Those days of 70 degrees were wonderful, but we knew it couldn't last ... and it didn't. Soon we were back to cool, wet weather. With any luck, the snow won't be back. Next December is soon enough.

The birds began to return to our area just before Easter. So far, I've seen lots of tree swallows, pine siskins, nuthatches, mourning doves, and Cassin's finches. Then, of course, the yard has been hopping with robins.

Some of these birds stake out their nesting sites early. The tree swallows have been busy looking in their usual birdhouse. I got it cleaned out just in the nick of time. If the old nest is still in it, they will go elsewhere.

The usual date for the hummingbirds to return is April 15, so if you haven't already done so, get those feeders filled with sugar water and hung up. The little guys will be so thankful as they've just had a very long flight.

It's time to get that lawn whipped into shape. Most of them need the thatch raked out. Next, run a core aerator over it. That will leave some nice holes for oxygen, fertilizer and water. Leave the little cores on the grass. They'll disintegrate quickly.

Finally, spread granulated lawn fertilizer. Avoid the "weed and feed" type as it will kill your other plants, whether they're good perennials or bad weeds.

That spell of warm weather fooled the plants into coming out of dormancy. All my clematis vines were leafing out by the first of April. As you probably know, there are three groups of clematis. Each one has its own pruning requirements. If you're not sure which type you have, keep track of when it blooms this year. If it blooms early, do not prune until right after it finishes. Just trim out the dead stuff. It if blooms in mid-summer, prune it down to about 18 inches now, keeping 2 sets of leaf buds.

If your dahlias are getting too tall in the house, like mine, don't be afraid to nip out the growing tip. That will slow down the growth and make them bush out.

Go ahead and soak those sweet peas and get them going. Sprinkle seeds you collected last summer where you want them to grow. These include annual poppies, larkspur and dahlberg daisies.

If you need a good laugh, join us at the April garden club meeting on the 17th. We meet at 6:30 p.m. at the Post Falls Sr. Center. The laughs ... and I guarantee lots of them, will be provided by our speaker, the host of the Lawn and Garden show, Phyllis Stephens.

Arbor Day is almost here, April 26. Be thinking about where you'd like to add a tree or two, then scout the local nurseries to see what they have that will fit the bill.

Now that hibernation is over, get out there and start plowing and planting!

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 currently secretary for the River City Gardeners Club in Post Falls.