What keeps most of us from "greening" our homes?

It's too hard, it's too drastic and it's too expensive.

The objects of our obsession are sprouting all over. A joyous time is upon us, well almost upon us. Winter seemed especially long and cold and even March has been damp and chilly. Good news, it seems, is around the corner with spring's arrival and a surprising lack of winter damage. Rose bushes, fig trees and tender perennials have faired well. The gardener can never predict this, we all just slaves to mother nature.

I recently attended a book exchange held by the Piedmont/Blue Ridge Horticultural Society and was astonished at the generosity of gardeners. Fabulous books were available for the taking, a real sign of the giving nature of gardeners. We seem to be generous with our plants as well as our advice, it's a fine hobby for nice people. With that, I have a bit of advice, now is the time to ask for a piece of that special perennial your gardening friend owns. Now, because chances are they have forgotten just how lovely that plant is, and soon before it sprouts to two feet tall and they will see (once again) the real potential of its beauty and you won't stand a chance. While the days are a little chilly and the plants still a little dormant, make your move.

Now is also the time to put out your lettuce and start your sweet peas. The cool season in Virginia can be fleeting. The cool days have persisted and the gardener must take advantage of them. Some nurseries and farm supply stores are wonderfully prepared. I was surprised to find cool crops available at Southern States in the first week of March. These cool crops can tolerate temperatures in the low twenties and it's been a fabulous March for them.

It's also time to remove the old foliage on your helleborus, all of the leaves from last year. If you hurry, you can remove foliage on epimedium, do so before the flower stalks stretch. The flowering stalks are very delicate and easily cut or knocked off. I prefer to do them at the end of February. Any ferns that have stayed evergreen also need the old leaves removed. You don't want to cut into the new fronds as they unfurl. If these jobs are done early enough, you won't be damaging new growth.

The Piedmont/Blue Ridge Horticultural Society will be giving a garden design symposium in Warrenton on April 9th. I will be one of the speakers and you can register at their website which is pbrhs.org (go to future meetings). This is a great group of generous people with lots of great advice and probably a good plant or two.