Weekly Gardening Thread – 2011 (Vol. 13) April 15

Free Republic | 4-15-2011 | Red_Devil 232

[Red_Devil 232]

Good morning gardeners. Today is NOT tax day! Y’all who file last minute can put it off until Monday the 18th. Why? In 2011, Washington, D.C., will celebrate Emancipation Day on April 15, a day earlier than normal, since April 16 falls on a Saturday. Emancipation Day marks the anniversary of the day that President Lincoln signed the Compensated Emancipation Act. The Act, which was "for the release of certain persons held to service or labor in the District of Columbia," freed 3,100 slaves in the District, making DC residents the "first freed" by the federal government.

Ok back to gardening. Looks like I will be getting rain today. There is a line of strong thunderstorms to the northwest and west of me. I had planed to rent a tiller today and till the garden plot. I will have to wait until the soil dries out now. Drats, another delay in planting! Some of my tomato and squash plants are begging me to get them in the soil. Received some nice seeds in the mail yesterday from Freeper Black Agnes. Thanks again. I should have the opportunity to get them into some soil and flats today!

If you are a gardener or you are just starting out and are in need of advice or just encouragement please feel free to join in and enjoy the friendly discussion. Our Freeper community is full of gardeners, each with varying interests and skill levels from Master Gardener to novice.

[Black Agnes]

Ok, scary weather all gone now. Yay.

BTW, one of the storm chasers TV guys was in Clinton on the frontage road and got excellent footage of that tornado as it crossed I20 at Springridge Road.

[John 3_19-21]

i plan to plant some catnip in the backyard where my two dogs rule.

[Gabz]

Nice and salty.

NOthin' compared to our Chincoteague oysters. And our clams are nearly as good. Not only have I been on a clam boat doing harvesting, but I once had a chance to help seed the clam beds -- and then harvest that same bed 18 months later. That was FUN!!!!!!!

[Gabz]

I have tried repeatedly with catnip and just can’t get it to grow for me. I planning on trying again, maybe the third time will be the charm.

[Red_Devil 232]

The essential oil of Catnip can make a skeeter repellent.

[Red_Devil 232]

Our local news is showing some of that damage in Clinton with big rigs flipped over on their sides on I-20. One SUV type vehicle looked like it had been flipped over several times - looked like it had gone through a crusher!

[Black Agnes]

It’s bad in parts of Clinton too. Big trees uprooted and on houses. Yikes. One of our doctors office is about 1/4 mile from where the video was shot. They *just* missed getting wiped out.

[rightly_dividing]

The seafood is what I miss the most after moving from the Al. coast. Seafood here is just not the same. For one thing, they cook it to death; and I have not yet seen a fresh seafood market, only grocery store stuff.

I had a coworker that was neighbors in Alabama Port with an oysterman that brought back the saltiest oysters of any. He had a specific reef that was just great tasting and he sold them very cheap to my coworker.

[Gabz]

I want the catnip, and catgrass to keep the cats away from the gardens :)

[rightly_dividing]

My wife and I had prayer for the people of your area and the kids on the school bus.

[Black Agnes]

Thank you. Providentially there were no (as yet) fatalities even though there was a whole lot of bad weather. Thank God. Here's a slideshow of the damage in Clinton in case anyone's interested: Damage in Clinton

[Nepeta]

I have tried repeatedly with catnip and just can’t get it to grow for me. I planning on trying again, maybe the third time will be the charm.

The trick is to grow plants large enough that one enthusiastic cat cannot easily destroy. This is not easy.

Avoid brushing against the leaves while planting, releasing the cat-attracting scent. You may have to put some kind of 'cage' over the young plant.

Once established, catnip is tough and comes back reliably in Zone 6. But the hard part is getting past the initial planting.

[MtnClimber]

We got about two feet of heavy, wet snow Sunday night. We really needed the moisture as the fire dangr rating was “Extreme”. Got to get indoor starts going soon!

[Red_Devil 232]

No major injuries in this area. The kids on the school bus are OK. Crews could not get to them for awhile because there were so many trees down on the roads that had to be cleared. Turns out there were two buses in different areas. Local news crews were on the roads in the area and have video of all the trees blocking the roads. One tree after the other across this two lane road. This was very rural area with a lot of black communities. One black man they interviewed described the storm and the damage to his and his neighbors homes. He said they were all OK due to God’s blessings and that they would make it because the community was taking care of each other. It was great to see him and his faith.

[Red_Devil 232]

Thanks for the pictures.

[Red_Devil 232]

Glad to see you got some moisture to ease the fire hazard.

[Sarajevo]

My Chicken, Sausage, Oyster, and Shrimp Gumbo recipe:

 

1/3 cup + 1 Tablespoon vegetable oil
1/2 cup all purpose flour
2 celery stalks, chopped
4-5 garlic cloves, pressed
1 green pepper, chopped
1 medium sized onion, chopped
2 cans (14.5 oz.) chicken broth
1 can (14.5 oz) beef broth
1 lb. boneless, skinless chicken thighs
1 lb. chorizo (or andouille) sausage, cut into 1/4-inch rounds
1 cup dark beer or water
1/2 cup loosely packed parsley leaves, chopped
1 Tablespoon minced fresh thyme
1 Tablespoon minced fresh sage leaves
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground pepper
2 lb. medium shrimp, shelled & deveined
3 large fresh tomatoes or two 14.5 oz. cans of stewed tomato (drained)
lb okra – frozen or fresh- sliced

Instructions:
In a large soup pot, heat oil over med-low heat. Gradually stir in flour, and cook, stirring, until mixture is dark brown ~ about 15 minutes.

 

Mix the broth in slowly and blend until smooth.

 

At the same time you start the roux start to cook the vegetables: In a non-stick skillet, over medium heat, add 1 tablespoon of oil and heat until hot.

Add celery, garlic, green pepper, and onion and cook until vegetables are tender, stirring occasionally.

To the roux-thickened broth add the stewed tomatoes, chicken, chorizo, herbs, salt, black pepper and the vegetables.

 

Add 1 cup of dark beer or water and heat to boiling. Reduce heat to low and simmer, uncovered for 40 minutes. Skim off any fat that comes to the surface. Add okra 20 minutes prior to finish.

 

Add the shrimp and continue to simmer, uncovered, for 5 minutes or until the shrimp turn opaque. Shrimp will continue to cook from residual heat. Do not cook shrimp too long!

[tubebender]

i plan to plant some catnip in the backyard I had to clean my glasses as I first thought you wrote Catsup...

[tubebender]

We had almost a inch of rain today while we are at the memorial service for a FRiend. The lawn is drowning for the first time in 32 years we have lived on this place. The lack of sunshine is wearing me down...

[Gabz]

Once established, catnip is tough and comes back reliably in Zone 6. But the hard part is getting past the initial planting.

And therein lies my problem. I can't even get the seeds to START!!!!