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Weekly Gardening Thread Vol. 18, May 4, 2012
Friday, May 4, 2012 | JustaDumbBlonde

Posted on 05/04/2012 7:31:41 AM PDT by JustaDumbBlonde

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Good morning FRiends and fellow gardeners! I really enjoyed all of you that participated in last week's thread. I've been so busy that I didn't have time to respond to each and every comment, but I think about what y'all write and the photos that you post while I'm out working on my own projects. You truly inspire me!

Looking forward to reading your updates this week. We welcomed 2 new members to the ping list last week, bringing us to 525 members. That is fantastic, and we are on track to add 100 members this year.

In my own little patch of earth, I've worked on many projects this past week and I did take plenty of photos along the way. If I get a chance I'll share some later on this evening, but if I don't, I'll post them all as next week's thread. My mind is reeling going from one thing to another and it would be easier to tell you what doesn't hurt on my body. It is all very rewarding though, as I'm sure y'all understand.

Happy gardening!

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The Weekly Gardening Thread is a weekly 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.

This thread is non-political, although you will find that most here are conservative folks. 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 Weekly Gardening Thread ... there is no telling where it will go and that is part of the fun and interest. Jump in and join us!


TOPICS: Agriculture; Food; Gardening; Hobbies
KEYWORDS: garden; gardening
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To: tubebender

Okay! Don’t want to run you off.


121 posted on 05/04/2012 9:26:52 PM PDT by JustaDumbBlonde (Don't wish doom on your enemies ... plan it.)
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To: afraidfortherepublic

I like it! It is creative and unique.... a Western theme Christmas tree. Although I have only seen tumble weeds in movies... One day, I am going to go out West. Where? No idea but I always wanted to see those red rocks. (as non PC as it sounds but the rocks you use to see in the old cowboy and Indian movies). Your home room had no sense of homemade “style”.


122 posted on 05/04/2012 9:39:29 PM PDT by momtothree
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To: momtothree; Ellendra; MissMagnolia; Diana in Wisconsin

Did you all know that Diana’s nursery (Jung’s) sells re-blooming lilacs? IOW, they boom more than once each year.

I was thinking of getting some for a spot I’d like to fill, but (AGAIN) it is not ready for planting and no one to help. Husband is too busy, and my knee won’t let me spade.

I’d also like to have some specimens of “Miss Kim”, a drawf lilac that gets only 4-6 ft. tall.


123 posted on 05/04/2012 9:43:18 PM PDT by afraidfortherepublic
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To: JustaDumbBlonde

http://www.bonap.org/2008_Soil/SoilTypesRelatedMaps.html

Soil maps etc.

Thought this may be of general assistance to the thread.


124 posted on 05/05/2012 12:33:25 AM PDT by TASMANIANRED (We kneel to no prince but the Prince of Peace)
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To: JustaDumbBlonde

http://www.bonap.org/2008_Soil/SoilTypesRelatedMaps.html

Soil maps etc.

Thought this may be of general assistance to the thread.


125 posted on 05/05/2012 12:34:31 AM PDT by TASMANIANRED (We kneel to no prince but the Prince of Peace)
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To: JustaDumbBlonde

I figgered you would know


126 posted on 05/05/2012 4:23:46 AM PDT by dennisw
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To: ApplegateRanch

So how long will you brine the pastrami? I have never done it but I read 7-14 days will do it. I have also read less than 7 days. Much depends on how much spices and salt are in the brine I suppose.


127 posted on 05/05/2012 4:52:22 AM PDT by dennisw
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To: afraidfortherepublic

Christmas trees out of tumbleweeds when I was in Jr. High.

As a child a read about a desert Christmas similar to your story.
Thinking on those simpler times almost makes me weep for what we have lost.
I may have to give that tumble weed tree, and the cotton balls a try!


128 posted on 05/05/2012 5:50:19 AM PDT by WestwardHo
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To: afraidfortherepublic; Diana in Wisconsin

Just a suggestion but are there any middle school or high school kids near you? I guarantee there are some young un’s that would like a bit of prom money (movie money, gas money, etc) and their youth make digging a simple chore. If you don’t know any personally, contact a local church and speak to the youth director. He or she can present this “job” to their pre-teens and teens. Simply explain that your knees hurt and your husband can’t do it.

I am totally considering a reblooming Lilac. Of course, with my luck... it won’t bloom twice. LOL! I couldn’t say a thing to Diana because she is known to sick her rooster on people!


129 posted on 05/05/2012 6:32:19 AM PDT by momtothree
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To: afraidfortherepublic

We made a Christmas Tree out of wild Teasel (thistle) seed cones and chicken wire. I’ll bet those weeds are still coming up in the yard and it’s been almost 40s.


130 posted on 05/05/2012 7:44:24 AM PDT by tubebender (I always wanted to be somebody, but now I realize I should have been more specific.)
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To: WestwardHo

LOL!

Or, you can make a “snow man” out of tumbleweed. We did that too. Great use of the imagination for kids who never, ever saw real snow (Central California where tumbleweeds were plentiful and the snow never fell.)

A tumblewood tree could be very pretty these days with modern decorative paint that has sparkles in it and tiny lights, which were unknown in 1951. Martha Stewart was probably still in diapers when we did such things.

Youo know nowdays the teachers complain that they have to sped their own money to make decorations for the classroom. In my day they used to ask for volunteers from the class, and we’d bring the decorations from home and were glad to do it. Teacher didn’t spend any money, or time, thinking of how to decorate the classroom.


