So far, so good, (meaning no frosts). Of course, I'm writing this far ahead of publication, so yards may be full of black plants by the time this sees print.

We have enjoyed another nice and mostly warm fall. The foliage has been a joy to behold with all the autumn colors showing up. I hope you have all those fall chores finished. I think I'm done ... until something else pops up its ugly head.

I recently brought the houseplants back indoors. The holiday cactus plants are loaded with little round buds. Those flowers will be a feast for the eyes during the dreary winter days. Other flowering plants to enjoy include the cape primrose, (aka streptocarpus), oxalis and the ever-popular African violets.

Remember, the No. 1 cause of dead houseplants is over-watering. No plant likes to be sopping wet all the time ... even ferns. They all need oxygen around their roots and constant watering doesn't allow that. A good rule of thumb is to go by the thickness of the leaves. If a plant has thick leaves, it needs less water than a plant with thin leaves.

Lots of gardeners have geraniums that they want to save over winter. There are different ways to do this. Try them to see what works for you.

No. 1.

* Dig up the plant, including the roots.

* Pot it up, trimming the stems back to 4 to 6 inches.

* Spray off the foliage as you don't want to bring in "critters."

* Water well and place in your sunniest window.

* Dig up the plant, shake off most of the soil.

* Place the plant, upside down, in a cardboard box or heavy paper bag.

* Close box and store in a cool, dark area for the winter.

* In early spring, trim branches back to green wood and pot the plant up.

* Place in a bright window. Growth should show before long.

Either way, plant outdoors in late May or early June.

A word of caution if you cut down perennials in the fall. This works well for most perennials, but there are at least two types which fare better if the tops are left intact. These include chrysanthemum and roses. Cut these back to live growth in April when new growth is visible.

Now that the hummingbirds have deserted us for warmer climates, be on the lookout for other birds to enjoy watching. Some of my favorites are the northern flickers. They are members of the woodpecker family and can sometimes be seen on the ground eating ants. At this time of the year, they will gorge on Virginia creeper berries. These vines love to climb the trunks of tall pine trees and they produce gorgeous fall color.

Be sure to take cuttings of any favorite coleus plants before they freeze. These plants will not survive outdoors in our area no matter what you do so don't even try it. Just plunk those cuttings into a glass of water and they'll be rooted in no time. I keep a "start" of each of my favorites over winter and they provide nice color in the windows.

To ponder ... "Grandparents: So easy to operate, even a child can do it."

Hard as it is to believe, another growing season has come to a close. I've enjoyed writing for you these past seven years. Stay warm and see you in the spring!

Elaine Cerny has gardened most of her life, starting in 4-H. She has belonged to garden clubs in three states and is currently serving as secretary for the River City Gardeners Club in Post Falls. Her column appears in The Press every other Sunday from early March until late October.