The Victory Garden Thread - July, 2026

July 1, 2026 | Diana in WI/Greeneyes in Memoriam

[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.

[MomwithHope]

Nice, you are right it will be unique. I dug out mine the other day, in perfect condition.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

We have two of them. Beau’s is in pretty sad shape; the one I got from my Dad is in pristine condition and will stay that way until I sell it as I continue to downsize.

They are super warm, though!

[Paul R.]

Too much to do here, and wifey wants to do another outing after she is away for another training seminar — but this time she is going with friends: Hopefully I can use that time to catch up more here. If yes, I told her we can do a day trip, but no more.

I fortunately DID do a little drainage work at the entrance to our west-front driveway, just in time for a ridiculous gullywasher* earlier today - the most intense yet this year, to test my work. Ditto for the area of yard on the west side of our garage. The drainage helped a lot: Next is to unclog the pipe that drains the area right in front of our front door / porch. Some poison ivy has sprung up at the far end @ the “north” ditch, so, I’ll have to (carefully!) deal with that, too. I’d previously cleared about 500 ft. of that north ditch that runs off to the east, including about 100 ft. past our property. That helped a lot: Even with all that rain*, that ditch did not overflow onto the road.

*We got almost 3” of rain here, in maybe 40 minutes!! Sheesh!

[Liz]

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Cheesecake

Ing Crust: 1-3/4 c chocolate chip cookie crumbs 1/4 c sugar 1/3 c butter, melted Filling: 3-8 oz bars cream cheese, softened 1 c ea sugar, sour cream 1/2 tsp vanilla 3 large eggs, lightly beaten Cookie dough: 1/4 cup butter, softened 1/4 cup sugar 1/4 cup packed brown sugar 1 tbl water 1 tsp vanilla 1/2 c flour 1-1/2 c mini semisweet chocolate chips, divided

Directions Crust: combine cookie crumbs and sugar; stir in butter. Press on bottom, 1" up side of greased 9-in. springform. Place pan on baking sheet. Beat cream cheese and sugar smooth. Beat in sour cream and vanilla. Add eggs; beat on low speed just until combined. Pour over crust. In another bowl, cream butter and sugars light and fluffy, 5-7 min. Add water and vanilla. Gradually add flour and mix well. Stir in 1 cup chocolate chips. Drop dough by teaspoonfuls over filling, gently pushing dough below surface (dough should be completely covered by filling).

Bake 350 deg--center is almost set, 45-55 min. Cool on rack 10 min. Run knife at edge to loosen;
cool 1 hour. Refrigerate overnight. Remove sides of pan. Sprinkle w/ 1/2 cup chips. Serve.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Call 9-1-1! I’ve gone into a Diabetic Coma from just reading about that cheesecake, LOL!

[Diana in Wisconsin]

After predicting END OF THE WORLD rainfall again overnight, not a DROP fell on my farm or garden!

So, out to water this morning while things are still shady - but at 95% humidity already! *Rolleyes* I think this is going to be one miserable summer once we get to Noon on any given day. Ugh!

Beau and the 10 dogs made it to the cabin in one piece. He called about 10pm but I had already gone to bed to read - and had the absolute WORST night’s sleep that I’ve had in a very long time. I hate it when that happens!

So, watering, grocery run, tend to the critters that got left behind (Emma Jolene did her usual ANGRY HOWLING for three hours after they left) and napping this afternoon are on the docket. Forget all that other stuff on my Indoor/Outdoor lists today; it’s only 8am but Mama needs a nap! ;)

[Liz]

LOL.........oh, just have a bigger slice.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

A bigger slice...and just put myself completely out of my misery. ;)

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Got the watering done, did some weeding. Potted up three volunteer tomatoes just to see what they’ll become - they can stay in the greenhouse now until fall - just for giggles. Did all the critter chores and the grocery run. I got in a 30 minute nap until Boyd (Tuxedo Cat) decided that was enough and bit my finger...gently. I have no idea what he wanted and neither did he. What a Tater Haid...

