I hate to say it, but we've come to the end of another garden season here in North Idaho. The good news was that we had a nice spring ... unlike the previous two which stretched cold and wet all through June. The bad news was that we didn't get quite as much nice fall weather this time. Instead, it turned cold and wet for much of it, then frosted here and there before getting nice again. Just like farmers, we always hope next year will be better.

A lot of us are busy doing fall chores. I've dug out all the glad bulbs and am waiting for a hard freeze to finish off the dahlias, then they can come out too.

The green tomatoes are busy turning ripe indoors. It doesn't take them long as our houses are warm and that's what is needed. If you planted late season cool veggies, such as lettuce and spinach, you can continue picking them until a hard freeze finishes them off.

It's not too late to plant trees as long as they've been growing in containers. Then be sure to water them well as going into the winter too dry can kill even large established trees. Carefully consider your tree choice before planting as the major reason for trees to be cut down is that someone has planted the wrong tree in the wrong place. Another thing to keep in mind is that deciduous trees grow three times faster than evergreens.

Keep in mind as you clean up your yard for winter that most perennials survive winter best if you do not cut them down in the fall. Leave the foliage to die down over the roots. This will help to keep the plants from drying out. Hosta growers tell us that the same advice applies to them. Next spring, you'll easily be able to rake off their dead leaves. Do this before the plants leaf out to avoid damaging those nice big leaves.

Once the ground has frozen a bit, add mulch around your plants. Pine needles work well as they don't pack down. The exception to this rule is the iris. These plants do not want anything covering their crown as that can cause them to rot. The leaves can be trimmed down to about four inches. That's all they require.

Remember that we mulch perennials to keep the soil at the same temperature all winter ... we don't do it to keep them "warm." Repeated freezing and thawing is what we are trying to avoid.

As you bring in houseplants that have summered outdoors, be sure to wash them off, then keep them apart from your other plants for a couple of weeks. This will give you time to see if they are harboring things like spider mites or white flies.

Spray if necessary. If the infestation is bad, tossing the plant out may be necessary.

Some of us gardeners suffer a type of withdrawal if we don't have something green and growing nearby, year-round. That explains the popularity of houseplants. Nothing will perk you up on a cold snowy day better than an African violet or streptocarpus with a head full of blossoms. Both are easy to grow.

Because we live so far to the north, our winter sun is quite mild. You are safe to leave your normal shade lovers sitting in a south window from late October until early March. Other times, a sheer curtain will work.

This is my last garden column for this year. I've enjoyed the past six seasons of column writing and look forward to returning early next spring.

I will leave you with this thought ... something I saw the other day that made me laugh. Autumn leaves are a lot like raising children. First they turn on you, then they fly away. The next thing you know, you look out the window and they're back!

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.