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The Garden Thread - December, 2024
December 1, 2024 | Diana in WI/Greeneyes in Memoriam

Posted on 11/30/2024 6:46:42 AM PST 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!


TOPICS: Agriculture; Food; Gardening; Hobbies
KEYWORDS: food; foodsecurity; garden; gardening; hobbies
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1 posted on 11/30/2024 6:46:42 AM PST by Diana in Wisconsin
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To: 4everontheRight; Augie; Apple Pan Dowdy; Aevery_Freeman; ApplegateRanch; ArtDodger; AloneInMass; ...

2 posted on 11/30/2024 6:47:35 AM PST by Diana in Wisconsin (I don't have, 'Hobbies.' I'm developing a robust Post-Apocalyptic skill set.)
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

Lovely. And GREAT porcelain weave pattern on cup. Impressed.


3 posted on 11/30/2024 6:53:47 AM PST by mairdie (GreenwichVillage ArmyPoet: https://www.iment.com/maida/family/father/oldsoldiersdrums/frontcover.htm)
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

Here in the Inner Banks of eastern North Carolina, we had our first freeze of the fall.

Joy in the death of bugs, crab grass and annual weeds. Again tomorrow morning and perhaps a normal rather than a mild winter.


4 posted on 11/30/2024 6:57:12 AM PST by KC Burke
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

I’m in southern Indiana. We had our first freeze overnight. The pond has some ice around the edges.


5 posted on 11/30/2024 7:01:24 AM PST by caver ( )
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To: FRiends
Our mission this month is simple:

What did you preserve (in any way) from your garden that you'll enjoy over the holidays or throughout the winter months?

Please feel free to share favorite Holiday recipes this month too, for whatever is 'traditional' in your family, or a new recipe you want to try.

(Hat Tip to Mom With Hope.)

6 posted on 11/30/2024 7:04:52 AM PST by Diana in Wisconsin (I don't have, 'Hobbies.' I'm developing a robust Post-Apocalyptic skill set.)
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To: caver

“The pond has some ice around the edges.”

I track the weather by whether the dog water bowl on the front porch needs to be chipped out in the morning, LOL!


7 posted on 11/30/2024 7:13:31 AM PST by Diana in Wisconsin (I don't have, 'Hobbies.' I'm developing a robust Post-Apocalyptic skill set.)
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To: Diana in Wisconsin; All

VERY cold here - 22° last night, won’t get above freezing until noon. When the wind blows, it’s downright frigid! 🥶 I am looking at insulated Carhart jackets - something warm, windproof, & tough enough to work in outside.

I have 2 projects in the shop today & 2 fairly quick ones outside. The wind isn’t blowing as hard as yesterday, so maybe the outside projects will happen - I had to quit on one yesterday afternoon because of the wind.

We have a forwarding order at our former house for mail. They do not forward catalogs. My SIL keeps the mailbox cleaned out so I got two seed catalogs from her over Thanksgiving. It’s “killing” me to see all the things I want to grow & I have no raised beds/garden. I have fingers crossed that sometime in January, all the projects that are house-related will slow to a trickle (or stop!) so I can build some raised beds.The 4 galvanized beds need digging up & transporting from the old house, too.

My niece dug up, cleaned, & has stored her dahlia tubers as of last weekend. She has promised me some & she’s also starting Snap Dragons in the spring & says she will give me some of them as well (I tried starting from seed one year with no luck). My grandmother here in the Valley always had Snap Dragons & I love them, plus they are gorgeous in bouquets.

I saw a recipe for a hot apple cider drink in one of the recipe books I just bought - don’t think I will make that particular one, but there are lots of mulled apple cider recipes online - I am craving something hot & spiced for when I am through outside & can thaw out & for sipping on during the big football game tonight :-)


8 posted on 11/30/2024 7:29:18 AM PST by Qiviut (The mountains are calling & I must go ..... John Muir )
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To: Diana in Wisconsin
LOL, I had to check the calendar - I was sure it wasn't Dec. 1st but thought I had miscalculated.

We have warm weather this week, mid-70s and Thanksgiving was a pleasant 77 so we were able to sit outside on the patio.

I am starting to plant my usual winter garden. A few things are still blooming:

Petunias:

DD7-C21-FE-A1-F4-40-D4-9-D31-D854-D724-C63-C-1-105-c

Hollywood Hibiscus:

CF552-B6-D-4-EA8-4-D15-83-D4-EE6-AAA63-C063-1-105-c

Rum Runner Hisbiscus:

159-E7-DBA-E7-EA-4566-BB2-D-F7-B50-E57266-C-1-105-c

Exhausted after Thanksgiving - too much play and a lot of turkey!

12-CA5313-C993-44-D0-A6-A0-A0-C0-C53-C2532-1-201-a

9 posted on 11/30/2024 7:31:19 AM PST by Bon of Babble (You Say You Want a Revolution?)
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

I was pleasantly surprised that my brother cooked a prime rib this year instead of turkey - we didn’t know until it came out of the oven. I cook turkey all year for my family, but prime rib is certainly a treat! Had all the traditional sides - stuffing, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce (two versions, homemade) - and cookies for dessert.

