“Should I cover my daffodils on these cooler nights?”

The question pops up every spring, as new gardeners worry about frost killing their just-sprouted bulbs.

All those crocus, daffodils, tulips and hyacinths are programmed to survive March-to-June weather. They’ve spent the winter growing roots to withstand most early frosts. Wind and rain may smash some down, but frost is unlikely to kill these tough plants.

For flowers laid low by weather, why not clip the stems and bring the blossoms indoors for early spring pleasure? That way, the gardener may still enjoy daffodils or hyacinths in water while they last.

“Those pansies were so perky, I just had to buy some. Can I plant them yet, or must I wait for warmer days?”

Pansies can take April and May weather. Plant them now to enjoy early color in the garden. They’re rugged little beauties. Water them well and pick spent flowers so new ones will keep coming.

Keep house plants inside until days and nights are warmer. Geraniums may look ready to go into the ground, but their leaves will tinge with red if the temperature is too cool. (Yet in a winter house, the geraniums will thrive when the thermometer reads 55 degrees. Other house plants also prefer cool conditions, although African violets can tolerate warmer, more humid rooms.)

Right now, take a walk in the woods, by a lake or pond. Notice what’s begun to grow. Golden dandelions (imported, not native wildflowers) are beginning to bloom, often prompted by increased sunlight. Mixed with them may be look-alike coltsfoot flowers (formally tussilago), which like damp and limey waste places. Like dandelions, their brief blooms will turn to balls of fluff. But unlike dandelions, the plants disappear, later developing creeping stems of leaves shaped like the hoofs of a young horse.

Start a dated wildflower list and in the next weeks, add to the list, finding new plants.

In doing so, you’ll answer for yourself: “Is it spring yet?”