The Garden Thread - December, 2025

December 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.

[MomwithHope]

Thank you! Need to see them too! Tradition.

[Pete from Shawnee Mission]

My daughter bought us some loaves of bread from a bakery called Fermier that was only open 3 days a week. Great bread!

However they closed or relocated to a nearby town. I went and bought a loaf. It cost $13 before tax. Yikes!

This was too much for a loaf of bread so I stopped buying the stuff at the store and started making my own instead. (I am retired so have the freedom to do this.) I can control what goes into the bread, so I can avoid the bleached flours that use bromium as a bleaching agent. Provided I do not go out and buy store bread, It also forces me to pace myself to not have that Second Sandwich at lunch.

[Augie]

I looked at the prices for Beef Prime Rib in the local HyVee and Sams Club and did not see any roast for less than $65.

I had a nice reply to this all typed up and ready to hit send. Then I got distracted and then my browser updated and *poof* gone. lol

Long story short... Pops and our sons are the only ones that appreciate a properly cooked Prime Rib of Beef so I didn't buy one this year. I found fresh turkeys at the grocery for $.89/lb. so that's what I'm serving for Christmas dinner.

#2 Ex Navy son, DiL, and the grands are coming in from Sunny Florida on the 24th. Mrs. Augie went to Kansas last weekend to visit the grands at Ft. Riley. #3 Bradley Fighting Vehicle Master Gunner son is currently deployed in an unfriendly place overseas. It's too much for DiL to travel alone with three kids and the dog so we won't be seeing them for Christmas this time. #1 Homer Simpson son and his bunch will be here too. We'll miss the ones that aren't able to make it, and we'll be grateful to see the ones that come.

Howard has a sore foot, probably from too much rough play with #1 Marine Daughter's doberman yesterday, so he's feeling a bit sorry for himself this morning. House training is going very well. He's completely figured out that he needs to ring the jingle bells on the doorknob to go out for a potty break. He's even started knocking on the door to come back in when he's finished. We don't always hear it when he does that so we're going to hang bells on the exterior door knobs just as soon as I find a minute to stop at the dollar store.

[Pete from Shawnee Mission]

Zone 6b, Kansas / Missouri border. Winter is supposed to have started, but this week it looks more like Spring...Post-winter solstice I do not think I can call it "Indian Summer" anymore! I probably need to drag out the hose and start watering the turnips again.

From Weather.gov 12/22/2025

Today
Partly sunny, with a high near 57. South southwest wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.

Tonight
Mostly clear, with a low around 43. Southwest wind 3 to 8 mph.
Tuesday

Patchy fog between 7am and 9am. Otherwise, mostly sunny, with a high near 62. Calm wind becoming east around 6 mph in the afternoon.

Tuesday Night
Mostly cloudy, with a low around 48. East wind around 7 mph becoming south after midnight.

Wednesday
Mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming sunny, with a high near 70. South southwest wind 7 to 11 mph, with gusts as high as 22 mph.

Wednesday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 57.

Christmas Day
Mostly sunny, with a high near 73.

Thursday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 49.

Friday
Sunny, with a high near 62.

Friday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 45.

Saturday
Partly sunny, with a high near 62.

Saturday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 33.

Sunday
Sunny, with a high near 44.

[Pete from Shawnee Mission]

Liz, Very nice!

(I suppose you could do this with almond butter or macadamia butter too.)

[Pete from Shawnee Mission]

Augie! Clever Hound! Did you train him or did he train you!

[Liz]

Very nice! (I suppose you could do the Peanut Butter
Cheesecake with almond butter or macadamian butter, too).

---

You could, of course........but there’s “something” about p/butter in a cheesecake....................

[Pete from Shawnee Mission]

Shaggy! Tanners...I imagine they are still pouring the great local beers and ales cold and full like they did during your visit here. Of course they show sports on their big screen TVs. (And I am sure, will show matches for the coming World Cup Here!)

