SPRING FEVER

March is always a tricky month. Just when the temperatures begin to rise, the days become longer, and mountains of snow begin to melt, Mother Nature blasts us with at least one more n'or easter. But inevitably the snow will melt and the grass will turn green, and green thumbs all around will flock to the local nursery.

This will be my first full gardening season at My Blue Heaven and I can't wait to take on our neglected yard. Jake and I have a horrible history with indoor plants, but I am undeterred and chalk up our many green casualties to a limit of natural light (Jake is not so sure of this excuse).

Either way, I am determined to do right by the at present dirt pit that is our yard, and plan on coaxing it into the lovely swan it could be!

We have a fairly shaded yard, so I'll be working with plants and flowers that can handle limited sunlight and moist soil. So shady is the yard that we have no lawn, just a few sprigs of very soft and wispy grass, a touch of clover and some moss.

All said, there's a great patch of soil underneath our huge oak tree that's brimming with potential. Right now, it houses a large pile of felled branches and varying weeds, but underneath is a smattering of hardy and beautifully scented lily of the valley. After I clean the garden I'm going to plant a melange of shade-loving, low-maintenance perennials like hosta, astilbe and something like a climbing hydrangea, that will wind and creep its way up the trunk of the big old oak tree. Once rooted, the climber will grow recklessly - just the ticket to green the place up!

Since we'll never have a lawn, a manicured look will not suit the property, but a pretty, overgrown English garden will.