In the last several days I have seen a lot of yard rakes chasing leaves, twigs and other yard debris across many local landscapes. Most were in the hands of eager gardeners using the first 60-degree days to escape their winter confinement.

Questions start to fly almost as fast as the rakes. Are your peas planted? Are the pansies ready? What can I put in my permanent window boxes that will trail down over the sides?

That last question prompts my annual be patient and don't rush the spring planting season column.

I have been trying to come up with a brief bit of wisdom to serve as guidance. So here comes one of the few bits of original thinking you will ever get from me. The longer you expect the plant to stay in your yard the earlier you can plant it.

Of course there are exceptions, but if you think trees, then shrubs, then perennials and finally annuals you are on the right tract. With today's containerized plant offerings you can plant in the spring, summer or fall. Your diligence and the length of your water hose will determine your success. Spring and fall are certainly preferred but there are reasons to plant during the summer.

A couple of words about exceptions. Ornamental grasses and butterfly bushes, both vigorous in the garden, do not like to spend winters in a pot unless kept close to 40 degrees. The results of course are plants too lush for early planting.

Several days ago at a nursery about an hour north of here I saw displays of forsythia in full bloom and budded peonies at least 18 inches tall. Quite enticing for the winter weary but a recipe for quick disappointment when the next hard freeze comes. Look for plants that are no more than a week or 10 days ahead of ones already in the garden.

Back to what's out there now. If you have a few fruit trees, apples, pears, grapes and blueberries should be pruned or done soon. The rest would be happier if you waited till near or slightly after bloom time.

With annuals the old wives have tales about waiting until Mother's Day. That's almost always safe. The only problem with that is that you may think that everyone else got to the garden center before you did. The brazen start to watch the weather closely about April 20 and plant accordingly. Wisdom lies somewhere in between. Remember there is a wide range of cold tolerance among the annuals.

As we wait for spring you must think about you location. Are you in town or in the countryside? Is the spot protected or fully exposed to the wind? Are you still scraping frost from your windshield when you friends are wearing shorts? Remember you must learn your garden site for success.

One closing thought. Get your onions planted so we can get the onion snow behind us. Then we can have spring.