This Seasons Favorite

This Seasons Favorite

Saved seeds from a Chuck Norris Apocalypse Scorpion and was surprised the offspring had purple tinted leaves, something obviously cross pollinated it (unsure what since I grow a ton of dark leaf peppers). The peppers were very large, and even more surprising, had only a small amount of heat, like jalapeno level, I was expecting it to pack a nasty punch. And then the flavor! So robust and delicious, like a roasted red pepper with fruity chinense but none of the bitterness or floral notes.

I put two peppers into a pot of Jambalaya and it flavored the whole thing with barely a glimmer of heat. I didn't think this was going to be worth a grow out but now I'm definitely going to try to stabilize it. I can't handle much heat so this was perfect for me, hoping the next generation can replicate some of these traits.

u/whatwedointheupdog — 14 days ago

Prevention

I have been thinking a lot lately about the prevention aspect of rescue, keeping animals from ending up in the shelter in the first place. It seems to be a losing battle and a constant cycle of more animals coming in than going out. Our local shelters are fighting so hard to find homes for the animals but it seems like little is being done to prevent them from needing homes in the first place.

Obviously finances and resources are huge factors in what they're capable of, but it also seems like prevention would help in the long run to reduce the strain on both, ie a $100 free spay voucher could save much more than $100 by preventing multiple litters of kittens ending up in the shelter later on. There's also the cases of people being forced to give up their pets for financial hardships or domestic issues, when it would be in the pets benefit to stay with/go back to their owner and instead using resources to help keep them there than throwing them into the system.

I'm curious to hear from those that have taken steps to help prevent animals from ending up in the shelters and what the outcomes have been. Low cost or free spay/neuter programs? Free microchip clinics? Pet food pantries? TNR programs? Temporary displacement foster programs? Financial aid for food/vet bills for low income families? What has helped, what doesn't seem to have made a difference.

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u/whatwedointheupdog — 17 days ago

Humane Society Needs Temporary Fosters

From the St Joseph County Humane Society Facebook page:

"Your donations are being put to work! ❤️ Thanks to your support, we’re upgrading our facilities with a new HVAC unit in our adoption dog center and completing important floor maintenance to improve cleaning, sanitation, and conditions for the dogs in our care.

But first... we need to empty the adoption center!

By 12 PM on Tuesday, August 18, we need to find temporary or permanent homes for approximately 36 dogs. During the HVAC installation, the ward will be without adequate airflow or air conditioning, so our dogs cannot safely remain in the space.

🏡 ADOPT: Adoption fees are WAIVED for shelter dogs through August 18! Dogs are spayed/neutered, vaccinated, heartworm tested, and microchipped.

❤️ FOSTER: Give a dog a temporary home through at least Monday, August 24. We provide the food, bedding, toys, leash/harness, and medications—you provide the love and a safe place to stay!

⏰ Please apply by Thursday, August 13 so our team has time to process applications and schedule appointments.

🐕 View our dogs:

https://humanesocietystjc.org/adopt/adopt-a-dog/

🏡 Adopt:

https://humanesocietystjc.org/adopt/apply-to-adopt/

❤️ Foster:

https://humanesocietystjc.org/adopt/foster/

Our goal: EMPTY. THE. KENNELS. by August 18!

Can't adopt or foster? PLEASE SHARE! Every share helps us reach someone who can. 🐾❤️"

u/whatwedointheupdog — 2 months ago

Excited for This One

I grow lots of pretty tomatoes but this beauty might take the cake 😍 She's entirely unique, the result of a Rebel Starfighter Kayleigh Anne seed packet that contained accidentally cross pollinated seeds, so I'm not sure what the final form will look like. It makes waiting for them to ripen more fun but also amps up my impatience!

So far from this pack I've gotten a red/purple/gold striped beefsteak, a pink mini heart with purple dusting, and a red/orange mini heart with purple and black stripes. This year I grew out 4 plants from the gene pool, with the other 3 plants producing oblong shaped fruit with purple tops, and one is ripening yellow. So far the flavor on all of them has been excellent, hoping these will be as well.

u/whatwedointheupdog — 3 months ago
▲ 17 r/Petloss

The Routine Things That Hurt

I just lost one of my three cats a few days ago. We had a feeding routine. 3 food bowls placed in a specific arrangement so I knew which was which while making their meals and supplements. Cans of food divided three ways. Fill the empty can with water and divide three ways into their bowls for extra hydration. This morning I moved some stuff to make room for where his plate would go, then realized there was no longer a bowl to put there. Rationed out the supplements and grabbed the one that was just for him, before realizing there was no place to put it. Then I filled up the can with water and was confused as to why there was so much left after portioning it out between two bowls, because I was so used to using the same amount.

Every one I've lost, it's those little changes in the routine that seem to hit the hardest. Maybe because it points out that things are different. That there's an empty space. That they're really gone.

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u/whatwedointheupdog — 4 months ago

Ona in a Melon

This one cracked me up. There's like 5 pictures of it saying "Ona", combined with the goofy melon/million pun just sounds so ridiculous.

u/whatwedointheupdog — 4 months ago
▲ 37 r/NativePlantCirclejerk+1 crossposts

Coneflower Breeding

I found this stunning Cheyenne Spirit Coneflower and I'd love to reproduce it but am getting a lot of conflicting information on whether these will give the same color from saved seed or not, especially since "Cheyenne Spirit" itself isn't a specific variety but a mix. Wondering if anybody has had experience with coneflower genetics and can offer some insight.

u/shrampmaster — 4 months ago

Nightmare at the Lake

Went for a nice walk along a public lake area today and of course my eye immediately went to the plants along the shoreline to see what was growing. Something unusual immediately caught my eye, a dark stemmed plant that covered the entire shore area. Then sudden horror gripped me as I thought, NO, it can't be! and quickly grabbed a leaf to smell.... CHOCOLATE MINT 🤬🤬🤬🤬. We walked for about half a mile and it covered the entire way, I'm sure it went further. I feel like I can barely enjoy the outdoors anymore because everywhere I look around here is just nothing but invasives everywhere. We were on our way back from visiting a local native nursery to fill up a native pollinator bed in our yard. It just deflated my sails to see this kind of crap.

u/whatwedointheupdog — 5 months ago
▲ 10 r/duck

My lovely girls turned 6 years old so I made them a watermelon birthday cake to celebrate 🎂 I started doing these on their first birthday as a bit of a joke, since it seemed so silly to make a birthday cake for a duck. But it was fun and they enjoyed it so much that it became an annual tradition, and they've had one every year since. This year's had shrimp, tomatoes, peas, mealworm sprinkles and cilantro garnish. As usual, they were afraid of it at first, but then dove in with gusto.

u/whatwedointheupdog — 5 months ago