Even with the very dry winter we've had, our Hellebore paid no attention. This one pictured was planted last year in full shade. Frost and freeze-resistant, this beautiful plant did not die back, nor did its exposed, leathery leaves suffer from cold or lack of water. The blooms began about a month ago and are continuing.

Flowers come in many colors and shapes, including green, deep purple, white, pink, lavender and multicolored. Some flowers resemble wild roses. The flower's sepals stay intact, holding the flower's shape for long periods, sometimes for months on end. Plants with cup-like flowers often hold water; wild song birds can often be seen taking a sip just after rain or watering.

It's been a surprisingly dry winter for the Sierra and Great Basin. So dry, in fact, that gardeners needed to compensate for lact of rain and snow by watering their trees, perennials and lawns from time to time during the cold winter months. But if your watering efforts were too little, too late, damage and die back, especially with plants that are strangers to the desert to begin with, are probably the inevitable results.

Some plants will survive and recover. Some will die. As the soil begins to warm with night temperatures rising, the damage will become more evident. Many drought tolerant plants -- the yucca, agave, hardy cacti and others -- will probably be just fine. Plants with deeper root systems might send up their new spring growth like nothing strange happened at all. Time will tell.

If you keep a gardening journal with maps for locating and tracking your plants, it will be easier to tell what's been lost. Whatever the case, this is the time of year to work on preparing and improving the soil for the typically hot, dry growing season to come. If there was little water in the winter, we can most definitely expect more of the same for summer.

Right now, though, as the lack of water continues, it's important to add moisture to your soil, especially for your large trees and shrubs, as well as your less drought tolerant perennials. For large trees and shrubs, twice a month, slowly soak the dripline areas (away from the trunk toward the outer edges of their branches), at least to a depth of 8 inches. Do this slowly so that the water does not run off, but rather soaks in.

'Tis the season for short and sometimes dark days, long and always darker nights, short tempers at long traffic jams, unbelievable Santa's Ringing Bells with glazed faces hiding behind sagging, dirty beards and more unbelievable and horrid Christmas carols like Jingle Bells and Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, and while I'm on the subject. Why on Gods great earth do famous stars keep trying to improve on the unimproveable?????? All these things, and more getting you down? You may be suffering from light deprivation. Take solace in the solstice. The days are getting longer, Someday maybe our traffic lights will be synchronized, The bad Santa's and the worse music will be gone for another year. A green fix may help. Check out our slide shows, they're cool. Grab some catalogs and think about what you may like to plant this spring. Let us know if you would like us to keep an eye peeled for plants that may be on your wish list. In the meantime keep the spirit of the season in mind when confronted by these annoying things and think good thoughts. I find that a couple of cocktails help immensely. On that note I'll be wishing you and yours a highly irreverent yet sincere merry holiday of goodwill toward men and a good new year....... Now, where's that damn drink I ordered? The service here is awful.