in Brave, returning errors instead of results.

This problem persists even when attempting to disable the Brave Lens feature via flags like brave://flags/#enable-lens-standalone, which is intended to control the feature. Furthermore, enabling the flag may result in a network error due to missing chrome-untrusted:// resources, indicating that the underlying infrastructure for Google Lens is not fully supported in Brave.

As a workaround, users have found temporary solutions, such as using third-party extensions like "Search by Image" or "Google Lens Image Search," which provide a right-click menu with options to search using Google Lens, Bing, Yandex, or Tin Eye.

These extensions can restore some of the functionality users expect from Google Lens, including text recognition and image identification.

In summary, while Brave has integrated a feature similar to Google Lens under the name "Brave Lens," its functionality is inconsistent and often broken, leading many users to rely on external extensions for reliable image recognition and search capabilities.

So, uh, "not really". Perhaps Yandex, or Tin Eye are worth looking in to - I've not investigated them.

726 posted on 10/28/2025 4:55:32 PM PDT by Paul R. (Old Viking saying: "Never be more than 3 steps away from your weapon ... or a Uriah Heep song!" ;-))
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To: goodnesswins; Augie
I tried asking Brave Search about propagating American Senna, and it came back with:

American senna (Senna hebecarpa) can be propagated through seeds or by dividing its roots. For seed propagation, seeds may require scarification to improve germination rates. They can be sown directly into the soil in early spring or started indoors 6–8 weeks before the last frost date in colder regions. Seeds should be planted at a depth of about 1 inch (2.5 cm) and spaced 18–24 inches (45–60 cm) apart. Alternatively, seeds can be sown in the fall for early spring germination. Root division is best performed in early spring or fall when the plant is not actively growing. When dividing, carefully separate the roots into smaller sections, each with a few stems and leaves, and replant them in well-draining soil, watering thoroughly afterward. The plant thrives in full sun and prefers moist to mesic, rich loamy soil but can tolerate sandy and rocky soils. Once established, it is drought tolerant.

I'll confess: I had to look up "mesic". (eye roll!)

Throw that one into a spelling bee!

727 posted on 10/28/2025 5:10:59 PM PDT by Paul R. (Old Viking saying: "Never be more than 3 steps away from your weapon ... or a Uriah Heep song!" ;-))
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To: Paul R.

Interesting...made me think...I just signed up for Perplexity...I think it may give me plant recognition abilities...just learning


728 posted on 10/28/2025 5:23:03 PM PDT by goodnesswins (Make educ institutions return to the Mission...reading, writing, math...not Opinions & propaganda)
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

My back is a bit ‘out’ - right side muscle is very very sore to the touch & if I turn the right way, it’s little ‘knife stabs’ in that area. It started bothering me last night in the recliner watching the game. At 3 in the morning, I was hobbling so I figured it was sitting too long & maybe ‘wrong’. It just dawned on me I wrangled 2 40# bags of water softener salt yesterday afternoon & thinking about it, that is exactly the cause of my back woes. Hopefully, this will only last a couple of days - weather coming, so I won’t be tempted to do anything I shouldn’t outside. I got numbers to go on the mailbox today & I think I can do that without aggravating the back!


729 posted on 10/28/2025 5:51:08 PM PDT by Qiviut (A Mighty Fortress: “...the body they may kill. God’s truth abideth still. His kingdom is forever")
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To: Qiviut

You know, you CAN hire people to deliver softener salt and put it in the bin for you. And Gravel. And Dirt. And Mulch! And for a few bucks more, they’ll shovel it wherever you want it to be! Strapping young men! Fun to watch work while you sit on the porch!

Just sayin’! ;)

My fondest DREAM is to have soft water once again...Beau is opposed to it for some reason - Two Time Kidney Stone Survivor that he is. *Rolleyes*


730 posted on 10/28/2025 5:59:18 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 wouldn’t know where to go to find “strapping young men” to do the heavy work around here. I’ve always done the work myself, including 40 years of having horses - lots of stall cleaning, shoveling bedding, toting hay bales, etc. I also don’t like people I don’t know on the place & this really intensified after working for the police & finding out what really goes on - most folks don’t have a clue. I WILL change the way I get those salt bags from garage to basement level.


