Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

The Garden Thread - February, 2026
February 1, 2026 | Diana in WI/Greeneyes in Memoriam

Posted on 01/31/2026 6:26:44 AM PST by 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.


TOPICS: Agriculture; Food; Gardening; Hobbies
KEYWORDS: cooking; food; garden; gardening; hobbies; recipes
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 401-420421-440441-460 ... 581-587 next last
To: Qiviut

A tip on your plastic markers. I have used them and used permanent marker to write on. It will fade after a few years. I switched to putting some clear packing tape over the marker and wrapping it all the way around. Works great.


421 posted on 02/20/2026 10:14:53 AM PST by MomwithHope (Forever grateful to all our patriots, past, present and future.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 409 | View Replies]

To: Diana in Wisconsin

Today I fried some frozen walleye, batter fried, homemade Long John Silvers knock off batter. Fish from the store, I like how they package fish now, in a plastic tray with vacuum shrink wrap. I grab it as soon as they mark it down and schlep it into the freezer.


422 posted on 02/20/2026 10:26:18 AM PST by MomwithHope (Forever grateful to all our patriots, past, present and future.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 410 | View Replies]

To: MomwithHope

PS - Fried in my homemade tallow.


423 posted on 02/20/2026 10:28:08 AM PST by MomwithHope (Forever grateful to all our patriots, past, present and future.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 422 | View Replies]

To: MomwithHope

You can’t beat that!

We’re going extra early to the Fish Fry. Rumor has it they ran out of Baked Cod by 6pm last week!

If it’s a problem, there’s another place in town (Town = 283 people) we can go to, but this restaurant is in a cool log cabin and is under new management, so they might just be working out some issues based upon popularity. The last guy who owned it drank up all the profits; no beer for the Beer Batter could be found, LOL!


424 posted on 02/20/2026 11:53:59 AM PST by Diana in Wisconsin (I don't have, 'Hobbies.' I'm developing a robust Post-Apocalyptic skill set.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 423 | View Replies]

To: FRiends
"A gardener's best tool is the knowledge from previous seasons." ~ Andy Tomolonis

425 posted on 02/20/2026 11:55:59 AM PST by Diana in Wisconsin (I don't have, 'Hobbies.' I'm developing a robust Post-Apocalyptic skill set.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 424 | View Replies]

To: MomwithHope

I used blue painters tape, wrote on the tape & wrapped on the marker. I didn’t want anything permanent on them. While sorting through things, I found a few - will have to see how easy the blue tape peels off! I’ll probably end up using your method - thanks!

I just pitched a ton of seeds, most from 2022 - not much of a garden in 2023 & zero (other than zinnias & herbs) last year. I’m starting fresh this year. In looking at the packages, it did remind me of some things I want to plant & had forgotten about like Tithonia (Mexican Sunflower). The butterflies, bees & birds love the flowers.


426 posted on 02/20/2026 1:00:37 PM PST by Qiviut (A Mighty Fortress: “...the body they may kill. God’s truth abideth still. His kingdom is forever")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 421 | View Replies]

To: All

Breakfast in Bed / hot coffee to start
French Toast w/ Berries, Avocado Toast/Poached Egg, Greek Yogurt
w/ Granola and Fruit Mimosas-Pink Champagne and Orange Juice.

427 posted on 02/20/2026 3:43:04 PM PST by Liz (Jonathan Swift: Government without the consent of the governed is the very definition of slavery.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 419 | View Replies]

To: Pollard
Water level in the tractor was the same today as yesterday. Fired it up and drove around a little. No leaks but it never really get warmed up. I know because I drained the straight water due to mid teen temps coming up. I'm going to order some Alumaseal tonight from ebay. A knock off version worked for a while so the real stuff ought to work for longer, if not for good.

Got heat mats put under the two trays I sowed seeds in and hooked them up to a controller. On at 60, off at 75. Hung the fluorescent fixture up and it looks dim. I can stare at the bulbs from two foot away with no eye discomfort. I've got a four foot LED shop light that's nice and bright so I'll hang that up tomorrow after work and hook it up to the controller. There's already a grow light schedule programmed in for one of the relays.

Now that I'm not confined to the little toy greenhouse thing and all trays will be at one level, I can use the ratchet strap rope hangers I got a while back to hang the lights on for easy height adjustment. One hand to raise the lights as the plants grow. Way easier than messing around with little chains and hooks.


428 posted on 02/20/2026 5:05:08 PM PST by Pollard
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 405 | View Replies]

To: Diana in Wisconsin

We have been told that we get fried carp for our Lenten Fish Fries. It’s very good!

It was so cute to go through the parish FF take out lane tonight. I must be getting older. I didn’t recognize the new eager young faces that were so cheerful and helpful this evening! I guess we do go to the “old timers’” Mass, and until the summer, when the kids show back up on Saturday evening. Then I’ll start to recognize these cherubs that happily delivered our meal.

What a week it’s been!


429 posted on 02/20/2026 5:34:48 PM PST by FamiliarFace (I got my own way of livin' But everything gets done With a southern accent Where I come from. TPetty)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 424 | View Replies]

To: Liz

Looks like a fancy hotel room service breakfast. I think I’m due for that one of these days. ;)


430 posted on 02/20/2026 5:36:52 PM PST by FamiliarFace (I got my own way of livin' But everything gets done With a southern accent Where I come from. TPetty)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 427 | View Replies]

To: Pete from Shawnee Mission

——fabricatus-—

The word is fabricatur

The phrase “Quid Quid Nominatur Fabricatur” is the motto of the Officer in Charge of Construction SouthWest Pacific.

