At my parents house, we always buy a cut Christmas tree - specifically a Noble fir. At college, we scrounged up an artificial Christmas tree from Freecycle. Personally, I prefer the cut ones myself, but would also consider a living tree someday.

As I begin to work on new projects about Christmas trees (specifically, the first would compare these three choices, especially as far as the environmental impact goes), I thought I would take a poll to see what my readers preferred in their own homes. Tell me - do you prefer cut, artificial or living Christmas trees?

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Last week's tree was Aralia spinosa, as Nick and Suranna said. It has common names of Devil's Walkingstick, Hercules Club, Prickly Ash, and Prickly Elder. Great job!

You just get a short description this week. In my state lies what some consider to be the world's largest living organism. (always up for debate depending on how you are quantifying it and as new potentials are discovered). If you need a hint to be sure, check out my bio to see where I live. Tell me what it is and, for a bonus, the nickname that it has been given. Good luck!

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Years ago I read a book called The Botany of Desire, by Michael Pollan. It explored the idea that plants control us as much as we control them. He explained the history of four plants - the apple, tulip, marijuana, and the potato. I found it a fascinating read. I knew some of the general history of the apple and the potato, but I learned so much more of the details from this book.

A couple of weeks ago, I was checking the TV listings online. I saw that a program called "The Botany of Desire" would be shown that night. Since I was going to be busy when it was on, I scheduled for my DVR to record it. Unfortunately the disc messed up, so I was pleased to see that the program was later made available online.

I discovered today that it's no longer available on the site, but you can still watch some excerpts. These three pertain to apples :

• Apple Historical and Botanical Facts (Web Extra)
• How the Delicious Apple Got its Name
• Bringing Back Hard Cider

I would highly recommend buying or renting the documentary or the book (Compare Prices). Either will change the way you look at plants forever.

Did you watch "The Botany of Desire" on PBS? Have you read the book? What did you think?

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_{Image by Edward Gray, courtesy of PBS}

For the past 4 years the Christmas SPIRIT Foundation (set up by the National Christmas Tree Association) and FedEx have coordinated the Trees for Troops program. Christmas trees are purchased and sent to military families throughout the US and overseas.

They have teamed up again this year and I've learned about a great new way to support the cause - hold a TweetUp4Troops!

As the TweetUp4Troops group site explains, "A TweetUp was born from the idea that Trees for Troops could use Twitter to engage volunteers from across the country to raise money for Trees for Troops and have fun while they are doing it. Make sure you are following us at www.twitter.com/TweetUp4Troops and www.twitter.com/Trees4Troops. Retweet our posts and let your follower base know about TweetUp4Troops! This is the best way to make a TweetUp successful."

The TweetUps are being held in conjunction with Veteran's Day week (November 7-14th). Check the group to see if one is being held in your area. If not, you have a few days left still to organize your own TweetUp and help bring Christmas Trees to our troops!

Also, start thinking about December 4th-6th. That's when many retail Christmas tree farms and lots will give you the opportunity to purchase a tree for donation to the Trees for Troops program. Check this list to find a location in your area.

Be sure to let me know if you're holding a TweetUp4Troops!

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_{Image from the National Christmas Tree Association}

Unlike many of our fruits, which are now out of season or headed that way, pomegranate production is now in full swing. The season here in the Northern Hemisphere is August through February. Southern Hemisphere growers harvest from March to May.

As our Nutrition Guide Shereen points out, pomegranates are a great source of antioxidants. Studies have shown that they may prevent plaque in arteries, prostate cancer, improve the immune system and a host of other benefits.

You could celebrate National Pomegranate Month in warmer zones by planting your own shrub. Check out my pomegranate growing profile.

Pomegranate Recipes

• Persian Chicken With Pomegranates
• How to Peel, Seed & Juice Pomegranates
• Cucumber Pomegranate Salad
• Mulled Pomegranate Warmer Cocktail
• Spiced Apple Napoleans With Pomegranate Caramel Sauce
• Pomegranate Seeds Moroccan Style

How will you be celebrating National Pomegranate Month?

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_{Image by Brew Ha Ha via Flickr}

There was a bit of a hangup last week - the comments were closed for a while. Both @treeplanting and @nickromyn from Twitter alerted me to the fact - thanks and sorry about that! Treeplanting also told me the correct answer at the time.

Once comments were fixed, Patricia Hilty left the answer - Pachystachys lutea (also: Justicia lutea). Common names include golden shrimp plant, lollipop plant, and golden candle plant. Congrats to all!

Your clues for this week:

1. This small tree (or large shrub) belongs to the Araliaceae family.
2. The trunk and other parts of the tree are covered with sharp spines. One common name indicates this might be useful for strolling around the Underworld.
3. Another common name suggests this as a weapon for a mythological hero....or perhaps a lead character in an Agatha Christie novel.

Best of luck to everyone this week - thanks for playing!

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_{Image by (Bill and Mavis) - B&M Photography via Flickr.}

Isn't the bark of last week's tree gorgeous? I love all of the colors. Thanks to Leslie, Karen and Margaret, we know this is the Lacebark pine (Pinus bungeana).

Your clues for this week:

1. This tropical evergreen shrub is a member of the Acanthaceae family.
2. The common names refer to the plant as a yellow crustacean, a yellow source of light, and a candy.
3. There's at least a couple of scientific names that this plant goes by.

Good luck!

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_{Image by Joe Shlabotnik via Flickr.}

Leslie and Karen are just amazing. Once again they've figured out last week's shrub. It was Lespedeza thunbergii, Pink Bush Clover. Woo hoo!

Your clues for this week:

1. This tree is native to China and often seen around Buddhist temples.
2. It's an evergreen tree.
3. The most distinctive part about this tree is the colored peeling bark, unusual for the genus.
4. It's somewhere on my site already.

Good luck!

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_{Image by ragesoss via Flickr.}

Last week's tree was Argania spinosa, the Argan tree. Congrats to Leslie and Karen. As Karen mentioned, they've created a reserve where these trees can grow, protected from harvesting and climbing goats. They export the oil to help support it all. Such a neat tree.

Your clues for this week:

1. This shrub is a member of the Fabaceae (Legume) family.
2. Some classify it as a subshrub.
3. The common name will remind you of another member of the Fabaceae family, which is found in many lawns. I used to collect the flowers to make chains when I was a little girl.

Good luck!

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_{Image by peganum via Flickr.}

Backyard Wisdom, Leslie and Karen named last week's tree correctly - it's the white pine, Pinus strobus. It is the state "flower" of Maine, though it produces no true flowers.

I was watching Food Network last week - Iron Chef America, to be exact. They showed one of the chefs using an oil that I had never heard about before. The host helpfully explained that in a certain part of the world, goats climbed up this one tree to eat the fruit. They would spit out the pits on the ground. Locals would come and gather the pits, which were made into this special oil.

Name the tree this oil comes from.

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_{Image by dominikgolenia via Flickr}