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.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

I’m not sure he’ll ever change. He likes to feel ‘needed’ and his skill set is SO DEEP that he’s in demand for a lot of things. (Plumber, Electrician, Skid Steer, Back Hoe, Hunting Guide, Butchering, Steer/Heifer Wrangling, Mechanic, etc.)

We have ‘The Talk’ every once in a while about things NOT getting done around here because he’s always out helping others (or hunting!) but when I DO ask, he’ll usually do my bidding. Sometimes. Maybe. LOL! This guy worked 14 hour days in the Construction Trades for DECADES on end. His ‘retirement’ should be as he sees fit. I guess. Sometimes. Maybe. LOL!

He’s ‘mostly mine’ from Thanksgiving until May - then the hunting cycle starts all over again. Rumor has it he’s going back to Alaska this spring, and maybe to Canada after that for bear.

But, he pays all the bills and pretty much lets me do my own thing...as long as meals are on the table on time. It’s a pretty sweet gig, this Farm Wife job. Wasn’t sure how I would adapt to it 15 years ago after running my OWN little farm the way I saw fit for 25 years prior. ;)

[MomwithHope]

Carrot sticks put in the jar of brine are a given.

[Albion Wilde]

Your garden thread is awesome!

[Pete from Shawnee Mission]

O.H. Bakeries at 4917 Douglas IS in Racine not far from my sister's house.

Racine Danish Kringles: I was looking at this....." Soybean Oil, Hydrogenated Soybean Oil, "

A.H. Bakeries: Palm oil, butter margerine blend, etc.

Both are Seed Oil Nightmares!

I can buy the Racine Kringles at the local HyVee during the Christmas season. O.H. is available at Trader Joes. (The caregivers at my Daughters Group home love them!)

[Bon of Babble]

My late husband moved to California in 1980 - from upstate Pennsylvania. It is beautiful there, every time I’ve gone - green, lots of flowers - he said I only visited during the months of June-August and didn’t see the months upon months of dark, gray, ice cold weather where it was bleak week after week after week.

Spring is something to surely look forward to! I’d plant the earliest-blooming bulbs such as snow drops or crocuses as a harbinger of spring. And, I’d be reading seed catalogues planning my summer garden.

[Bon of Babble]

That photo is beautiful to this Californian!

Do you have bird feeders for the winter birds? My relatives in Indiana put out bird feeders in the winter and we are able to see all kinds of colorful birds, including cardinals.

Do Amaryllis grow outdoors where you are? I have beautiful outdoor amaryllis - they don’t last long but are spectacular when they bloom, I have two double amaryllises that were given to me as gifts. Checked the price recently and they are running around $50/bulb (!!).

[FamiliarFace]

When I first moved from the South to the Midwest, it was quite a shock to have a cold snap in August. I have never been the same since. I love the people, but winter is dreary, save for when it snows and then it’s pretty, until the snow gets dirty.

The Spring bulbs are wonderful!

[Diana in Wisconsin]

We do have fun, that’s for sure! :)

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Oh, good! I was afraid you were ‘Kringle Deprived,’ LOL!

Kringle is a once in a great while treat, not a daily indulgence (necessity!) like coffee or chocolate. ;)

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Grandpa liked to make the refrigerator Bread & Butter Pickles, and then would just add fresh cukes to the mix to keep it going, seemingly for-ever.

I like the pickled carrots in Giardiniera.

Homemade Giardiniera

https://www.simplyrecipes.com/homemade-giardiniera-recipe-6383288

[MomwithHope]

No they only go outside in their pots, sheltered, in late spring. It’s west Michigan east of Grand Rapids. It’s been in the teens and will warm up to the low 20’s today. 4” of fresh snow to plow this afternoon.
The birds get fed in early December until spring. And there is a beef suet cage. Lots of woodpeckers even the big pileated ones. In the spring the suet cage comes down and the hummingbird feeder goes up. I don’t put out any bird seed until April on. Plenty of natural food. We do have a nice birdbath and they use that a lot. Just about every songbird you can think of. Seed eaters and insect eaters.
I do have 3 double amaryllis out of the 10 I have. I used to grow orchids, its a sickness really. I had 26 at one point. Lots to care for. Amaryllis are the easiest.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Pinetree Garden Seeds. A good place to stock up on the basics and the tried and true AAS winners.

