WEEKLY GARDEN THREAD VOLUME 47 NOVEMBER 23, 2012

Free Republic | Nov, 23, 2012 | greeneyes

[greeneyes]

The Weekly Gardening Thread is a weekly 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.

This thread is non-political, although you will find that most here are conservative folks. 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 Weekly Gardening Thread ... there is no telling where it will go and that is part of the fun and interest. Jump in and join us!

[MissMagnolia]

Thanksgiving Day morning we were up early because we had to travel to feast with family. I went out before dawn to see if the paper had arrived and as I walked back down the driveway I heard rustling in the leaves that are piled up under the maple trees along the driveway. For a second or two, I thought it was a cat .... and then it dawned on me it was probably a skunk. It was so dark, it was hard to see exactly what was going on. I quickly got back to the house & grabbed the camera. Once if figured out how to turn the flash on, I started snapping pictures. It was a young skunk (family of 5 babies this summer in the brush pile) and he was really rooting around in the leaves - not scared of me one bit, nor the camera flash although I noticed that the only part of his anatomy that was mosly facing my way was the 'business' end. Definitely Critterville around here!

 

Yes, I tempted fate and got pretty close!

[left that other site]

I just realized i have to work tomorrow too! I had forgotten that I had book make-up lessons for my thanksgiving day students! Eek.

Oh well...money in the bank.

[afraidfortherepublic]

Ask your neighbor what he does with his! I’ve never had luck keeping Rosemary over the winter, except when I lived in CA where it grows like a shrub and you have to prune it to keep it from taking over! LOL. I’ve never had luck bringing it in (indoor climate is too dry, I think). Perhaps if you had a guest bathroom where it could live and you could keep the temperature down, it might survive. Otherwise, a sheltered area in the yard would be best.

Where are you in TX? In some parts of TX, it might survive in a rock garden where the heat of the stones kept it warmer and the overall climate is not too harsh. (I’m thinking Houston.)

[greeneyes]

I was afraid of that, but hoping for historic mild winter. LOL.

[greeneyes]

Well, you are generally warmer than we are then. We have very little luck with anything on the northern part of our property.

Just the trees that were here when we bought it. That’s the only thing that ever survives.

[greeneyes]

No way! I would never go toward a skunk.LOL.

[greeneyes]

Nah. Don’t put that money in the bank! Spend it or buy gold or silver.LOL. Contrary to Government stats - there is a lot of inflation goin’ on ‘round here.

Helicopter Ben Bernake is printing as fast as he can. That dollar is loosing value daily.

[tubebender]

Two lovely days here in Benderville also and looking forward to Left Over Turkey dinner (I had it for breakfast also) . All our immediate family was here except for one girlfriend, my grandson’s not mine, and for the first time in 55 years Lady Bender asked for help on SOME of the side dishes. (a very good move for several reasons).Today I did some cleanup here and then I went over to our Church while the Mrs gave home communion to a homebound member. I took down the 10 hole grow bags that had Impatiens in them and then I used my leaf blower to clean the Redwood needles off the parking lot and driveway.

Thank You Lord for giving me the strength and means to do that...

[left that other site]

I hear ya.

[tubebender]

My Dear Miss Mag Olia please fell free to to that any day of the year EXCEPT on the morning of your departure to have a Festive Dinner with Family and FRiends (One and the same I hope).

[JRandomFreeper]

Neighbor planted his about 35 years ago, and treats it like a hedge today. I collect the dead wood from it to use for smoking chicken, sometimes.

I've never been able to get rosemary to really start. If I buy a potted rosemary from the nursery in the spring, we have a drought, and it dies. Planting the packet of seed where 1 has lived, was an act of faith and what-the-heck.

I find I've developed an emotional attachment to the one that survived so far. ;)

I have a feeling it may be like Sacher tortes were for me in culinary school. Know the theory. Do the steps. Never, ever works.

I'll bet I don't stop trying. ;)

/johnny

[rightly_dividing]

Happy Thanksgiving.

I'm happy to hear good news about JADB

Not much new in the garden. Wife pulled up the remains of the tomato and pepper plants, and took down the tomato stakes. Next item of business is to get our soil samples off the the lab and make the necessary changes.

We did have some excitement this week. On Wed morning at 5am, my wife woke me to the announcement that one of my trucks was not in the driveway. After the Sheriff left the house, the sun was up and I went looking for it myself and found it quickly, about 1/4 mile down the road in the edge of the woods, stuck in mud up to it's axles. At least I got it back unwrecked.

[greeneyes]

Glad you had a good day. I give thanks every day for what I can still do. More and more I realize what a gift it is.

My girls were anxious to start bringing in some of their creations, so years ago we started to divy up the effort. If not for that, I would be asking for some help by now too.

Treated myself to a brand new server/cooker. It has 3-2.5 qt. crock pot cookers all in a row. I was able to cook all my sides in that on the buffet, then turn it to warm till they arrived. That just left the bread and stuffing for me to do in the oven.

[greeneyes]

So you had a lucky outcome, Thanksgiving day story for sure!

[MissMagnolia]

My only excuse for such ‘daring’ .... I hadn’t had my coffee yet & wasn’t thinking too clearly!

[tob2]

Had to cover up the planters. Area wide below freezing warning for tonight.

[Ellendra]

Rosemary is notorious for being difficult to start. It likes moist but well-drained soil, hates wet feet, and doesn’t like sudden temperature changes such as what happens when you bring it in from outside.

Good luck! It’s one of my favorite seasonings, and I’ve never gotten it to survive more than a couple of months.

[JRandomFreeper]

I'll do my part and leave the outcome in His hands. I would like to have rosemary on this property. I know my neighbor does well with his 30 year old hedge of it.

/johnny

[greeneyes]

Yeh, we had below freezing last night. At 9am this morning, it was 0 degrees C freezing on the nose. IIRC, it may go up a few degrees tomorrow.

[tubebender]

Have you tried taking some cuttings from his plant and getting some started that way?. My late brother in law was a whizz at starting cuttings so I never had to try myself. You can probably find a YouTube video on the subject?