Thanksgiving is all about family and friends -- enjoying the day with the ones we love. To his dismay, however, the Grump has discovered that many of you are leaving one member out -- the one that lives in your attic. This Thanksgiving, let's all make a point to invite our squirrelly friends to dinner. Or better yet, let's make them the dinner.

Now, I realize that some of you less fortunates have never enjoyed the privilege of dining on native squirrel. How sad. Not only is the meat delicious (just ask Bear Grylls), but it's a completely renewable, self-sustaining resource. Fact is, squirrels reproduce faster than we can eat them, thanks to all the people who set up bird feeders and end up feeding our furry, flea-bitten friends instead. By consuming more squirrels, we are being good stewards of the planet and leading the way to a more diverse and satisfying dinnertime experience.

At this moment, you're undoubtedly asking yourself: "How do I prepare squirrel?" Well, to the squirrel itself, you say, "If you're not tender, I'm using the blender!" (High-protein squirrel shakes are ideal for body-builders, athletes, and, well, your cat.)

To the cook in your house, you say, "I just found a whole lot of tasty squirrel recipes on the Grumpy Gardener!"

Now, in the interests of full disclosure and mainly to avoid a lawsuit, I admit these recipes come from Backwoods Bound (www.backwoodsbound.com), where you can find a whole slew of delicious Rocky recipes -- Bacon-Wrapped Squirrel, Cajun Squirrel, Chicken-Fried Squirrel, Squirrel Cacciatore, Squirrel in Cream Sauce, and Squirrel Stew. The one I'm going to present here, Squirrel Creole, is gamey enough for the football crowd, yet tailored to the refined palate.

Of course, you wouldn't dream of serving a dish like this unaccompanied by the perfect wine. Scott Jones, food editor and wine expert at Southern Living, recommends a full-bodied Syrah. Try Yellow Tail -- an excellent expression of dark fruit and spice, and at around 7-8 bucks a bottle, it's a Grumpy Best Buy.

People aren't the only ones giving thanks this time of year. Bittersweet vine is so grateful you planted it that's it's decided to strangle everything in your yard.

Grumpians --

A question of singular importance faces many homeowners at this time of year -- should they leave their potted ferns outside to die in the cold or bring them inside to save for next year?

Carol Bryant of West Monroe, Louisiana faces this dilemma. Fortunately for her, she has asked a gardener of all-encompassing knowledge (me). She emails:

"I have three 'Kimberly Queens' that started out in 12 inch pots 2 years ago. Strictly by accident, I must have placed them in the perfect spot and watered them just the right amount, because now they are in 36- inch pots and take up the entire pot.

I  want to know if is possible to divide the plants into smaller ones or will that kill them? I’ve been told “yes” and “no” by my friends. Which is it? Can I repot them in bigger pots every year? I keep them in a temporary greenhouse in the winter. Thanks for all your help. Carol"

What can brown leaves do for you? How about feed your garden? For free!

Gee, you'd think during times like these when 401k's are shrinking faster than Teri Hatcher's waistline, people would go for free fertilizer that falls from the sky and doesn't smell. But just go outside this weekend and you'll see your neighbors engaged in waste that would make Congress proud. They'll be raking their leaves to the curb.

This is stupid is so many ways. Let me enumerate:

• Leaves raked to the curb invariably make their way into storm drains and clog them. Who pays to unclog storm drains? Taxpayers.
• In most cities and towns where trucks suck up leaves in fall, the leaves end up in landfills along with garbage. Who pays to open new landfills when old ones fill up? Taxpayers. Granted, some enlightened towns compost the leaves, but not enough.
• Leaves make great organic fertilizer, compost, and mulch, better than anything you can buy at home centers. All you have to do is chop them up. And they're free!

What Plant(s) Disappointed You Most This Year?

My wife and I have a problem with mealybugs on several of our houseplants. What can we do to control them? We have a large collection and do not want to get rid of any of our plants. Roy

Dear Grumpy,

I have a black, yes not green, but black thumb...however, I desperately need to plant something in a flower bed about 2' x 4' in the front of our house.  It receives late afternoon and evening sun.  We have some deer that dare to come in the back yard but have not yet come to the front, so I don't know that they are a threat.

Due to some windows right behind the bed, I don't want anything real tall.  What could I plant this fall and for the winter?  What might I plant that will stay despite the season (such as evergreens)?  What flowers would you recommend I plant in the spring?

Thank you for your suggestions.

Laura

Martinsville, VA

Dear Grumpy,

We recently purchased a house with what once was lovely landscaping.  It's been essentially neglected for at least 10 years.  One bright spot is a wall of gardenia bushes along a walkway, but they are MASSIVE- and completely overgrown.  Whan can I prune them back?  If I do it now, will it affect the blooms next year?  How aggressive can I be when I do prune them?

Thanks!
Lost in my new garden....

Hilary

What Are Your Top Three Plants for Great Fall Color?

Tell me yours and I'll tell you mine!

Saltbush definitely has a place in home gardens, as evidenced by this shot I took in my neighborhood.

Right now, a lot of you are noticing a shrub on the side of the road that seems to be smothered in white flowers. You like it, but don’t know what it is, so you go to the one infallible source who can tell you – your humble yet omniscient Grumpy Gardener.

Voting lines stretched literally across the country today as enthusiastic crowds patiently waited their turn to cast their ballots and make history. Early exit polls predict a stunning upset victory for the Grumpy Gardener.

Q: I planted spring flower bulbs -- paperwhites, daffodils and hyacinths -- in early October. They have all started to come up and are have already several inches of growth. I might have planted them to early (just a guess on my part), but is there anything I could or should do now to still have spring flowers? Will the current growth just die off?
John Berchin