With 56.4 percent of the vote and chosen by you, the winner of the Fiskars Momentum reel mower is No. 64, J.P. Here is J.P.'s winning answer: I am organizing for my farmers market to get a wireless EBT (food stamp) machine for our vendors, through the USDA. We are rural county (Grand Isle, VT) without a full service grocery store. Now people won’t have to drive 45 minutes or more to buy good food. Hopefully this will alleviate a lot of unnecessary driving, and keep some more money at home. FYI, I have a lawn and really want a manual mower – I would love the quiet and the exercise. I've notified J.P. by email, and will ask Fiskars to send the lawnmower forthwith. Thanks to everyone for playing.

Well, most of the snow melted in yesterday's rain, but more ice and snow are predicted for Sunday and again next week.  I'm beginning to understand why northern gardeners go stir crazy in winter. However, as Cindy From My Corner of Katy (near Houston), wrote, "One step closer to spring, sweet Jesus." Isn't that what we're all thinking on this sixth day of February? January is gone, and twenty-two more days of February, all gray and foggy, loom ahead, but onward and upward we march. Instead of more obsessing on the weather, let's talk instead of terrariums.  You read me right.  Terrariums. Doesn't the word just take you back to the 1970s, elephant bells, and macrame?  Well, my friends, terrariums have grown out of their pimply teenage phase and moved on to a beautiful indoor elegance.  Tovah Martin, author of many books, including Tasha Tudor's Garden, is coming to speak in...

First let me say, "WOW!!!"  One hundred twenty-one comments! Thanks, too, for the tweets.  Y'all outdid yourselves.  NGBF (Non-gardening Best Friend), Aimee, and I found it hard-scrabble plowing to narrow the playing field to three potential winners.  Therefore, we also chose three Honorable Mentions.  You are all so brilliant, and you inspired me with your stories of saving the planet bit by bit.  After much cussing (not really) and discussing, we came up with the following: First, for the Honorable Mentions: #31 Deborah R.  Backyard habitats are always near and dear to my heart, and I was impressed by your use of native grasses to stabilize a hillside.  Good job! #23 Jodi.  Paying it forward by teaching school children and their teachers how to grow gardens.  Your "Writers in the Schools" program made me think about going to my own school and giving a talk about sustainability, and what better...

Mr. McGregor's Daughter asked all of us to take a census of our houseplants.  Somehow, this census is supposed to save her relationship with all of her houseplants, or was that her husband?  I can't remember.  She said anything alive counts, so here goes: The above are barely living tulips.  Don't ask me why they look so bad.  I also have a very sad Norfolk pine which is hanging on, and being the merciful sort I am, I did not photograph it because it was too embarrassed.  Let's move on to the amaryllis (really Hippeastrum) which finally decided to bloom after Christmas.  I had plans for it with the jolly, red decor, but sometimes plants don't cooperate. The next picture is in here just because I love the vase which I purchased online.  I also have a blue one, but forgot to photograph it.   Antique stores are another great way...