Many palms are slow-growing, and consequently, large specimens are often expensive. But don't be deterred from growing palms; if you provide the right conditions, even small plants will gradually become impressive specimens.

Not all palms grow large, and many are compact enough for a tabletop. Some are even small enough to use in a bottle garden while young.

The most common mistake is to regard all palms as lovers of hot sunshine and desert-dry air. They often have to cope with both in countries where they grow outdoors, but as houseplants you want them to remain in good condition with unblemished leaves.

• Keep cool in winter, but not less than 50 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Keep out of direct sunshine unless you know that your palm revels in the sun (a few do).
• Use a good potting soil and ensure that the drainage is good.
• Repot only when it is absolutely essential, as palms dislike root disturbance. Always ensure that the new soil is firmly compacted if you do repot.
• Water liberally in spring and summer, sparingly in winter.
• Mist the plants frequently with water and sponge the leaves occasionally with water.
• Do not use an aerosol leaf shine.

Eating great-tasting fresh greens out of the garden is one of the special pleasures one gets from growing one's own vegetables. But you don't need an acre plot of land to do it in--even a small area will work just fine. With just a little planning and ingenuity, you can grow salad greens just about anywhere.

All you need is The Earth Box, or several small pots, if you plan on moving plants in and out. Put in some of our great potting soil (we recommend Gardner & Bloome Potting Soil) and you're in business. If you don't like to bend over, add legs to the sides of the box, or place it on a table--and you can have a raised planter at just the right height. You can grow from seed or transplant seedlings, whichever you prefer.

Salad greens perform their very best during the cooler seasons. You can even make your planter look colorful by combining different varieties of lettuce, spinach and field greens in the same box. Make sure to feed your greens some organic plant food like Dr. Earth #5 Tomato & Vegetable Food on a monthly basis to help bring out the best flavor.

To some of us, the pansy/viola is a happy, smiling face reminding us of a gardener friend from long ago. The first sign of that special flower brings a smile to our face and warmth to our heart. After all, this flower is known as the "pixie" of the plant world. How perfect is that to have in your winter/spring gardens!

Botanically speaking, members of the genus Viola, which includes the pansy, viola and violets, are perennials. We just happen to treat them as annuals. The varieties that we grow are happiest in cool weather. Planting them now ensures wonderful color in your spring gardens.

There are many different cultivars of pansies and violas offering a wide range of colors and flower sizes: colors from white, yellow, apricot, violet, blue-purples, dusty rose and combinations of all of these colors! The flower sizes range from 1-4 inches.

Pansies are best in sun to light shade. If you plant them in deep shade, they will grow, but not reward you with as many flowers. Plant them toward the front of your flower beds, along with your shrubs and other flowering bedding plants. You may not want to put them too close to the edge if your planter is next to your grass--scary weed whackers may chop off their heads! These plants love to trail and would also be beautiful in raised beds, planters and window boxes.

Here are a few planting and care tips:

Amend the soil with Gardner & Bloome Planting Mix before planting to provide good drainage around the roots. Use a good potting soil--not garden soil--if you have them in planters.

Space them about 6" apart.

Water deeply, but be careful to not overwater. Don't leave them in soggy soil.

Mulching around the pansies with 2 inches of organic material will help conserve moisture, and reduce weed growth.

Pansies are mostly free of diseases and pests, but if you've had a problem in an area of your garden with pansies, switch and grow them in another area for a year or so.

And here is your number one rule: start your morning with a stroll into your garden to start your day with smiling faces. Oh sure, you can take your cup of coffee or tea along with you, too.

One of the first and most beautiful shrubs to bloom in the spring is the Lily of the Valley shrub (Pieris japonica). Sometimes referred to as "Andromeda," it actually starts its show of color in the late fall as colorful buds form and sit through winter, waiting to burst into bloom in early spring.

But the show doesn't end there. The cascading pink, red and white flowers are followed by colorful new foliage growth. The foliage color varies by variety. One can see bronze, brilliant pink, orange-red and scarlet. Then, as the new evergreen leaves mature, they turn a bright glossy dark green. The colorful new growth provides a rich show of color when planted with azaleas, camellias, rhododendrons and other spring flowering shrubs.

Native to Japan and eastern parts of China, Lily of the Valley shrubs come in many hybrid forms, ranging from tight-foliaged dwarf varieties to large open shrubs that can grow as tall as 8- 10'. At home in most semi-shaded gardens, they can be massed in borders or used as an informal hedge or as foundation plants around the home.

These are acid-loving plants and prefer to be grown in rich, well-draining soil fortified with peat moss or an acid planting mix like Gardner & Bloome Acid Planting Mix. They prefer a location sheltered from wind, with some afternoon shade. Feed them as you would your other acid-loving plants with Dr. Earth #4 Acid Plant Food, from first flowering to blossom set in fall.

How can I tell if a plant is fully rooted?

Answer:

Most plants take at least 3-4 months--sometimes a complete growing season in colder climates--to become rooted and established.

If you pull up gently on a plant, there generally will be no "give." New growth on the plant tips is another sign that your plant is safely on its way.

Incorporating a starter fertilizer into the backfill of the hole and then watering in with a rooting hormone will give your new plants an added boost to help them set down good, solid roots in their new environment.

Ferne was born in Iowa and spent many summers there at her grandparents' farm after her family moved to Colorado. She learned to love gardening, canning, quilting, and sewing from her grandmother but claims her most important life lessons have been learned from raising her two boys.

This week's featured recipe is from a reader Jamie Vernon.

What You'll Need:

• 1/2 onion, chopped
• 1 1/2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 1/2 teaspoon olive oil
• 1 teaspoon chili powder
• 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1/2 (28 oz) can crushed tomatoes
• 1/2 (10.5 oz) can chicken broth
• 1/2 cup and 2 tablespoons water
• 1/2 cup whole corn kernels, cooked
• 1/2 can of black beans
• 1/2 cup white hominy
• 1/2 (4 oz) can diced green chiles
• 1/2 (4 oz) can diced jalapenos (leave out to omit heat)
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
• 2 boneless chicken breast, cut into bit sized pieces
• corn tortillas
• sliced avocado
• shredded monterey jack cheese
• chopped green onion

Step by Step:

1. Put all ingredients (except tortilla, avocado, cheese and green onion) into a medium/large stock pot. Including raw chicken pieces. Stir it all together.
2. Add additional chicken broth to make a soup vs a stew.
3. Bring to a boil, then cover and simmer for 20-25 minutes.
4. Cut tortillas into chip shapes and lay flat on baking sheet. Sprinkle with salt and bake until golden brown.
5. Ladle soup into bowls and top with crushed chips, avocado, cheese and green onion.
6. Put out extra chips for munching.