Cooking greens used to mean just spinach to me. Thank goodness I've since come to love the heftier greens, like kale and collards, or my green season would be over in May. My latest obsession is with Swiss Chard. I like the heartier texture, the beautiful colors and the mild, sharp flavor.

Swiss chard, also known as silver beet and many other derivations of something or other-beet, couldn't be easier to grow. It starts out early in the season and sticks around until after frost. Chard is one of those wonderful vegetables that lets you cut a few leaves for dinner and then regrows itself for tomorrow's lunch. Well, almost. It is a very fast grower. It's also delicious.

Growing Swiss Chard
Growing Greens (and Reds...)

Photo: © Marie Iannotti

I have many roses in my garden, but most of them were chosen for their hardiness and disease resistance. So I am always struck by the intense perfume of my David Austin English Rose 'Jude the Obscure'. I know when it's in bloom before I even round the corner where it reigns. In this age where so many plants are bred for "improvements", it's such a treat to stumble upon plants that retain the scents that childhood memories are made of. I do hope you have some fragrant flowers in your garden. I've pulled together some tips for getting the most from your Fragrant Flowers. Have a favorite to suggest? Add your favorite fragrant plants to our list.

Photo: © Marie Iannotti

A lot of my plants are blooming a little early this year, but the strawberries seem to be right on schedule. I grew a dozen plants in an upside-down container, but it has split open after a couple of days of incessant raining. I guess I'll have to find a spot in the ground for the plants.

I like growing several different varieties, to prolong my season. The day neutral berries, like Seascape, Tribute and Tristar, produce berries intermittently throughout the summer. They're a little smaller than June bearing berries, but you get a prolonged harvest. You could also plant a couple each of early season (Earliglow), mid-season (Honeoye, Jewel) and late season (Cabot, Sparkle) varieties and keep the harvest going that way. I like that method because if we have a tough month, I don't lose my only chance to have strawberries.

• Choosing Strawberries

Photo: Abid Katib / Getty Images News

I've been watching the Cornell Lab of Ornithology webcams for the past week, as great blue heron and red-tailed hawk eggs hatched. It's been fascinating watching the parents feed, shelter and protect their little fuzz balls. I also had an up-close encounter. A pair of cardinals like to nest in the yew shrub, in front of my house. You can see how close they are to the windowsill. The cardinals are empty nesters now, but they haven't gone far.

I love having all types of birds in the yard, although it can get a little LOUD in the early morning. I try and provide an environment to attract birds, including food, water and shelter. I even leave the overgrown yew out front, because I know the cardinals like it. If your yard could use a little more bird song, here are some tips from Melissa Mayntz, our Guide to Wild Birds.

• Design a Bird Friendly Landscape
• 4 Requirements for Attracting More Birds
• Best Ways to Provide Water for Birds

  Photo: © Marie Iannotti