What a roller coaster of a month April was weather-wise. But the fact remains that May is the pivotal month of the entire gardening year. We have a huge bunch of great information to help you enjoy it even more. I hope you find what we've prepared to be useful, and I hope that you'll share it with other gardeners you know. Click forward at the bottom of this e-mail to share us with others.

This may look like a child's jungle gym, but it's actually the best plant that I ever bought. I'll tell you the story of its life in my garden. Please click for details.

Welcome to one of e-gardens' most popular spots -- the garden's equivalent of the office drinking fountain. Neil answers six or eight questions of the greatest reader interest here each month. Click to send your question and your photo. (Neil requires them here.) Here are his answers to this month's questions.

What makes May "the pivotal month in Texas gardening"? It's because there are many things to be done now that it's warm, but before Texas turns hot. For most of Texas, May is that time. We give you the most critical tasks.

Looking for color in a shady part of your landscape? This one is a little off-the-traveled path, but it's a great candidate more people should try. We have more details.

Mike Shoup of the Antique Rose Emporium delights in rose exhibitions that feature fragrance categories. Read this month's article about his favorite fragrant roses.

Our native son recalls a day spent "riding shotgun" with Neil Sperry. Read Steven Chamblee's story of their visits to points west and his reunion with an old plant friend.

This has turned out to be the best magazine offer we've had in maybe 10 years, and our posters are the reason. Get all four handsome, information-packed posters AND a 1-yr. new or renewal subscription to our magazine -- all for only $34 plus $3 postage (a $71.95 value!). The large posters cover the best landscape plants, best annuals, best perennials and all known crape myrtles. They're like books converted to huge charts. Order today!

If you're an avid rose grower, you need to be on the lookout for a fatal virus that is showing up more and more often in Texas rose gardens. Rose rosette must be addressed as soon as it's evident. This large landscape bed should be removed immediately. Here are the details.

On the radio for sure. Facebook, also for sure. In his magazine and lots of newspapers as well. As mentioned elsewhere, on DigIn DFW TV. Reworking his website. And, if things go as he's planned, out in the garden enjoying a fabulous time of the year. Click to see where Neil was standing when this photo was taken.

Here are the facts about that magnificent oak, the bur oak! This month Steve Houser of Arborilogical Services continues his series on top-rated shade trees, and also invites readers to arborists' upcoming Texas Tree Climbing Competition.

Staff members who test plants in the Dallas Arboretum's Trial Gardens have found a summer-embracing begonia that still reminds them of "the ones that grandma used to grow." Read Jenny Wegley's article about 'Heat Elite' and 'Stara' begonias.

The May/June issue of Neil Sperry's GARDENS Magazine is filled with articles about flowers, foliage, and design ideas for warm-weather gardens. Click here to read Neil's article about his favorite shade-blooming shrub.

Spring adventures in the garden continue for both children and adults this month across the state. See our Events Calendar for a listing of garden tours, classes, and special events near you.

Our television program that showcases gardening in the Metroplex part of North Texas is back on the air for another season. Set the DVR for KTVT CBS Channel 11, Sunday mornings at 6:30. Punch "record series" and join us as we celebrate gardening here in Texas. Selected segments of past programs are available on my website.

If you were watching my Facebook page last week, you saw a request for advice. What happened was really amazing to me. This was the first photo. We have the rest of the story.

The McKinney SPCA of Texas announces a special opportunity for residents to have their dogs spayed or neutered, vaccinated, and microchipped. Read about Project Snip, and learn about four DFW pets who need new homes.

You probably have a bunch of friends. Whether they're die-hard gardeners or just people who enjoy keeping up with their part of nature, we'd love to have them. In fact, if you'll click here, we have a small piece you can copy and paste into Facebook or Twitter. Now, picture us giving you a big handshake of thanks!

We've done it! We've sent you another fact-packed edition of e-gardens, and hopefully it's going to make you a better and more successful plant person for at least one additional month. And that's why we'll meet again, right here same time, same computer (perhaps) next month.

Until then, thanks for reading ...

And happy gardening!

Neil Sperry