Punxsutawney Phil has delivered his prognostication, so now we can turn our thoughts to spring. Not that I'm ever concerned about the clairvoyant critter's actual prediction. But if winter has a "hump day," it's February 2 -- the calendrical midpoint of Old Man Winter's icy reign.

So with Groundhog Day in the rear-view mirror, it's time to start thinking "spring." And what better plant to kick off such musings with than the Easter lily?

Not that Lilium longiflorum has always been a symbol of the upcoming season. Heck, not that long ago, it wasn't even called the "Easter lily." As the University of Vermont Extension points out, the plant was initially called the "Bermuda lily." Why? Discovered in Japan's Ryukyu Islands by one of Europe's famous plant explorers in the late 18th century, it made its way to England by the early 19th century and, from there, to the British colony of Bermuda. The weather in Bermuda suited the plant, and commercial production began; that production ceased due to a virus, but the name stuck.

When you receive an Easter lily as a gift, do you ponder the possibility of planting it outside later? Or maybe you've already tried planting Easter lilies outdoors but have been displeased with the results? Either way, I think you'll find this article helpful. Learn about the growing conditions that Easter lilies prefer, as well as some of the challenges to be aware of.

Read article: Planting Easter Lilies

Put in your 2 cents: What Are Your Favorite Plants for March?

More: Deer-Resistant Bulbs

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_{Photo ©2011 David Beaulieu (licensed to About, Inc.)}

Who is Punxsutawney Phil? And why do we ask whether he saw his shadow? For those who have never watched the movie, Groundhog Day, Punxsutawney Phil is the name of the famous groundhog in Punxsutawney, PA who annually predicts when spring will come based on whether he sees his shadow on February 2.

This morning, February 2, 2012, Punxsutawney Phil did see his shadow when he came out of his burrow for breakfast. Of course, what that really means is that his handlers, in their infinite wisdom, decided, for whatever mysterious reasons, that this would be a "shadow year."

But for me, there are two entirely separate aspects to Groundhog Day. We might term these two aspects the entertainment side and the psychological side. The festivities at Gobbler's Knob in Punxsutawney, where we learn whether or not Phil saw his shadow, is the entertainment side. I'm much more interested in the psychological aspect of Groundhog Day. Falling as it does half-way between the winter solstice and spring equinox, Groundhog Day's true significance has nothing to do with Phil's shadowy antics. In acknowledging that we've reached winter's midpoint on February 2, we can permit ourselves a deep breath, confident that, regardless of Phil's prediction, spring is now in sight.

Read article: Groundhog Day

Let us know your view: Groundhog Day -- Hope or Hooey?

Picture stepping out into the yard on a chilly day in early spring. Most of the snow is gone, but the bare earth, the gray or brown limbs of trees and shrubs, and the overcast sky all work together to put a damper on your spirits.

You're just about to give up hope that winter will ever loosen its icy grip when, out of the corner of your eye, you espy something in your perennial bed that wasn't there yesterday. Defiant of the mud you must traipse through for a closer look, you walk over to the newcomer to inspect it, your expectations raised to a fever pitch.

Nor are you disappointed when you arrive. The existence of what you thought you glimpsed is verified; it was no mirage, hatched in your winter-weary head. No, it is, indeed, that old friend you've been waiting to see for so long, a sight for sore eyes after being lashed by snow, ice and cold winter winds for months: your favorite bulb plant is poking through the surface!

The bulbs of early spring aren't just ordinary plants. If you can relate to the scene I just painted for you, then you know that. Their precociousness places them on a plateau elevated well above other specimens, no matter how beautiful the latter may be. Beauty is one thing; timeliness is another. Spring bulbs reappear in our lives just when we need them most.

Consequently, while I hate to see deer damage on any plants in my landscape, I'm especially bothered by damage inflicted on these treasures. After anticipating the return of spring bulbs for months, it is heartbreaking to see them devoured before they can even finish yielding their sweet joys to us. One way to address this issue is simply to plant bulbs that deer don't eat.

Read article: Deer-Resistant Bulbs

Put in your 2 cents: What Are Your Favorite Plants?

Bestow Your Wisdom on Us: What Are the First Signs of Spring in Your Region?

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_{Photo ©2010 David Beaulieu (licensed to About, Inc.)}

Being the plant-lover that I am, it's difficult to get my mind off of plants once I start thinking of them. In fact, a far more likely scenario is that, when pondering a topic totally unrelated to plants, my mind will wander to the subject of gardening or landscaping.

But I must admit that when reading Jamie McIntosh's article about flowers that smell like chocolate, my thoughts drifted to all the wonderful chocolate products out there. If you, too are a chocoholic, you might want to have a look at Linda Larsen's Top 10 Candy Recipes, the dominant ingredient in which is chocolate. Linda's recipes will have you ready to celebrate the upcoming Valentine's Day holiday, for which chocolate is king among the foods (any holiday that honors chocolate is a celebration for me!).

What's my favorite chocolate product of all time? I don't know; I'd be very hard-pressed to come up with an answer to that. There are just so many great chocolate candies, ranging from Mars bars and Snickers bars to Reese's Peanut Butter Cups and Turtles. Asking me to pick one favorite would be like asking me to crown just one landscape plant as my favorite -- impossible!

Resource related to Valentine's Day: Rose Color Meanings

On a totally unrelated note: What common weeds do you consider beneficial?

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