Posted on 06/01/2026 6:10:43 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.
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 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.
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.
US Fish & Wildlife on Firefly preservation

Noppadol Paothong Right to Use Photo by Noppadol Paothong, courtesy Missouri Department of Conservation
Missouri Dept Conservation Field Guide-Lightning bug
**Note that the MoDC Field Guide has 14 pages with pictures on Butterflies and Moths. (Fish and trees, etc.) Click on the link above to access their field .
I don’t have any chickens, but those coops are pretty cool! A part of me wants one anyway!
Every June we go out to our firepit at the edge of our woods and watch the lightning bugs. Because of our working on plans for our recent Florida trip, we haven’t gone down there yet to take them in. Maybe tonight will be the night. I guess it partly depends on if we get more rain this evening.
Paul....We had the same forecast and the same rain total.
If you get serious, be sure to check where it is made, the wood used, etc. Some of them won’t last too long. If the wood is treated, is it a safe treatment? Will metal parts quickly rust out?
We still have a chance of, according to NWS, another 0.01”. A final line of light showers with the cold front might give us a tad more if we are lucky. It’s been misting for a while...
BTW, that reminds me, I found these very interesting and useful links last night:
and
https://www.coleparmer.com/Chemical-Resistance
...where you can look up almost anything chemical or material compatibility-wise. Spouses are not included. ;-)
Wow. That’s a fine fine poem!
Tried planting them again when I lived in the Fort Worth area, but they didn't thrive. At all.
I am sure that my HOA doesn’t allow chickens besides vegetable gardens, and I feel certain that if I did put a coop anywhere where they could see it, I’d be getting a visit from them. I do think the coops are pretty neat!
Father was described as an army poet. He joined the service after WWI but was trained by WWI soldiers, so some of his early work was about WWI combat. I know from his letters to mother that he hated being forced out of the service for age. One of the poems in his book foretold that well before the reality happened. His will left money for the buglers.
I’m just too old for drilling
I can’t hike anymore;
So I’m bound for the soldiers’ graveyard
Behind an office door.
They sing - “Old soldiers never die.”
We don’t; we live on crumbs -
The shrilling, splendid bugles
An’ the thunder of the drums!
I won’t do Guard in a snowstorm
An’ I won’t hafta go an’ fire;
It’s just messin’ around an office
An’ waiting to retire.
“Approved per First Indorsement ...”
An’ through the window comes
The music of a Guardmount
An’ the cadenced, throbbin’ drums!
Twenty-three and a butt in the Doughboys;
Why, I’ve hiked a million miles!
But they said my age couldn’t stand it
An’ they detailed me to the files!
This work is nice for some men
Who can take it as it comes.
But you know their hearts ain’t achin’
For the pullin’, poundin’ drums!
D.S. 1/4C. an’ a non-combatant!
When there’s guys tha’d give their life
To piddle around an office
An’ go home at night to the wife.
But I’ll get back to formation;
There’s a day that always comes:
An’ I’ll ride on a painted cassion
With the muffled, sobbin’ drums!
I hear ya! On one of the county roads near here, a guy put a "Trump Lane" street sign on his own driveway. Next thing you know, the 4x4" sign post (painted white) was a splintery stump.
Beautiful! Thanks so much for sharing!
Put a Coop in your Living Room. Chickens can wear diapers when wandering through the house. I’ve seen it, LOL!
Right now, just keeping two puppies OUT OF MY KITCHEN is a major accomplishment each day!
LOL, my living room is like a Victorian parlor room. I don’t think a chicken coop would look right next to the settee. 😉
Maybe I will get a miniature one to put into a Fairy Garden scene. That IS something I can do!
Your puppies in the kitchen reminds me of when my cats were kittens. It was an all day effort!
Pretty!
I’ve seen a few popping up at night so far. With all of this rain we should have a good crop of ‘Lightening Bugs’ this season. Bugs like it wet.
Here is a really sweet song about Lightening Bugs, though they call them Fireflies:
Owl City - Fireflies
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=psuRGfAaju4
I wonder if it’s a North or South thing? Lightening Bugs v. Fireflies? Like Soda or Pop? Hellman’s Mayo or...?
Yeah, it AIN’T Trump Country. My car was keyed and a window smashed because I had the AUDACITY to have a Bush/Cheney sticker on my car. I was working in Madistan at the time.
*Rolleyes* Such a bunch of hive-minded losers in that town.
Well, if its not raining I suppose you are doing this right now! If so I hope you have a good evening!
Thank you for the reminder! Truth be told, today is hubby’s first real day of what retirement might feel like. It felt like a weekend day where you don’t have to be anywhere. So we’ve been watching the World Cup (off and on with rain delays). It is still light here, and I just mentioned your reminder to him, so maybe we will get outside in about 40 minutes. Fingers crossed. I’ll remind him in 25-30 minutes about the lightning bugs!
Owl City...
Daughter loved that song!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.