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The Garden Thread - August, 2025
August 1, 2025 | Diana in WI/Greeneyes in Memoriam

Posted on 08/01/2025 6:03:57 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.


TOPICS: Agriculture; Food; Gardening; Hobbies
KEYWORDS: food; garden; gardening; hobbies
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To: Qiviut

Ahh, nature. I hope they survived and went off to a quiet place to pupate. I bet I’ve had 80 monarch caterpillars, and I’ve only seen the one ready for transformation.


881 posted on 08/31/2025 12:17:01 PM PDT by FamiliarFace (I got my own way of livin' But everything gets done With a southern accent Where I come from. TPetty)
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To: Qiviut; Diana in Wisconsin; MomwithHope; FRiends
Ahhh, the Monarch caterpillar has formed its chrysalis! I got to watch it happen. Pretty cool. It reminds me of birth. The contractions start and then the chrysalis forms. Very cool. Here are a few shots I was able to capture.

Caterpillar just starting to wiggle to go into the chrysalis. Note the green just starting to form near the head of the caterpillar.

IMG-3227

After just a few seconds you can see the chrysalis emerging.

IMG-9797

Nearly finished with chrysalis formation. In this case, the dark skin didn’t fall off. The whole process only takes a few minutes once it starts.

Full-Size-Render

882 posted on 08/31/2025 3:42:58 PM PDT by FamiliarFace (I got my own way of livin' But everything gets done With a southern accent Where I come from. TPetty)
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To: All

For all the shishito pepper growers/lovers:

Pickled Shishito Peppers
https://peppergeek.com/pickled-shishito-peppers/


883 posted on 08/31/2025 3:43:59 PM PDT by Qiviut (Imagine waking up in the morning & only having the things you thanked God for yesterday. (S. Peters))
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To: FamiliarFace

Wow Way cool pics, thanks for posting.


884 posted on 08/31/2025 3:50:13 PM PDT by MomwithHope (Forever grateful to all our patriots, past, present and future.)
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To: Qiviut

Hi thanks for posting. I tried the pickling two years ago. The unique flavor of shishitos is not that strong and we found it got lost in the brine. Others may like them that way.

Started 2 planter boxes of fall lettuce and one of radishes. Fingers crossed.


885 posted on 08/31/2025 3:53:39 PM PDT by MomwithHope (Forever grateful to all our patriots, past, present and future.)
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To: Qiviut

Great find! I’ve printed that out so I can use it soon!


886 posted on 08/31/2025 4:06:24 PM PDT by FamiliarFace (I got my own way of livin' But everything gets done With a southern accent Where I come from. TPetty)
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To: MomwithHope

Thanks. Something is wrong with one of the lenses on my phone camera. It’s just having troubling focusing the last couple of days. I don’t remember dropping it but something ain’t right. It usually takes better close ups than these.


887 posted on 08/31/2025 4:09:37 PM PDT by FamiliarFace (I got my own way of livin' But everything gets done With a southern accent Where I come from. TPetty)
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To: MomwithHope

Good luck!


888 posted on 08/31/2025 4:09:58 PM PDT by FamiliarFace (I got my own way of livin' But everything gets done With a southern accent Where I come from. TPetty)
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To: FamiliarFace

Absolutely a miracle! There’s some pretty wondrous stuff out there in the ‘Bug World.’


889 posted on 08/31/2025 4:19:10 PM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin (I don't have, 'Hobbies.' I'm developing a robust Post-Apocalyptic skill set.)
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To: FamiliarFace

I had that same thing happen to my old old cell phone in June. Just had to get a new phone.


890 posted on 08/31/2025 4:36:43 PM PDT by MomwithHope (Forever grateful to all our patriots, past, present and future.)
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To: MomwithHope

Thanks. This one was new at the New Year. One of the pro models so I can take good photos. I’ll have to go over to the store to figure out what to do.


891 posted on 08/31/2025 5:06:02 PM PDT by FamiliarFace (I got my own way of livin' But everything gets done With a southern accent Where I come from. TPetty)
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

I can’t believe I found this monarch caterpillar hanging on to a dead maple leaf as I was trimming the dead peony blossoms. It’s about 10-12 feet away from the milkweed plants. I had just found the butterfly shelter a half hour before I saw this guy. Knowing we would be doing a lot of work in the next few weeks over near there, I figured he would be safer inside the shelter.

It took him a day of running around before he went into his J formation. Then I learned that they form the chrysalis 24-36 hours later, so I knew he should go sometime this afternoon. I checked on him every 20-30 minutes. When I saw him starting his wiggling, I knew he was close. Then before I knew it, the chrysalis was formed!

Yes, the miracle of life! Even with insects.


892 posted on 08/31/2025 5:18:46 PM PDT by FamiliarFace (I got my own way of livin' But everything gets done With a southern accent Where I come from. TPetty)
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To: FamiliarFace

If its newer yes, mine was 12 years old at least.


893 posted on 08/31/2025 5:23:44 PM PDT by MomwithHope (Forever grateful to all our patriots, past, present and future.)
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To: Pollard

Ryobi 2 ah and 4 ah batteries plus charger on the way. 60-70% off. No pole or chain saws on sale.

My four day work week was three days and now my three days off is four days with tomorrow being paid. Ye haa. Even got a little project done after work today.

Might run the smoker tomorrow or might wait. Slight chance of rain tomorrow after 1pm, more likely Tues, then we’re clear. Meanwhile my son and I have steak, fish or wings for tomorrow if need be.

Other than that, whatever I feel like doing on my to do lists.


894 posted on 08/31/2025 6:37:51 PM PDT by Pollard (Gettin' things done)
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To: Pollard; All

Enjoy your extra paid day off! Sounds great!

Happy Labor Day, FRiends!


895 posted on 08/31/2025 8:48:14 PM PDT by FamiliarFace (I got my own way of livin' But everything gets done With a southern accent Where I come from. TPetty)
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To: FamiliarFace

Thanks

Weather has flipped from chance of rain after 1pm to before 8am so I might be running the smoker today. Lot to be done to prep though so I don’t know.

Gonna run to town and get spices, foil and some bolts to put in vertical chamber of smoker to set racks on. Come back and install bolts and start rounding up wood. Plenty of white, red oak and enough hickory for a touch of flavor for ribs which take longest so will start first.

Oh geez, I just looked to my right and saw that I have a dozen pieces of white oak firewood left over from last year. A dead dry hickory I cut down a week ago is 50 foot away from the house. And here I thought I was going to have to roam the property.

The smoke is on. Salmon, Ribs, Cornish Hens, Tri Tip Roast. Happy Labor Day

https://www.smoking-meat.com/smoking-times-and-temperatures-chart

Also has links to Jeff Phillips’ recipes. He’s been running the best smoking/grilling meat forums for years. https://www.smokingmeatforums.com/


896 posted on 09/01/2025 6:13:13 AM PDT by Pollard
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To: Pollard

That sounds like feast!

Since Diana started a September thread, why don’t you copy and paste this post over there? I’m sure the others would love to hear about your Labor Day smoking.

https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/4337960/posts?q=1&;page=1


897 posted on 09/01/2025 6:17:49 AM PDT by FamiliarFace (I got my own way of livin' But everything gets done With a southern accent Where I come from. TPetty)
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