This spring has been special -- lovely days and cool but not freezing nights. The weather has motivated lots of us to get out into the garden earlier than ever, which means we're done with clean-up and ready to plant.

This is our annual list of what's new and interesting at area nurseries and garden centers, compiled from information supplied by them. Check out the list and get growing!

Big Sewickley Creek Greenhouse, 2639 Big Sewickley Creek Road, Franklin Park. 724-935-8500. Hours: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Mon.-Sat.; 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sun.

A large, handicapped-accessible greenhouse filled with all types and colors of annuals and tropicals, lots of perennials, small trees and shrubs, hundreds of hanging baskets and many types of vegetables and herbs. Also, Uwharrie outdoor furniture, containers, hand-thrown garden pots, hand tools, decorative arbors and trellises and other decorative garden accessories.

Brenckle's Farm and Greenhouse, 3814 Mt. Troy Road, Reserve. 412-821-2566. Hours: 9 a.m.-8 p.m. Mon.-Sat.; 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sun. (Other location: 543 Evans City Road, Butler. 724-482-2353)

A huge selection of types and colors of annuals, hundreds of large hanging baskets, many interesting tropicals for containers and lots of vegetables, including peppers, tomatoes and herbs. Also, a selection of larger perennials and unique containers and garden ornaments. A selection of small trees and shrubs and lots of roses.

Chapon's Greenhouses, 4846 Streets Run Road, Baldwin Borough. 412-881-1520. Hours: 8 a.m.-9 p.m. Mon.-Sat.; 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Sun.

Garden element series of premium annuals; Tri-color Japanese maple 'Shirazz'; Gold Series tropical hibiscus; 'Knock Out' and 'New Pink Double' roses; 'Pinky Winky,' 'Blushing Bride' and 'Endless Summer' hydrangeas; Dr. Earth Organic plant food and a new selection of self-watering pots.

Franklin Nursery, 2437 Rochester Road, Franklin Park. 412-366-8765. Hours: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Tues.-Sat; 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Sun. Closed Monday.

Trees: Acer palmatum 'Red Dragon' and 'Blue Artic' willow. Perennials and shrubs: 'Double Pink Knock Out' Rose, Heuchera 'Marmalade,' variegated pachysandra and Renne garden seeds.

G.W. Kleber & Sons Nursery, 690 Sandy Hill Lane, Valencia. 724-443-0947. Hours: 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Mon.-Sat.; until 7 p.m. Tues., Thurs; 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Sun.

Japanese maples, ornamental evergreens, specialty grafted items, flowering trees, shade trees with great fall color such as 'October Glory,' 'Red Sunset' and 'Autumn Blaze' maples, Canadian hemlocks and 'Snowfountain' weeping cherry. Also, many types of rhododendrons, hydrangeas, ornamental grasses and fragrant viburnums.

Hahn Nursery, 5443 Babcock Blvd., Ross. 412-635-7475. Hours: 9 a.m.-8 p.m. Mon.-Fri.; 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Sat.; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sun.

Forsythia 'Magical Gold', blue dwarf Alberta spruce, 'Crimson Pointe' ornamental flowering plum and Dianella for containers. New from Monrovia Growers: an organic line of fertilizer, soil amendments and potting soils.

Hothouse Floral, 24 Hothouse Lane, Washington, Pa. 724-222-1330. 9 a.m.-7:30 p.m. daily.

Annuals: 'Tuscany' series verbena, 'Cova' series vinca, 'Senorita Roselita' cleome; 'Luscious Grape' lantana and 'Patriot Orange' geranium. Perennials: 'April in Paris', 'Dream Come True' and 'Mardi Gras' roses.

Hothouse Landscape and Water Gardening, 24 Hothouse Lane, Washington, Pa. 724-222-6739. Hours: 10 a.m.-6:30 p.m. Wed.-Sun.; closed Mon. and Tues.

