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The Garden Thread - February, 2025
February 1, 2025 | Diana in WI/Greeneyes in Memoriam

Posted on 02/01/2025 6:55:11 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: food; garden; gardening; hobbies
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To: MomwithHope

Thank you for encouraging me. These last months without our other boy have been very difficult, but we’ve managed to come out on the other side. I’m confident Watson will manage through this difficulty, too.


281 posted on 02/21/2025 8:13:17 PM PST by FamiliarFace (I got my own way of livin' But everything gets done With a southern accent Where I come from. TPetty)
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To: Liz

Looks delicious, Liz! I’ve had something like this once in a restaurant. I remember it was so so so good!


282 posted on 02/21/2025 8:15:28 PM PST by FamiliarFace (I got my own way of livin' But everything gets done With a southern accent Where I come from. TPetty)
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To: FamiliarFace

The Greek cuisine is incredible.

And the recipe includes your own “Greek Seasoning.”


283 posted on 02/21/2025 9:58:43 PM PST by Liz
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To: 4everontheRight; Augie; Apple Pan Dowdy; Aevery_Freeman; ApplegateRanch; ArtDodger; AloneInMass; ...

284 posted on 02/22/2025 7:39:02 AM PST by Diana in Wisconsin (I don't have, 'Hobbies.' I'm developing a robust Post-Apocalyptic skill set.)
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

Good morning!

We’re in for a week of above freezing temperatures during the day.

Rumor has it syrup producers are already tapping trees in anticipation of the sap starting to flow this week.

I’ll be able to get my seedlings that I’m starting out on the back porch for a very gradual introduction to hardening off. They grow so much better outdoors than even under a grow light and fan.


285 posted on 02/22/2025 7:48:36 AM PST by metmom (He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon." Amen. Come, Lord Jesus)
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

Good morning! Today it will get above freezing for the first time in over a week. Looking forward to it! Snow in the front of the house has almost melted away. It’s the only part that gets much sun. The back is still a winter snow scene. Animal tracks all over the place.


286 posted on 02/22/2025 7:55:47 AM PST by FamiliarFace (I got my own way of livin' But everything gets done With a southern accent Where I come from. TPetty)
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To: FRiends
For our shortest month of the year, February sure seems L-O-N-G this trip around the sun! :(

However, we will be hitting 45 degrees by Tuesday with little to no snow in the forecast, so it should be fine. :)

Wednesday we pick up our UTV! Can't wait to be motoring around in that thing! Similar to this Can Am model but with more bells and whistles. And actual doors & windscreen.

I'm excited to show my Mom around our property. She's only been down to the Pasture to pet the Heifers, but there's so much more to see; fawns in the Spring, the creek and dry damn, two 1940's vehicles that are basically now 'grown' into the side of the bluff where they were dumped way back when, mossy 'Fairy Gardens,' every local wildflower you can name, the BIG apple tree and the endless views from the top of the pasture hill. On a clear day you can see the Belmont and Platteville Mounds to the southwest from up there.


287 posted on 02/22/2025 7:57:43 AM PST by Diana in Wisconsin (I don't have, 'Hobbies.' I'm developing a robust Post-Apocalyptic skill set.)
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To: FamiliarFace
"Animal tracks all over the place."

I love that, too! Mostly rabbit and deer by us, but a few of these other guys wander through at night:


288 posted on 02/22/2025 8:01:30 AM PST by Diana in Wisconsin (I don't have, 'Hobbies.' I'm developing a robust Post-Apocalyptic skill set.)
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To: Diana in Wisconsin; All

No snow left on the ground, but a chilly start @ 15°. It should get to a balmy 42 this afternoon. Four days next week will be in the 50’s & above freezing at night.

Today is clean out the fridge & straighten up the freezer day. I bought a box (12) of wide-mouth quart Ball jars & plastic tops yesterday. I have gone from zero soup to ‘too much’ & I needed the jars to freeze a few quarts. So far, I have 2 qts. of Jewish Penicillin & 1 qt. of Spicy Carrot with Orange in the freezer. I have another 2 quarts of chicken noodle simmering on the stove. This afternoon, I am making Country Mushroom & Sour Cream - don’t expect to freeze any of this particular soup (only makes 4 servings) - should be great with sandwiches for lunch.

On Monday morning, I have to take mom to an appointment about 45 minutes away. If the weather is good in the afternoon, I will be picking up the sticks & branches that litter the yard - it will be quite a pile. Some are so big I will have to lopper or saw them into smaller pieces. On a low wind day, we will burn them. Last year, we had major wild fires on the mountains just up the road in March & I want to get the tree debris cleaned up before fire season this year. REALLY looking forward to doing something OUTSIDE!

