Persian Shield is an apt name for this iridescent leaved tropical plant. Although it is only hardy in USDA Zones 9 and above, it is so easy to grow as an annual or houseplant, that everyone should give it a try. It's a real eye-catcher and makes a nice accent in the border and a thriller in a container. One of the best features of Strobilanthes is that it loves heat and humidity. It will thrive while you are searching for shade. You have to love a plant that seeks out humid conditions without having all kinds of mildew problems. While we all wait for this endless winter to wind down, you might want to get a Persian Shield plant or two and start making cuttings to brighten up and fill your containers this summer.

Photo: © Marie Iannotti

Congratulations to Rebecca Huss, for her winning photo of Snowdrops! (Final voting results.)

Thank you to everyone who submitted photos and to all of you who voted. Now it's time to start thinking about 2011. The February / March 2011 Photo Challenge theme is House Plants. So whether you have ferns and Philodendron on the shelves, basil and mint on the windowsill or a giant palm in the living room, it's a houseplant and we'd love to see your photos. Start posting here.

For those of you thinking, I can't grow plants indoors (Scottyblue, are you listening?) here's a list of  The 7 Best Houseplants for Beginners, from Jon VanZile, our Guide to Houseplants.

Photo: Rebeca Huss

How could Punxsutawney Phil possibly see his shadow today? I would not have blamed him if he refused to come outside at all. But apparently Phil is a hardy little creature. He did venture out and he stayed out. No shadow, so... the remainder of winter will get milder.

OK, maybe it's just folklore, but couldn't we all use a little good weather news about now? Plus, fellow woodchuck weather prognosticators Staten Island Chuck and Nova Scotia's Shubenacadie Sam agree with Phil. Way to go, guys.

Most people take this ritual for the show that it is, however there is a lot of truth in animals and plants being able to give us signs of the weather to come.  There's a science called phenology and it has to do with the timing of recurring biological phenomena and their relationship to the weather. I like it because it tells you when it's safe to plant. For instance, you can put your tomato plants out when lily-of-the-valley are in full bloom. These are the phenology clues I've compiled so far. If you have more to share, let's start listing them here.

Photo: © Alan Freed/PunxsutawneyPhil.com, Inc. Used with Permission.

It's always puzzling how fast insects can find their way to indoor plants, as soon as the windows close. Fungus gnats just seem to appear out of nowhere and begin destroying our otherwise happy, healthy plants and seedlings. They're those tiny black flying insects that disperse in a cloud when you touch your plant.

They may have hitched a free ride indoors on our potting soil, but we don't have to make them feel welcome. There are safe and effective means of controlling this annoying garden pest and I outline some in Fungus Gnat Control, but a couple of ingenious Forum members wrote in with their unusual controls which I had not heard of before - but fully intend to try.  I've been getting a lot of emails about fungus gnats recently, so if you have any control suggestions to add, they would certainly be welcome.

Photo: © Marie Iannotti