Posted on 05/01/2026 6:24:57 AM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin
The MONTHLY Victory Garden 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.
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It is impossible to hijack the Victory Garden 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.
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Nice to hear from you. I have arthritis in my back from inflammation too. The only thing that works is conolodine. Got it on amazon. VERY effective One dose at night will last two days. Its a tincture from the bark of some tree.
Good Morning!
((((BUSY DAY TODAY))))
New!
Pink Peony (lovely aroma)
Allium
Coreopsis
Anna’s Pink Native Verbena
Bejeweled Rose Rhinestones Penstemon
Meadow Rue
Sedum Ternatum
Pink Bleeding Hearts
Coral bells (heuchera) - I don’t know which variety
These are the things currently blooming in my meditation garden.
Thank you for posting that list of beautiful plants to discourage deer attacks on our gardens (comment #3).
I just realized that since these are monthly threads, comments and links from other months may be hard to find again. So I am adding the word “deer-proof” to the “Keywords” list so I will always be able to find this article again. I encourage others to add a word on a special or unusual garden item or topic so you and others can find it again. I just wish I had done so for “fig” and other topics with information others provided for my questions.
That is a great suggestion about keywords!
It’s good to hear that Howard has been fully accepted as a member of the family. What a fun little guy.
I don’t have arthritis (yet) but I have developed bone spurs in both of my heels. When I start to get about 2 miles in on my steps, I can feel it for most steps after that. Fortunately, when I go to bed, the pain dissipates until the next day when I get the miles back in. I try to get in at least 3 miles every day, and this has hampered my efforts to stay on top of things. I wear inserts in my shoes now, and usually in the summer I change towards sandals or flip flops, so I have no idea what I’ll do when the time comes. I know I should go see a foot doctor and find out what is recommended, if anything.
Love those photos!
We cannot grow peonies here - there is apparently a “California” variety that was sold for a short time period - haven’t seen them in years. Neighbor tried and lost them.
Ditto for bleeding hearts, friend along the coastal area here has tried repeatedly to grow them without any luck.
I’ve lost all the coral bells I’ve tried to grow - they last for a while but cannot tolerate our hot summer.
Enjoy!
Bon
The lavender rose is called “Love” - I planted it in honor of my son-in-law who asked for a purple/violet rose. I was at the nursery when the grower was putting them out - he said they are the first rose to go and if I wanted one, to take it immediately, which I did.
The pup in the upper part of the photo belongs to the dog sitter. Tiki had to spend a week in “dog jail” as my son says - he didn’t like it one bit, but it couldn’t be helped, there are some places I cannot take him, unfortunately.
The only plant I’ve ever heard is deer proof are daffodils.
I’ve heard they’re extremely toxic to deer.
So I planted a swath of daffodils and interplanted my tulips and hyacinths and never had a problem with deer eating them.
Reminder to me, too!
If they’re a lovely shade of pale pink with no other markings, I’ll bet you a doughnut that those are ‘Sara Bernhardt’ Peonies.
I have one and she’s a bit behind yours, still more tightly in bud. Mine bloom at the end of May and then we usually get a DOWNPOUR that shreds them, so I cut bunches as soon as I can!
Love the scent.
My other favorite Peony is, ‘Festiva Maxima’ which is white with a little red striping inside.
Here is a full Google page with heel bone spur information.
I started by asking the question on the first line of the link. I don’t know what followed the initial AI answer.
Oh, Augie! I wish there was better news on your arthritis and pain! Beau is just starting this journey - he has it in his hips and also has bone spurs in there! Ouch! They’re starting him on PT to see if exercise and various stretching will loosen him up more, but if not, they’re going to do some surgery to at least get rid of the bone spurs.
You poor babies! *HEART*
Howard is one Lucky Dog to have found you. My newest puppy is a Plott, but rumor has it that I’m getting another Walker Dog puppy in the near future and we might be getting a rescue Beagle, too! When it rains, it pours!
Baby chicks! Always so much fun. At my other farm I had a third floor walk-up attic where I had a brooder pen for baby chicks. It was amazing how they ‘imprinted’ on my Basset Hound, Rufus, as he went up there every morning and evening with me to ‘check on the chicks.’
When they were finally old enough to be out in their fenced yard, any time Rufus was around they would cluck and call to him! It was really something. He could walk around in the coop when I was feeding them and they would rush to him, LOL!
Welcome! :)
Thanks, Pete!
Nobody does color like Mother Nature - I marvel at the peonies every year.
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