If cold weather has you down, try a few easy tricks to cheer yourself up with a little color, scent, and greenery.

1. Treat yourself to a new plant.

It’s amazing what a pot of color and scent can do to lift the spirits. In winter in the Midwest, look for “forced” bulbs, such as daffodils and tulips brought to bloom early, Christmas cactus in bloom, cyclamen, kalanchoe, and more.

2. Toss out any struggling houseplants.
Sick houseplants can make you feel worse, not better. Who needs that? Replace them with healthy, lush ones.

While you’re at it, be sure to put them in a pretty ceramic or other planter pot. If they’re small, put several together in a large, shallow pot for an instant indoor spring garden.

3. Create an indoor herb garden on your window sill.

Or, as shown in the photo plant several small herbs in a large dish. (Our dish herb garden contains variegated thyme, basil, cilantro, and tarragon planted in a large white serving bowl.) Snip off bits of fresh herbs directly onto your plate!

 4. Create a bright centerpiece of primulas or mini-cyclamen in a basket or box.

Replant from their plastic pots and fill in with potting soil. Cover the soil, if desired, with stones purchased at a hobby or craft store or surrounded with green or sphagnum moss or other filler.

5. Take the time now to clean up your garage or shed and sharpen your tools.

It may actually convince you that spring is around the corner. If you are an overachiever, paint any wood handles red to help you find them easily on the ground or in a flower bed.

 6. Visit your local botanical center or even take a walk (on a milder day) at an arboretum.

If nothing else, go to a greenhouse and just walk around. Sometimes simply the smell of things growing is enough to lift your mood.

It’s amazing, too, what getting outside for a walk can do and taking in some sunshine and fresh air.

7. Create a  terrarium.

Just about any large glass jar or container will do to create this mini landscape enclosed by glass. Or shop around from one of the elegant mini-conservatories now available. It’s also fun to find a big jar or glass container and make a terrarium in a jar with the kids.

8. Force branches.

Forcing branches basically just cutting lengths of flowering shrubs in late winter and bringing them indoors so they bloom early. In February through March, Iowans can force branches such as forsythia and pussy willows into early bloom indoors for beautiful displays.

 9. Put a bright, springy screensaver onto your computer.

Check your computers screensaver and wallpaper settings. Or search online for free images, especially those billed as computer wallpaper photos since they’ll be high resolution enough to display well and the right dimensions. Or use one of your own! If you don’t know how, simply Google it.

 10. Get organized with a garden journal.

Whether it’s buying yourself a pretty book to take notes, or creating a spreadsheet or running text document on your computer, starting planning, researching, shopping and just generally getting ready for spring cleanup and planting. It makes you realize that it’s actually not very far away!

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