Posted on 10/01/2024 6:10:14 AM PDT 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!
Not everybody will like what we do, but our method uses household items, and kills the box elder bugs quickly. We have made a trap from an old 2L soda bottle from when I had a get-together years ago. Cut all the way around the 2/3 mark from the bottom and invert that. At the bottom put rubbing alcohol (91% is best because it’s faster). Scrape your box elder bug into that container and make sure he falls through the funnel to the alcohol. It’s a very quick death. 70% takes longer. Catch what you can and flush them down the toilet. We have never seen anything that takes them out the way rubbing alcohol does.
Thanks!
Heh, I’ll bet acetone would zap ‘em quickly.
In a couple instances I’ve in a pinch used flammable brake parts cleaner on wasps. When I was much younger it was WD-40 plus a lighter. Crisp their wings even slightly and they are on the ground to be stepped on. Gotta be careful around other flammable materials, of course.
Now, funny story, 40(?) years ago I was helping run wiring in a restaurant / bar being remodeled, and we removed a drop ceiling panel and ran into some wasps. I yelled to one of the guys to kill the lights, and almost all the wasps flew to the only bright light - the front door of the place. There just happened to be a can of WD-40 on hand, but none of the 3 of us had a lighter. I proceeded to spray the nearest wasp anyway, and it buzzed furiously, but just bumped up against the door glass repeatedly. The fellow next to me said “I think you just lubricated him!” We all burst out laughing. Finally somebody turned up some real wasp spray, and that was that.
“I think you just lubricated him!” — Funny, how certain quirky things like that stick in the memory for the rest of your life...
Have any of you used fiberglass rope as ROPE, not as gasketing for a furnace door or what-not. I’m trying to come up with “rope” of ~1/4” diameter that can handle temperatures to 500 deg. or so. Would fiberglass rope hold up to flexing and pulling over a period of time? 150 lbs. break strength would probably be sufficient.
That’s a funny story! It’s perfect!
We are dearly missing the Halibut Beau caught last time he was in Alaska. Granted, after all expenses were tallied, it was about $400/pound, LOL!
His BFF, that has now moved up there permanently, just bagged a huge Grizzly, so I see the wheels turning in his head, now.
Maybe fresh Halibut will be on the menu again before the year is out? Stay tuned, LOL!
We got checked into our hotel just in time on Sunday. We were almost finished unpacking when I heard a big ruckus outside. We stepped out on the balcony just in time to see the Blue Angels do their beach buzz. 100’ off the deck in your face wow!!! A few minutes later Fat Albert came lumbering along in their wake.
We’re heading to Fort Pickens in a few minutes to watch their practice flight. It’s a completely different experience watching the show from the back side compared to watching from the viewing stand at the airstrip.
That’s terrific! Have fun on your trip!
Halibut, how wonderful! I wish there was a way to write off certain travel expenses the way politicians get to do!
I’ve mentioned the red LEDs that I use as light over my coffee maker, and that I put them on an automation controller to turn them on/off on a schedule. I can access the controller via the web browser pointed to the local IP address, 192.168.1.5
The router that came with our new fiber optic internet is pretty cool. The router has a place to choose from one of many free dynamic DNS services and then and input your user name and password for that service. Since our IP address could change upon a router reboot, the router will ping the service and update it with the new IP address.
I have a domain name I’m not using. I plugged that domain name and current router IP address into the dynamic DNS service, set up port forwarding on the router to a port at 192.168.1.5 and that domain name url now takes you to my coffee light control page:)
Of course I don’t need to be able to turn my coffee light on/off from anywhere via the web. It was just the only controller I could try it on because it’s up here in the house and hard wired to the router via Ethernet. The tunnel controllers are on their own isolated wired network.
I’ll be able to host my own website now that having a dynamic IP address is no longer an issue. That will take some doing though. Will do it this Winter when it’s too cold to do anything outside.
Geez, only 20 books to buy that relate to the series. - https://www.craigallenjohnson.com/novels.htm
My son loves the book version of film adaptations.
Good Deal! Sounds like you are just about settled in and ready to face the winter!
Interesting pictures of bull nosed apple! The subject of the article is attempting to conserve vanishing varieties of local Italian fruit.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Trivia: Fruit Slide! apple root stocks! for dwarfing and disease resistance!
Malling Root stock developed by "East Malling Research Station of the South-Eastern Agricultural College at Wye in Kent, England." Malling Apple Root stocks
:^)
I’ve been in sports venues when the Blue Angels have done fly-overs. Heart-stopping and awe-inspiring!
I’m jealous that you’re seeing them up close! ;)
You can find quite a few of the ‘Longmire’ books on Amazon for a couple of bucks each. (Papaerbacks)
A bundle of the first three would make a nice Christmas gift, Dad! ;)
Ebay - $4.50 ea and free shipping. I have something for sale on ebay so as soon as that sells ...
I put the first book on my watch list so I don’t forget.
You’ll both really enjoy them. :)
And he just released a new book in August, 2024 so plenty of gift-buying opportunities made easy for you if all goes well. ;)
That ‘Fruit Detective’ is really interesting! Thanks!
Growing up Dad used Lawrys on most everything. I found a knock off recipe many years ago and make that up.
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.