Your All Things Plants newsletter for October 17, 2011

• 20 new members.
• 173 new threads.
• 2,845 new posts.
• 2,245 new images to the plant database.
• 172 new comments in the plant database.

What's Blooming in October By Larry Rettig on October 17, 2011 October usually spells the end of the gardening season here in Iowa. This year we've been blessed with an extended season, as there has been no frost yet. Come on in and see what's still blooming at Cottage-in-the-Meadow Gardens! Check out the photo contest at the end of the article and take a mo... (2 comments)

Which Season is your Team Favorite? By Trish Whitinger on October 16, 2011 Is spring automatically a gardener's favorite season? Let's find out in this week's Which Team article! (19 comments)

Garden Tours: Calsurf73, Mike By Sharon Brown on October 15, 2011 Welcome to All Things Plants: Garden Tours. Each week we'll take you on a tour of the lovely gardens of one of our members. Join us now as we travel to California where Mike will take us through the gardens he has created. You are going to love what you see! (20 comments)

Making stepping stones By Dave Whitinger on October 14, 2011 At the Whitinger Farm, we are busy making stepping stones for a walkway between our driveway and the house. It's an ambitious project and we've already made dozens of stones. By popular request, here is the tutorial on how we're making them. (50 comments)

Setting up your bee yard: choosing the location By Margaret Tucker on October 12, 2011 You have decided to become a beekeeper. Congratulations and welcome to a fascinating hobby. Your next step is to decide where to put your bee yard. Let's take a look at choosing a location. (10 comments)

Daily Gardening Tips from this week:

October 17, 2011: Use a child's toy rake to clean under shrubs or other hard to reach places. Tip and photo by goldfinch4 - (3 comments)

October 16, 2011: When planting in a very large container or pot, first fill to one third with styrofoam pieces or peanuts before adding the soil. The roots will find their way around the material, and the pot will be less heavy and easier to move around. Tip by Dutchlady1 Photo by gardengus - (6 comments)

October 15, 2011: Transfer and store your fertilizer in coffee cans. The fertilizer stays dry and the cans are easy to tote where ever needed to feed plants. For convenience and safety, label the contents of the container! Tip and photo by gingin - (6 comments)

October 14, 2011: Remember to sow poppy seeds in your garden in October for bloom in early spring. Tip by jeri11 Photo by gardengus - (12 comments)

October 13, 2011: Fall is a great time to increase your shrubs. When pruning Euonymous and Forsythia, remove the bottom leaves from good stems and put them (6 inches deep) where you want a new plant. Tip and photo by sandnsea2 - (10 comments)

October 12, 2011: After re-potting, I set the hose on JET to jet the dirt out from under my finger nails. May not be perfect, but it sure helps! Tip and photo by gingin - (18 comments)

October 11, 2011: Planting a vine against the side of your house will help keep that wall cool in the summer (by shading it) and warm in the winter (by giving it a pocket of air to insulate, and reduce wind chill). Tip and photo by Dutchlady1 - (9 comments)