What exactly is Spring? It's not just the time when it's finally warmer. It is the time when you see and smell flowers blooming, hear the birds singing and feel the wonderful crisp morning air. Well, you can't make the birds come back any sooner, nor can you warm the air as well, but you can catch the essence of Spring by beginning your indoor potting of your favorite annuals and getting ready for the very moment spring arrives. Why wait for Spring to arrive when you can reach up and Catch It by planting your flowers now! Have a wonderful Spring...right Now!
Zinnia
Anyone can grow zinnias! Of all the flowers available, they are probably the least expensive, the least demanding, and the most versatile and reliable.
Zinnias grow in an astonishing variety of shapes and sizes. Petals may be flat, twisted, or quilted, in every color range except blue. They grow readily in full sun and are undaunted by heat and drought... a throwback to their native habitats of Mexico and Central America.
Use tall zinnias in planters for background and smaller ones in pots and window boxes. Start seeds outdoors 1 week after the average frost-free date for your area. Transplant dwarf varieties 6 inches (1 5 cm) apart, and large varieties 12 inches (30 cm) apart.
Zinnia grows best with full exposure to the sun with outdoor temperature of approximately 55° to 95°F (13° to 35°C) and an average humidity of 25% or more. Can tolerate 35°F (2°C) without damage. Water thoroughly, then allow the surface of the potting mixture to dry out between waterings.
Special Notes: To stimulate new flowering, cut off existing flowers after they fade. Also, occasionally check the surface of the leaves for mildew (a whitish powder) or black spots. If found, spray with an appropriate pesticide.
Rose Periwinkle
Having origins in Madagascar, this versitile flower is patio perfect as it flowers profusely through heat, drought, and poor soils.
The flowers look somewhat like phlox, but are borne singly above the dark green foliage in a mass of color. The color range is from white through pink, rose, and lavender, with lighter colors often edged in darker shades.
Choose dwarf varieties to 12 inches (30 cm) for pots or window boxes, and taller varieties to 2 feet (60 cm) for planters. Start seeds indoors 4 to 5 weeks before the average frost-free date for your area. When transplanting outdoors, space smaller varieties 6 inches (15 cm) apart, and larger varieties 12 inches (30 cm) apart.
The Rose Periwinkle grows well in either full sun or partial shade with outdoor temperature of approximately 50° to 90°F (10° to 39°C) and an average humidity of 25% or more. Can tolerate 40°F (4°C) without damage. Water thoroughly, then allow the surface of the potting mixture to dry out between waterings.
Special Notes: Cut back to stimulate bushiness if plant becomes leggy. Also, if the plant is in partial shade and few flowers appear, move to a better light source. In addition, check leaves and flowers for holes caused by caterpillars and grasshoppers, and if present, spray with an appropriate pesticide.
Pansy
These delightful bloomers are the imps of the flower world because their wonderful coloration resembles little faces with mischievous expressions. They are etched with deep browns, blacks, and purples on petals of clear yellow, soft blue, or red.
They grow and flower best in the cool spring in the North, or in the winter in the South. When it is too cold for anything except spring bulbs, pansies will be perking up a window box or patio border with colorful blossoms.
When cut, they will last several days indoors, but they are short stemmed and at their brilliant best when they are massed in a planter or window box or encircling the edge of a garden. Plant seeds outdoors 4 to 6 weeks before the average frost-free date for your area. Thin or transplant so they are spaced 6 inches (15 cm) apart./P>
Pansies grows best with either full exposure to the sun or in partial shade with an outdoor temperature of approximately 40° to 80°F (4° to 27°C) and an average humidity of 25% or more. Can tolerate 25°F (-4°C) without damage. Water thoroughly, then allow the surface of the potting mixture to dry out between waterings.
Special Notes: Cover plants with straw or leaves for protection when temperature drops below freezing. Also, if the plant is in partial shade and few flowers appear, move to a better light source.
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SOME COMMON PESTS
 Ants may appear on your plant,especially if you put it outside for the summer. They can transport aphids, scale, and mealy-bugs. Put an ant trap on the surface of the potting mixture and get rid of them!
 Aphids are tiny pear-shaped insects ranging from green to brown to purple, usually wingless. They are incredibly prolific, but easily killed off by a numberof insecticides.
 Beetles compose a large anddiverse group of insects damaging to houseplants and garden plants. They usually eat large holes out of foliage, making the leaves look like lace curtains. One, the ladybug, is beneficial to plants beacuse they eat aphids.
 Broad Mites are small, oval, light yellow oramberspidermites that infest leaves and fruit. Curled ortwisted leaves indicatetheir presence. They can be seen only under a microscope, but they are easy to control.
 Caterpillars are large enough to see - 2.5 to 3 inches (6 to 7.5 cm) long and easy enough to pick off. They can defoliate a small plant in just a few days. Watch for leaves with the margins eaten.
 Cucumber Beetles in the larval stage attack cucumbers, muskmelons, and winter squash, doing damage to the roots. The clearly visible adults feed on foliage. While doing so they can spread diseases among plants. Pick them off.
 Cyclamen Mites are microscopic and attach themselves to new green growth, a situation that causes leaves to curl up and buds to become deformed. New African violet leaves will be deformed and grey if these mites are present.
 Leaf Miners are so called because they tunnel through the leaves of many plants. Usually they do not do great harm, but leave telltale irregular thin streaks on the leaf surfaces, which are unsightly
This article Copyright ©2003 - Designing Online, Inc.
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Say Goodbye to Moles and Voles Forever!
 Moles are characterized by a pointed snout; rudimentary eyes; soft, thick, velvety fur; short legs; broad feet; and long, powerful claws on the front pair of legs. They are indigenous to Europe, Asia, and North America.
The voracious animals dig below the surface of the ground for their food, which consists principally of earthworms and insect larvae. They are capable of digging rapidly, using their powerful forefeet and claws to push the earth back behind them. Close to the surface of the ground, moles construct their elaborate burrows with many chambers and their burrowing often produces ridges on the surface.
Getting rid of moles and voles can be a difficult task! However by following a few simple steps it can be done.
If you are looking for a quick removal of the pesky vagrants use the Yardiac.com Whole control. This concentrate is sprayed directly into the areas where armadillos, moles, voles, gophers, and other burrowing animals are digging.
It is not a poison and will not hurt any animals. Whole Control will leave a residual in the ground which tastes awful. As invaders dig, they will come in contact with the bad tasting soil and quickly decide the bad taste is too strong and prompt them to find food elsewhere.
For a more permanent control we recommend using the Yardiac.com Mole and Vole Eradication Program. It requires using all three of the following products in combination.
- Whole Control Spray -- Effective immediately
- Vole Block -- Provides a long term underground barrier
- Milky Spore--Gets rid of the grubs that moles love to eat for up to 15 years!
To learn more or to purchase the Yardiac.com Mole & Vole Control program click here 
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