TRIM & TRANSFER: Nip off spent daffodil blooms, but let leaves age naturally; don't tie them in knots, no matter how cute this looks in pictures. If dying tulip leaves are depressing, dig up bulbs with leaves & let them die natural deaths in a remote, sunny bed. Replant bulbs in fall. Or forget the whole thing, toss tulips onto compost after blooming & buy new this fall. I've never been able to do this, but our chipmunks don't leave more than five tulips; they, the tulips, look pathetic, so I intend to move this Fab Five closer to the street in a berm bed. Bulb crazy chippies may meet their Maker under the wheels of some teen driver, or its parent. Sad.

CUT BACK GRASSES: It's already a bit late, new growth here is up more than six inches, but this must be done. Easiest method we've found is to tie a large clump into mini clumps with bungee cords or twine, then take an electric hedge clipper to it down to new growth. Load these clippings into nearby bags unless you like the looks of grassy strands flying all over the place.

CONTINUE PRUNING trees & shrubs until May 15. Cut out dead, crossed, inward growing branches. Leave a little "collar" at the base of the cut. If sawing thicker limbs, coat saw with oil to make cuts smoother. Before cutting any large limb, always undercut before cutting at the top. This prevents ripping strips of bark off trunk as cut limb falls off.

CONSIDER OUR BIRDS: Create a leaf litter area where insect & worm eaters can shuffle around all season. This, coupled with moving or dripping water, will attract migrants. If you get serious about attracting birds, Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology suggests the following: Mulberries (Morus species); Dogwoods (Cornus florida & other species); Crab Apples (Malus species); Serviceberries (Amelanchier species). So much for the deciduous trees. In the coniferous category, they like: Red Cedar (Juniperus virginiana); Spruces (Picea species). And in the shrubs & vines category, the nominees are: Northern Bayberry (Myrica pensylvanica); Staghorn Sumac (Rhus typhina); Viburnums (Viburnum species); Wild Grapes (Vitis species); & Virginia Creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia). (By the by: Maria tells me all of the above were left intact on her property to grow as they will. How great is this!) To join the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, write Membership Dept.,159 Sapsucker Woods Rd., Ithaca, NY 14850 or call (607) 254.2425. Web site: http://birds.cornell.edu. Membership: $35/year.

REMOVE BLACK PLASTIC EDGER: You will never be happy with this -- it heaves, it twists, it is UGLY. Pull it up, roll it up, tie it up in tidy circles, then trash it during this Saturday's, or the following Saturday's Township Trash Roundup. Good. Now buy a half-moon edger & dig ever-so-attractive mini ditches around & along your beds. So very English. So very Grosse Pointe. So neat. So cool. Only needs doing two or three times a season. Tell the head gardener, if he hasn't run off with the cook. Otherwise, do it yourself.

TIRED OF THE SAME OL' SAME OL'? Try something new this season. Check out Saguaro Nursery in Whitmore Lake (734.449.4237). You may also want to check out The Native Plant Nursery in Ann Arbor (734.677.3260) -- they sell by mail & also at Ann Arbor Farmers' Mkt. on Wednesday, Saturday. Another nursery to investigate is: Zone 5 Gardens in Grand Blanc (www.zone5gardens.com) or 810.694.0500.

PLANT EXCHANGE, PLANT EXCHANGE! Saturday, May 25, starting 9A (not a minute earlier) until it's over at the parking lot in the City of the Village of Clarkston. Please bring your excess plants, no matter how obnoxious, somebody will love 'em. Pack them in pots, plastic bags, or boxes. Please label, if only a taped name on the container or inside a bag. This is a great opportunity to meet fellow gardeners, prospective Garden Club members, enhance your gardens, & thin out excess plants. BYO coffee, cameras, seating. Enjoy!

PRIOR & POST EXCHANGE: I have Tricrytis (Japanese Toad Lily), Miscanthus (grass), hosta to give away, share, or trade with any Garden Club member or their families. I am not licensed to sell. If you feel guilty, you can trade equally valuable plants or a nice bottle of wine for whatever you take. Please call for appointment because we are really busy leading cutting edge lives for European Vogue Magazine.

FAREWELL, SORTA: This is my final Hort Report as Chairman. I will assist the new chairman when needed. Your past support, comments & questions have been wonderful. I've had a great time, learned a lot, & hope you have too. I will always be available for your questions.

I remain, Your Torrid Gardener,
Linda Meadors.