The Garden Thread - November, 2025

November 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.

[FamiliarFace]

For me, Thursday felt like Friday, yesterday felt like Thursday, and today feels like Saturday. I swapped days I guess, but that was a LONG week.

[FamiliarFace]

You certainly have your hands full! Have fun with the hayride/bonfire event. Give Howard a pat on the head and a belly rub from me.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

He doesn’t move much, but he seems to get the job done! :)

[Diana in Wisconsin]

“I continue to marvel at how quickly he picks up the good behaviors that we’re trying to teach. Having two well-trained adult dogs as examples has really helped.”

My Basset Hound was raised by two Lady Labradors. He picked up a lot of their good habits, though didn’t really lose any of his bad ones, LOL!

My latest Hound Adventure happened last night. Arikara (’Ah-RICK-Ah-Rah’) broke her chain clasp on her Doggy Condo, so she was running loose. I heard the other dogs fussing, but that’s nothing out of the ordinary. A little while later, ‘Ricky’ was on the porch asking for a treat, LOL! At least my pups raised here KNOW to come to the porch for a treat or for Mom if there’s trouble; they all do it!

Of course Beau called from CO while all of this was happening, so I got some mileage out of ‘HIS DOG’ causing trouble for me. ;) She’s a sweetie. With a head lamp and a flashlight I got her settled in one of the outside kennels where she’ll be until he comes home.

I think I may run out of sweet oats for Stew the Steer. I’ll have to see if I can get Junior Farmer Ryan to bring me a bag from Farm & Fleet. Lifting 50# bags of animal feed is no longer do-able for me. :(

Slushstorm started 90 minutes later than predicted, but it’s making up for lost time.

[Qiviut]

Despite the “ping”, I still don’t have Saturday vibes. I’m going to have to write myself a note for when I wake up tomorrow that it’s Sunday so I don’t miss church!

Mom took a package to the post office for me this afternoon - both of us forgot our little PO is closed on Saturday!

Weird confusion, but ‘this too shall pass!’ :-)

[FamiliarFace]

My giveaway this morning was hubby announcing which college football games were on at noon. Yes, I worked through the kickoffs of the game(s) we were keeping our eyes on. There was a lot to do before the temps turn tomorrow.

I got almost 100 bulbs in the ground (tulips, allium, grape muscari, and daffodils), unearthed a huge stone/boulder that was right where I was wanting to put the bulbs, reeled in hoses and removed them from service, watered all the newly planted perennials, cleaned up the birdbath nearest the feeders, and did some weeding and yard cleanup.

That was enough to do while trying to watch college football. Watching MLS Cup Playoff game now, and will go back to college football when this game is over.

[TheConservativeParty]

That turkey sounds awesome.
🦃

[TheConservativeParty]

Re: post 102 Jung Seed link

Reminded me to tell you about the epic sale they had a couple weeks ago to clear out nursery stock and perennials.

I checked their Facebook page one day, to see what sales were on...and 2 days prior they started a “fill a cart for $25 sale”.

So I drove to the Nesbitt Road location (since I knew what was at Stoughton and it was not much...) and the man working outside said don’t be shy about stacking plants on the cart. Like...get a tree AND then put perennials IN that big pot too.

I got 3 hydrangeas, a red twig dogwood, a couple viburnum, a black raspberry and many 4” perennials, like 20!

This was the most spectacular deal I’ve ever seen.

I shared these with my folks.

I asked the man who worked there if they have that sale every late fall, but he thinks the managers of the stores got together to brain storm how to get rid of all the nursery stock and they came up with the fill a cart sale.

😀

[Liz]

Cream Cheese French Toast Casserole
Flavorful make-ahead topped with cream cheese, perfect for holidays.

Ing French Toast 12 c dry bread cubes 8 lge eggs 2 c milk 2 tsp vanilla 1 tsp cinnamon ½ c br/sugar
veg oil spray Cream Cheese Filling 8 oz cream cheese softened 2 tb conf 1 tsp vanilla

Method Place cubed bread in sprayed 9x13" baker. Pour in whisked eggs, milk, vanilla, cinnamon, br/sugar. Cover/fridge 4-24 hrs. Whisk cr/cheese, conf, vanilla. Scatter around top. Bake 350 deg 40-45 min (cooked and set). Serve with real maple syrup. Garnish w/ fresh strawberries or blueberries

[Pete from Shawnee Mission]

Sorry to hear about your dad, but glad he is OK!

Turnips. They will probably be better after a frost. I put mine in late so they are just about 4 inches tall. I covered them to day too.

Yes better to bring Howard in for the winter.

I have a number of thing I need to do, but have a cold or flu or something and have not been able to do anything that reuires a lot of energy. Should warm up Tuesday next week!

[Diana in Wisconsin]

That’s fantastic! What a great way to clear out inventory. We always had to truck some of it back to the Randolph location where they would over-winter everything and then send it back to us in the spring...along with everything WE over-wintered at the stores - which was a PITA. One of my first jobs there was uncovering potted plants and sometimes chipping them out of the ICE to set them in the sun to thaw out. NOT fun!

Glad you got so many great deals. :)

And seriously? I used to keep an Eagle Eye on what sold and what didn’t. Sometimes stock was pretty much FORCED upon us - when we didn’t need it or want it. We knew what sold and what didn’t at each location. I mean, it was ALL THERE on the computer for sales each month of the previous year! Things don’t change that much from season to season, other than introducing new product.

I can feel my blood pressure rising just thinking about what a mess inventory used to be, LOL!

[MomwithHope]

Try google, type in “sellers hoosier cabinet”. search, then click on shopping. I guess the sellers company made a lot. As long as Beau is out west you should have him pick you up one.

[Paul R.]

For a few plants I use high output LED lights in the 4500k - 5000k color temperature range, and some are near a window that adds a bit of sunlight to the LED lights. For me, the high output LED lights works as well as or better than grow lights. They generate a little heat, but, that’s ok in the winter. :-)

Of note: MANY LED lights are not well heat sunk and can burn themselves up. Best are usually shop type lights where the entire rear of the housing, say, ~ 48” x 6”, is a heat sink and at least part of that is finned.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

LOL! I just want him to get that d@mn Mule Deer and get back home!

Crunch, icy mess out there! As you know, barn chores are the worst on days like today.

It did sound pretty, though; the crunch of the crunchy snow and the crackle of the unraked leaves below - when I was filling bird feeders this morning. They’re pretty sure they’er all gonna DIE now that it’s snowed! They were lined up like they were waiting to buy tickets to see a show, LOL!

[Diana in Wisconsin]

REMINDER: It is now Sunday - get your butt in the pew, LOL!

[Diana in Wisconsin]

I just made that casserole last week, but without the cream cheese. I’ll use that next time around. ;)

[MomwithHope]

I had snow too, it was quite a shock. Over an inch and everything covered. Maybe we see snow late November. Sometimes not til mid December. I thank God Anya will be here January 7. Not looking forward to being here alone this winter.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

I’m also following your lead and being more ‘stingy’ at the bird feeders. One scoop of mixed goodies per feeder per day. I don’t even want to THINK about all the money spent on bird seed through the years!

Also - all the stored bacon grease in the freezer is going to be made into suet. Found a good recipe for my Kitchen Aid mixer to do the hard work.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

I don’t like it either!

[MomwithHope]

Bird feeder is not even out yet. I agree about the seed When hubby was filling the feeder so much was wasted. I remember one winter I shoveled a good 40 pounds off the ground and up onto the patio that had been wasted. A few years ago I started to fill up cottage cheese containers and put out one a day. Policy is as long as they can get at the natural ground seed that is good. Might put it up early now.