The saddest doggie in all the world right now is my Emma Jolene. This is the EIGHTH TIME she has NOT been invited to Bear Camp, but she doesn’t understand why everyone ELSE gets to go and she has to stay home. Poor Girl! She had the run of the exercise yard today and made the most of it, though I understand being lonely when you’re used to romping with everyone BUT your very own SISTER, Taylor Marianne, who you HATE to INFINITY and BEYOND, LOL! Daddy will be home to hunt her on the 17th - but she doesn’t understand days/weeks/calendars, etc. Maybe I’ll set up a Show Bench so she can show off to Ithaca? LOL! Anything to keep my Dual-CHAMPION Girl happy. :)

I bought Emma her favorite (some kind of) beef-coated Milk Bones and that appeases her somewhat. A little extra gravy on her kibble seems to calm her down some, too.

The chickens never go anywhere and they never complain...

[Liz]

Been nice knowing you....chuckle.

[Liz]

Beyond Brownies
Fudgy brownies layered w/ sweetened cream cheese, covered in ganache.

Ing Brownies 2 boxes brownie mix, plus ing on box Cream cheese layer 2-8-oz bars cream cheese, softened 4 c conf sugar 2 tsp vanilla 1/4 tsp k/salt. Gnache and topping 2 c choc/chips 1 c h/cream 1/4 c chocolate shavings

METHOD: Line 9x13” b/pan w/ parchment; spray. Prepare brownie mixes as per pkg; pour both batters into prepared pan. Bake 40 min--pick comes clean. Cool completely. Cream cheese layer: hand mixer beat cr/cheese smooth. Add conf; beat smooth, then add vanilla and salt; beat/combine. Ganache: Place choc/chips in bowl; pour on h/cream brought to a boil; set 5 min then whisk smooth. Cool slightly.

ASSEMBLY: Liftout brownie; half widthwise then cut each piece in half horizontally, total of 4 thin layers. Layer on server brownie, thin layer ganache, ⅓ cream cheese filling, another brownie layer; repeat layers, topping final layer w/ ganache, (reserve some ganache for serving). Refrigerate an hour til well chilled. Serve garnished w/ chocolate shavings; drizzle of ganache.

[Paul R.]

Oh, good grief!

https://radar.weather.gov/ridge/standard/KPAH_loop.gif

I am in (well, near) the middle of this mess...

[Paul R.]

NWS is saying we get a repeat performance tomorrow evening, then rinse and repeat for Saturday too.

[Paul R.]

Oh, what fun. Severe t-storm and flash flood warnings up, now. Hail up to 1” expected. Maybe the flood will wash away our hail beaten plants so I don’t have to look at them?

(Actually, with luck the hail will miss us and the big oak tree won’t fall on our house!)

So much for getting sleep.

[Repeal The 17th]

My niece lives in the little town of Lavinia, TN.
About half way between Nashville and Memphis.
Will she be affected by this?

[Paul R.]

Not too far from Jackson, TN, I take it?

So far, this has been very heavy in far SW IL, and adjacent counties in far West KY. Some points further east were really getting it earlier, and the Mayfield-Murray KY area got a good dowsing yesterday afternoon, so if this stuff moves down there, I’d expect some flood warnings to be posted. For now though, the heavy precip. is north of the area your niece is in.

What appeared to be a significant “hailer” on radar moved from around Cairo, IL, across southern Ballard & McCracken Counties in KY, but local TV has gone to sleep, and I’ve not heard of any ground truth to that, yet. NWS was advising of 1” hail in that, and some earlier storms, too, but all missed us, except for a few pea size hailstones. Thank heavens, says our garden, and my (astonishing to me) 8’ tall cannas that just started blooming.

[Repeal The 17th]

“...Not too far from Jackson, TN, I take it?..”
-
Yes that is the nearest town of any significance.
Thanks!
Stay safe!

[Paul R.]

I took a quick look on Mapquest — Lavinia, TN, is about 25 miles NE of Jackson, so, yeah, your niece should be ok unless this stuff moves down there.

Massac County, IL, just got added to the flash flood warnings. Southern IL is filling in, and those adjacent KY counties are getting more rain too... NWS is saying as much as 4” of rain have fallen in some spots, with as much as 2” more expected, with widespread creek and stream flooding on tap if not already occurring. :-(

[Paul R.]

NWS: "numerous roads will likely be covered with water."

[Paul R.]

Corrections:

McCracken County, KY, is not yet in a flood warning, but given the radar trends, I expect it likely will be, soon enough.

There is a fairly significant swath of flood warnings across SEMO. The severe threat remains greatest there, with one warning, fairly large, ongoing, but NWS says that threat should diminish in a couple hours.

Plentiful lightning here, our house lights flickered a few times.