This afternoon our dog Bud and I took a wonderful sightseeing trip through a few streets of downtown Natchez. I almost had two wrecks as I stared at all of the beautiful blooming trees, shrubs and vines along with the colorful cool season bedding plants and perennials that are showing out right now.

When I arrived home, Bud and I continued our garden tour. We just walked up and down our little street but what a floriferous walk it was. I admit, I was rather chilly since it was only in the 50s. Thankfully, the sun was shining bright and I had on a hooded sweatshirt to keep me warm enough.

Tonight, weather forecasters are predicting a low in the mid 30s.

And of course you early risers know that we have had a couple of light frosts lately. Luckily, none of the plants that caught my eye today will have any problems with these nippy late March temps. Nature has programmed them perfectly for this.

That’s one of the really cool things about nature. There is a time and season for everything living in the plant kingdom to shine. Soil temperatures, day length, the angle of the sun, and so many other factors combine together to produce gorgeous foliage and flowers when the time is right.

For instance, many trees, shrubs and vines are just now showing signs of life after winter. Some deciduous species are already adorned with their 2001 foliage while others have swollen buds ready to leaf out when conditions are right. Not until then, will we be graced with their seemingly delicate fresh foliage that announces the warm temperatures to come.

That’s OK with me though. I want to enjoy what’s happening right now. Azaleas color the city with white, pink, magenta and orange-red. Spirea and kerria are wonderful accent plants near azaleas or even as single specimens. Snowball viburnums are strutting their stuff with huge rounded clusters of white flowers. The dogwoods are spectacular.

Warm yellow from the Carolina jessamine flowers fill the air with delicious fragrance. And speaking of heavenly bouquets and vines, the grapelike blue-violet blossoms of the Chinese wisteria are releasing their own scrumptuous aroma right now.

Tall arching canes of Lady Banks’ rose flourish on strong fences and with a little help, climb utility poles. Right now she’s bursting with double white and yellow florets. Liriope and ivy are producing lush foliage which gives these plants a look of newness. Ajuga is full of electric blue blooms.

Reliable old garden &uot;white flag&uot; iris are dazzling with their exquisite fleur-de-lis. Silvery foliage of perennial dianthus is striking. Many of these garden pinks are flowering now and some varieties are just about to burst open with clove scented posies.

New leaves of sedum are growing in various colors of green, white and yellow depending on the variety. Early flowering Sedum acre is just about pop with dainty star shaped yellow blooms.

Bear’s breeches are producing strong dark green leaves in preparation for their highly prized blooms to follow. Columbines are beginning to open in fairy like abundance and beauty. Various species of pink, blue and white phlox are bursting madly.

Dutch iris, tulips, late blooming daffodils and paperwhites combined with tried and true garden flowers like pansies, violas and dianthus are quite handsome at this moment. Still more dianthus, pansies and snapdragons are yet to come.

Stems of &uot;Tuscan Blue&uot; rosemary are filled with small blue flowerets. Onion chives are beginning to bud. Parsley, cilantro and dill are plentiful. Lettuce, cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower and mustard greens are close to being harvested, if not already.

Scrumptuous scented sweet alyssum is profuse with tiny delicate blossoms. Delphinium is beginning to show color and we still have larkspur, poppies, foxglove and hollyhock to look forward to.

Predictions for tomorrow’s high temperatures are again in the 50s with night temperatures in the 30s, so don’t be impatient for impatiens and other heat loving plants. Enjoy the spring flower show presently playing in the Miss-Lou and remember, there’s a proper time for everything.

Gardening Miss-Lou Style is written by Traci Maier of Natchez. She can be reached by writing to: Gardening Miss-Lou Style, c/o The Natchez Democrat, P.O. Box 1447, Natchez, Miss., 39120 or by e-mail at ratmaier@iamerica.net.