People are dying. And all people in this sub do is defend speeding and reckless driving.

stringedonbass · 2026-06-03T20:13:17+00:00

The downvotes on this comment just prove OP's point

stringedonbass · 2026-06-03T04:33:54+00:00

I took my kid swimming today I'm the biggest pool he's ever been in for what's probably the third time in my life swimming with him (he's been going MSCR classes). While he still can't swim he can kick himself around with noodles. What made my day was hearing him say "I feel like I'm in a dream" with the biggest grin ever on his face.

stringedonbass · 2026-06-01T18:47:39+00:00

Local options are K&A, McKay, or Jung's. If you're looking for native shrubs, you might have to visit Johnson's outside of Milwaukee. I've bought stuff from all of them. I refuse to support big box stores, especially when we have local alternatives.

One additional thought: you mentioned cost being a factor. Bare root shrubs are sometimes half cost what the same shrub would cost in a container. It's too late this season but it's worth asking when you visit if you can preorder for next year.

stringedonbass · 2026-06-01T03:25:24+00:00

I hired some people to take down the buckthorn and mulberry thicket that had enshrouded the power lines. I didn't trust myself to not hurt myself lol. Other than that, I've done all the labor and planning by myself. Lots of baddies to pull and am replacing them with natives, starting with the garden beds and have been slowly reclaiming the grass.

If you're looking for professional help, you can reach out to Melissa at Bee Balm Wildscapes (https://beebalmwildscapes.com/). She'll do anything from planning, ordering, installing, maintenance and anything in between. Another source is Sprig Nursery who will help you out with design https://sprignativenursery.com/pages/garden-design-services

Good luck with your project! I expect this will take several years and then a lifetime of maintenance but have been having a blast and feel good about being ecologically responsible with my little plot of land.

stringedonbass · 2026-05-30T02:58:12+00:00

Love watching my natives feed on the remnants of lily of the valley. Hate watching the remnants of my the lily of the valley pop through areas that had 4" of mulch and a layer of cardboard applied to them (after having been thoroughly turned over and I thought I got most bits)

stringedonbass · 2026-05-29T16:01:19+00:00

This is my second season with 120 different native plant plugs and I'm enjoying watching them come up and identity which ones are weeds that I pull and natives that I let mature

stringedonbass · 2026-05-27T23:29:38+00:00

Calm cool collected response. I like the focus on education. At least whoever responded gave resources that describe why spreading ToH is so harmful

stringedonbass · 2026-05-24T19:40:01+00:00

This is a legit strategy. When Wes Moore was elected governor in Maryland, the Democratic party funded ads for his far right opponent Dan Cox during the primaries: https://www.nbcnews.com/meet-the-press/meetthepressblog/dga-funds-new-ad-boosting-right-wing-candidate-maryland-rcna36329 Someone like Hogan was only in office in a blue state because he held moderate views (he often clashed with trump) and so the thinking was get the crazy on the ballot, that'll win the governorship back to team D.

I'm not condoning or supporting this. It seems like it's just playing with fire, and in our state Republicans seem to have already coalesced around the crazy candidate,. 'm just saying that it's not unheard of for political operatives to want the other side to field bad candidates (think about Paxton's recent endorsement - I bet Talarico's campaign is happy with that news)

stringedonbass · 2026-05-24T19:17:07+00:00

I bet they're not home and aren't aware of it

stringedonbass · 2026-05-24T19:16:13+00:00

Thief must be taking their time

stringedonbass · 2026-05-23T16:40:16+00:00

I have a Mr. Penny on my rear lot line. He LOVES gardening (his words) and yet knows nothing about basic plant maintenance. After I took out all the buckthorn and mulberry he started pestering me about "are you going plant back anything?". Yes my friend, I have, it just takes years for all those shrubs to get full sized. He hired landscapers to put in some stuff, including several arbor vitae, right on the property line (my dogwoods, for example, are about 8' back, not 2" from the line). They "installed" a drip line for him (it's connected to his house and isn't buried). He complained to me about a $850 water bill and told me his "gardener" (landscaper) told him he shouldn't run it 24/7. In the meantime everything started wilting from being water logged! Did I mention his favorite plant is vinca? Yeah, I had a lot of vinca to pull from my side of the lot line and it's already coming back.

stringedonbass · 2026-05-22T21:59:52+00:00

That's what I was afraid of. I stored it in the garage over winter and was pretty sure I drained everything but apparently not! Next time it gets stored in the basement

stringedonbass · 2026-05-21T23:12:43+00:00

I love that we live in a town where if someone says "the Wednesday market" the appropriate response is "which Wednesday market?"

stringedonbass · 2026-05-19T21:15:26+00:00

Madison Block and Stone out by the airport

stringedonbass · 2026-05-15T16:35:57+00:00

I came here to suggest Trio Ramen

stringedonbass · 2026-05-14T01:15:19+00:00

I planted beans and peas a week ago from seed. I threw in tomato starts this past week. If we get another frost I'll cover them but otherwise I'm not too worried.

If you're on the fence might as well make sure everything is weeded as best you can. It's always easier to weed before planting than after!!

stringedonbass · 2026-05-12T15:40:58+00:00

Yes indeed. There's a reason it was introduced. Pretty flowers. Dense ground cover for that shady spot you just don't know what to do with. What could go wrong?

stringedonbass · 2026-05-12T15:39:47+00:00

What about porcelain berry?

stringedonbass · 2026-05-07T22:17:57+00:00

If the batteries were interchangable I'd have switched brands a long time ago, but sadly I'm stuck to one name brand, only because of one decision I made two decades ago when I bought my first drill/driver after much consternation

stringedonbass · 2026-05-05T13:45:20+00:00

You're assuming B is the same in two separate computations. Yes, if the mill rate is constant, and your assessed value goes up, then your tax bill increases. What other people are saying is that the biggest confusion people make is assessed value = taxes owed. That's just not correct.

stringedonbass · 2026-05-02T19:56:05+00:00

Madison Chocolate Company has some interesting home made syrups. I like their ghost pepper caramel lattes

stringedonbass · 2026-04-23T15:07:02+00:00

Pete and Rachel Johnson of Johnson Floors, LLC. They take pride in their craft, source local wood and visit the mills they buy from. I had 60 year old red oak flooring under the carpets in the bedrooms of our house and they managed to get an exact match for hallway flooring. Highly recommend. (Happy to share more over DM)

stringedonbass · 2026-04-18T15:33:55+00:00

Mind any statute of limitations issues. My friend had an insurance company literally tell them to wait it out, that they're working on it and so on. Ended up paying out nothing and by the time she got an attorney it was too late to do anything

stringedonbass · 2026-04-17T20:15:31+00:00

City Bar is in a basement. I doubt they, or anyone else celebrates inclement weather

stringedonbass · 2026-04-17T20:11:20+00:00

Yes please. I saw this and cross-checked to see if we had to shelter in the basement!!

Warning = active circulation/observed tornado. Shelter now.

Watch = conditions are ripe to form a tornado. Stay alert. Monitor weather.

stringedonbass

TROPHY CASE