This sure has been a crazy summer, hasn't it? Usually we get ONE 90 degree day in all of September. I've lost count how many we've had this month, but its been a lot more than that. Our weather has been a month to six weeks behind since spring, so does this mean we won't have a killing frost until late November? If only.

Be sure to fertilize your lawn for the last time this month. None for anything else though, such as trees and perennials. They need to start getting ready for that word I just can't bring myself to say ... you know, the one that starts with "W".

The stores are full of pansies, mums and asters right now. Go ahead and put some in. The pansies and asters are tough and will bloom again next year. The mums are kind of iffy here. Those planted earlier in the summer often make it through, but don't count on the fall planted ones to survive. Some will and some won't.

Other plants to enjoy this fall are flowering cabbage and flowering kale. These come in gorgeous shades of pink and green with white accents and look like huge roses. Best if all, they can take a lot of cold before succumbing.

If you've bought your spring flowering bulbs, get them into the ground now. Don't leave them sitting in their packages for weeks or months. Too often they get forgotten and then are discovered next May. Too late. They all need many weeks of COLD (in the ground) in order to bloom.

Some things to remember when you do plant those spring flowering bulbs are:

1. Don't plant them in one long row. They look much better in groups of 3 to 5.

2. They all need good drainage. Don't plant them in low spots.

3. Choose a place that gets full sun if at all possible.

4. You don't need to fertilize new bulbs. These are all ready to bloom for you.

5. Save a few hyacinth bulbs to "force" in the house.

The most sensitive bulbs of all are the lilies. These never really go dormant like the tulips, etc. Check them closely in the store before purchase. Too often they've been sitting there a long time, and are either shriveled or rotted. If so, pass them up.

Right now is also a good time to move or add new perennials. If it stays hot, you may need to shade them for a few days. It's also a great time to plant trees. These will be off to a good start and many are on sale this month.

Speaking of trees, if you haven't gotten around to doing that pruning, do it soon. According to the experts, trees can be pruned any time - as long as they are not either putting ON leaves or LOSING them. Remember the Golden Rule of pruning: Never remove more than a third of the plant at one time.

As the nights get cooler, don't forget about those houseplants you've been summering outdoors. Most of them freeze easily, so if the predicted overnight temperature is to get down under 45, bring them inside. Be sure to wash them off. Its a good idea to keep them isolated from your other plants for a couple of weeks. By then, any bugs you missed will have shown up.

I hope you have birds visiting your feeders these days. I'm getting a big kick out of a group of tiny Pygmy Nuthatches. These are the smallest of the nuthatch family and are very tame. I can stand within 3 feet of the feeder and they just keep on coming and eating - and eating. At the rate they're going through the black oil sunflower seeds, they must be stashing most of them someplace. But that's okay with me as long as they keep coming.

I don't know about you, but I spend a lot of hours working in my garden. Even though it is work, it is somehow relaxing and any worries just seem to melt away. It's like I always say, "Its cheaper than a shrink."

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.