As we drive out East End Road to go skiing, we often pass our former house at Mile 15, elevation 1,466 feet. The snow cover is to be envied. Yes. Envied. Coveted.

Here at elevation 396 feet, the snow took a melt about two weeks ago. There is little protection from the dangerous freeze and thaw cycle that is soon to be upon us.

Dangerous? Absolutely. There is nothing that will destroy the perennials (those plants that live for years and years, supposedly, hopefully...) faster than a good thaw and then a hard freeze, over and over. March and April are famous for these cycles. The Far North is not forgiving.

In the fall I remove as little of the spent foliage from the perennials as possible. I bend stalks down to cover the root crowns of, for instance, delphinium. I let the leaves lie where they fall. No raking up under the perennial plants. Not neatness. Tidy is not the magic word in the fall. I am banking on this self-mulching method. I have yet to find a mulch material that is tidy enough to satisfy my somewhat fastidious needs.

Last year, in a mad effort to save my perennials from the ravages of the freeze/thaw cycle, I spread straw over all of the beds. Mistake. The March wind screamed out of the northeast and blew that straw to Mt. Augustine. Unfortunately, it did not blow all of it. Vestiges were left all season long. There is still some out there at this very moment. I fear it will never completely go away.

But I am not wringing my hands in anguish just yet. My garden is grossly overplanted. Seems impossible you say. How can anyone have too many plants? Well, here I am. Not only do I have too many, but they are planted willy-nilly, helter-skelter. A rather lovely mess. But a mess nonetheless. If March is truly unkind to my perennials I will have fewer to deal with, harsh as that may sound.

Last fall I refrained from planting any spring flowering bulbs, much as I dearly want waves of anything blooming first thing come spring. Because this spring I will be moving just about everything that I planted five years ago. I will be dividing and, hopefully, conquering. It is all going to be so very much fun. I can hardly wait. March and April can be so very long ....

Take your stored plants, such as fuchsia and geranium, out of their cool, dry and dark area and let them see the light of day. Now is the time to give them water and put them in a sunny window so they can be put on healthy growth and set buds. If your plants have weak white growth, fear not, just nip it all off and let them start again. It will be worth it for both of you.

My geraniums (pelargoniums, if you must) have been residing on a cool window sill all winter. They are the only plants that I hold over. Their immediate need is to be repotted and fed. I have kept them somewhat watered all winter long but now they need more of everything. I really think that a red geranium blooming in a window is the epitome of the pioneer spirit. If you do not have one of these may I urge you to acquire one as soon as they are available. There are geraniums in all shapes and colors but there is something about a red one that just warms the heart.

Now is also an excellent time to take a cutting from your existing geraniums. Just cut off a stem and let the end of it air dry for a few hours. Then pot it into a 4-inch pot with a nice potting soil and keep moist for the duration. Roots will form along the stem and you will have a dandy new geranium to add to your collection or give to a friend. The more the merrier in this case. You can successfully take stem cuttings from fuchsia using the same method.

You need to be gathering your materials, if you have not done so already, for extending the season. I am speaking mostly about vegetable gardening here, something that you know is close to my heart.

Last year I purchased a cold frame and I am still learning how to use it. I took it inside last fall for fear that the snow load would damage it. I am now seriously considering placing it over one of the raised beds in the vegetable garden and getting things warmed up out there. More or less. The ground is still very much frozen and I'm not sure how I will get the legs to penetrate the soil, effectively preventing the whole thing from blowing away.

If you still don't have any greenhouse umbrellas may I suggest that you get going on that. They are available at Lee Valley Garden Tools, P.O. Box 1780, Ogdensburg, New York, 13669-6780, or 1-800-871-8158 or www.leevalley.com. I have yet to see any of these locally available. They cost $17.50 and mine are on their third year.

They have a long central stake that you can push into the ground to secure it. Mine have yet to blow away or even move. They hug the ground and protect seedlings most effectively. They are clear plastic and really warm up the soil fast. I put them in place where I want to plant green beans, for instance. A soil thermometer goes into the ground and when it reads about 60 degrees I go ahead and plant the soaked bean seeds. They germinate quickly and, before I know it, I am putting beans in the freezer. I also use them to cover marginal seedlings like corn and winter squash.

If your garden is not huge you can use these instead of long cloches that often blow apart in the wind. They are wonderful and very, very effective.