More babies ... rabbits thos time! My niece, ever the entrepreneur, traded some meat (from hogs they raised & 2 cows processed last fall) & some sourdough bread she bakes, for a friend’s ‘rabbitry’ ... rabbits, pens, everything she needs to raise meat rabbits. The 14 lb. Mama rabbit had a litter a week ago. My niece sent a pic of my 2 great-nieces holding week old baby rabbits. Talk about cute ... not much cuter than baby bunnies & the expressions on the girls’ faces are pretty cute, too .... made my evening to get those pics :-)


289 posted on 02/22/2025 8:03:53 AM PST by Qiviut (Come! Live in the light! Shine with the joy and the love of the Lord!)
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

Good Morning t

From the land of the ice and snow

Alas, no hot springs in MA.


290 posted on 02/22/2025 8:43:01 AM PST by left that other site (Ask Not What The Left is Doing. Ask What They Are Accusing YOU of Doing.)
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

Mostly we have deer, raccoons, possums, squirrels, cottontails, wild turkeys, and foxes here in winter. I haven’t seen any coyotes but occasionally hear them. Coyotes are the reason we built a catio, a cat enclosure on our deck where the cat goes through a window door to a tube that connects them. I haven’t seen any skunks in the winter (yet) but they’re always around in the summer. Groundhogs, too, and more chipmunks than I can count. There’s a barred owl that often hangs out in the woods. Some days I can see him from the house with the binoculars. One used to come a lot closer, but that was years ago, and I think he passed away. He used to land on a huge branch and just sit and stare at us for a long time, meaning maybe 5-10 minutes. Beautiful bird. I wish this one would do that sometime.


291 posted on 02/22/2025 8:47:14 AM PST by FamiliarFace (I got my own way of livin' But everything gets done With a southern accent Where I come from. TPetty)
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

We have a Ranger and couldn’t imagine dealing with the property without it.


292 posted on 02/22/2025 8:47:45 AM PST by metmom (He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon." Amen. Come, Lord Jesus)
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

We have fox tracks all over the place here.

We’ve yet to see them but the snow is good for knowing what’s on the property.


293 posted on 02/22/2025 8:49:29 AM PST by metmom (He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon." Amen. Come, Lord Jesus)
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

That’s a nice looking beast! I know you’ll have fun showing your mom all around your palace grounds with that!


294 posted on 02/22/2025 8:50:32 AM PST by FamiliarFace (I got my own way of livin' But everything gets done With a southern accent Where I come from. TPetty)
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To: metmom

*** We’ve yet to see them but the snow is good for knowing what’s on the property.***

Yes!


295 posted on 02/22/2025 8:58:30 AM PST by FamiliarFace (I got my own way of livin' But everything gets done With a southern accent Where I come from. TPetty)
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To: metmom

We’ve had a Honda 4x and both of us fit on that, and with the trailer it’s been helpful. This vehicle will be used around here, and then will be up north early summer through fall for Black Bear hunting.

Beau is railing against aging, and this will make things easier as far as hauling culled bear out of the woods. There are only a few young-ish guys left in their hunt club and of the ‘old guys’ Beau is the YOUNGEST at 65. He has GPS, so we should be able to find him, eventually, when he croaks in the field. It happens more than you could imagine in our circle of hunting friends.

The farm is 100% paid off as of January, so it was time he indulged himself a little. He has been one hard-working guy all of his adult life. :)


296 posted on 02/22/2025 9:07:42 AM PST by Diana in Wisconsin (I don't have, 'Hobbies.' I'm developing a robust Post-Apocalyptic skill set.)
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

Congrats looks like a beast!


297 posted on 02/22/2025 9:08:06 AM PST by MomwithHope (Forever grateful to all our patriots, past, present and future.)
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To: Diana in Wisconsin; All

I made Fire Cider in late 2023 & by the time it steeped for a month, I was starting the moving process late January 2024. Although I took a couple of ‘shots’, the jar ended up at the back of the fridge & I pretty much forgot about it. It did make the move in October & ended up in the back of the new fridge until today, when I threw it out.

After fighting off respiratory bugs twice already this year, I want fire cider. I love elderberries & found an elderberry fire cider recipe. Of course, it has to steep for a month. The end result will be worth the wait, but in the meanwhile, I found this:

15-Minute “Fire Cider”
Wellness shots inspired by Fire Cider but made with easy-to-find ingredients and ready in just 15 minutes instead of 1 month! Spicy, potent, just a little sweet, and full of health benefits.

https://minimalistbaker.com/15-minute-fire-cider/

************

It sounds like just the ticket to see me through until the elderberry fire cider is ready for use.


298 posted on 02/22/2025 4:49:19 PM PST by Qiviut (Come! Live in the light! Shine with the joy and the love of the Lord!)
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To: Diana in Wisconsin
"The farm is 100% paid off as of January"

Most excellent!

Well, I would have thought a champagne celebration, but since you are in Wisconsin...


299 posted on 02/22/2025 5:27:11 PM PST by Pete from Shawnee Mission
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To: Pete from Shawnee Mission

LOL! Celebration bubbles of any kind are still bubbles!


300 posted on 02/22/2025 6:47:28 PM PST by Diana in Wisconsin (I don't have, 'Hobbies.' I'm developing a robust Post-Apocalyptic skill set.)
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