Posted on 01/01/2026 5:52:41 AM PST 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.
My vet back in the day clued me in;otherwise I would have known zero. My SIL, who is a ‘cat person’, informed me Murph was not a calico but a torti. I was under the impression that if they had 3 colors (black, brown/orange & white), they were just calicos. Anyway, I’m fairly straight on the color patterns now.
I can still see Murph’s green eyes balefully glaring at me as I discovered she had pooped on the den rug AND chewed the ears off of a beautiful horse statue I had. She was angry because I had started closing the bedroom door at night to keep her & sidekick Denis (buff/orange tabby- checkers personality) from romping on my bed while I was trying to sleep. I also remember her climbing in my lap & patting my cheek with her paw because I was crying - she was very sensitive to moods.
Pollard. Search stories of Himalayan Pink Salt Heavy Metal Contamination. Might be better sources of salt. (I like Celtic Sea salt. Pricier, but how much salt do you use, in food, anyway? )
Augie's Pond / Aquaculture ......Discussion of effect of Brown Colored Lake on fish. (Probably does not apply to your pond, but still interesting!)
https://nautil.us/what-brown-colored-lake-water-does-to-fish-1264330/
You see a lot of brown tea colored water in the rivers and lakes of areas with Conifer forests. Tannic acid leeches from the roots of the trees and colors the water.
Tahquamenon-Falls in Northern Michigan.
I don’t use much and for cooking, it’s always kosher salt. I’ll look into it though because it’s my son that’s been using it. Ex wife got it or something. Being autistic, he definitely doesn’t need any heavy metals.
Love the way that cake is decorated.
My back is a bit on the crispy side lately. The bitterly cold weather isn’t helping.
I have an appointment tomorrow for nerve root testing in attempt to determine if an ablation procedure will bring some relief.
MRI on my cervical spine next week.
Augie, I hope it goes well and you can get some relief!
Not cheap, but supposed to be free of pollutants & have trace minerals. Mined from an ancient seabed in Utah.
https://redmond.life/collections/real-salt
Global Bird Count in February! Join the world in connecting to birds February 13–16, 2026.
Project Goal
Each February, for four days, the world comes together for the love of birds. Over these four days we invite people to spend time in their favorite places watching and counting as many birds as they can find and reporting them to us. These observations help scientists better understand global bird populations before one of their annual migrations.
Our History
Launched in 1998 by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and National Audubon Society, the Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC) was the first online participatory-science project (also referred to as community science or citizen science) to collect data on wild birds and to display results in near real time. Birds Canada joined the project in 2009 to provide an expanded capacity to support participation in Canada. In 2013, we became a global project when we began entering data into eBird, the world’s largest biodiversity-related participatory science (community science or citizen science) project.
Each year our participation grows as more people of all ages around the world spend their weekend counting, learning about, and celebrating birds.
How To Participate:
https://www.birdcount.org/participate/
Slicers, Canners and Paste Types:
Italian Goliath
Andiamo
Golden Jubilee
Grandma's Pick
La Roma IV
Opalka
Purple Boy
Wild Boar Beauty King
Mixing it up a little this season with the cherry-types. I always plant 'Valentine.' Best tomato-tasting cherry type I've found:
And, 'Sunrise Bumble Bee'
And, 'Bumble Bee Purple'
Mom & Beau LOVE cherry-types so I thought I'd try something COLORFUL for them this season.
Augie, hubby had the nerve ablation twice on both sides, only a few months of some relief. Inflammation is the root of any arthritis and the only thing that I have tried and it works is conolodine. An eyedropperful in a short glass of water before bedtime. I sleep better and wake up with very little discomfort.
Natural. Got a bottle tried infrequently and it always worked. Got two bottles this last time.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FR4HCZKF?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title
PASTA PARMESAN / economical weekday dish
1 lb cooked fave pasta, 3 tbl butter 2-3 minced gar/cl 1/3 c fresh-grated Parm 1/2 c h/cream sea/s/p. Garnish 3 tbl minced fresh parsley.
Saute melted butter, minced garlic on low heat 5 min (do not brown). Add rest ing; heat thru on med. Add hot pasta, garnish, and serve.
Vary: sprinkle top w/ toasted buttered bread crumbs and paprika before serving for texture and color.
Purrrfect LOL!
I was laughing so hard 😹 mom wanted to know what was so funny - showed her the video & she was laughing, too.
Thanks!
Yum. Thats in my wheelhouse. Always have finely shredded parmesan , real cream and homegrown garlic on hand. Parsley only dried. Just not getting out to the store much.
I wish I had known about this for my dad. He had peripheral neropathy & suffered greatly. When given opioids after some outpatient surgery, he got relief from the neuropathy, but due to the side effects & addictive nature, the doc would not prescribe it for the neuropathy.
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/plant-derived-compound-may-help-treat-chronic-pain
Per the link:
The opioid system in the human body comprises many proteins, receptors, and other compounds that all play a vital role in controlling people’s pain responses and behaviors toward reward and addiction.
In addition to the body’s naturally produced proteins, known as opioid peptides, there are opioid analgesic medications. These include drugs such as morphine and oxycodone, which doctors often prescribe to treat chronic pain.
These drugs, which mimic the function of the opioid peptides, can have significant side effects when people take them frequently or in high amounts. Not only can they cause respiratory depression, constipation, and nausea, but they are also highly addictive in nature and have led to increasing rates of fatal overdose.
A recent study, which features in the journal Signal Transduction and Targeted TherapyTrusted Source, showed that a plant-derived compound called conolidine might work to increase opioid peptides’ pain-regulating activity, suggesting that it could be a safer alternative to opioid drugs.
Go for it......a delicious week night meal in minutes.
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