FREE SHIPPING over $40 for a limited time. They have good prices and NORMAL amounts of seeds in their packets. Who needs 10,000 Kohlrabi at a crack?

They have Heirloom and Organic seed as well.

https://www.superseeds.com/

[Liz]

CHINESE RESTAURANT HOT AND SOUR SOUP

Ing---4 c stock (or use 4 c water/4 chicken bouillon cubes) 3 tbl soy sauce 1/4 c cooked shredded chicken or pork 1/2 c mushrooms, diced 1/2 tbl garlic chili sauce 1/4 tsp wh/pepper 1/4 c white vinegar 1/3 c canned bamboo shoots, julienned 3 oz tofu cubes 2 tbl cornstarch/2 tbl cold water 1 egg, beaten 2 green onions, diced w/ tops 1/2 tsp toasted sesame oil

Method--Bring broth to simmer. Add soy sauce, shredded meat, mushrooms, garlic red chili paste. Simmer five min. Add wh/pepper, vinegar, bamboo shoots, tofu. Simmer five min. Stir in roux--combined 2 tbl cornstarch/2 tbl cold water. Simmer five min to thicken. Pour in beaten egg slowly in fine stream. Stir several times. Wait 30 sec. Add green onions, sesame oil. Stir well. Remove from heat. Serve piping hot.

[Liz]

GLAZED LEMON CAKE / DEVONSHIRE CREAM

Combine in large bowl of elec/mixer: 1 pkg lemon cake mix 1 pkg lemon INSTANT pudding mix 4 eggs 1/2 c Crisco oil 1 c water Beat on med speed 2-3 min. Pour batter into well-buttered pan. Bake just under 350 deg 45-50 min; cake tests done. Cool on rack 10 min. Invert cake on plate. Spoon glaze over warm cake. When cool, fill and frost with Devonshire Cream.

GLAZE: 1 1/3 c sifted powdered sugar 3 tbl lemon juice

DEVONSHIRE CREAM Combine 3 oz cr/cheese, pint sour cream, 1/2 c br/sugar; chill overnight.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

[left that other site]

Good Morning!

(((HUGS)))

ML/LTOS

[Diana in Wisconsin]

This week the price of BEEF got substantially more expensive around here!

'Stew the Steer' muscled his way out of his luxury accommodations in the barn, got into the feed room and helped himself to THIRTY POUNDS of corn from a 50 pound sack! Granted, he eats about twenty pounds a day now, but that extra 10 pounds got him sicker than a dog. Technically, it's called, 'Over Graining.'

So, after two days spent laying around 'digesting' Beau got a hold of our Vet and Dr. Hannah sold him $250.00 worth of meds; one huge tube of an oral probiotic, one shot for a big vitamin recovery dose and one for pain. Today he was up and walking around and finally ate some hay and drank water.

Repairs have once AGAIN been made to his enclosure and the feed room door is now tightly shut. Unless Stew suddenly sprouts thumbs, he can't get in there again. It was touch and go there - he easily could've died because too much corn can overwhelm a steers system! So, counting our blessings today. And, yes - I realize we're going to EAT HIM in the future, but he's still a 1,000 pound TODDLER right now, and we want him at 1,500-1,800 pounds by spring...if we all survive that long, LOL!

Fun Related Cow Fact: One of a cow's four stomachs is called the 'Rumen.' That's where the word, 'Ruminate' comes from.

Ruminate(v.)

1530s, of a person, "to turn over in the mind, muse, meditate, think again and again;" 1540s, "to chew cud;" from Latin ruminatus, past participle of ruminare "to chew the cud," also "turn over in the mind," from rumen (genitive ruminis) "gullet," a word of uncertain origin. Related: Ruminated; ruminating; ruminative.

I'm sure Stew is now 'ruminating' on what he's done...and wishing he hadn't!

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Love it. And more dog-fur dusted coffee cups, LOL!

[MomwithHope]

Sounds a lot like mine - very good recipe. I start with beef stock and use thinly sliced pork. I will buy dried shitakes and reconstitute them, sliced in thin shreds.

[MomwithHope]

sounds and looks heavenly.