I was all excited on Friday because I saw a flower on one of my tomato plants.

Finally, it pays to have an ugly yard.

Q: Why am I seeing box elder bugs in my house already? Is it going to be a really bad year for them?

People like to complain about the new fluorescent light bulbs. The light isn't warm and friendly, the spiral bulbs don't fit their fixtures, and they don't last as long as claimed. But the biggest gripe I've heard is how hard it is to unload these bulbs, and that you have to pay for the privilege.

AKRON, Ohio In our throwaway society, Anthony Bologna is an anomaly.

A noncaustic cleaner that promises to remove mold, moss and mildew from outdoor surfaces without scrubbing has crossed the Pacific to America.

Q. To cut down on the amount of lawn that has to be mowed and make the front yard look better in winter, I am going to start preparing some new beds for shrubs and perennials now so I can plant in the fall. I would like 1 or 2 kinds of shrubs, preferably evergreen, that will stay under 3 or 4 feet or that can be cut back to be that size without spoiling the plants' look. Any suggestions?

My peas are sprouting!

I'm a little discouraged today.

Q: We went on a ski trip to Colorado this winter and absolutely loved the big sunroom at our hotel. We felt terrific sitting in it on a bright sunny day, and I'm really going to miss this wonderful room with its terrific windows when we go back home to Alabama. My husband is concerned, though, that a room like this would be a huge energy liability in our hot climate. Shades and blinds would kill the whole effect, so what do you think of a glass-room like this in the south?

Everyone is pulling cool-season annuals from mixed containers and looking for plants to make a dramatic, warm-season impact. I am seeing a revival of geranium use in containers and in much more creative combinations than I had ever considered.

WHAT'S NEW: SPRAY PRODUCT LOOSENS SOIL

Q: I understand that compact fluorescent lights (CFL) don't work in cold weather. So what I am supposed to use in my unheated garage and outdoor light fixtures?

Go ahead. Admit it. You're more likely to buy booze with alluring labels instead of plain Jane numbers. At least when you buy Snow Queen Vodka, you're not only getting a fetching label, you're getting a smooth, delicious, organic libation to boot.

As daffodils and other bulbs' early spring blooms fade, remove the flowers but leave the foliage intact. While still green, those leaves are providing nourishment for next year's flowers. Remove the leaves only after they turn yellow or brown, which can take several weeks or more.

Q. My lovely, large lace-leaf Japanese maple appears not to have survived the winter. Last spring's late freeze killed most of its new leaves and it never regained its full lush. I was preparing to remove the remains when I noticed several shoots emerging from the main trunk. Is there hope? What should I do?

If you've never made a pillow before, "The Pillow Book" (Chronicle Books, $24.95), by Shannon Okey with photos by Gemma Comas, is a good place to start.

SANTA ANA, Calif. The Newport Beach keeper of the John Wayne brand hopes to introduce home furnishings and accessories under the late Western movie star's name in one to two years.