Had enough of winter?

Here we go again. Time for us to start thinking about gardening. What do we want to grow? Where do we want to plant it? What do we want to move? All these are good questions and now is the best time to think about them.

If you keep a garden journal, it will come in handy as you consider these and other questions. Get those seeds ordered ASAP before they're gone. This is the only way you can be sure you'll be able to grow those hard-to-find varieties as they may not be available as started plants.

A lot of us received a flowering plant for Valentine's Day. Most foliage plants need bright light, but not direct sunshine. Give them a bit of fertilizer which has a high first number, every two weeks. Be sure to mix it at half strength. Overwatering is the No. 1 killer of houseplants. Only water when the top inch or two of soil is dry.

Flowering plants need a different routine. Put them near the sunniest window you have and feed them with a fertilizer which has a high middle number. Miniature roses and primrose plants need to be kept as cool as possible, so put them right on the windowsill. These can be planted outdoors in mid-May where they will grow and bloom for years to come.

Houseplants you've had for a long time should be showing new growth about now. This is the time to take them out of the pot, shake off the old potting soil, add new and repot. Most plants can go to a bigger pot, but others like to have crowded roots. African violets won't bloom if they're not potbound, so return them to the same size pot. Keep the newly repotted plants out of the sun for a few days.

African violets enjoy full sun all winter long, but starting in March, the sun gets too intense for them. Either move them back a bit or put up a sheer curtain. They will reward you with bouquets of blooms.

A lot of us are getting itchy to go outside and tidy up the yard. Don't do it! Wait until the soil has dried out a bit. Walking on the swampy lawns we have now will only serve to compact the soil. That is never a good thing. Instead, sharpen those tools while you plan your attack. Soon, (hopefully) we'll be able to get out there and get busy.

Watching the birds is an enjoyable activity while you wait. Keep those feeders and birdbaths filled. If squirrels are a problem, you might want to invest in one of the "squirrel proof" feeders. These are worth the money, especially if you live among the pine trees which are home to many of the little varmints. Oops, I meant to say squirrels.

Stay warm ... spring is coming!

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 an active member of the River City Gardeners Club in Post Falls.