131 posted on 05/05/2012 9:03:28 AM PDT by afraidfortherepublic
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To: afraidfortherepublic

A tumblewood tree could be very pretty these days with modern decorative paint that has sparkles in it and tiny lights, which were unknown in 1951. Martha Stewart was probably still in diapers when we did such things.

This could be really BIG!!! We could set up a website, build a catalogue, market our ideas to the rich greenies in Hollywood, Taos, New York...we’ll be greedy, but we’ll be rich beyond our wildest dreams!!!
Martha Stewart is sooo yesterday!!!!
LOL!!!
We have a “neighbor”, fortunately not in view of our place, who has decorated her wire fence and a dying cedar with a huge stash of wine bottles.
Another dear soul has built elegant towers on either side of their drive with old tires... Again, fortunately, they live several miles away.
I feel sure they are potential customers!!!
OK, I’m going to go move my water hose now.
Happy Saturday!!


132 posted on 05/05/2012 9:33:49 AM PDT by WestwardHo
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To: WestwardHo; momtothree; tubebender

Tubebender knows all about those tumbleweeds, I’m sure, because we grew up in the same part of the country. The fields where my father and I gathered those tumbleweeds are now subdivisions and strip malls.

Another classroom decoration I remember are the yarn “globes” that we hung from the ceiling. We took donated yarn, dpped it in flour and water paste and wrapped it around balloons in a random pattern. We allowed the yarn to dry overnight and then popped the balloons. We had these hollow spheres of yarn left which we hung from the ceiling of the classroom as a Christmas decoration one year.

For some reason my Jr. High celebrated “Spring Day” which was a day that all of the girls wore their prettiest pastel dresses to school. I remember making chicken wire wall baskets (triangles of checken wire pinned on the bulletin boards that were above the blackboards around the room with thumbtacks.) The holes in the chicken wire were stuffed with crepe paper, and we filled the “baskets” with flowering spring branches that everybody brought to school the mornng of Spring Day.

Again, no money spent by the teacher, everything donated by the kids and their parents, and no time, or effort, put out by the teacher. We loved to do it. We held a meeting, chose a oommittee, discussed the project, and did the job.

Of course in those days, the teacher wouldn’t have had the time, or the budget, to take on these projects. In those days the teachers taught a full day of classes (no free periods — planning was done at home) and had lunchroom duty and recess duty, as well. No aides. No teacher work days, except before school started in the fall, or during Christmas and Easter vacations.

As I said, Martha Stewart was still in diapers!


133 posted on 05/05/2012 9:35:06 AM PDT by afraidfortherepublic
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To: dennisw

I’m planning on about 10 days, give or take.

Also, I’m going to use my Big Chief smoker, rather than the BBQ smoker, with a mix of apple & hickory; maybe a wee bit of cherry.


134 posted on 05/05/2012 9:45:57 AM PDT by ApplegateRanch (Love me, love my guns!©)
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To: ApplegateRanch
That looks like the guy (bull sssnake) that I caught & releasssed in the garden about 3 times last year, before it got the messssssage. We have that happen about once a year. The snake is non-poisonous and doesn't bother the chickens, but it steals eggs. I just grab them and take them to a neighboring property for releasssse.
135 posted on 05/05/2012 9:59:20 AM PDT by Sarajevo (http://rulesoftheinternet.com/index.php?title=Main_Page)
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To: JustaDumbBlonde
Hydroponics for the Home Gardener-downloadable
136 posted on 05/05/2012 10:09:32 AM PDT by Sarajevo (http://rulesoftheinternet.com/index.php?title=Main_Page)
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To: WestwardHo

Hi there, just read your post about not pruning your lilacs....could this be the problem with my Wisteria? I prune it back hard each year following local gardeners but this ‘teenager’ just will not bloom. It bloomed the first year then I had to move the plant to a new location, more sun but same area...do you suppose that stopped the blooming? Have ‘whacked’ the trunk with an ax but that popular notion did not work either. Any and all advice will be appreciated.


137 posted on 05/05/2012 10:39:18 AM PDT by yoe
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To: ApplegateRanch

http://www.amazingribs.com/recipes/beef/close_to_katzs_home_made_pastrami.html

This guy seems to know what he is talking about. I have eaten a lot of pastrami in my life but I never thought of it as a smoked product. I have never tasted the smoke in any pastrami..... but that could be my fault. I taste a lot of things in it like garlic, coriander and black pepper but not smoke

The smoking process in these pastrami recipes is actually a cooking and low-temp roasting process that could be done in an oven if you wanted. The most important part is the brining in salt and spices and the rub that is put on before “baking” “Roasting” or “smoking” it. Now maybe you can great new spin on it with the woods you smoke it with..... But my opinion this is all secondary to proper brining, proper rub, then proper low-temp for a few hours roasting.

And all that bs about steaming for 3-4 hours after the smoking? No way does that compute. One hour should do. Even 30 minutes but maybe the meat will still be a bit tough


138 posted on 05/05/2012 11:06:59 AM PDT by dennisw
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To: Sarajevo

sent you a private message


139 posted on 05/05/2012 11:10:19 AM PDT by dennisw
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To: yoe
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140 posted on 05/05/2012 11:20:46 AM PDT by JustaDumbBlonde (Don't wish doom on your enemies ... plan it.)
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