There is nothing like the long awaited newness of springtime. Year after year, we delight in the grand rebirth that awaits Mother Nature, and ourselves.

We open our windows and maze at the greenness and the flourishing gardens. We take in the fresh air and sunlight, and, as Martha Stewart puts it, "...there suddenly is quite a lot to do."

We all seem to get that cleaning bug about this time of year too. We get out our Spring clothes, put away our winter comforters, and replace broth soups with Springtime fruits and juices; some of us may even take more showers. All in the name of Spring, or as I like to put it "Spring Madness".

During Spring Madness, we all go through an interesting change. Dormancy is replaced by a hunter gatherer instinct, whereby we leave our homes in search for such establishments as the botanical gardens, hiking trails, farmers markets, parks, anywhere advertising Spring.

Our green thumbs come out, as we attempt to pot and plant in our yards, our kitchens, anywhere we can. Plants are an important part of our lives in the Spring. They bring to us a sense of renewal, contentment, and lighthearted smiles. For this reason, it is important to pick up tips anywhere you can. There is perhaps nothing worse than finding that you and your plant(s) are incompatible.

Here are some VERY USEFUL tips:

LIGHTING is an important consideration when choosing your plants, so you may want to figure out where you want your plant to go, and monitor when, how much, and what kind of lighting there is in that general area before choosing a plant to go in that spot.

REMEMBER, the darker the leaf, the less light that plant will generally need, and therefore the less water it will need. Keep in mind this is a rule of thumb and rules are meant to be broken, so always double check.

There IS a difference between MORNING LIGHT and AFTERNOON LIGHT. No matter how bright and warm the morning may be, rest assured it is no match for the strength of the afternoon rays to a plant.

WATER IN THE DARK OR SHADE is the best thing to do for your outdoor plants. This allows the soil to absorb appropriate moisture and is better for the roots of your plants, as they won't be at risk of burning. Indoor plants are obviously more lenient when it comes what time of day or night you water them.

ALWAYS READ YOUR PLANT LABELS! If your plant does not have one, find one that does, or look up information online or in books; and use a variety of sources so you know your information is true and can be trusted.

KEEP THE INSTRUCTION LABEL of your plant with your plant! You will be spared much strife in the end. You never know when you will forget what you planted where, what may take over what, and of course if your plant gets eaten or pulled, you may need a reminder. Another option is to get A GARDEN JOURNAL, or draw a diagram, and enter exact measurements and labels so that you know what you planted where. A garden journal will also allow you to store plant instruction cards and make other various notes and entries that will be useful reference for the life of your garden.

Some plants love their petals and leaves to be wet. OTHERS DO NOT! Not only can you kill your plant by over watering, but you can also kill your plant by leaf moisture. Rule of thumb: if your plant's leaves are fuzzy, like violets, NO WATER ON THEM PLEASE! Water will actually burn them, especially once exposed to any kind of sun, direct or indirect.

DO NOT BE ASHAMED to contact your local greenhouse. They are there to help with all your plant needs, whether you've purchased from them or not.

Hope you all are enjoying your Spring as much as we are. Thanks for reading. ~SoulaBee