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.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

I have awesome shelving in the greenhouse, already. Beau had scavenged some metal ‘catwalk’ from a project, and it is aluminum and lightweight and lets light and water through. It works great. the shelving is balanced on cinder blocks - also salvaged. ;)

My problem is I have a 10 pound sack with 50 pounds of JUNK in it, LOL!

I like the idea of having specific ZONES - a storage zone, a soil zone, a workspace zone and then the majority of the space where the plants grow. My greenhouse is only 8x10’ so not big at all, but I want to maximize the space - I am doing a lousy job at it right now! To my own shame, I did not use it at ALL into the Fall - I was so disgusted with the whole growing season and all the rain that frankly, I just gave up!

And also - vertical wasted space - you’re right! I already asked Beau if he would hang a rod from one end of the greenhouse to the other so I could hang unused planting baskets and my wicker gathering baskets UP THERE, instead of them taking up precious real estate, below. I’m short - I can easily walk under anything that hangs overhead. :)

I’ve already got a legal pad filled. I think this SUNNY DAY with temps in the 30’s and melting snow is the tonic I needed! :)

P.S. Beau has returned from chainsaw work - he still has all of his own ‘limbs’ so it really HAS been a Good Day! :)

[Pollard]

Tires and Tires Changer machine came in today. Tire machine is a step up from the Harbor Freight manual type, made by KATOOL and runs on air to break the bead and remove tire.

They mimicked the late style machines. Bead breaker is one the right side. The tire mounts flat on top and rotates while you hold a tire spoon/bar in place. It just doesn’t go in a full circle at once. Goes 20-25 degrees of a circle and then you let off the pedal, reposition an arm, and step on the pedal again. Probably a third time and maybe a fourth.

Won’t be doing any 10 ply truck tires or low profile tires but will do most of what I need. Paid $360 for it and last time I paid someone to change 4 tires, it was $80.

Tires around here: Chevy truck, Ford truck, Trailblazer, car trailer, camper trailer, 1950 Chevy truck, S-10 frame it’s going on, F150 parts truck, water tank trailer, trailer for little tractor and couple other single axle yard dog trailers. That’s 30 tires around here that might need changing and several already do.

The four tires coming off the daily driver that’s getting the new tires already have a use. Thursday is my warm day off and is tire day.

[FamiliarFace]

Does anyone else watch “Groundhog Day” right around now? It’s like watching a Christmas movie at Christmas time. I can’t remember the last time I DIDN’T watch Groundhog Day on February 2 or a day before or after.

I know not everyone is a fan, but it is ONE of the movies I MUST watch every year!

[Diana in Wisconsin]

I love that movie so much! I suggested to Beau we watch it tonight, as we have other February 2nds, but he’s tuckered out after chain-sawing all day.

I’m gonna let him sleep, then when I wake him up in the morning I’m going to tell him, “It’s Ground Hog Day!” LOL!

[Liz]

Lemon-Cream Cheese Crescent Danish

Ing--Danish 8 oz can Pillsbury Crescent Dough Sheet 1/3 c cream cheese spread (from 8-oz tub)
3 tbl powdered sugar 8 tsp homemade lemon curd. Glaze 1/2 c powdered sugar 2-3 tsp milk

Method--Remove crescent dough from can; do not unroll. W/ serrated knife, cut into 8 slices. Place 2" apart on cookie sheet. Press each slice into 3" round, leaving ridge at outer edge. Spoon about 2 tsp cream cheese mixture in centers; spread slightly. Top w/ 1 tsp lemon curd. Bake golden 12-14 min 375 deg. Cool 5 min on cookie sheet; remove to server. Drizzle Glaze over Danish. Serve warm.

Filling--mix cream cheese spread and 3 tablespoons powdered sugar.
Glaze---mix 1/2 c powdered sugar with enough milk for drizzling consistency.

[FamiliarFace]

😍

[FamiliarFace]

Truth is, I would never hold a groundhog in my hands, even if I had gloves on!

I hope Beau is back in the saddle tomorrow after a good night’s rest.

P.S. Don’t play Sonny & Cher “I Got You Babe” for him, unless he knows what you’re up to! ;-)

[Diana in Wisconsin]

LOL! He’s the least ‘musical’ person you’d ever want to meet. When there are music questions on our page-a-day ‘Jeopardy’ calendar, I always smoke him that week.

He MIGHT know who Sonny & Cher are, though. ;)

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Danish! The reason why COFFEE was invented! :)

[Pollard]

Top of my to do list is clean up the shed. Got my seed tray shelves put up last Fall but need to hang the lights and plug everything up to timer and temp controllers. This weekend will be 50-55 but I’ll be working. That’s ok, I’ll get three nice days off before too long. Gotta do some shopping this morning. Just got some Ace Hardware coupons in the mail yesterday. Got a $5 off of $20 I can use on seed starting mix. Gonna get a 20 lb propane filled so I can run the Big Buddy heater in the shed so I can work in there when it’s cold. All the cabbage family can be started at any time now.

