The Garden Thread - December, 2025

December 1, 2025 | Diana in WI/Greeneyes in Memoriam

[TheErnFormerlyKnownAsBig]

Someone from my Navy days had a porthole window from one of my old ships on Facebook but I didn’t see that in time or I was going to incorporate it into my deerstand!

Weapons Free, Buck down!

[Diana in Wisconsin]

That would look totally cool! :)

[MomwithHope]

Good boy Howard. That didn’t take long!

[FamiliarFace]

Shishito pepper update. It turns out there are several varieties of shishito peppers, and one of them is Mammoth peppers. I have a feeling that’s what variety they have in the stores here in Oregon. They are so large, about the size of a jalapeño, and I’d love to try stuffing them. I am hoping to collect some seeds, and see if I can manage to get some to grow back in the Midwest next summer.

https://livetoplant.com/what-are-the-different-types-of-shishito-pepper-plant/

[Augie]

It’s amazing what a little bit of kindness and love will do for a stray dog. A steady supply of groceries doesn’t hurt either.

I heard a funny the other day. Social media discussion about teaching recall... one guy said something about “command”... other guy says “Command? You don’t COMMAND a hound. You MAKE A REQUEST and they will either comply or they won’t.”

[MomwithHope]

Wow great find. I did not know. Would love to try them next year. If you find a seed source please let me know.

[FamiliarFace]

Absolutely!

I realize these seeds may be sterile, but for my best shot at having them produce next summer, what do you recommend? In my garage in an envelope over winter, then maybe start them in early March in moist soil with grow lights? Maybe gently heated underneath?

[MomwithHope]

Well I have had a lot of experience, a decade or more. I store all my seeds in discarded junk mail envelopes, cut in half and taped shut. I have about 12 or so white containers from Frenches fried onions. They snap closed and I write on the outside , lettuces, peppers, tomatoes, etc. They stay in the garage al winter on a shelf. west Michigan, just east of Grand Rapids. It’s an attached garage. I used to try and start indoors, under lights you name I have tried it. Best results by far is to sew in a large pot of good composted soil outside on the patio, up against the house, water well and cover with a sheet of plexiglas and leave alone unless water is needed. I do that with lettuces too, usually start this around Easter. Plants are taller and bigger than ones started indoors and go through no shock.

[MomwithHope]

When you harvest the seeds discard the small dark colored ones. They won’t start. Seeds should be bigger, plumper, whiter and usually have a little tail.

[FamiliarFace]

Thank you so much! If this works, it will be fun to have two varieties of shishitos!

I just checked a bag. These say they are a product of Mexico. They’re 4-5” long and about an inch wide at their deepest. Maybe a little longer than my garden shishitos were but definitely fuller in diameter.

[MomwithHope]

Just the fact that they are from Mexico could be why they are bigger, much longer growing season.

[FamiliarFace]

I’m guessing that’s the situation. Pretty crazy.

[daniel1212]

Not much to say now, but there is this for what it is worth. Long-range noaa.gov image forecast:

Dec-Jan-Feb 2025-26

[Liz]

Iced Cranberry White Chocolate Sour Cream Biscuits / Christmas morning treat
Drop biscuits are a perfect balance of sour cream, cranberries, white chocolate and icing.

Ing 2 c self-rising flour (prefer White Lily) 8 oz sour cream full fat 1/4 c halfnhalf 1 c fresh cranberries 1/2 c white chocolate morsels melted butter for tops Icing: 2 c conf 2 tbl ea melted butter/ halfnhalf

Biscuits: Add flour to bowl. Stir in sour cream. Add halfnhalf as needed for wet/sticky dough. Stir in cranberries and white chocolate. Drop onto parchmented b/sheet 2" apart. Lightly brush tops w/ melted butter. Bake 450 deg 15 min; tops are brown. Remove; cool slightly, drizzle with Icing.

Icing: Whisk ing adding enough halfnhalf for desired consistency.

Vaty---swap blueberries for cranberries.

[Qiviut]

Back from “Snowville” safe & sound!

Drove overnight (Sunday) & in nerve-wracking heavy fog east & to my brother’s where we spent the night to avoid driving in snow which was to start at 3 am Monday in our area. Got to mom’s early appointment yesterday as the snow started - we had to drive to the 2nd appointment to find out it was canceled. The road going back to my brother’s went from wet to snow-covered & slick within 30 minutes. Once the road got plowed, we went to dinner at the only place open - Chinese! It was delicious ... there are no good Chinese places where we currently live so finally getting really good Chinese was a treat. Mom & bro watched football - I went to bed at 6:45 because I felt like I was coming down with something. I had a low grade headache all day, felt like I had a fever & was borderline ‘achey’. Woke up at 2 am & all of the symptoms were gone (yay!).

In Snowville, we ended up with 5” this morning! The car doors were frozen shut - a pitcher of tap water (not hot) was enough to get them open. My brother got our car & his truck cleaned off. He then drove the truck with my plastic bins next door (snow too deep for the car) so I could collect greenery & berries for decorating & wreaths - he knocked snow off the bushes/trees & picked up/packed what I cut ... best bro ever!

Left for home around 12 after checking traffic cams along the interstate & road conditions where we normally cross the mountains. Everything was “green”, no wrecks or closures. Road conditions were good as we traveled despite temperatures below freezing (25-28). Along the way, the snow clinging to the trees was beautiful - postcard winter wonderland scenery. Once we got over the mountains, there was no tree snow & only a light dusting on the ground. Once we got within 10 miles of home, there was NO snow! I was glad I did not have to deal with a snowy driveway.

Home Sweet Home!There will be chuck roast in the crock pot tomorrow, dairy-free eggnog & wreath making ... ho ho ho :-)

[Diana in Wisconsin]

“Once we got within 10 miles of home, there was NO snow!”

More proof that you two picked the right home to buy!

We’re looking at some rain, ice and yuck tonight into tomorrow. No huge accumulations. Radar is showing all snow for us, then rain. Ugh! Get back on your Meds, Mother Nature! White Christmas! WHITE CHRISTMAS!

Beau is napping after another day of sorting cattle with the neighbor, then Barn Chores. I’ve pushed back supper until 6:30pm so he can get in a good nap. ;)

Our overnight guest was WOWED by the Coffee Pot Roast and everything else from our gardens. (Squash and Green Beans and the Pontiac Potatoes from the neighboring farm). He loved not having to cook as he’s Camp Cook for Bear Camp, though of course he had to give me some ‘pointers’ on how to, ‘run a proper kitchen...’ all in good fun, though. ;)

[Liz]

SUGARED POPCORN

Ing 3 tbl butter 2 tbl oil 1/3 c sugar 1/4 tsp salt about 1/3 c popcorn kernels

Method Melt butter in oil. Stir in popcorn kernels; a single layer of kernels covers pan bottom. When popcorn is heated, pour sugar over and cover w/ tight lid. POP THE CORN Turn up heat; shaking pan over burner; kernels should begin to pop - then turn down heat after a minute. Continue shaking pan 1-2 mins then remove offheat. Stir in melted butter, a pinch of salt and serve.

Vary use butter flavored popcorn; adjust sugar. Add 1 drop red food color to final melted butter.