The Garden Thread - September, 2025

September 1, 2025 | Diana in WI/Greeneyes in Memoriam

[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.

[Liz]

It actually cleaned up more easily than I thought using just hot tap water.

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Yup.....I use the hot water trick every time i make caramel.....

[Paul R.]

If the problem was a slow leak, YOUR dealer should have been able to find it. UV die and all... Plus there should have been trans fluid soiling things “down under”, and there would be signs of the fluid under the car wherever you son usually parks it. If there was no leak, that should be fairly easy to determine too...

This is reminding me I am due to check the trans fluid level of our ‘09 Outback. (It at least has a dipstick for trans fluid.) If the fluid is getting a little brownish, I’ll drain and refill, as I have lots of the fluid. With newer Outbacks (and many other vehicles) you have to get under the car and pull the fill plug and see if anything runs out. (What a dumb way to have to check a fluid level, IMO. It’s just asking for negligence!)

[Paul R.]

My “fun” this week is an old (and large) filling came out. It’s at the location of an old root canal job on a molar - back in my 40’s when I was incredibly busy and, really, not taking good care of my teeth — as I came to painfully regret with this one!

Well, that old work has suddenly failed, and, oh, golly, this hurts even more now. Even cool breath getting back there hurts. Anbesol helps only a little. Ditto for Tylenol or Ibuprofen. My current dentist can’t get me in until Sept. 24, so, I’m going to have an unpleasant couple weeks. :-(

I may get a dental mirror and see if wifey can do a better job with her small fingers of getting the Anbesol into the right spot.

Meanwhile, we are headed for a big warm-up. Hot and dry, probably for a couple weeks. Mid-90’s by this weekend. I’m surprised we don’t have a burn ban already. The garden has been finally doing great — I hope I can keep it that way! At least dew points stay below 65°F, so, evenings shouldn’t be to bad.

[FamiliarFace]

The dye step was the next diagnostic step. We didn’t have enough time to do that before they got back. He has street parking at his apartment, so he can’t usually see if there are leaks. His parking spot changes daily, but when it was in our driveway, there were no leaks.

He hasn’t had a problem since we got it back, so I really do suspect that the mechanic at the old dealership where he took it was at fault. They just won’t fess up.

[Liz]

Mexican Chopped Salad with Lime Vinaigrette
Easy to prepare, crisp, fresh and festive, great main dish. Doubles easily. Serves 4.

Ing Lime Vinaigrette 1/4 cup fresh lime juice 1/4 cup olive oil 2 tablespoons honey 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro 1 clove garlic, minced 1 teaspoon chopped jalapeno (seeds removed)

Ing Salad 2 1/2 c chp romaine 3/4 c ea chp cherry tomatoes, chopped jicama, corn kernels, thin sliced radishes, black olives, 1/2 avocado in cubes 1 red bell pepper, chp 1/4 cup crumbled feta.

[Paul R.]

The dye test can locate a leak, but, even without it if there was a leak there should be residual trans fluid on the bottom of the car, somewhere. Granted that if there are other leaks, such as oil leaks, it might be a bit hard for an untrained eye to recognize what’s what.

Actually, I’m trying to process how a transmission would even work without fluid, much less survive for any miles at all...

Anyway, thank goodness the car is still working ok!

[MomwithHope]

That looks good. I almost thought it was a bibimbap (sp?). I have only seen pictures and the only restaurant is too far away. Got a good recipe? Not too spicy?

[Liz]

Yeah, the salad does look like the Korean dish.

Ingredients 5 garlic cloves, minced, divided 1½ tablespoons soy sauce, divided 4 teaspoons toasted sesame oil, divided, plus more to taste 8 ounces beef steak, sliced thin 8 teaspoons vegetable oil, divided 1 pint mushrooms ¼ teaspoon sugar 2 carrots, shredded ¼ teaspoon kosher salt, plus more to taste 1 bunch spinach 4 cups mung bean sprouts ½ teaspoon fish sauce 4 eggs 4 cups cooked short-grain white rice 2 teaspoons sesame seeds, for garnish 2 mini cucumbers, sliced on a bias

Preparation In a medium work bowl, mix 3 teaspoons minced garlic with 1 tablespoon soy sauce and 2 teaspoons sesame oil, then add sliced beef and marinate for 30 minutes to overnight. To grill, cook marinated beef over high, direct heat for 3–4 minutes, or to pan-fry, heat 2 teaspoons vegetable oil in a large skillet over high heat. Let excess marinade drip off then add beef. Cook for 3–4 minutes, until cooked and caramelized bits form, then remove from pan. Sauté mushrooms with 2 teaspoons of vegetable oil for 2–3 minutes, until tender, then add 1½ teaspoons soy sauce, ¼ teaspoon sugar and ½ teaspoon minced garlic. Stir for 1 minute, then remove from pan.

Place carrots in a bowl and sprinkle with ¼ teaspoon kosher salt. Toss together and leave for 15 minutes, then drain excess liquid. Add 2 teaspoons vegetable oil to the pan, then cook carrot until just tender and remove. Heat 2 teaspoons vegetable oil with a splash of sesame oil. Sauté spinach until it starts to wilt. Add ½ teaspoon minced garlic and salt to taste, stir, then remove. When cool, squeeze to drain out excess liquid.

