The bliss-for-three-weeks-a-year viburnum is done, leaving ah-well room for the lilacs, another group of one-trick ponies sent to drive gardeners mad. The nameless gift seedling from Bill’s friend Joe is now a hunky adolescent with several gorgeous deep purple blooms, so of course instead of being grateful all I can think of is “how can I have more?” The last spot sunny enough to support them is being devoted to highbush blueberries; we don’t intend to net them, so the birds will get all the fruit, but at least they’ll give us fall color in addition to spring blooms, which is more than the lilacs can say.

THIS WEEK’S GARDEN TIPS: let’s make this “be kind to your houseplants week.” It’s so wonderful to be outdoors, and there’s so much to do in the garden it’s easy to neglect the greenery that got you through the winter. Not fair. Tropical plants long for fresh air too, they just need to be introduced to it gradually. Set them outside in shade for a few more hours each day until the weather is warm and they can take partial sun. Protect them from wind, which can do as much damage as frost. Repot if they are overcrowded; cut back lanky stems; give the leaves a gentle shower. Let them know you care for a couple of weeks now and then you can totally neglect them until the end of the summer.

If you don’t have coriander as a weed yet, this is the time to get started. Sprinkle some seed into open spots now, then let a few plants go to seed so they can plant themselves. Use bulk seed from the spice department - it’s much less expensive than the stuff in packets.