Believe it or not, planting time is, at least partly, here. Late April is when we plant things like pansies, snapdragons and primroses. Note that these are all actually perennials. Very few, if any, annuals like cold soil and air temperatures.

You can see things like geraniums and marigolds being offered for sale in a lot of stores right now. Unless you really want the added chore of carting these outside every morning and back in the house every night ... wait. There will be plenty to choose from in mid-May. That's our average "safe" date to plant in this area.

For those of us who are just itching to plant things, there are plenty of others to buy and put in now, including trees, shrubs and perennials. Most all perennials can go in now. If you planted these in earlier years, a lot of them should already be in bloom. In my yard, I've been enjoying Lenten roses, pasque flowers, pulmonaria, primroses and bleeding hearts.

Other early bloomers come from bulbs, such as crocus, tulips, daffodils and hyacinths. These must all be planted in the fall.

If you have trouble keeping daffodils coming up and blooming from year to year, too much water during their dormant season is usually the problem. Daffodils require a dry area during their dormant season which stretches from the time their leaves turn brown until fall. If the soil is too damp, the bulbs will rot.

The flowering trees have been just spectacular this spring. Everywhere you look, you'll see a huge bouquet of blossoms. Most are pink, but there are white ones here and there. The weeping cherry trees are stunning, but my favorites are the purple leaf plum trees. Fabulous!

If you enjoy those large flowered dahlias and tuberous begonias, remember to get them potted up and started in the house. They need a good head start before they get planted outdoors the end of May or first of June. You will be glad you put in the extra effort.

With the mild winter and spring that we've had, everything seems to be happening earlier than usual. People are mowing their lawns which are also being core aerated. Fertilizers are being spread even though the soil may still be too cold for them to actually work. Patience is easier said than done.

Go ahead and prune your rose bushes if you haven't already done so. Remember that if the top of a grafted bush is dead, yank it out. The root stock may still be alive, but it will only produce small flowers which are not very attractive.

It's nice to see some of the hummingbirds' favorite flowers in bloom already. One of their favorites is the fern leafed bleeding heart. These are either a magenta or solid white.

There is nothing quite like seeing a hummer sitting at your feeder with a big grin on his face and a belly full of sugar water.

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.