Blanch bean sprouts in boiling water for 2 minutes, or until flexible. Drain under cold water, then cool. Squeeze out excess liquid then place in a bowl and mix with 2 teaspoons sesame oil, 1 teaspoon minced garlic and ½ teaspoon fish sauce. Fry eggs to your desired doneness.

To serve, place warm rice in bowls. Top with vegetables and beef, then the egg. Sprinkle with sesame seeds, drizzle with sesame oil and serve with Bibimbap Sauce.

SAUCE This classic sauce goes well in any kind of bibimbap bowl. Just note that it’s a bit spicy, Adjust spice to your taste. Ingredients--mix well 1/2 cup gochujang (Korean chili paste) 1/4 cup toasted sesame oil 1/4 cup sugar 1/4 cup water 1/4 cup toasted sesame seeds 4 tsp vinegar, apple cider vinegar or rice vinegar 4 tsp minced garlic

[FamiliarFace]

Yes, there must be a leak, because that car (any car) would’ve been un-driveable without it.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

You could use the Lime Vinaigrette on a lot of chopped salads. Thanks!

[Liz]

You could use the Lime Vinaigrette on a lot of chopped salads. Thanks!

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Great recipe-—although I’d skip the jalapenos for some salads.

[MomwithHope]

Thanks Liz! All I have seen are some gorgeous pictures. In knew you would have a good recipe.

[Pollard]

Moved my cloud online because the self hosted version was tying up a PC meant for another purpose. Need to update the links on my profile page but for now, here's the link to the Agriculture folder and everything in it- https://cloud.farmwp.com/index.php/s/LJCZKQEbCMBtG2b

The link is also on my profile page above all the other links that need updating. To update links, I have to create a public share link for each folder within nextcloud which is a lot of clicking busy work. Will do tonight probably or early am tomorrow.

Not a necessity since it's all in Agriculture but it's handy to go directly to a subfolder with one click.

Nextcloud is a lot more than just a files server. It's also Groupware, work collaboration, messaging etc. The chat function isn't too dissimilar to posting here. Might set up a chat as a backup for when FR goes down.

[Liz]

Thanks Liz! I’ve seen some gorgeous pictures.
I knew you would have a good bibimbap recipe.

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I love Asian recipes-—they’ve overtaken my cooking.

[MomwithHope]

In my 20’s I started making my own spring roll skins. Thin and easy.

[Liz]

In my 20’s I started making my own spring roll skins. Thin and easy.

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Wow.

[MomwithHope]

1978 first newlywed Christmas gifts from hubby. All I got was an electric wok and a food dehydrator. Food dehydrator still working. I guess he was sending me a message.

[Augie]

My oldest nephew had a Basset Hound, Chloe. She was quite a character. Probably the most independent-minded dog I’ve ever been around. That dog did what she wanted to do, when she wanted to do it, and there was nothing any human could do to change her mind once it was made up.

She liked to tease the horses and one day that behavior almost did her in. One of our Arabians got fed up with her shenanigans - he grabbed her by the scruff and tossed her halfway across the dry lot, then chased after her once she collected herself. Poor dog ran headlong into a panel fence and got her head stuck in one of the narrow-spaced openings at the bottom.

If I hadn’t been there to stop it the horse would have pounded her into a puddle of mush. She was just about choked out by the time I hacked the panel with the bolt cutters. She didn’t mess with the horses after that.

I was productive after work yesterday. Both raised beds have been replanted - kale/collards in one, turnips/rutabaga in the other. Watering the planting spot for Mrs. Augie’s baby Catalpa tree did the trick. Was able to finish digging the planting hole and stuck the tree in it. Now it’s water and wait.

We picked green beans and peppers, and picked cukes for what might be the last time this season. I’ll pick tomatoes later today. Still have two trees loaded with apples that need picked. The pear trees have a good crop but those aren’t quite ready to harvest. They need another two weeks, maybe three. The tweety birds will start peckering them when they’re ready so I’ll need to pay attention if I want to get a share.

[Liz]

Jiffy Enchiladas / makes a lot / great leftovers

Ing 20 soft taco shells, 28 oz can enchilada sauce 1/2 c cooked Mexican rice 12 oz shredded cheese lb grnd beef

Method Add 1/3 can of enchilada sauce to pepper-dusted ground beef, 6 oz cheese, and cooked rice. Stir to blend. Spoon into flour tortilla shells, roll up and place in 9x13 pan. You might need a second pan. Pour on rest enchilada sauce---too much sauce will make them soggy. Sprinkle w/ rest cheese. Cover/cook 350 deg til cheese is melted.

Serve garnished with minced green onions, sour cream, sides of Mexican rice, taco strips salad.

[Qiviut]

My SIL had a Corgi who was a real ‘personality’. He liked to ‘herd’ the horses, nipping at their heels. If you let him out of the house & the horses were in sight, he was after them. He messed up his doggy ‘ACL’ due to his horse herding habit ... my brother said he took off after the horses & was “a dust cloud on the horizon” and when he returned back over the hill, he was limping badly. It was an expensive operation to fix it, but being my SIL’s dog, it happened. His name was Cooper, but I told her it should have been ‘Hoover’. If there was a crumb on the floor, he would find it. He also followed her elderly dad around because he tended to drop food. That dog was no dummy - really cute, too.