Your All Things Plants weekly news: March 29, 2014

There were 7 new gardening ideas posted last week:

By grannysgarden
March 29, 2014 Keeping It Tidy
Just after the threat of frost has passed, and sometimes before, garden clubs and county gardening organizations will hold their annual, or semi-annual, plant sale. (500 words - Read the full article)
(3 comments)

By dave
March 28, 2014 ATP Podcast #50: Common Gardening Mistakes
With a brand new baby in the house we had to skip last week's podcast, but we're back now! In today's episode we get caught up on the usual goings on, and we discuss a few common gardening mistakes (and how to avoid them!) We also have a bonus segment today on our Pinboard of Bad Ideas!
(7 comments)

By SongofJoy
March 27, 2014 Pass-Along Plants - a Southern Tradition
I'm sure pass-along plants are a tradition in other parts of the country besides the South. Today, some of the plants of our southern heritage can only be obtained at specialized nurseries or from friends and neighbors. (151 words - Read the full article)
(14 comments)

By mcash70
March 26, 2014 In Praise of Petunias
“Petunia is a genus of 35 species of flowering plants of South American origin, closely related to tobacco, cape gooseberries, tomatoes, deadly nightshades, potatoes and chili peppers; in the family Solanaceae." (Wikipedia) (349 words - Read the full article)
(23 comments)

By Anderwood
March 25, 2014 Don't Forget the Amendments!
Everyone is tempted by the sexy blooms and luscious tomatoes we see in pictures, but if plants aren't happy, they won't live up to their outward appearance. Like humans, their beauty begins more than skin deep. (422 words - Read the full article)
(2 comments)

By Newyorkrita
March 24, 2014 Plant Portulacas
Whether you call them Portulaca or Moss Rose, these low-growing bedding plants are a colorful and easy solution to that barren, hot, and dry garden spot where nothing seems to want to grow. (74 words - Read the full article)
(10 comments)

By DavidofDeLand
March 23, 2014 Save Those Tall Crepe Myrtle Cuttings for Goodness Stakes!
Save those tall Crepe Myrtle stalks when you trim them back now!!! I bundle them and dry them in the rafters in my old garage. Crepe Myrtle dries into a very hard wood indeed and the stakes can be used for trellises and such and will last a couple of years.
(5 comments)

The most popular images last week from our plant database:

Photo of Begonia (Begonia 'Butterscotch') by JKing:

Photo of Shrubby Germander (Teucrium fruticans) by HamiltonSquare:

Photo of Sweet Bay Magnolia (Magnolia virginiana) by treehugger:

Photo of Pear (Pyrus 'Tennousi') by jon:

Photo of Spring Beauty (Claytonia virginica) by dave:

Photo of (Lonchocarpus mexicanus) by Dutchlady1:

The most popular Multi-Plant Photos from last week:

Multi-plant photo by webesemps:

Multi-plant photo by jmorth:

Multi-plant photo by Natalie:

Multi-plant photo by ge1836:

Multi-plant photo by Kelli:

Multi-plant photo by Dinu:

Noteworthy acorn tips given this week:
10 people gave for a post in "Banner for March 25, 2014 by OldGardener" by OldGardener
9 people gave for the idea "In Praise of Petunias" by mcash70
6 people gave for a post in "Banner for March 24, 2014 by Newyorkrita" by Newyorkrita
6 people gave for the idea "Keeping It Tidy" by grannysgarden
6 people gave for a post in "Seeds for sale" by plantladylin
5 people gave for the idea "Don't Forget the Amendments!" by Anderwood
5 people gave for a post in "Banner for March 23, 2014 by clintbrown" by clintbrown
5 people gave for the idea "Plant Portulacas" by Newyorkrita
4 people gave for a post in ""My Lists", add a link for my plant photo" by Bonehead
4 people gave for a post in "Banner for March 26, 2014 by bootandall" by bootandall

Noteworthy acorn tips given this week:
10 people gave for a post in "Banner for March 25, 2014 by OldGardener" by OldGardener 9 people gave for the idea "In Praise of Petunias" by mcash70 6 people gave for a post in "Banner for March 24, 2014 by Newyorkrita" by Newyorkrita 6 people gave for the idea "Keeping It Tidy" by grannysgarden 6 people gave for a post in "Seeds for sale" by plantladylin 5 people gave for the idea "Don't Forget the Amendments!" by Anderwood 5 people gave for a post in "Banner for March 23, 2014 by clintbrown" by clintbrown 5 people gave for the idea "Plant Portulacas" by Newyorkrita 4 people gave for a post in ""My Lists", add a link for my plant photo" by Bonehead 4 people gave for a post in "Banner for March 26, 2014 by bootandall" by bootandall

