But where should you begin?

In these times of moderating temperatures, you have plenty of opportunities to become one with your garden, starting with the following chores.

Lanky azaleas? The best time to get them back into shape with pruners is right after their flowers fade. Ditto for the Camellia japonica specimens after they finish up their spring flowerfest.

Make an aquatic move. Hardy aquatic plants that were placed in deep water for the winter should be moved to the shallows of the water garden before new growth begins.

Veggies. Starting at the middle of this month and into early May, begin filling up the veggie patch with summer favorites such as squash, snap beans, okra, peppers, watermelons, eggplant, cucumbers and tomatoes.

You wanna know the secret to a better crop of peppers, tomatoes and okra this year? Push four to five unburned matches match-head down into the soil around each young plant. Matches are acidic -- a good thing if you want to please developing pepper, tomato and okra plants -- and they also contain the beneficial elements phosphorus and sulfur.

Start an herb garden. Basil, dill, chives, rosemary, marjoram, sage and thyme are easy-to-care-for herbs that can be flavorful additions to almost any culinary creation.

Mint is also a useful herb, but plant it in a pot rather than in the ground because this rampant spreader can quickly overwhelm a garden bed.

Early flower beds. Instead of waiting for higher temperatures, start with dusty miller, annual phlox, dianthus, petunias and sweet alyssum. These annuals actually prefer a bit of chilly weather to stimulate a quick start in the early spring.

Pink or blue? Which is the color for you? If you want your choice on French hydrangea blooms, remember acidic soil encourages the flowers to turn blue, while a more alkaline growing medium results in a pink flower show. Adding lime is the easiest way to be in the pink, while sulfur or aluminum sulfate will help bring on a (good) case of the blues.

Patience, patience. Have patience with taros and voodoo lilies (Amorphophallus sp.). Many pop up late in the spring, so don't be quick to think that the winter did them in and replant the area.

Plant dahlias. Since most grow long and lanky, also plant a support stake in each hole to help prevent damage to the tuber later.

To divide is divine. Now is a good time to divide such popular perennials as baby's breath, Shasta daisies, asters, liriope and phlox.

Make use of soda cans. Empty aluminum soda cans can be recycled in the garden as labels for new plantings. Simply cut square strips with scissors (watch the edges) and use a ballpoint pen to indent permanent impressions in the soft metal on the unpainted side.

Make some cuts. After they fade, cut back the flower stalks of daffodils, hyacinths and other spring bulbs that perennialize in the garden. However, let the foliage die back naturally because it is still absorbing energy from the sun for next year's flower show.

Keeping clematis. Three secrets for a vine full of clematis flowers:

* Make sure the plant gets five to six hours of sun a day.

* Keep the roots cool with a 3- to 4-inch thick covering of organic mulch.

* Sprinkle a little lime around this alkaline-lover's site.

Dare to discover. Whether it is an ornamental or an edible, try a few new or different plants in the garden this year. Here are two suggestions: the bright white (and heavily scented) moon vine that opens at dusk and any of the tiny "grape" tomatoes, which are essential ingredients on grilled skewers.

Be ready for the birds. Migrating birds will be regular visitors in the garden this month, so keep the bird feeder filled and begin washing out the birdbath at least once a week.

Also, cut a handful of string into small lengths and place it in the bird feeder as construction material for nest builders.

Get $150+ in coupons in every Sunday N&O. Click here for convenient home delivery.