731 posted on 10/28/2025 6:11:56 PM PDT by Qiviut (A Mighty Fortress: “...the body they may kill. God’s truth abideth still. His kingdom is forever")
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To: Qiviut

I hear you, sister! (If guys can call each other bros, can’t we women call each other sisters?)

I used to get a tweak in my back every so often. Painful enough to make me take a muscle relaxer and then just sit for several hours, doing nothing. Turns out that a change in furniture position has helped that problem considerably. I was too far away from the big picture window in our family room, and I love to sit and watch what’s going on outside when I’m not working. Our outdoor “pets” put on a show most every day and night.

However, this furniture feng shui doesn’t seem to apply to your problem. I’m quite certain that those water softener bags were your culprit! Those bags are so heavy! If I can find someone to do that dirty work for me, I let them do it!


732 posted on 10/28/2025 6:19:22 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: Qiviut

*** I WILL change the way I get those salt bags from garage to basement level.***

Maybe you need to have a dumb waiter installed in your home! Wouldn’t that be nifty? ;)


733 posted on 10/28/2025 6:24:21 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: FamiliarFace

“a dumb waiter”

**********

The thought HAS occurred to rig something up like this. I currently stand at the bottom of the stairwell - the garage floor is just above my head. I pull the bags down (1 at a time!) on to my shoulder & carry them to the salt bin. I have to turn sort of sideways to get the bag on my shoulder... voila! the recipe for a twisting pull. In the future, I’ll just take/pull the bags down a step at a time. I have a small handcart I don’t use often so I could roll the bags to the bin using that. No more shoulder carrying!


734 posted on 10/28/2025 6:35:55 PM PDT by Qiviut (A Mighty Fortress: “...the body they may kill. God’s truth abideth still. His kingdom is forever")
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

We have Phoebes here in the summertime. I hear them every so often. They are cute birds.

I heard a Brown “Winter” Creeper out there today. Didn’t see him, but it’s nice to know they’re back, too. They are fun to watch in the winter. They mostly blend in, but then it starts to look like the bark on the trees is moving. Cool little birds.


735 posted on 10/28/2025 6:37:02 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: Qiviut

No more shoulder carrying! How do you lift them that high? It would destroy me!


736 posted on 10/28/2025 6:43:07 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: FamiliarFace

Actually, they are coming down from the garage floor to my shoulder - I am down in the stairwell. I can lift them to the edge of the bin to dump them in, but I could not lift them to shoulder level.

In my “younger” years, I did carry 100+ 50-60 lb. hay bales up 14 steps into the hayloft one Saturday. Three loads in the PU & between loads, I helped the farmer treat his cattle herd (loadng syringes, etc.). His wife was so grateful she gave me a jar of homemade bread & butter pickles - so good - I think I ate half the jar in one sitting! She was working on her hair for a party that night & didn’t have time to help with the cows. Anyway, my legs were a little sore for a day or two after, but at least I had a loft full of hay for the winter.


737 posted on 10/28/2025 7:00:00 PM PDT by Qiviut (A Mighty Fortress: “...the body they may kill. God’s truth abideth still. His kingdom is forever")
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To: Qiviut

Woah! That’s impressive!

I don’t think the jar of pickles was enough pay, but maybe the hay was!


738 posted on 10/28/2025 7:25:52 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: MomwithHope

If we had frost while we were gone, it didn’t seem to affect most of my potted plants. Only one coleus succumbed. Everything else is still hanging in there.

I’m glad to hear you’ve gotten some decent tomatoes. My cherry tomatoes have been a huge disappointment. How fun that you found some shishitos hiding! They have been the highlight of my gardening adventure this summer.


739 posted on 10/28/2025 7:32:21 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: FamiliarFace

I had 5 horses at the time & the big stressor every fall was getting enough hay in the loft to last until the grass started coming out again. I had to definitely feed hay December through March. Depending on the weather, it could be November to sometime in April. The hay has to be good quality- horses don’t tolerate moldy hay & you certainly want “clean” hay i.e. few or no weeds. The farmer I got hay from that Saturday had really good, clean orchard grass hay & he also had nice alfalfa hay. Alfalfa is a good supplement, can’t feed it all the time as a main feed because the protein content is too high. His hay was not the cheapest, but you got your money’s worth in quality - large bales, too.


740 posted on 10/28/2025 7:51:44 PM PDT by Qiviut (A Mighty Fortress: “...the body they may kill. God’s truth abideth still. His kingdom is forever")
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