Your All Things Plants weekly news: February 8, 2013

News from dave:

Rose (Rosa 'Double Delight')
Photo by pixie62560:

It's Roses Week at All Things Plants!

All this coming week will be Roses Week, and that means that all our articles, ideas and tips will be roses related. In honor of the week the entire site will carry rose banners in the logo header.

Tune in mid week for our podcast which will feature an interview with Michael Shoup, the owner of the Antique Rose Emporium.

Additionally, early this week we will be hosting a huge "not a raffle raffle" with lots of great rose-related prizes, including several books and a very nice package prize from our friends at the Antique Rose Emporium. Raffle tickets can be bought with acorns rather than dollars, so it's free fun for everyone. Come to the site on Monday for more information on the raffle.

All this excitement and more is happening all week long at the world's best social media website dedicated exclusively to all things plants.

There were 7 new gardening ideas posted last week:

By Joannabanana
February 8, 2013 Seed sowing depth guide
When sowing seeds, shallow is better than deep. (55 words - Read the full article)
(no comments)

By CindiKS
February 7, 2013 Watering duties in the winter
Don't forget to water evergreens in the winter if you live in an area with little winter precipitation.
(no comments)

By dave
February 6, 2013 ATP Podcast #5: A February Gardening Checklist of Chores
Come hear Dave and Trish discuss all the news about ATP, gardening updates from Texas, and the main feature of today's show: late winter chores for the garden. (118 words - Read the full article)
(11 comments)

By Sharon
February 5, 2013 Moss Tales
Moss, that green slipcover on rocks and sides of trees and old shoes left outside too long; it's moss that lets us know all's well in our environment. (1,676 words - Read the full article)
(40 comments)

By plantladylin
February 4, 2013 Cinder block raised beds
Have a few old cinder blocks laying around? They make great tomato or vegetable/herb planters for small spaces. Place in a sunny location, turn them on their side, fill with compost/soil and pop in your plants. The cement holds in heat around the roots.
(35 comments)

By Skiekitty
February 3, 2013 Home Depot coupons
Sign up with Home Depot Garden Club for online deals and coupons. You can get LOTS of free plants and coupons that way!
(34 comments)

By Gymgirl
February 2, 2013 Cheaper heat mat
A heating pad set on low and placed underneath a cookie rack makes a great impromptu bottom-heat source for tomato, pepper and other seeds! Just set the tray on the mat until the seedlings germinate. Do NOT leave the pad on while you're away from home!
(20 comments)

The most popular images last week from our plant database:

Photo of Daylily (Hemerocallis 'Dentelle') by jacqueshamel58:

Photo of Rose (Rosa 'Black Lady') by Val:

Photo of Rose (Rosa 'Sheila's Perfume') by Val:

Photo of Indian Pink (Spigelia marilandica) by abhege:

Photo of Rollers (Jovibarba hirta 'Hedgehog') by serse:

Photo of Black Locust (Robinia pseudoacacia 'Lace Lady') by PattyN:

The most active threads this week:
Subject OP Area Replies

Deer eating Semps jvdubb Sempervivum and Jovibarba forum 51

Sedum 'Blue Pearl' clintbrown Sedum forum 45

Moss vic Moss Tales 39

Banner for February 5, 2013 by mcash70 mcash70 Site Banners forum 38

Cinder block raised beds valleylynn Cinder block raised beds 34

Home Depot Coupons valleylynn Home Depot coupons 33

Acorn count isn't incrementing Marilyn Site Talk forum 30

new pot! Dutchlady1 Containers forum 29

February 2013 Photos & Chat Skiekitty Roses forum 26

The most active threads this week:
Subject	OP	Area	Replies
Deer eating Semps	jvdubb	Sempervivum and Jovibarba forum	51
Sedum 'Blue Pearl'	clintbrown	Sedum forum	45
Moss	vic	Moss Tales	39
Banner for February 5, 2013 by mcash70	mcash70	Site Banners forum	38
Cinder block raised beds	valleylynn	Cinder block raised beds	34
Home Depot Coupons	valleylynn	Home Depot coupons	33
Acorn count isn't incrementing	Marilyn	Site Talk forum	30
new pot!	Dutchlady1	Containers forum	29
February 2013 Photos & Chat	Skiekitty	Roses forum	26