With the shed cleaned up enough I can assemble and use the tire machine in there. It will go in the shop later but that’s a big clean up project having been lived in by goats for a few years. Lots of fertilizer. I’ve got a couple of 32 gallon galvanized trash/feed barrels and I’m sure I’ll fill one and maybe the other. I have extra thick trash bags to line them with.

[Liz]

Danish! The reason why COFFEE was invented! :)

---

I knew that.......chuckle.

[FamiliarFace]

That’s probably because he can smoke the rest of us on other things like bear hunting and tagging, hunkering down in mega snow storms, and then how to dig out of them!

[Liz]

Cherry Cream Cheese Crescent Danish
An easy cherry cream cheese danish, ready in min. Serve alongside Lemon Crescent Danish.

Ing-- 1 can Pillsbury Crescent Dough 4 oz cr/cheese 2 tbl sugar 1 tsp ea fresh l/juice, vanilla,
1 tbl butter melted 1 tbl brown sugar 1 tsp cinnamon 1 c cherry pie filling

Method-- Open can of dough, but do not unroll; cut roll into 8 equal slices; place slices on b/sheet. Press and flatten centers to create a shallow bowl-shape about 2 ½” in diameter; leave edges slightly higher to hold filling. Elec/mixer beat cream cheese, sugar, lemon juice, and vanilla light and fluffy. Set aside.

Pastry brush each roll w/ melted butter; sprinkle w/ combined brown sugar/cinnamon. Scoop teaspoon cream cheese filling into centers; spread to fill in cavity, leave light indent in center to hold cherries. Top each Danish with 2-3 cherries center; bake golden 350 deg 13-15 min. Fridge leftovers airtight 3 days.

[TheConservativeParty]

Yep, “Ground Hog Day” is a favorite.
It’s a great movie.
🦦

[Qiviut]

It’s up to 44° right now which is a big surprise - forecast showed 30’s this week. I got mom from the house to the car & back yesterday, but it was a dangerous proposition. The snowcrete crust still holds our weight & we don’t break through, but the sleet pellets on top, that made for a somewhat grippy surface, have melted just enough to be a smooth glaze. My boots were mostly gripping yesterday, but today they are slipping. Mom’s were totally slipping yesterday - her boots are waterproof but more ‘dress’ boots while mine are for hunting/fishing.

I just went out to see if the crust has maybe softened enough to chop a path, but my snow shovel just bounces off. I think I am going to have to get my Pulaski & chop my way through which will be very hard work.

The sun is out right now & it’s beautiful, but this ‘snowcrete ‘ situation is depressing - we’re into week 2 dealing with it. Any melting will refreeze tonight, too. We are supposed to get snow this evening: trace to 2”.

[Liz]

Super Bowl Potato Snacks
Easy, loaded, oven baked potato skins a classic Super Bowl snack, and so delicious.

Ing--6 Russets, washed/scrubbed and patted dry ¼ cup melted unsalted butter ks/p, garlic powder, 1 ¼ c grated cheddar 6 slices cooked/crumbled bacon. For serving: sour cream and sliced green onions

Method--Pierce potatoes; bake 400 deg 1 hour. Remove to counter; cool to the touch. Cut each potato in half lengthwise. Scoop out, leaving about ¼" thickness around the skin. Turn oven to broil and place the rack about 6" below broiler. Brush potatoes allover with butter, sprinkle of s/p and garlic powder. Broil 6-8 min slightly golden and crispy. Add filling, sprinkle of cheese and bacon; broil 3-4 min to melt cheese. Serve w/ dollop sour cream and sliced green onions.

Make-ahead Tip: bake and scoop potatoes day before, then crisp and fill just before serving.

[Qiviut]

The walkway is in after 3 hours of chopping & shoveling. I did have to use the Pulaski in some spots, but it was mostly chop & shovel, like I did to clear the driveway. The snow tonight, if we get it, should be ‘medium’ (weather met’s description) ... not dry/powdery, but not wet/heavy. Since the black asphalt is exposed, 2” will melt pretty fast. I confess to being absolutely ‘whipped’ at this point.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

He is amazingly talented...and NONE of it has rubbed off on me, LOL!

I bring my own Skill Set to the game...

[Diana in Wisconsin]

I guess we’ll see you in the Spring, then! ;)

Yeah, I’ve dealt with that ‘snowcrete’ before. I lived in military housing and had a duplex (half) on a corner with no windbreaks in any direction. We got a storm over the course of a weekend and my car (I think it was a little Dodge Colt at that time) was 100% burried in that CEMENT.

Luckily, my Dad was living in the same state at the time, and between him and the Base Manager, I eventually got out. But it was almost a week to do so.

I stayed on base that week, so I didn’t miss any work, though my boss at the time is still one of my BFFs of 45 years, so she was nice about it. Act of God and all that. It was not reflected in my annual performance report, LOL!

[FamiliarFace]

As it should be! We each bring certain strengths and weaknesses with us. I’m sure that together you are a great team!