If the idea of extending your growing season

If the idea of extending your growing season has sparked some interest in winter gardening, don't forget that there are a number of crops well suited to winter gardening. Apart from the well-known winter crops such as spinach, leeks, scallions cabbage, kale & parsley, winter gardeners should also try arugula, escarole, claytonia, kohlrabi, mizuna, radicchio, sorrel & watercress, corn salad (mache).

Certain herbs will also grow well in cooler temperatures including cilantro, winter thyme, winter savory & sage. Few flowers will produce under these conditions with the exception of violets & johnny jump-ups.

A few tips:

While each layer of protection will increase temperature, each layer will also cut out about 10% of light. Two layers will not pose a problem but a third layer could cause crop failure due to inadequate light levels.

While soil temperatures are still warm, fertilize leafy greens like spinach, corn salad & sorrel so that they have enough nutrients to take them through the fall.

Harvest greens above their crowns so that growing tip isn't damaged and you get another crop.

First of all, how do you tell a good nursery from a bad one?

On your first visit, do you get the immediate impression that people are keeping the place clean? A tidy, well-kept nursery means the place is staffed by people who care about what they are doing. Do the plants look upright, well watered, and of good color? Is there a good selection of plants for sale that are suitable for your region?

Don't balk if you see plants that are not well-adapted to your zone. There are gardeners out there who love a challenge, and won't always limit themselves by what they see on the zone map. Even the most ethical nursery will cater to such reckless souls (of which I am one!). Ask questions about basic things and see if the answers make sense for the region in which you garden. (Asking the proper planting time for a plant you've grown successfully is a good test.) If you like the looks of the place and get the feeling the staff is knowledgeable, you've come to the right place.

Now, before you start spending money, decide what you want to plant. This is not to say you can't change the plan if you find something desirable that you hadn't thought of ahead of time, but you can't change a plan until you have one.

If you are planting a flower bed, at least make a rough map showing by location the colors and foliage types you'd like to display. Such a plan need not be too specific; you can fill the bed with whatever happens to be available at the nursery that matches the colors, sizes, and scents you are after.

In addition to this basic plan, make note of the conditions the plants will endure. Knowing such things as how much shade the garden will receive or how well the soil drains will help the nursery staff guide you to plants that have the best chance of thriving where you garden. Such information is vital if you find it necessary to choose a substitute for a plant you put in the plan, but cannot obtain this season.

In the beginning, it was Springtime,

and you wanted your home to look beautiful. You landscaped with flowers and shrubs, and your yard looked wonderful for about two weeks. But then, they didn't do as well as you hoped. Some of your flowers died, others just look terrible. Why, you must have wondered? You could have sworn you did everything right! What went wrong? It must be your neighbor's advice or that nursery's fault! But alas, a beautiful garden that is easy care and breath-taking involves a little imagination, some planning, researching and some muscle.

So take heart...try envisioning that your plants have souls. They do, you know. I truly believe all living things have souls. Maybe not in a religious context, but in the web of life, a universal form of energy. Have you ever thrown out a flower or shrub that didn't do well and you thought it had died? You tossed it in a garbage can or into a compost heap. Days later, you are working in your compost pile or taking the trash to the curb, when you notice that this very plant that struggled in your garden with the proper water, correct sunlight, and attentive care you gave it, is wrestling to stay alive and is even producing leaves and blooms! That is the spirit of the soul. It amazes me every day that I witness this essence of universal power. Your garden will respond in kind if you are aware of what plants need and provide the proper essentials for a good beginning.

Unlike it's haughty cousin, the hybrid tea rose

Which takes endless tending, spraying and deadheading, an antique rose is almost carefree. Some, like the rugosas, object to sprays and pampering almost more than they object to pests and diseases. Their easy care, often superior fragrance and amazing variety has caused a huge resurgence in the popularity of the old garden rose.

Some are singles, with a dainty 5-petal array, and some have literally hundreds of petals in a single bloom. Some seem large as cabbages, while others are barely the size of a dime. Some will cover small buildings in a single bound, while others are small enough to grow in quart pots. In the next few weeks I will try to cover the various classes of antique roses, so that anyone who has ever longed to grow roses but been intimidated by their bad press will be sure to find one or more that they can proudly grow in their yards.