Plant of the Week: Plant Hardiness Zones

I know, I know. Plant hardiness zones aren't plants, but they're important! I promise. Knowing your plant hardiness zone will help you immensely in choosing what plants to grow. You see, plants grow better in some places than others. Take last week's plant, the purple passion plant, it grows well in Zones 9 - 12 which puts it in the very southern United States and the West coast. But, like I said last week it can be grown inside in, say, Zone 7b where I am and thrive.
















With just this little bit of knowledge you can be well on your way to growing a successful garden. So, hop on over to arborday.org and put in your zip code to find your Plant Hardiness Zone. Or, you can take a gander at the map here and get a good idea of your zone.

In general when you go to your local Lowe's, Home Depot, or nursery, they will only carry plants that are suited for your zone. If you happen to be buying seeds or even small plants online, knowing your zone will help you make sure that your precious new plant will survive.

Next week's plant: leave me a comment and I'll do one of your choice

This is the Kind of Wedding Update That Makes Me Squeal With Joy

We've decided to downsize the wedding! So, now it's going to be smaller, as well as more sweet & simple. Hallelujah (the Jeff Buckley version of course). This means less hassle with trying to plan a wedding when we're on opposite sides of the country, money saved that could be put away for better things, and fewer people to deal with (not that I don't like people, I just don't really like being the center of that much attention). I'll still wear my prettyful dress, and he'll still wear whatever spiffy thing he wants to wear. We'll still get hitched and have our closest family and friends there to celebrate with us. And, in the end, the result is the same. We'll be married and finally able to be together without being miles and miles apart.

To go along with the wedding talk I have going on here, we decided on our rings. He did pick the beveled edge ring that I was hoping he'd pick.


I on the other hand went in a different direction with mine. TitaniumKnights started making a new style and I fell in love. I want it wider then the one pictured, which they have no problem doing. Huzzah! Without further ado, here it is.


That's all I have wedding related for now. Now, I'm off to revise the lists of things to do.

Books, Books, Books, Gotta Love 'Em

I admit it. I am a huge book nerd. I love to devour a good book. In the little bit of time since 2010 started, I've read 6 books. I started book #7 about a week ago. Lucifer's Hammer by Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle.

Lucifer's Hammer was first published in 1977. Oh yeah, it's an old one. It's categorized under post-apocalyptic science fiction and got a nod for the Hugo Award for Best Novel in 1978.

A mix of an Earth devastating comet, Russian and American astronauts, and a battle for the future after the fall of civilization is what currently has me enthralled. The first few chapters were a little slow, but one I got through those it started turning into a whirlwind of events and exciting happenings.

This should be a good one, and I can't wait to get to the last page.

Have you read Lucifer's Hammer? What did you think of it? What are some of your post-apocalyptic or sci-fi novels? Leave a comment and let me know!

Follow the book cover to Amazon to check it out and get your own copy.

Since It Is Now February...

I'm going to do a Valentine's post. A post about why I hate Valentine's Day. It's not because I am a single gal. No, really I'm very happily engaged if you haven't noticed the wedding posts. It's not that I don't like flowers. You're talking to a Horticulture student here; I just so happen to adore flowers. And, don't get me wrong, I love me some chocolate. I just really hate Valentine's Day.

I get that it's supposed to be that one day that you are supposed to buy chocolates, and jewelry, and what-have-you for your significant other. Which really means the guy has to put on a show for his gal. What I don't get is why can't you do that any other day and have it mean much more than if you did it on this "Hallmark Holiday". Really, Valentine's Day is a made up holiday for the greeting card companies to make money by guilting you into spending loads of money on this one day or else you... *gasp* ...don't really care about your honey.

I say pish posh. I'd rather have flowers for no reason at all than flowers, candy, hideous stuffed teddy bears for a silly holiday that commands a performance. I'd rather give a gift out of love on any day than some silly notion that I need to spend tons of money on this one stupid day.

Screw you, Cupid!

I Need Some Help

I'd like to come up with a name for the weekly plant posts I've just decided to do. The first thing that comes to mind for me is Plant of the Week: [insert plant name]. How does that sound? If you don't like it, what's your suggestion?

Thanks and I'll quite being a post whore for the day.

I Get Super Exicted About Plants

I got my hands on a cutting of one that I didn't have before. It's common name around here is the purple passion plant, botanical name is Gynura aurantiaca. And, boy is it interesting. Here's a picture of what it looks like.

Awesome isn't it? In this area, it is a houseplant. It can't survive our winters outside. But, where I'm moving in about a year and a half, it's an outside plant. I.am.so.excited.

It's a vine in the Asteraceae family. The same family that asters, sunflowers, coneflowers, daisies, zinnias, and marigolds belong to. This plant will bloom late spring to early summer with orange blooms but they have a pretty rancid odor. To prevent this odor, just pull off the flower buds as you see them come up. It's not grown for its blooms anyhow. It's grown for the awesome purple fuzzy on the leaves and stems.

Propagation is super easy, too. Just nick a piece about 6" long and bury the stem lightly under potting soil with the leaves sticking out and voila! a new plant. It's not so hard to care for either. So, even those with a black thumb can keep one of these. It doesn't like to get dry, so just keep the soil moist. If you're in Zones 9-12 you can keep it outside in a part shade area. Inside it should go in a North facing window to get filtered sunlight. If this lovely plant is kept moist and in filtered light it will be very happy and grow and grow and grow. If the tendrils start getting too long for your liking, snap it off and make a new plant. You can always share the love of plants with someone else.

Other common names include: purple velvet plant, royal purple plant, velvet plant, purple passion vine, and purple nettle.

I think this will be the start of a weekly plant post. I am a Horticulture major and plants are something I love. So, I'll take my own advice and spread the love.

Next week: Plant Hardiness Zones

What Would You Do?

With a million dollars. On this million dollars, you have already paid all taxes and what's left is straight up one million dollars.

What I would do:
1) Pay off school loans.
2) Help my dear brother start up a landscaping business.
3) Give my mom some.
4) Completely pay for the wedding.
5) Put a hell of a lot of it in savings.
6) Take a nice long country-hopping trip after graduation and the wedding just to have some fun.
7) Donate to a charity... or five.

I mention nothing of buying a house because of the fact that I will be moving frequently enough that I won't be in the same place for more than a few years. House... maybe later. When it comes to cars, I rather like T's Mazda 6. So, really I'd take that and tell him to go car shopping for himself. If he got his dream car, that means I get to drive it, too. I would not quit working. I'm not the type of person that would be happy being a stay at home wife. Though, it would be nice to have the security that I could if I so chose.

So, what would YOU do with it?