Dogs got the large bones, so they were happy too.


10 posted on 11/30/2024 7:33:57 AM PST by Bon of Babble (You Say You Want a Revolution?)
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

That works!


11 posted on 11/30/2024 8:01:27 AM PST by caver ( )
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

Well, we got several inches of snow Thanksgiving Day. The garden is buried for the moment. All that’s left for the garden is waiting for seed starting time.

I do have some garlic to finish chopping up and freezing.

And we need to make snow resistant tree cages to protect my saplings from hungry deer browsing them to death.


12 posted on 11/30/2024 8:08:17 AM PST by metmom (He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” uitAmen. Come, Lord Jesus”)
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

Garlic, and I have potatoes and onions stored in the garage.

Some green beans in the freezer.


13 posted on 11/30/2024 8:09:26 AM PST by metmom (He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” uitAmen. Come, Lord Jesus”)
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To: Diana in Wisconsin
Start your holiday recipes w/ egg nog.

Pioneer Woman Egg Nog / No raw eggs.

ING 2 c whole milk 3 whole cloves 2 Tbl plus 1 tsp vanilla 1 tsp cinnamon 3/4 tsp fresh nutmeg, pinch k/salt 6 lge egg yolks 3/4 c sugar 1 1/4 c light rum 1/4 c. brandy (option) 2 c 1/2 n 1/2 1 c h/cream

Steps Warm 5 min combined milk, cloves, tsp vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, k/salt on med-low, now turn up heat to med- med-high. Stir; avoid scorching, just to a boil. Turn off heat. Whisk briskly egg yolks, sugar lighten in color, a bit fluffy, with visible ridges and ripples.

Very slowly pour hot milk into eggs, whisking vigorously. Incorporate hot with cold slowly, so as not to "cook" eggs. Then back into pan over med. Stir constantly 5 min; mixture is thick and foamy. Do not boil. Strain out cloves. Cool an hour. Stir in rum, brandy if desired, half-and-half, 2 tbl vanilla. Chill overnight to meld flavors. Omit alcohol, if you prefer.

Before serving, whip heavy cream softly firm. Fold into eggnog. Serve garnished w/ grated nutmeg.

14 posted on 11/30/2024 8:58:54 AM PST by Liz (The urge to save humanity is almost always a false front for the urge to RULE. (H.L, Mencken))
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To: mairdie
Lovely. And GREAT porcelain weave pattern on cup. Impressed.

Ditto! Aran Isles sweater knitting pattern! We Hibernians get around!

15 posted on 11/30/2024 9:14:53 AM PST by Albion Wilde (“Did you ever meet a woke person that’s happy? There’s no such thing.” —Donald J. Trump)
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

Hi all. Thanksgiving was kind of a bust this year. I had bad chills Wednesday night and a fever on Thursday. Could only eat a little. Fever broke during the night then chills again. Took a heating pad and wool hat to bed and same out here in my chair. It’s pretty much been snowing continually about 4” on the ground so far. Today the head congestion set in. No more fever so it’s just a head cold.
As far as what we have put up, we enjoy the canned tomatoes, whole and sauce and dehydrated in olive oil and spices. V8, beets, blueberry and red raspberry preserves. Canned cooked apple slices for turnovers. Easy peasy with a box of pastry sheets. So far the two big coolers we set up in the garage for root storage are doing well with onions,potatoes, sweet potatoes and carrots. In the freezer, chopped basil, bok choi, grated zucchini for bread. broccoli, shishito peppers, other peppers I can’t think of anything else right now brain fog.


16 posted on 11/30/2024 10:31:14 AM PST by MomwithHope (Forever grateful to all our patriots, past, present and future.)
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To: Bon of Babble

My sister, 3 y.o.nephew, and my giant pain in the ass brother inlaw all came to our place (plane trip) and I cooked a turkey and a Prime Rib.

I made the prime rib because he hates turkey.

I smoked the prime rib for 4 hrs then finished it in the oven for a couple of hours.

Came out delicious and it was my 1st time cooking one.


17 posted on 11/30/2024 10:53:01 AM PST by TheErnFormerlyKnownAsBig (To you all, my loyal spell checkers....nothing but prospect and admiral nation.)
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To: Diana in Wisconsin; All

The tomato plants are kaput, as are the tomatoes (and green peppers) that I forgot to pick before the recent light freezes here. Felt like I was at a funeral. :-)

But the memory of actually having succeeded at something garden-wise will hold me over till the spring. (I tell myself that the exertion of turning the soil by hand will render me irresistible. Ha ha.)


18 posted on 11/30/2024 12:27:33 PM PST by AFB-XYZ (Two options: 1) Stand up, or 2) Bend over)
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To: Liz

That sounds like it would taste just incredible! :-)


19 posted on 11/30/2024 12:31:24 PM PST by AFB-XYZ (Two options: 1) Stand up, or 2) Bend over)
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To: AFB-XYZ

Great recipe.


20 posted on 11/30/2024 1:55:04 PM PST by Liz (The urge to save humanity is almost always a false front for the urge to RULE. (H.L, Mencken))
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