For many of us, Cupid doesn't fly in on a conveniently early date to remind us to buy our roses for Valentine's Day. In fact, the chubby cherub is more likely to sneak in at the last moment and shoot us in the back with one of those mischievous arrows. Not only that, but for all his alleged acumen in the art of love, Cupid will be of no use to you in selecting the right roses for the occasion. For that, you'll have to conduct a little research into rose color meanings.

Discover how to send the right message to recipients of your floral gift by following a time-honored formula that spells out the meanings of roses based on their color. Armed with this knowledge, you'll be able to put even ol' Cupid to shame in the matter of the art of love (well, on Valentine's Day, at least).

The formula derives from the Victorian era, as Catherine Herbert Howell explains in Flora Mirabilis. If you know the formula, a rose becomes more than just a thoughtful gift: it becomes a carefully crafted message.

And beware of sending the wrong message with Valentine roses: the recipient may know more about the meanings of flowers than you ever imagined. That friend of the opposite sex whom you wish merely to cheer up on February 14th may take a red rose the wrong way!

Read article: Meanings of Rose Colors

Not to stir up trouble, but...: Do you have landscaping issues with your spouse?

Most people who garden deal with more than just the plant kingdom in their landscapes. The animal kingdom, too makes its presence felt in the garden. Sometimes, that's a good thing (actually indispensable, in some cases); other times, not so much.

Consider the fact that we rely on bees for pollination. And while casual gardeners may take bees for granted, they sometimes go out of their way to attract wild birds to the yard, in hopes of catching glimpses of a colorful favorite. For example, many a shrub or tree has been planted with the idea of attracting this or that bird with its berries.

Of course, it's not all fun and games when the two kingdoms collide. We go to great trouble to keep pests out of the landscape, minimize the havoc they wreak, or address infestations after the fact. But the same critter can be viewed as a blessing or curse, depending on whom you ask and when. Bird watching enthusiasts may love to gaze at birds grazing at the feeder, but a gardener with a prized apple tree may take a dim view of birds swooping in and putting holes in the ripening apples! We may love them, but we cannot always exempt birds from our pest-control agenda.

Similarly, having pets in the yard can be a double-edge sword. On the minus side, large dogs can quickly make a muddy mess of a lawn. On the positive side, I get a kick out of watching a cat respond to contact with Nepeta. But when you hear Nepeta, do not think only of "catnip." There are many different kinds of catmint used for ornamental purposes in landscaping. Six Hills Giant Catmint is one of them; another is the ever-so-cute Little Titch. Click the links below to learn more about these superior edging plants.

Read article: Six Hills Giant Catmint

Read article: Little Titch Catmint

Put in your 2 cents: Do You Avoid Plastic Edging Like the Plague?

Bestow Your Wisdom on Us: How Do You Beat the Winter Blues?

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Punxsutawney Phil has delivered his prognostication, so now we can turn our thoughts to spring. Not that I'm ever concerned about the clairvoyant critter's actual prediction. But if winter has a "hump day," it's February 2 -- the calendrical midpoint of Old Man Winter's icy reign.

So with Groundhog Day in the rear-view mirror, it's time to start thinking "spring." And what better plant to kick off such musings with than the Easter lily?

Not that Lilium longiflorum has always been a symbol of the upcoming season. Heck, not that long ago, it wasn't even called the "Easter lily." As the University of Vermont Extension points out, the plant was initially called the "Bermuda lily." Why? Discovered in Japan's Ryukyu Islands by one of Europe's famous plant explorers in the late 18th century, it made its way to England by the early 19th century and, from there, to the British colony of Bermuda. The weather in Bermuda suited the plant, and commercial production began; that production ceased due to a virus, but the name stuck.

When you receive an Easter lily as a gift, do you ponder the possibility of planting it outside later? Or maybe you've already tried planting Easter lilies outdoors but have been displeased with the results? Either way, I think you'll find this article helpful. Learn about the growing conditions that Easter lilies prefer, as well as some of the challenges to be aware of.

Read article: Planting Easter Lilies

Put in your 2 cents: What Are Your Favorite Plants for March?

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Who is Punxsutawney Phil? And why do we ask whether he saw his shadow? For those who have never watched the movie, Groundhog Day, Punxsutawney Phil is the name of the famous groundhog in Punxsutawney, PA who annually predicts when spring will come based on whether he sees his shadow on February 2.

This morning, February 2, 2012, Punxsutawney Phil did see his shadow when he came out of his burrow for breakfast. Of course, what that really means is that his handlers, in their infinite wisdom, decided, for whatever mysterious reasons, that this would be a "shadow year."

But for me, there are two entirely separate aspects to Groundhog Day. We might term these two aspects the entertainment side and the psychological side. The festivities at Gobbler's Knob in Punxsutawney, where we learn whether or not Phil saw his shadow, is the entertainment side. I'm much more interested in the psychological aspect of Groundhog Day. Falling as it does half-way between the winter solstice and spring equinox, Groundhog Day's true significance has nothing to do with Phil's shadowy antics. In acknowledging that we've reached winter's midpoint on February 2, we can permit ourselves a deep breath, confident that, regardless of Phil's prediction, spring is now in sight.

Read article: Groundhog Day

Let us know your view: Groundhog Day -- Hope or Hooey?