The Garden Thread - January, 2026

January 1, 2026 | Diana in WI/Greeneyes in Memoriam

[Diana in Wisconsin]

The MONTHLY Gardening 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 Gardening 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.

[Qiviut]

January is National Soup month ... I did not realize that until today.

[WhoisAlanGreenspan?]

Pretty sure that was the place where we walked up to the snow line. There were little flowers growing right there with snow half covering them. It was August, I was wearing shorts and people were ending their ski run not 50 or 100 feet from where I was standing.

[Liz]

Good to know January is National Soup month.

[goodnesswins]

And the Lodge was right there!

[Liz]

Japanese Cabbage Salad / very tasty
Add cooked, diced chicken, carrot shreds for luncheon. Use red or green cabbage.

ING 1 lge head cabbage, chopped 6 green onions, sliced 1 pkg chicken or pork-flavored
Top Ramen noodles, crushed 1/4 c butter 1/3 c sesame seeds 4 oz slivered almonds

Melt butter; add sesame seeds, almonds, crushed noodles and seasoning packet.
Brown and cool. Toss into cabbage and onion last. Chill salad; add Dressing at last minute.

DRESSING: (so good you will want to double this)
1 tbs soy sauce 1/3 c oil 1/4 c rice vinegar 1/4 tsp sesame oil 1/3 c sugar

[daniel1212]

Rare to see lower than normal temps actually reported, but

"In December 2025, temperatures in the Northeast were significantly below normal, with Central Park experiencing averages over 7 degrees colder than usual. This cold snap was part of a broader trend, with forecasts predicting continued frigid conditions throughout the month." - NBC,NY; NYPost

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – December temperatures in Springfield averaged 28 degrees, which is 4.6 degrees below normal this past month. According to Climate Central, the average temperature across 194 U.S. cities was 0.04 degrees above average in December. However, cities in the Midwest and Northeast, including Springfield, experienced below-average temperatures. -https://www.wwlp.com/weather/weather-news/northeast-sees-colder-december-amid-global-warming-trend/

First appreciable snow this year today where I am.

[Aevery_Freeman]

Wifey loved the picture - thanks.

Did the Menards thing last week.

Up to 2° now with widely scattered riots.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

One of my BILs used to make ‘Ramen Salad’ for family gatherings. It really is good!

[Diana in Wisconsin]

January is National Soup Month, a time to celebrate and enjoy various types of soup, especially during the cold winter months. It was officially designated in 1984 by the Campbell Soup Company to highlight the comfort and nourishment that soup provides.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

I’m going to need to get TWO pots of soup going - one for each foot, LOL! We are in for some nasty-cold weather. Dangerously cold. Ugh!

https://www.channel3000.com/weather/?mode=week-1443070&weather_zip=53533#/rounds/1/gallery

[Qiviut]

👍

[Liz]

Chef's Lobster Chowder
A perfect light meal, add a salad and loaf of crusty bread.

Ing 10 oz lobster claw and body meat (frozen or canned--do not use tail meat) ½ c unsalted butter ½ c flour 2 c diced potatoes 1 c ea diced onions/celery/carrots 2 c strong chicken, veg or seafood stock 2 c milk or cream 1 tsp fresh thyme sea salt/black pepper to taste

Method--soak lobster in milk. Prepare soup. Saute 3-4 min melted butter, diced celery/carrots/onion, then stir in flour. Reduce heat to low; cook 5 min. Do not burn or darken. Whisk in stock to fully incorporate. Remove lobster meat from milk and hold. Add milk to soup, mixing well. Add potatoes; simmer 30 min til potatoes are softened (20-30 min). Add fresh thyme, sea salt/p to taste. Lastly, add lobster meat; simmer gently 7-10 min just to build lobster flavor. Serve garnished.

[Paul R.]

We are balmy by comparison, but, it’s a weird forecast:

26 deg. F now (9 pm reading)

Low tonight (~ 6 am): 26 deg F

High tomorrow: 26 deg. F

I looked at the graphs, and, yeah, we basically just flatline, which usually only happens with snow when it is just cold enough to snow. There’s no precip. in our forecast until next Wednesday, tho’.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

-7 when I got up at 6am. Quite windy, so dangerous wind-chills of -25! The birds at the feeders are all 'puffed up' against the cold. I re-filled everything right away; they'll need the calories today, for sure!

27 local closings, warming shelters are open. Warming UP to ZERO by the end of the day. We haven't had cold like this for quite a while, but it's a pretty big cold front moving through if you look at any weather maps. They're predicting -10 for Friday overnight into Saturday.

I'm not going anywhere for the foreseeable future!

All that to say: People in the South need to stay indoors. Northerners will need their BIG coats, LOL!

[Liz]

RHUBARB OATMEAL BARS / can add strawberries to filling

Crust: mix crumbly 1/2 c chp nuts 1 1/2 c rolled oats 1 c br/sugar
1/4 tsp salt 1 1/2 c flour 1 c butter or shortening 1/4 tsp b/soda.
Pat 1/2 into 13x9x2" b/pan.

Assemble: Pour filling over crust. Sprinkle w/ rest
crumbs. Bake 350 deg 20 min. Cool; slice into bars.

Filling: BTB 3 c chp rhubarb 1 1/2 c sugar 2 tbl cornstarch 1/4 c water
1 tsp vanilla. Set heat to low, cook/stir til mixture is clear. Stir in vanilla.

[MomwithHope]

It is brutal here. So cold and lots of snow. I have plowed the driveway 5 times now. And this I just saw on Truth Social. Link straight to the video, Over 100 car and truck pileup Just SE of us by maybe 30 minutes or less. Yikes! https://1a-1791.com/video/fwe2/80/s8/2/Y/T/1/R/YT1Rz.caa.mp4?b=1&u=ummtf

[MomwithHope]

Hope you two and all your critters do well.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

The dogs went out into the exercise yard today - for about 10 minutes, then wanted right back in. Beau has been plowing this afternoon, but I think he just did a quick pass up and back down the driveway - more so for others than for us. ;)

It’s been nice and sunny, so that’s been nice.

I was in the mood for something hearty for supper so I made a Pasta Bake with meatballs. Cannot wait for suppertime! :)

[MomwithHope]

And the birds are eating like pigs today, especially the suet.

[Qiviut]

I just made an easy, healthy Sweet & Sour Chicken recipe:

https://draxe.com/recipes/sweet-and-sour-chicken/

I happened to have gluten free flour & arrowroot from when we had a lunch guest who cannot tolerate gluten. I did buy coconut sugar today for this recipe & others coming down the pike - refined white sugar is not in my diet when I am cooking.

You could switch out for ‘regular’ ingredients easily. I gave mom a small bowl & she loved it.