Spring has officially sprung in the Augusta area, and now that temperatures are likely out of the 40s, it’s time to begin the transition of houseplants to the outdoors.

According to the Georgia Department of Agriculture, nighttime temperatures should be in the 50s on a consistent basis before moving houseplants outdoors. If houseplants are put out too early, a late frost might mean they will have to be brought back indoors.

Gardening enthusiasts are gearing up for next weekend’s Augusta Home and Garden Show at the James Brown Arena, including area master gardeners preparing a booth for the seventh annual show.

Attractions include vendors, informational booths, giveaways, featured speakers and a silent auction. There also will be presentations by Roger Hazard from A&E’s Sell This House and Paul Brown, host of the Discovery Channel’s Auction King. Both will speak Friday and Saturday.

Cutting back big limbs on trees is generally discouraged during the growing season, but winter is an optimal time to prune trees.

The reason winter is a good time to prune trees is because now that the leaves are gone, it’s easier to see the shape of the tree and determine which limbs need to be trimmed back.

Plus, pruning a tree during the growing season presents its own set of problems, particularly because doing so can strip bark off of the trunk, exposing the tree to bug infestation and the elements, which can result in decay.

As families prepare to gather around the table this week, cooks are shopping for all the right ingredients to make their Thanksgiving dinners perfect.

Sometimes finding the best ingredients doesn’t require a trip to the grocery store. The use of fresh herbs from outdoor gardens and kitchen windowsills is becoming commonplace in meal planning.

“It’s good to have herbs in the garden, and better to actually make use of them,” says Master Gardener Mary-Louise Hagler of Augusta.