The translation is “You name it, we build it”

However, OICCSWPAC was responsible for the design of all that was built


431 posted on 02/21/2026 5:58:36 AM PST by bert ( (KE. NP. +12) Quid Quid Nominatur Fabricatur)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 420 | View Replies]

To: FamiliarFace; Qiviut; MomwithHope; FRiends

Our Fish Fry was very good, too. Kamp’s Log Cabin in Hollandale, WI - where Beau was born! First time at the restaurant under new management. Beau had the fried Cod, I had the Shrimp. The food was very good and just the right amount - not so much that you waste it or take it home, which looks like it was by design. Very smart! the do take-out, too. Rumor has it the owner’s wife (and ‘Chief Cook & Bottle Washer’) also bakes Sourdough bread for sale as well as her (becoming famous) Cinnamon Rolls. This place might take off after all. We went at 5pm, but the place was PACKED when we left at 7:30.

The decor was nicer than I remembered it. They stained all the interior logs and re-did the flooring, upgraded the Ladies Room. New chairs and tables, new stools at the bar and a nice, new padded railing. Pretty, efficient waitresses. They all looked like they play local HS Basketball...which they probably do!

We saw two other farm couples from our ‘neighborhood’ so chatted with them while we waited for our guests to show up, so that was fun. Farmers have 5pm stomachs, LOL! “Milking’s done! Let’s Eat, Ma!”

As an added bonus we noticed that the Town Pop. sign is now at a whopping 306! I dunno...more crime and debauchery moving to our shores? LOL! Maybe some random cow-tipping...


432 posted on 02/21/2026 6:47:27 AM PST by Diana in Wisconsin (I don't have, 'Hobbies.' I'm developing a robust Post-Apocalyptic skill set.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 429 | View Replies]

To: FamiliarFace; Qiviut; MomwithHope; FRiends

Our Fish Fry was very good, too. Kamp’s Log Cabin in Hollandale, WI - where Beau was born! First time at the restaurant under new management. Beau had the fried Cod, I had the Shrimp. The food was very good and just the right amount - not so much that you waste it or take it home, which looks like it was by design. Very smart! the do take-out, too. Rumor has it the owner’s wife (and ‘Chief Cook & Bottle Washer’) also bakes Sourdough bread for sale as well as her (becoming famous) Cinnamon Rolls. This place might take off after all. We went at 5pm, but the place was PACKED when we left at 7:30.

The decor was nicer than I remembered it. They stained all the interior logs and re-did the flooring, upgraded the Ladies Room. New chairs and tables, new stools at the bar and a nice, new padded railing. Pretty, efficient waitresses. They all looked like they play local HS Basketball...which they probably do!

We saw two other farm couples from our ‘neighborhood’ so chatted with them while we waited for our guests to show up, so that was fun. Farmers have 5pm stomachs, LOL! “Milking’s done! Let’s Eat, Ma!”

As an added bonus we noticed that the Town Pop. sign is now at a whopping 306! I dunno...more crime and debauchery moving to our shores? LOL! Maybe some random cow-tipping...


433 posted on 02/21/2026 6:47:36 AM PST by Diana in Wisconsin (I don't have, 'Hobbies.' I'm developing a robust Post-Apocalyptic skill set.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 429 | View Replies]

To: 4everontheRight; Augie; Apple Pan Dowdy; Aevery_Freeman; ApplegateRanch; ArtDodger; AloneInMass; ...

434 posted on 02/21/2026 6:50:04 AM PST by Diana in Wisconsin (I don't have, 'Hobbies.' I'm developing a robust Post-Apocalyptic skill set.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 433 | View Replies]

To: Diana in Wisconsin

Good Morning!





Can I Help?

😁🐶☕️(((HUGS)))☕️🐶😁

ML/LTOS

435 posted on 02/21/2026 7:02:34 AM PST by left that other site ( For the Lord is our judge, the Lord is our lawgiver, the Lord is our king; He will save us Is.33:22)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 434 | View Replies]

To: FRiends

Guilty!

436 posted on 02/21/2026 7:06:16 AM PST by Diana in Wisconsin (I don't have, 'Hobbies.' I'm developing a robust Post-Apocalyptic skill set.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 434 | View Replies]

To: Pete from Shawnee Mission

I had to talk a neighbor out of putting agave in his humming bird feeders.

I make my own b/c the commercial humming bird nectar the commercial products are way too expensive - recipe is very easy, 1 cup sugar, 4 cups water, boil, let cook and you’re good to go. No red food coloring needed!

My yard is full of hummers! Three different varieties, they also like drinking from the outdoor fountains. Kitty watches them, but they are too fast and high for her.


437 posted on 02/21/2026 7:08:00 AM PST by Bon of Babble (You Say You Want a Revolution?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 417 | View Replies]

To: Pollard

Agreed, Pollard. I’ve tried those LED grow lights and haven’t been impressed. Sure, they put on a gaudy display but then they begin failing. I’ve had excellent luck with no-frills 4-foot shoplights from Walmart at $20 each. I’ve even built simple PVC frames to hang them from. Works like a charm.


438 posted on 02/21/2026 7:31:42 AM PST by Blurb2350 (posted from my 1500-watt blow dryer)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 405 | View Replies]

To: Diana in Wisconsin

Good morning! I need a third jar for ID’ing birds when no one asked!


439 posted on 02/21/2026 7:49:32 AM PST by FamiliarFace (I got my own way of livin' But everything gets done With a southern accent Where I come from. TPetty)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 436 | View Replies]

To: Diana in Wisconsin
Good morning! Took a trip to the National Arboretum. Warm and humid in there! And they put out a welcome sign for me -- look at the name of this plant:


440 posted on 02/21/2026 8:56:53 AM PST by Albion Wilde (Yesterday only comes one time. —Sorrells Pickard)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 434 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 401-420421-440441-460 ... 581-587 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson