Feed your plants Meatloaf and they'll thrive, according to a University of Sussexstudy. British botanist Dr. Peter Scott says the plants he worked with showed a particular fondness forMeatloaf's hit "Bat Out of Hell." Wallflower seeds, for instance,sprouted fully two days earlier than they did in silence.
Dr.Scott says his work centered on 10 plant species, including busylizzies, carrots, cress, maize, basil and tobacco. They responded bestto Meatloaf's melodies as well as actor Kenneth Branagh reading Hamlet-- although they didn't care much for Russian classics.
To gear up for getting down and dirty, plan your planting with help from the National Gardening Association, one of the authoritative Web links to use when planning and planting. The site has tips on how to start things indoors if the weather fails to cooperate with the calendar.
For suggestions on the growing season -- and to help keep your lawn mower in shape, John Deere has a catalog of lawn and garden accessories -- and advice on how you can finance a new machine, if you're interested.
