To have 90-degree-plus temperatures here in early June is just about unheard of in our neck of the woods. It felt more like July than June. Did we lose a month somehow? After surviving that nasty early heatwave, maybe we can get back to enjoying spring. (Oops, I mean summer, as it starts today.)

The huge pine trees have "blessed" us with the annual pollen drop followed by the annual catkin drop. One mess after another. Good thing we love those trees!

Now that I'm done whining, let's talk about growing things. For instance, hot peppers can be grown here. The secret is not to over water them. Keeping them on the dry side will make them hot. One of the best varieties for this area is called Cougar Red.

Most of you know that there are two types of tomato plants: determinate and indeterminate. If you want nice short plants which produce most of their tomatoes in a brief span of time, determinate is the one for you.

On the other hand, if you want tomatoes to continue to set on and ripen until frost, the indeterminate type does this. Indeterminate ones have vines that will grow, producing fruit, until killed by frost. This type can easily reach 6 or 7 feet tall.

It's a very good idea to spot treat a problem in your lawn whether it is type of weed or a bug. Spraying the entire lawn in order to kill a pest will also kill off all the "good" bugs. There are many beneficial ones plus those we just enjoy seeing such as butterflies.

Many of our spring blooming perennials did their thing a month earlier than normal this year. The irises were gorgeous, as always. Once irises have finished blooming, cut down only the bloom stalks, leaving all the green foliage possible. These plants will rest for about a month and then begin new growth. That is also the time they would appreciate some fertilizer.

Other perennials that have come and gone include peonies, lupines and early flowering clematis vines. Peonies need the dead flowers cut off, including the base of each to prevent them from wasting energy producing seed pods. Watch for powdery mildew on the lupines and wilt on the clematis. Spray for the mildew and cut to the ground any limp clematis vines.

Roses popped into bloom in early June. Unfortunately, in our area, a large percentage of these aren't what the homeowner planted. When the grafted top part of a rose bush dies, what usually comes up from then on, is from a hardy root stock called Dr. Huey. These will produce a flush of small dark red blossoms no matter what color the original rose color was. Dr. Huey is actually a climber type root stock, so these plants will get tall and gangly. If that's what you want, provide a support and enjoy their one flowering spurt. Your original rose will never return.

If not, yank them out and buy a new bush, preferably one grown on its own roots.

To clear up some confusion about dogwood trees, remember that we have two different types growing here. One, called Cornus Florida, blooms in May. The other is Cornus Kousa and blooms in June. They both come in pink or white, but on close inspection, the flowers are different.

My favorite sign for a cozy back yard retreat goes like this: "Danger, entering a stress-free zone."

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.