Hi there to all my gardening buddies! I trust you survived the winter OK. Speaking of winter, I'm sure you heard what our groundhog friend, Punxutawney Phil had to say on Feb. 2. Since he did NOT see his shadow, that means an early spring. What a treat that would be, especially after last year, when spring refused to arrive. It didn't warm up here until the middle of June. Folks replanted their gardens over and over as the seeds just kept rotting from the cold wet ground.

There's not a whole lot we can do this early as far as starting seeds. If we get a warm spell, we can go out and cut back the perennials and generally clean up the yard. The garden spot will have to wait until the soil dries out enough to do any digging or plowing. If you've ever done this chore when the garden was still wet, you no doubt remember the result. And it wasn't good.

There are some spring flowers to be seen if you look right now. Probably not in your yard, but in the stores. Lots of them have primrose plants on display now. These are perennials, so go ahead and buy some. Keep them in the sunniest window you have... south facing is best. On days where the temps are around 40, go ahead and put them outside for a couple of hours. Be sure to bring them back in before evening as these plants are used to warm greenhouses. Once spring comes, plant them outdoors in a spot with morning sun. They will quickly acclimate and may bloom again later in the summer and for many years to come.

Blooming tulips, daffodils and hyacinths are also showing up in stores. You can treat these the same way, but being bulbs, they've used up a lot of energy in flowering. It may take a couple of years before these rebloom for you.

Your houseplants should start responding to the longer days soon if not already. If you grow African violets, they appreciate being repotted about now. Most can go back into the same size pot with fresh potting soil. They need crowded roots in order to bloom. Give them some diluted fertilizer once a week and you should see buds before long. They do best in south or east facing windows, behind sheer curtains. Too much direct sun will scorch their leaves.

If you are saving an amaryllis, give it strong light and fertilizer every other week. These can be put outside from early June until September. Other houseplants can benefit from being repotted now too. This is one way to get your "hands in the dirt" without going outside where it's still chilly.

If you want to order some seeds from one of the many mail order catalogs, don't wait too long as they might run out of what you want. Those catalogs have many varieties you'll never find as started plants in the greenhouses. Try something new this year.

If you enjoy having birds nest in your yard, you need to go and clean out your birdhouses. Most birds won't use one that has an old nest inside. It's fun to put out a basket containing various kinds of feathers and fur to use in their nests. The birds will appreciate the help and you'll get a kick out of seeing Fido's fur surrounding a clutch of tiny eggs.

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.

from C6

some seeds from one of the many mail order catalogs, don't wait too long as they might run out of what you want. Those catalogs have many varieties you'll never find as started plants in the greenhouses. Try something new this year.

If you enjoy having birds nest in your yard, you need to go and clean out your birdhouses. Most birds won't use one that has an old nest inside. It's fun to put out a basket containing various kinds of feathers and fur to use in their nests. The birds will appreciate the help and you'll get a kick out of seeing Fido's fur surrounding a clutch of tiny eggs.

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.