Posted on 03/01/2026 5:58:25 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.
Thank you, Diana.
Forgiveness is a wonderful thing.
Add some pecans and you’ll never want them another way.
Howard is adorable, and he looks very contented!
Oreo Cream Truffles / makes a lot
Ing 1 pkg chocolate Oreo's 8 oz bar cream cheese 1 pkg white chocolate almond bark
Method Cream softened cream cheese, add finely blendered Oreos. Roll into 1-inch balls; chill well. Dip into melted almond bark using two forks. Let set on wax paper-covered cookie sheet. Garnish w/ drizzle of melted chocolate.
Saturday was ‘warm’ with a high of 65 & sunny. Yesterday was still mostly sunny, but windy & I’m guessing a high in the mid-50’s. I had mentioned walking the beautiful Greenway (along a large creek) that is less than 10 minutes from our house & mom wanted to walk some yesterday. If we turn right out of our driveway and follow the road into town, we come to a T intersection & one of the Greenway parking lots is right there - it’s about halfway in the middle of the 2 mile Greenway. Since neither mom nor I have done just “walking”, I set my timer for 15 minutes. That took us almost to the end of the Greenway (about a mile) & we sat on a bench next to the creek for a while & did some creek/people watching before walking the 15 minutes back to the parking lot. The creek is stocked with trout so a lot of folks were fishing. It was windy at our house, but not along the Greenway so it was a very pleasant walk.
Today, for contrast & in keeping with our “yo-yo” weather this year so far, we have a winter weather advisory:
WHAT...Mixed precipitation expected. Total snow accumulations of 1 to 2 inches, with locally up to 3 inches possible on the ridge tops. Ice accumulations of one to two tenths of an inch, with the highest amounts along the ridges. * WHEN...From 10 AM this morning to 10 AM EST Tuesday. * IMPACTS...Plan on slippery road conditions. The hazardous conditions could impact the Monday evening and Tuesday morning commutes. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS...A period of snow is expected from late this morning into this afternoon. There may be a break during the late afternoon and early evening before a wintry mix of snow, sleet, and then primarily freezing rain affects the area tonight. Precipitation will gradually change to plain rain Tuesday morning.
We were planning on a trip to Old Town tomorrow (Tuesday), but with icy roads in the morning plus having to go over the mountains, we have put the trip off until Wednesday when it will be much warmer for the day with highs in the low to mid 60s.
It was a productive weekend with getting the driveway chained and I also got the thermostat I bought for the shop bathroom portable heater working after going online & getting some additional directions. Once we get past this weather system, the weather should warm up considerably to ‘Spring’ temps for the rest of the month, although we’ve been warned ‘this does not mean we can’t have a cold April’. I am keeping my fingers crossed that the milder weather holds to make up for our brutal, frigid winter.
I think John has the issues fixed. Yesterday was tough sledding around here!
I did one double post yesterday and then found if I waited a little my send would post OK. I saw a number of double and one triple post too. Was it slow because so many people were commenting at FR because of all the Iran excitement? Also starting last evening and running into the middle of the night there was no service to FR at all, just a note to not sign off but just wait. What was that all about?
A recent discovery. Butterfat as in butter and cream provides butyric acid which helps weight loss. This complicated so here is AI on this subject:
“AI Overview:
==Butyric acid (or butyrate) from butterfat aids weight control by acting as a primary energy source for colon cells, which strengthens the gut barrier, reduces inflammation, and modulates gut bacteria. It promotes weight management by stimulating hormone release (like GLP-1) that improves insulin sensitivity, reduces fat storage in liver/adipose tissue, and increases energy expenditure.
—Weight Management Mechanisms: Butyrate reduces obesity by decreasing lipogenesis (fat creation) and reducing triglycerides in the liver and adipose tissue. It also increases satiety by stimulating the release of gut hormones like GLP-1 and PYY.
—Gut Health and Bacteria: As a short-chain fatty acid (SCFA), butyrate serves as the main energy source for colonocytes (70% of their ATP). It improves gut microbiota diversity, promoting the growth of beneficial bacteria that combat inflammation.
—Insulin and Metabolism: By reducing intestinal inflammation, butyrate enhances insulin sensitivity, preventing metabolic disturbances associated with high-fat diets.
Sources: While primarily produced by gut bacteria fermenting dietary fiber, dietary butyrate is found in dairy products, particularly butter and ghee.
==Studies indicate that butyrate effectively prevents body mass gain, especially under high-fat diet conditions, by modulating gut microbiota composition and increasing energy expenditure.”
Since getting this information I have been starting my day with a light breakfast of Cherrios and half and half cream with frozen wild blueberries, and a light sprinkle of cinnamon and sugar. Also a cup of 2% milk (all my grandparents families had cows), and my daily complement of supplements. At 87 I have gradually added supplements over the years as problems like varicose veins, chronic back pain, and cataracts have surfaced. All those under control and better now. I hope to plant some food this year as I now have more energy. Last year my ten year old fig tree was wildly prolific and the birds did not destroy figs as they did the previous year.
I think there’s ways around HOA rules.
The trick is to grow stuff that doesn’t look like veggies.
Herbs would be a good choice. Thyme and oregano are a great ground covers. Sage makes a pretty bush as does rosemary. And herbs are very cost effective to grow considering how much they rip you off for them in the stores.
“What was that all about?”
John had to do some tweaking so we were running better than yesterday. Mainly it was feeding the Hamster that runs the wheel that powers FR. ;)
I love the look of herbs and flowers together in porch pots!
I like orange Marigolds, purple Sage and Parsley together. Maybe a little Sweet Alyssum in there for fragrance? :)
Wisconsin Lakes
"The Wisconsin Lakes Pepper is a beautiful heirloom bell pepper with a bright red flesh. This pepper variety is an early maturing bell pepper that turns from green to red. This pepper is a great choice for Northern gardeners. Wisconsin Lakes was bred by Wisconsin University in the 1960s and it produce a good reliable harvest of early bell peppers."
Chervena Chuska
"This Bulgarian heirloom is traditionally used for roasting, yet is also delicious eaten fresh. Very sweet with a tiny hint of spice. Robust plants produce tapered fruits measuring 2" wide by 6" long. Fruits ripen from green to brown to vivid red. They can be eaten at any stage of coloration."
IT'S HAPPENING! Finally! :)
While the carrots are roasting, or make ahead of time, whip some feta with some plain Greek yogurt, some ricotta cheese, and some honey. Use the whipped feta as a base for your carrots. Beautiful presentation and a delicious combination.
Is the Wisconsin Lakes a prolific producer?
I’ve had a lot of trouble growing peppers and am trying one, Red Impact, that’s a bell type, but its a hybrid and is supposed to be extremely productive.
I would say Wisconsin Lakes is RELIABLE in a Northern growing zone (which is what it was bred for), but not out of the ordinary for pepper production.
Nice thick walls, though - juicy. Delicious on its own, but I’m using them to pad out my Salsa and V-8 recipes.
The official end to summer in New Zealand was the end of February. It's like someone flicked a switch and we missed out on autumn... snow on the mountains like in winter and we're wearing long sleeve brushed cotton shirts already. Amazing. I'll have my wife's pumpkin, bacon and curry soup ahead of time. I thought there would be another month or so to get the firewood in.
whip feta with plain Greek yogurt, ricotta cheese,
and some honey as a base for the roasted carrots.
Sounds ootw.....will definitely try.
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.