I used to go a Tanners restaurant and bar about a mile from home and across the line in Missouri, but they closed and I have never been to that one out in Shawnee. We have a lot of good nearby dining choices.

Yes, looking at the map there is a bit of ocean between you and Chile. (In this global economy we enjoy imported Kiwi fruit, Mananuke honey, and Macademia nuts from NZ, and a blueberries and roses from Chile.)

Enjoy your hunting and fishing trip! I hope that you and your Family Have a Merry and Excellent Christmas!

(We expect to be 22C here on Christmas! Amazing!)

[FamiliarFace]

While I was out in Oregon, one evening my SIL made fish tacos using red snapper. It was totally incredible. I don’t know what seasonings he used on the snapper, but it was pan seared.

To accompany the snapper, my daughter suggested that I use Alice Waters’ Coleslaw recipe. It was fantastic! Since jalapeños have more kick than I like, I made quick pickled shishitos to put on my tacos. We added the peppers separately.

Best fish tacos I’ve ever had, bar none.

https://www.kitchenparade.com/2004/05/alice-waters-coleslaw.php

P.S. That coleslaw was great as a snack for days after making it. This is a no mayonnaise recipe, and it was spot on the the fish tacos.

[FamiliarFace]

*** It also forces me to pace myself to not have that Second Sandwich at lunch.***

See what I mean? Bread is an addictive comfort food, especially when homemade!

[Qiviut]

I was looking around this recipe site for your link & there are several Finnish recipes. Our Pastor is Finnish so I sent her the ‘Finnish Christmas Star’ cookie recipe. There were also Finnish meatballs & a mulled wine - I think I saw some side dishes & bread. The cookie recipe had a Finnish video showing all sorts of variations. She should have fun checking it out - I did & I am not Finnish :-)

[FamiliarFace]

The Finnish Christmas Stars look delightful!

https://www.kitchenparade.com/2024/12/finnish-christmas-stars.html

It calls for puff pastry, but sometimes I make my own from scratch (like when it’s out at the grocery store and I need it for a recipe!) Here’s the recipe that I use when making homemade. It really isn’t as hard as people think, just a little time consuming, though a lot of it is resting time. I use the 20-30 minutes in the freezer method when I do the folding steps. So in just about 2 hours, I can have a batch of puff pastry made and ready to go. It keeps for several weeks in the freezer.

https://bakingamoment.com/easy-homemade-puff-pastry-recipe/

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Howard is living his best life ever! :)

Glad you’ll have a bunch of family around - that’s always fun - for the mist part, LOL!

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Looks like we’re going to have a warm week, too! Some rain on Wednesday but in the 40’s for temps.

I’ll take it! :)

[MomwithHope]

He looks so huggable in that picture.

[FamiliarFace]

He does look so huggable! Augie, give Howard a hug from me, please!

Merry Christmas!

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Alice Waters used to have a restaurant in Madison called ‘Chez Panisse.’ One of many by the same name, but it was only here for a decade, maybe?

My BFFs and I dropped a LOT of money there through the years - it was our favorite place to celebrate ANYTHING.

So I’ll bet everything was really good! Alice is an old Hippie, but she can cook!

https://medium.com/@andrewszanton/alice-waters-and-the-making-of-chez-panisse-56fe9e784122

[Liz]

Peanut Clusters / Makes about 36

Ing 8-12 oz sweetened chocolate 2/3 cup Eagle Brand sweetened condensed milk 1 cup peanuts

Method Melt chocolate over simmering water in top of double boiler. Remove to counter. Add condensed milk, peanuts, mix well. Drop teaspoons-full on buttered baking sheet. Chill several hours. Variation: Raisins may be substituted.

[FamiliarFace]

That was some excellent slaw back in Oregon. I had not heard of Alice Waters before, but I will continue to look for her recipes. I appreciate the culinary skills of others.

[MomwithHope]

Good with caramel too. Turtles!