Your All Things Plants newsletter for February 20, 2012

• 45 new members.
• 130 new threads.
• 3,319 new posts.
• 2,478 new images to the plant database.
• 61 new comments in the plant database.

There were 4 new articles published last week:

Team Fruity or Team Unfruity? By Trish Whitinger on February 19, 2012 Soft fruits, hard fruits, exotic fruits, vine fruits: do you grow them? (23 comments)

What's Blooming in February By Larry Rettig on February 18, 2012 Last month's Name That Bloom Contest subject was the Black Locust Tree, Robinia pseudoacacia 'Purple Robe.' Check in to see who was the first to give us the right answer and while you're here, check out this month's mystery flower, too. (5 comments)

Little house on the suburban prairie By C. Tee Menser on February 16, 2012 America has become a nation of suburbs and now exurbs. There's no getting around it. More Americans live there than anywhere else these days. But does that mean we all need to have a parcel of ground with a solitary shade tree in the front yard and a patch of lawn to manicure? I hope not. (27 comments)

Hillfarm Journal: Hillfarm's Roses By Kathleen M. Tenpas on February 14, 2012 Part of the story of Hillfarm as we know it will always have to be the roses that we found here. (9 comments)

Daily Gardening Tips from this week:

February 20, 2012: Put a straw sleeve around leggy seedlings, to prop them up to the light. They'll strengthen up in no time! Tip and photo by Gymgirl - (4 comments)

February 19, 2012: Some indoor and outdoor plants can be rooted directly in soil. Tip and photo by Shelly - (6 comments)

February 18, 2012: A nail with a large head works really well for doing small cuttings or planting small seedlings. You use the pointed end to make a hole to insert the cutting and then use the flat head to smooth the soil around the cutting. Tip by rebeccag Photo by mcash70 - (5 comments)

February 17, 2012: Use plastic knives as plant markers, use a paint pen to write the plant names on them. Tip and photo by mcash70 - (8 comments)

February 16, 2012: How many of you have ever dumped out packs of new seedlings, trying to pour excess water from the seedling flats. How frustrating is that? Why not grab your old turkey baster, tip the flat up a bit, and suck all the excess water up into the baster? Quick, easy, and no dumped seedlings. Buy a new baster for the turkey... Tip by Sashagirl Photo by Gymgirl - (4 comments)

February 15, 2012: Spring bulbs sprouting early? Don't panic! No need to bury them in extra mulch. They know what they're doing. Just let them do it. Tip and photo by critterologist - (10 comments)

February 14, 2012: Water seedlings with Chamomile tea to prevent Damping off. Tip and photo by gardengus - (7 comments)