Have you ever had someone say to you that they can't grow anything because they don't have a green thumb? I guess they think that its something you're born with. Not. As all you longtime gardeners know, a green thumb has to be earned. We can acquire one only by learning what each plant needs and providing it. As for me, I think I earned mine by the "school of hard knocks." Having killed my share along the way, especially in the early years.

As for the weather, don't you feel kind of like a yo-yo? One day it's 65, the next day its 85 or vice versa. Plants must be tough to grow under such conditions. We had that record long cold spring and suddenly its summer but we wouldn't dare complain.

Have your roses opened their first blossoms? Hopefully, they look like they should. After our cold winter, lots of roses had their tops killed. If they are the grafted type, the top part is what you bought. If it is dead, anything still alive under that graft will produce something completely different. Usually small dark red flowers on long stems. This is Dr. Huey, the common root stock used by rose growers as it is very hardy. This is actually a climber and only blooms once, not off and on all summer the way most of us prefer.

Unless you really like those "new" flowers, the best thing to do is to pull up the plant and toss it. Your beloved hybrid rose will never return. For our area, the best roses to grow are those grown on their own roots; no grafts involved. If the top should winter kill, no problem. The new growth from the roots will be the same as the top was. Another option is miniature roses. These all grow on their own roots, which makes them very hardy.

Several people have asked lately why their peonies didn't bloom this year. After a few questions, the reason usually comes to light. Often the plant was moved in the past year. They do not like that! Peonies can live for 50 years or more in one spot and bloom every spring. Once moved, they sulk for a year, sometimes more. Another thing to cause no bloom is if the peony has been planted too deep. Two inches of soil over the "eyes" at the top of their roots is the limit. Nearby lawn fertilizer can also be the culprit. Not just in peonies either. Many shrubs, trees and flowers will react to the large amount of nitrogen by growing gorgeous leaves and nothing else.

Now that we're getting some very warm days, be diligent about changing the solution in your hummingbird feeders. It can go rancid very quickly. If you have hummingbird magnets, (those plants they like) in your yard, the hummers are much more likely to visit. Some of the best ones are bee balm, phlox, lupine, red hot poker, hollyhock, columbine, coral bells, foxglove, salvia and butterfly bush. For vines, try honeysuckle, cardinal vine and trumpet vine.

Clematis vines were another big winter casualty. I lost two of my favorites, but was so glad I hadn't dug them out as one finally sent up some new growth. I'm digging out my older type mophead hydrangeas as they froze to the ground again which means no blooms this year. Decided to switch to the newer type such as "Endless Summer" which bloom on new wood. They are much better suited to our area. The one I planted two years ago is full of buds and looking good.

Getting back to the green thumbs topic, I want to say that I don't have any, not a one. All 10 of my fingers are usually brown from digging in the dirt and loving it!

Elaine Cerny has gardened most of her life, starting in 4-H. Since then, she has always kept a garden of some sort, growing everything from fruits and vegetables to flowers and house plants. She has belonged to garden clubs in three states and is an active member of the River City Gardeners Club in Post Falls.