Although many cymbidiums start to flower in December, some bloom as early as November. Most bloom between February and May, a few in May and June, and just one or two bloom year round. Choose wisely, and you can have these exotic orchids decorating your home, patio, and garden for six months or more. Protect cymbidiums' bloom spikes from snails when they are outside. Stake the spike to avoid breakage, but allow each spray to maintain its natural arching form. Allow miniatures in hanging baskets to cascade naturally. Continue to feed the plants for bloom with a fertilizer rich in bloom ingredients until buds open. Once they bloom stop feeding the plants; keep them damp but not soggy. For longer-lasting flowers, move blooming plants into more shade and keep away from bees if they are outside. (The flowers "blush" and fade after pollination.)

Once cymbidium spikes have set buds you can force some into bloom ahead of their natural schedule. Wait until the buds on the bloom spikes are full size and look fat and ready to open. Then place the plant in a warm area with bright light. The warmth plus the longer "day" will open the buds quickly. Move back into a lower-light area for longer lasting blooms.

There's one drawback to forcing--plants you force into bloom early won't perform as well next year. You'll get a few spikes but not as many. This is also a factor to consider when buying new varieties. Some may have been forced into bloom, and you won't get as many spikes the following year. Wait for the third year and they'll be loaded with blooms.

By Tamara Galbraith

Herbs that prefer cooler temperatures are definitely in the minority. Southern gardeners know that, in the heat of summer, it's hard to keep control of the basil and borage. But parsley? It's a cool character in the herb garden.

Parsley's history is pretty cool, too. Winners at the ancient Greek games were crowned with wreaths of woven parsley. In medieval times, it was believed that parsley grew only in the garden of an honest man or woman and, when chewed, would keep away the devil.

In the garden, parsley is an easy-to-grow spring herb. It is a biennial, meaning it lasts only about two seasons before flowering and going to seed. There are generally two standard types of parsley: curly-leafed and flat-leafed. The curly type — commonly served as garnish — tends to be stronger in flavor, while flat-leafed parsley is milder and preferred for use in recipes.

The ideal soil for growing parsley is fertile, fluffy, moist and cool. Although full sun is preferred in cooler zones, gardeners in hotter regions should not only mulch the plants but let them lounge in afternoon shade for best results. Parsley also does well as an indoor plant in a kitchen garden.

Even if you're not a cook, parsley's delicate shape makes a beautiful addition to the landscape. And if you don't care about eating your own parsley, then by all means, let the larvae of swallowtail butterflies chow down on it, should they show up.

If you are looking for the perfect flower to bridge the gap between winter and summer, consider the primrose. Like a ray of sunshine on a damp and gloomy day, primroses (primula) provide early spring blooms in almost every color of the rainbow.

They prefer cool temperatures and moist, rich, well-draining soil (with lots of compost). Primroses can tolerate full sun in spring but definitely prefer afternoon shade once temperatures get warmer. They can easily be grown indoors during winter, provided that you maintain cool night temperatures in your home (below 65 degrees), filtered sun and moist soil.

The most popular types of primroses include English primroses (Primula vulgaris/polyanthus), Fairy primroses (Primula malacoides) and German primroses (Primula obconica). All are heavy bloomers and well suited for garden planting or in containers.

Originally from England, most English primroses now are grown along the Pacific Coast. They produce large clusters of flowers above the foliage, with dwarf varieties just a few inches above the foliage and taller hybrids growing up to one foot above the foliage. They are available in almost every color shade.

German primroses are often called perennial primroses, since they can often come back to re-bloom the following season. They have larger rounded leaves, and grow up to 12 inches high, with taller flower stalks. The flowers come mostly in shades of red, rose and salmon.

Fairy primroses have a more delicate look, with smaller leaves and flower clusters on 6-12" stalks above the foliage. They generally are available in color shades of pink, lavender and white.

So if the winter blues are getting you down, chase them away with some perfect primroses!