Your All Things Plants weekly news

for April 16, 2016

Garden Gnome, Elf, or Fairy House

By maryjane
April 16, 2016
Garden Gnome, Elf, or Fairy House

What gardener doesn't like to recycle everything they can? Gather a few leaves, pick up some weather worn mulch or bark from fallen branches, and use an empty container for a rainy afternoon project. Imagination is the prime ingredient for this project. (479 words - Read the full article)

The Miracle of a Seed

By Anderwood
April 15, 2016
The Miracle of a Seed

During this time of year, so much anticipation lies in the power of a tiny seed. It gives gardeners ideas. Nature brings those ideas to life (606 words - Read the full article)

The April 2016 Not-A-Raffle-Raffle!

By dave
April 13, 2016
The April 2016 Not-A-Raffle-Raffle!

Yay! Another raffle! We have some great prizes lined up, come in and check it out. (581 words - Read the full article)

The most popular images last week from our plant database:

Photo of African Daisy (Osteospermum Soprano® Lilac Spoon)
By ArtD:

Photo of Tall Bearded Iris (Iris 'Mystic Image')
By Moiris:

Photo of Tall Bearded Iris (Iris 'Bottle Rocket')
By SassyCat:

Photo of Indian paintbrush (Castilleja indivisa)
By dave:

Photo of Border Bearded Iris (Iris 'Clouds and Wine')
By coboro:

Photo of Border Bearded Iris (Iris 'Clouds and Wine')
By coboro:

Photo of Miniature Tall Bearded Iris (Iris 'Plum Quirky')
By HamiltonSquare:

Photo of Tall Bearded Iris (Iris 'Apricot Already')
By Moiris:

Photo of Tall Bearded Iris (Iris 'Crooked Little Smile')
By Moiris:

The most popular Multi-Plant Photos from last week:

Photo by William:
Photo by sunnyvalley:
Photo by HamiltonSquare:
Photo by HamiltonSquare:
Photo by sunnyvalley:
Photo by valleylynn:
Photo by kniphofia:
Photo by Bloombuddie:
Photo by jmorth:

Noteworthy acorn tips given this week:

5 people gave for post #1113483 in "Bloom Season 2016" by UndertheSun

4 people gave for post #1114950 in "I need an acorn tree!!!" by DomehomeDee

4 people gave for the idea "The Miracle of a Seed" by Anderwood

4 people gave for post #1114776 in "I need an acorn tree!!!" by Suga

4 people gave for post #1112195 in "Banner for April 11, 2016 by bootandall" by bootandall

4 people gave for post #1114808 in "I need an acorn tree!!!" by bhart90

3 people gave for post #1110874 in "1/12 scale Hobbit Garden" by Shape

3 people gave for a photo of African Daisy (Osteospermum Soprano® Lilac Spoon) by ArtD

3 people gave for the idea "Garden Gnome, Elf, or Fairy House" by maryjane

3 people gave for post #1115039 in "Spring Blooming Bulbs 2016" by William

The most active threads this week:

Subject OP Area Replies
Mid-America Garden April 2016HighdesertNikiIrises forum79
Copyright infringementvalleylynnSempervivum and Jovibarba forum74
What type of property do you have to plant Iris ?AlanJIrises forum71
Perennial ObsessionsTerriStanleySempervivum and Jovibarba forum36
Stalk ProblemBloombuddieIrises forum35
Let's see your 2016 MTB's, Intermediates and Border Bearded!LestvIrises forum34
Why is it always the ones you want the most.............MuddymittsIrises forum31
SUPER FREAK - Chimeras and other odditiesenidcandlesIrises forum29
what other planfs do you vro besides irisescreativecloverIrises forum29

Some new reviews from the ATP Green Pages:

greenthumb99 recommended Gardens North and wrote:

Have purchased seeds from Gardens North for many years now. Good service and seeds come with specific germination instructions for that particular species. Good source for seeds not commonly found elsewhere.

Becky_No_UK_AL recommended Almost Eden and wrote:

This is probably the 8th time I have ordered from AE and they still don't disappoint - plants are absolutely lovely, great sizes, healthy and incredibly well packed...their prices cannot be beat and they have plants I was unable to find anywhere else - thanks again!

scflowers recommended Floyd Cove Nursery and wrote:

I received my first order from Floyd Cove this year. I encountered excellent communication throughout the process of ordering and receiving my plants. The fans sent were all huge and healthy with excellent packaging. Bonuses included a new introduction for 2016 and a 2015 introduction; this was completely unexpected as the plants I ordered were several older cultivars. I would definitely order from them again.

scflowers recommended David's Dragonfly Farm and wrote:

I bought from David late last spring. He has excellent communication and prices. The plants sent all had extra fans and bonuses were sent. These were some of the greenest, healthiest plants that I have ever received. Great seller that I would recommend to everyone.

Seedfork recommended Shady Rest Gardens and wrote:

I received my first order from Shady Rest Gardens, and I certainly hope there will be more in the future. This order was a perfect example of how business should be conducted. Communications were exemplary, the shipping was timely and professionally handled, and the plants were beyond my expectations. The double fans of the plants I ordered were all more than that, and in some cases three times more. The bonus plant was really a clump! I could not believe how green and fresh the plants looked when I opened them. That to be was the very best bonus one could possibly hope for.

Pat236 recommended Butchart Gardens Gift Store and wrote:

All I can say about Butchart Gardens is that it's the most beautiful garden that I have ever seen in my life. Go visit if you are ever anywhere near Victoria, Canada. Simply the best!

Pat236 recommended Park Lane Daylilies and wrote:

Kathy Maynard at Park Lane Daylilies is fantastic. She sends large fans with beautiful root systems. She also sends nice bonuses as well. She is such a sweetheart. She tries to accommodate everything and everyone. I'm a repeat customer and will continue to patronize her.

Pat236 recommended Wynn's Daylily Garden and wrote:

Gene Wynn is one of the best in the business. I found him on the Lily Auction a few months ago and moved to his website for additional orders. He sends huge fans and very nice bonuses as well. He communicates every step of the way and is willing to answer any question. On the Lily Auction he uses Sonjamae. I highly recommend Wynn's.

Pat236 recommended Dancing Daylily Garden and wrote:

Love Becky at Dancing Daylily Garden. Her plants are small, but they have nice healthy roots. She always sends more than the listed double fans. I ordered a double fan of Cimarron Rose and got six fans. I ordered a double of Wispy Rays and got five. She shipped on Saturday and they were on my doorstep on Monday. I highly recommend her!

We keep growing, because ATP is where all the excitement is these days! Check out these numbers from last week: