The Moon was New on the 17th, and an annular eclipse was visible in remote Antarctica. An annular eclipse is also called a “ring of fire.” The Moon will be further from Earth and will cast a smaller shadow upon the Sun, appearing as a fiery ring around the Sun.
During the period between February 17 and the 20th, solar flares are forecast as well as a major planetary alignment between Neptune and Saturn. For the first time in at least 6,000 years, these two outer planets will be exactly conjunct at the very beginning of the zodiacal year, “zero of Aries,” February 20th.
During this coming “active” phase of the Moon will be a good time to begin checking things off your 2026 gardening list. It may seem early but, as I’ve shared before, this would be a good time to start peppers and eggplant as they are particularly slow to germinate. These will have to be started in your greenhouse or on a windowsill. I’m putting mine in the windowsill because it will be warmer than the greenhouse.
I will start my tomatoes at this time too, to get a jump on harvest time. I’ve found that if my plants are at least eight inches tall by mid-May, they will have ripe tomatoes earlier than September/October. I was harvesting in late July into August last year.
Use a good potting soil to start seeds. You want to avoid fusarium wilt and other problems that can come from using garden soil to start seeds. I used greenhouse soil two years ago and my first batch of seedlings were stunted and not happy. You can sterilize your soil by heating it in the oven at 175 degrees for 15 minutes. I like to sift out large sticks and perlite of potting soil to make a better germination matrix.
Since we are forecast to get upwards of two feet of snow, there’s not much else to do in the garden just yet. Most of the snow we got at he end of December and into mid-January has melted. We had about ten inches on the ground. Now everything will be covered up with the white stuff again.
With all the unusually warm weather our fruit tree buds, including fruiting spurs, were beginning to swell and the bark on the Aspen trees was beginning to show its spring green hue. My daffodils have popped and are about three inches high. The blossoms will come but, in my experience, they always get snowed on.
I was able to get my onions planted out in the garden. They will be fine with the cold and will get a head start. I mulched them with a couple inches of compost and straw.
I have Almond agaricus (button) mushroom spawn ordered and will be spreading the inoculated sawdust on the greenhouse beds. Mushrooms help provide greenhouse plants with a more balanced atmosphere adding carbon dioxide. Green plants take carbon dioxide from the air and convert it into oxygen. Mushrooms do the opposite, eating carbon (decaying wood) and producing oxygen as a byproduct.
Michael and I have begun working on this season’s project list: new deck, new rodent proof growing enclosure, fire pit with “urbanite” patio surround and I’m working on a Medicine Wheel out in the meadow.
Here’s hoping your garden desires are beginning to take shape, even if only on paper. In the meantime, remember, time spent near a river or walking through a woodland helps you feel lighter and makes the world look brighter.
