Can't Afford Plants? Train Your Pet to Steal Them.

Viewers of The Colbert Report are familiar with his frequent "Monkey on the Lam" spots, featuring real stories of escaped monkeys and their adventures.

Well, here's the tale of a Monkey on the Take. He's been caught on tape robbing a local Dallas plant store.

WFAA.com: Police believe monkey used to steal from business

Considering how much I spend on plants each year, maybe I should trade in my labrador and tortoise for a gibbon...?

Creaky Knees? Aching Back?

You're not aging...you're gardening!

Apparently gardening isn't just really physically good for you - it will extend your life too.

Please tell that to my body after a marathon weeding and raking session.

Plants Are Smarter Than We Are

Calgary man gets a year for growing opium poppies

I just ordered some seeds of Papaver Somniferum, but not for umm...."high tea" purposes. I just think they're pretty, and a big challenge to grow here in Texas.

Stressed Plants Release Aspirin-like Chemical

"Fascinating," as Mr. Spock would say. I especially love the part about plants communicating with each other.

Gustav On the Way

It's inevitable that DFW will see some much-needed rain from Hurricane Gustav in a couple of days. As I write this, my beloved New Orleans seems to be hanging in there, and that's great news.

Speaking of weather, I really wonder what kind of winter we're going to have here in North Central Texas. One Farmer's Almanac is predicting slightly colder and drier than usual, while NOAA says the opposite.

All I know is, a red-bellied woodpecker and a pair of chickadees have already shown up at my bird feeders.

Lamenting the First Generation of Indoor Children

This is just sad. And I think it's safe to assume there's a link between the facts in this story and the rising statistics of child obesity...

Getting Lost in the Great Outdoors
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