If a late freeze happens, I'll count it a small price for the mass killing of the early insects. A late hard frost can make the entire summer more pleasant as their populations take a long time to recover.

Ideal planting conditions are when the soil is moist but not wet, loose enough to be friable (forms large crumbs when you squeeze instead of either compacting (clay) or disintegrating completely (sand), and at least 65 degrees down to the depth you're planting. That can all be a little hard to figure out so here's a couple of really easy rules for those who have oak trees or dogwoods in their neighborhood. Watch what the trees do because they know better than we ever will what the soil is doing.

• Plant perennials (including Hostas) and hardy annuals when the dogwoods bloom.

• Plant more fragile things, like tropical perennials and tender annuals (think impatience and tomatoes) when the new oak leaves are fully formed.

And don't step on the root area until the ground is firmed up!