Some new recommendations from our members:

SongofJoy recommended Seed Savers Exchange and wrote:
I ordered on 1/31 and received the seeds on 2/4. Great service. A large amount of seeds in the packets. Very pleased.

abhege recommended Bluestone Perennials and wrote:
When Bluestone changed to the coco pots I was so disappointed. I love their "3-paks" because I could order with my friend and my daughter and we could each have one, plus they recommended planting in threes. Their prices went up also, since we used to get three plants for what they are now charging for one, and yes, they may have been a bit smaller plants, but they were always very healthy and I would rather pay less and get a bit smaller plant that I can watch grow. I have still ordered from them but I also have to remove the coco pots because I actually found them to be too restrictive and when I did plant with the, the plants did not thrive. They do have a large selection. Unfortunately, they used to be my first go to for ordering but not since they switched to the coco pots.

serse recommended SMG Succulents and wrote:
First online order from SMG Succulents and VERY pleased! Super fast shipping, generous with plants, beautiful little babies arrived well packaged and happy! Will definitely be a returning customer! I recommend

SongofJoy recommended Botanical Interests and wrote:
October 2012 -- Another good source for heirloom and organic, non-GMO seeds. Seed packets are loaded with more information than any I've ever seen. Good informative website too.

February 2, 2013 --
The packets are now smaller physically (to economize, I would imagine) but not the amount of seeds sent. The service is still lightning fast. I ordered on 1/28 and received my seeds on 2/1.

vic recommended Park Seed and wrote:
I have gotten many annual seeds from Park Seed for years and they always do well.

This year, I bought two blueberry bushes. They came packed just perfectly and I had blueberries to eat first season.

I received an email from Park Seed on January 18 that my seeds had shipped. They are about 2 hours away.

When I had not received them by January 28, I called and they said they would send the seeds again.

The original seed order arrived that afternoon and because there was tracking, I assumed they would know I had received them and not send the second order.

On February 8, the second order did in fact arrive.

I called, they told me to keep both sets of seeds.

I was very thankful and this speaks to their integrity.

Some new recommendations from our members:
SongofJoy recommended Seed Savers Exchange and wrote: I ordered on 1/31 and received the seeds on 2/4. Great service. A large amount of seeds in the packets. Very pleased.
abhege recommended Bluestone Perennials and wrote: When Bluestone changed to the coco pots I was so disappointed. I love their "3-paks" because I could order with my friend and my daughter and we could each have one, plus they recommended planting in threes. Their prices went up also, since we used to get three plants for what they are now charging for one, and yes, they may have been a bit smaller plants, but they were always very healthy and I would rather pay less and get a bit smaller plant that I can watch grow. I have still ordered from them but I also have to remove the coco pots because I actually found them to be too restrictive and when I did plant with the, the plants did not thrive. They do have a large selection. Unfortunately, they used to be my first go to for ordering but not since they switched to the coco pots.
serse recommended SMG Succulents and wrote: First online order from SMG Succulents and VERY pleased! Super fast shipping, generous with plants, beautiful little babies arrived well packaged and happy! Will definitely be a returning customer! I recommend
SongofJoy recommended Botanical Interests and wrote: October 2012 -- Another good source for heirloom and organic, non-GMO seeds. Seed packets are loaded with more information than any I've ever seen. Good informative website too. February 2, 2013 -- The packets are now smaller physically (to economize, I would imagine) but not the amount of seeds sent. The service is still lightning fast. I ordered on 1/28 and received my seeds on 2/1.
vic recommended Park Seed and wrote: I have gotten many annual seeds from Park Seed for years and they always do well. This year, I bought two blueberry bushes. They came packed just perfectly and I had blueberries to eat first season. I received an email from Park Seed on January 18 that my seeds had shipped. They are about 2 hours away. When I had not received them by January 28, I called and they said they would send the seeds again. The original seed order arrived that afternoon and because there was tracking, I assumed they would know I had received them and not send the second order. On February 8, the second order did in fact arrive. I called, they told me to keep both sets of seeds. I was very thankful and this speaks to their integrity.

Some numbers from last week:

95 new members.
127 new threads.
3,199 new posts.
1,197 new images to the plant database.
19 new comments in the plant database.