Posted on 05/01/2026 6:24:57 AM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin
The MONTHLY Victory Garden 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 Victory Garden 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.
There are ledges on both sides of the lake, but, on the left as viewed above are more extensive.
Iced Latte / homemade Brown Sugar Syrup
ING: Syrup 3/4 c br/sugar 1 tsp cinnamon 2 tsp vanilla 3 chai tea bags (option).
ING for one Latte: 3 shots espresso 2-3 dashes cinnamon 1 c fave milk
Method Syrup: Btb cup water, br/sugar, cinnamon. Simmer 2-3 min (sugar melts). Offheat add vanilla, tea bags; cover, steep 10 min. Fridges 2 weeks. Latte: Shake a min shaker filled with ice, espresso, 2-4 tbl syrup, 1-2 dashes cinnamon. Strain into glass w/ ice. Pour in milk. Stir/combine. Serve.
I didn’t have a link, just telling you my experience. The subsequent link you posted was a good article.
Kinda’ ‘crazy’ sounding, but if it works it would help a lot of people!
Study Reports 96% Remission Rate of Alpha-Gal Syndrome with Novel Desensitization Technique
With nearly 500,000 Americans now affected by tick-induced meat allergy, a peer-reviewed study reports almost unbelievable results using Soliman Auricular Allergy Treatment (SAAT).
https://www.thefocalpoints.com/p/study-reports-96-remission-rate-of
Hot Buttered Rum Coffee
Good anytime, but especially nice during the winter holidays.
Ing serve 4: 4 c fresh-brewed hot coffee 8 tbl salted butter 1 c br/sugar 1 tsp cinnamon 1/2 tsp
ea ground cloves/ground ginger 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg 4 oz dark rum Whipped cream garnish
Method Beat smooth butter, br/sugar, spices. Chill firm 20-30 min. Assemble: Layer in coffee mug 2 tbl spiced butter, 1 oz rum, 1 c coffee. Stir/combine. Repeat w/ rest butter, rum, coffee. Serve immediately with whipped cream topping, sprinkle of nutmeg.
I was sure I first saw it on this thread, maybe 6 months ago now.
Yeah, probably not gonna happen.
Today, trying to plant what I have been holding for favorable weather since buying. I made it to Walmart today & got 3 bags of Expert Gardener Potting Mix. I used it last year in my washtub containers & the Calibrachoa loved it.
So I only needed 1 bag for the 3 pots - obviously overestimated, but that’s ok, for sure I will have more uses. Mom was a champ & dug the old dirt out of the 3 pots for me. She used the dirt to add to her roses - almost no dirt there. All 4 Lantana are planted - 3 in pots & one in a raised bed. I had to smile when I read on the tag “toxic if eaten” so no deer issues.
Tomorrow: 4 jalapeños, 2 English Lavender & 5 Snap Dragons. I think I have a protective system for peppers figured out
using my existing fencing that will still be easy for me to access.
Herb garden is in bloom: sage, Lavender, oregano, & thyme.
Mom commented the Rose of Sharon bushes are really looking good so I took a closer look. The first baby leaves got killed in a 27° night. They’ve been a little slow to recover, but all the rain has really helped them along.
I’ve seen ONE Monarch by me so far this season and a Yellow Swallowtail WEEKS ago. Not sure what is going on. My Milkweed is nearly ready to flower. It grows at random in one of my raised beds and I leave it and just plant around it. ;)
I think the early spring heat-up (for us) and so much early rain will make a difference in my butterfly viewing this season. :(
I decided that tonight I am taking in the platform bird feeders...they’re getting dumped on a regular basis overnight. (It’s not the squirrels...they WAIT for fresh food in the mornings to raid, LOL!)
I’ve also stopped putting out any kind of suet.
Seems to me I remember going through this last year and taking the feeders in for a few nights in a row stopped all of that nonsense. Remove the Easy Pickin’s!
We planted 23 tomato plants today. They were all watered DEEPLY so the ‘coons (hopefully!) can’t smell the bone meal, all mulched with straw and have cages around them. We’ll see what the morning brings...
If I’m still having problems Beau will set some traps for me and dispose of said raccoons. :)
Re: Cherry Tomatoes. Try ‘Valentine.’ You’ll have to start it from seed, but it is the BEST cherry I’ve found that has a true tomato flavor. It’s more oblong; not round.
Excellent in salads or just for snacking by the handful! And if I have extras, they go into the pot while making Salsa or V-8 juice.
Lovely plant, is totally happy in a pot (5 gallon, minimum!) no disease issues and the fruits are in lovely, long bunches so are very easy to pick. :)
Something so WINTER-Y in the Summer! I love that!
Also - I used the ‘dregs’ of the container of Sour Cream in the ‘scramble’ I made this morning. (I’m buying more SC on Tues!)
Yep. There IS a difference in both taste and texture and we both liked it very much! :)
Once Rose of Sharon is established, you’ll have it for decades. It’s a lovely, LOVELY shrub!
“Herb garden is in bloom: sage, Lavender, oregano, & thyme.”
I did the ‘thing’ that I posted about last month about planting herbs in pots (or next to one another in beds) based upon their moisture/water needs and I must say I am actually seeing a difference in their health and happiness! One pot/group likes it on the dryer side and one likes steady moisture.
Ya learn something new every season. :)
Rosemary, Sage, Lemon Thyme like to dry out between waterings.
Dill, Basil & Parsley like more frequent waterings.
Both pots are in full sun.
There are several very large Rose of Sharon bushes on our road which is what gave me the idea to look them up for the details. An important detail: next-to-last resort for deer. Ours will bloom lavender chiffon which is lovely with a fluffy center - all 5 had blooms when they were delivered.
Thanks - interesting!
I have a couple Sun Sugar plants this year. 9-10 on that Brix scale. I’m curious to see how they do. That sweet, they should taste like candy!
........used Sour Cream in the egg ‘scramble.’There is a difference
in both taste and texture and we both liked it very much.......
So glad you both liked it.
Hot Buttered Rum Coffee is good .........when you have “extra
rum” lying around you dont know what to do with.......chuckle.
*** when you have “extra rum” lying around you dont know what to do with.......chuckle.***
Yeah, that doesn’t happen in my house. It’s like having too much beer in the beer fridge for hubby. No such thing.
In the past week or so I’ve had ribeye, T-bone and ribs, all of which have been known to cause a reaction/hives at times. I’ll stick with my desensitization strategy and forego the pin cushion thing. Aside from once, the only reaction I’ve ever had has been an hour of the hives and low energy the next day.
I’ve read that some people go into full anaphylactic shock with a tiny amount of mammalian meat. That’s a different story there and would probably be worth the acupuncture.
Tomorrow is the first of my 3 day weekend and mowing is on the to do list along with spreading a couple more bags of Sevin granules to expand on what I’ve already done — 20 lbs of prevention.
Glad you’re not having severe reactions - whatever works for you!
I mowed another section of the fields today. It’s long enough you could probably make hay. The fresh cut grass smells SO good!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.