The most active threads this week:
Subject OP Area Replies

Orange and yellow seem like nice colors for irises tveguy3 Irises forum 208

And So It Begins... StaticAsh Sempervivum and Jovibarba forum 61

What's your favorite blue? Zencat Irises forum 60

Getting rid of a large area of lawn Natalie Ask a Question forum 48

March 2014 Open House at Kevin Vaughn's valleylynn Sempervivum and Jovibarba forum 44

"My Lists", add a link for my plant photo chickhill Ask a Question forum 30

New Berry Bushes lovegreen Ask a Question forum 22

Love Petunias!! Joannabanana In Praise of Petunias 22

What do I do with my "Lowes" orchids? drdawg Orchids forum 20

The most active threads this week:
Subject	OP	Area	Replies
Orange and yellow seem like nice colors for irises	tveguy3	Irises forum	208
And So It Begins...	StaticAsh	Sempervivum and Jovibarba forum	61
What's your favorite blue?	Zencat	Irises forum	60
Getting rid of a large area of lawn	Natalie	Ask a Question forum	48
March 2014 Open House at Kevin Vaughn's	valleylynn	Sempervivum and Jovibarba forum	44
"My Lists", add a link for my plant photo	chickhill	Ask a Question forum	30
New Berry Bushes	lovegreen	Ask a Question forum	22
Love Petunias!!	Joannabanana	In Praise of Petunias	22
What do I do with my "Lowes" orchids?	drdawg	Orchids forum	20

Some new recommendations from our members:

chelle recommended Alplains and wrote:
Seed germination from my first order with this company is running at one hundred percent! So far I've only observed the response of one genus/type under controlled indoor conditions, but I've winter sown others and feel entirely comfortable in enjoying high expectations.

lovegreen recommended Mike the Gardener Enterprises and wrote:
They send you new seed every month and you get to try out seeds you wouldn't normally try, and I can't wait to plant them this spring!

lovegreen recommended The Seed Guy and wrote:
They offer seed packages and all are premium quality heirloom seeds. They offer single seeds as well. They have seeds that I never would have thought to buy. Their packages are amazing and their prices are amazing! Check them out!

lovegreen recommended Prairie Land Dairy and wrote:
They are an amazing dairy that works with local schools and communities and provides not only wholesome milk, but also education and compost. They take all the compostable material from the area schools, businesses, and restaurants and then turn it into compost. They work with everyone they handle and they are always open for tours and information. If you are ever in the area, check them out!

lovegreen recommended Hugelland Feed and wrote:
This company does Non-GMO feed and they are great to deal with. I have never had a bad experience and they will tell you everything and anything you may want to know. Zane and his wife started from scratch and now they are the best feed company I've ever had the pleasure to deal with. I promise once your animals eat their feed, they won't eat anything else! Check them out!

Some new recommendations from our members:
chelle recommended Alplains and wrote: Seed germination from my first order with this company is running at one hundred percent! So far I've only observed the response of one genus/type under controlled indoor conditions, but I've winter sown others and feel entirely comfortable in enjoying high expectations.
lovegreen recommended Mike the Gardener Enterprises and wrote: They send you new seed every month and you get to try out seeds you wouldn't normally try, and I can't wait to plant them this spring!
lovegreen recommended The Seed Guy and wrote: They offer seed packages and all are premium quality heirloom seeds. They offer single seeds as well. They have seeds that I never would have thought to buy. Their packages are amazing and their prices are amazing! Check them out!
lovegreen recommended Prairie Land Dairy and wrote: They are an amazing dairy that works with local schools and communities and provides not only wholesome milk, but also education and compost. They take all the compostable material from the area schools, businesses, and restaurants and then turn it into compost. They work with everyone they handle and they are always open for tours and information. If you are ever in the area, check them out!
lovegreen recommended Hugelland Feed and wrote: This company does Non-GMO feed and they are great to deal with. I have never had a bad experience and they will tell you everything and anything you may want to know. Zane and his wife started from scratch and now they are the best feed company I've ever had the pleasure to deal with. I promise once your animals eat their feed, they won't eat anything else! Check them out!

Some numbers from last week:

44 new members.
196 new threads.
4,091 new posts.
3,191 new images to the plant database.
46 new comments in the plant database.
17 new Multi-Plant photos.