The Garden Thread - February, 2026

February 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.

[Liz]

NO-BAKE PEANUT BUTTER CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES

Ing 1 c ea white Karo, sugar, p/butter, coconut flakes, quick-cook
oats, Special K OR Rice Krispies 12 oz pkg choc/chips

In metal or crockery bowl (not glass or pyrex) combine/mix well p/butter, choc/chips. coconut. Set aside. In saucepan, combine Karo. sugar; stir. At the boil, continue to boil 1 min only. Pour hot syrup over p/butter mixture; stir/blend well. Add 1 cup quick-cook oatmeal. Then, add 1 cup Special K cereal OR 1 cup Rice Krispies. Mix well. Set teaspoons-full on wax paper. Press down w/ fork (criss-cross pattern).

Vary Sub for 1 c oatmeal: 1 cup chp pecans, almonds, pistachios, or macadamias.

[FamiliarFace]

Your flowers cheer me up! Thanks for sharing them! Love your helpers, too!

[Don W]

3 radishes are up under the grow light!

That’s the sum of my excitement right now. The garden is half covered in coffee grounds from my friend’s restaurant, but really nothing else to say.

Enjoy your weekend!

[AFB-XYZ]

The dog has a facial expression like the cat did something “silent but deadly” while its rear-end was pointed in his direction. Heh. :-)

[AFB-XYZ]

Looks delicious Liz. Another recipe to pass along to my vastly talented sibling, along with the most pitiful expression in my sad soulful eyes. My own personal psy-op. She feels needed, and I feel much much much better after stuffing my face with baked goods! :-)

[Liz]

Looks delicious Liz. Another recipe to pass along to my vastly talented sibling. She feels
needed..........and I feel much much much better after stuffing my face with baked goods!

---

I just love family togetherness.

[AFB-XYZ]

I just love family togetherness.

Absolutely agree! We're very close. Things like these great recipes give us the best of both worlds. :-)

Our upbringing was very unpleasant, but we survived -- it's almost like being combat veterans.

[Pollard]

I was wondering if you'd start it today or tomorrow.

Noticed something this morning. It was fully light out for my 7am break. Seemed like a sudden change due to the lack of clear morning skies in a while. Days are getting longer. Another month and I won't be blinded by the sun on my way home at 4pm.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

So jealous! When I lived in Imperial Beach (1980-’82) I had neighbors that were very generous with all of their citrus and Avocados. They loved that this ‘Wisconsin Gal’ would take a lot of it off their hands! My Step-Dad used to make Limoncello. Good stuff - in moderation.

Homemade Limoncello

https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/32451/limoncello/

[Diana in Wisconsin]

“Another month and I won’t be blinded by the sun on my way home at 4pm.”

That is SO annoying - sun in my eyes coming and going for me for many years on end.

Where are my Ray Bans? LOL!

[Pete from Shawnee Mission]

Click the picture to link back to Diana's January Patisserie and Cafe Thread!

[Qiviut]

Full moon tomorrow night. The moonlight is so bright reflecting off the snow that the trees are throwing shadows. It’s almost like daylight & just beautiful.

[Pollard]

Here we go. Back to that typical MO winter.

That steady cold for two weeks was kinda freaky.

[Pete from Shawnee Mission]

KH; All tilled, A Good thing!

Well, all that snow is good cover for the winter wheat. (Will you have a row or two of Red Fife or Marquis heirloom wheat this year? Nah, Just funnin! :)

Its about 18F here. 4 inches on the ground but no new snow.

[Pete from Shawnee Mission]

Bon, lovely flowers! The second hibiscus looks like it should be in a Japanese Restaurant rum drink along with a little umbrella!

Is your cat a Tortise? Or a Calico/Tiger cross??

[TheConservativeParty]

I appreciate your beautiful photos every week.
Thank you!

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Thanks, Pete!

[Diana in Wisconsin]

The moonlight has been very pretty here, too. A Winter Moon can really light up the sky! Some snow is on the way this evening, though. We probably won't be able to enjoy the full moon. :(

The last weekend in February/First of March, Beau is helping a DNR guy he knows to check on female bears in their dens! Eeek! They'll be knocked out, but they need to be chipped and the newborn cubs counted. I swear that guy has the most exciting life ever, EVER!

[Qiviut]

I’ve seen videos of biologists going into dens, sedating mama bear & pulling out the cubs. The cubs are so little & cute! Some of those dens are pretty gnarly to crawl into, especially the first time. Beau will have an adventure:-)

[Bon of Babble]

Kitty is from a rescue litter - we have no idea her background, I believe she is a calico, tortoise mix.

She comes from a long line of street/alley cats and is a hunter and fighter, the best mouser/rat and gopher catcher we’ve ever had.

Unfortunately, she is FIV positive - the vet told us this is not uncommon in street cats, it’s inherited from the mother. She is now a 99% indoor cat (and hates it).