Shrubs: 'French Lace' weigela, 'Nikko Dooley' hydrangea and Siberian cypress. Water garden: 'Black Princess' hardy water lilies, Japanese variegated water iris, 5- to 6-inch butterfly koi. Also, decorative landscape and pond boulders and evergreen fertilizer spikes.

Iannetti's Garden Center, 728 Steubenville Pike, Burgettstown. 724-729-3500. Hours: 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Mon.-Fri.; 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Sat.; 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sun.

A great variety of annuals, perennials, trees and shrubs including 'Knock Out' and 'Double Knock Out' roses, flowering deciduous shrubs trained on standards, evergreen topiaries and many Japanese maples. Annuals: 'Easy Wave' and 'Shock Wave' petunias and heirloom vegetables. Perennials: 'Pink Lace' monarda; 'Midnight Rose' heuchera and 'Roseanne' geranium.

Kaelin Farm Market, 2547 Brandt School Road, Franklin Park. 724-935-6780. Hours: 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Mon.-Fri.; 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Sat.-Sun.

Annuals: 'Caribbean Sunset' cuphia, 'Grand Panay' dahlia, 'Linde Armstrong' cleome and 'Santa Barbara' salvia.

Perennials: 'Cortaderia' -- a compact pampas grass; 'Showstar' astilbe; and 'Wineberry Candy' daylily.

LMS Greenhouse & Nursery, 3312 Wagner Road, Hampton. 412-767-7020. Hours: 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Mon.-Sat.; noon-5 p.m. Sun. (through June, then closed Sundays)

Perennials: Mukdenia rossii 'Karasuba' and 'Remember Me' hosta.

Annuals: new dwarf varieties of cannas; 'Savitzii' abutilon; 'Punky Violet Moon' torenia.

Trees: 'Crimson Pointe' ornamental plum; Seven son flower (Heptacodium); 'Shirazz' and many other varieties of Japanese maples.

Lake Forest Gardens, 737 Chapel Drive, Fombell. 724-758-5706. Hours: 8 a.m.- 4:30 p.m. Mon.-Fri.; 8 a.m.- 3:30 p.m. Sat.; closed Sun.

Many varieties of shade trees ranging from 1¹/₂ to 3¹/₂-inch caliper; a large line of perennials and ornamental shrubbery and a selection of pines, spruce and arborvitae.

North Hills Water Garden, 1615 Babcock Blvd., Shaler. 412-821-6525. Hours: 8 a.m.-8 p.m. Mon.-Fri.; 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Sat.; 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sun.

Koi, goldfish and Shebunkin, an algae high fin pond shark fish and a new Tetra fish food called Koi Excellence. Also, fountains from Henri Studios, Steelers concrete garden benches and lots of water garden plants and accessories.

Plant-It-Earth, 1462 Ryan Road, Homer City. 724-479-0808. Hours: 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Mon.-Sat.; 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Sun.

Perennials: 'Villarosa' series heuchera, 'Foxy Lady' veronica, 'Mr. Morse' brunnera, 'Green Envy' echinacea and 'Chocolate Stars' corydalis. Also, a large selection of Proven Winners specialty annuals including Osteospermum daisies and blue Bacopa and more than 20 varieties of succulents for living wreaths.

Plumline Nursery, 4151 Logan Ferry Road, Murrysville. 724-327-6775. Hours: 8 a.m.-8 p.m. Mon.-Fri.; 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Sat.; 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sun.

Trees and shrubs: 'Shaina' Japanese maple, 'My Monet' weigela, 'Sutherland Gold' sambucus, 'Capistrano' rhododendron, 'Golden Ghost' variegated Japanese red pine; 'Taylor's Sunburst' Pinus contorta; 'Gumball' sweetgum; and Seven son flower (Heptacodium). Garden accessories include new statuary and fountains.

Reilly's Garden Center, 1120 Roosevelt Road, Ohio Township. 412-364-8662. Hours: 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Mon.-Sat.; 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sun.

Annuals and tropicals: 'Capo Blanco' sedum, 'Fireworks' pennisetum, 'Pink Sunburst' canna and 'