I've been working on this series for a while now and (finally) the text is done. I still have to add photos, of course, but if you have any interest in growing begonias, check out the Begonia Series. And if you don't have interest in growing begonias, you probably should.

• Introduction to Begonias
• Tips for Great Begonias
• Growing Angel Wing Begonias
• Growing Rex Begonias
• Rieger Begonias
• Growing Wax Begonias Inside

I love to grow seedlings ... no matter how many times I've done it before, I still feel like I'm somehow ripping off the system when I turn a bag of tiny seedlings into beds and containers of vigorous healthy plants. It's just amazing. I just started a new group of seedlings, and this time I'm trying something new: I'm using the AeroGrow seedling starter kit, instead of my traditional method of shop lights and Jiffy pots. So far, a week into the experiment, it seems to be going well, but I'm a little worried they are stretching. The lights on the AeroGrow unit are a good 9 inches above the growing tray, which is a bit farther than I usually allow. But for now, I'm trusting the people at AeroGrow and keeping my fingers crossed that the tiny little seedlings will develop into mature plants.

Not too long ago, I found myself in a classroom with an instructor who announced, "Oh, and by the way, there's no such thing a thrip. Ever. It's always thrips. So you have one thrips or a million thrips. Thrips. Thrips. Thirps. Got it?" Yes, I got it. Anyway, whatever you call the little buggers, you don't want them, because thrips are annoying and awful and destroyed a lovely hot pepper plant of mine last year.

Here's one funny side effect of the storm that wasn't: just before the storm, my wife moved our dish garden of succulents outside. Now, I know what your thinking: but succulents don't like water, right? Ex-act-ly. When I went outside after the storm passed, I found a swampy bowl full of succulents and cacti. The weird thing? So far, they look fine. Strange, right?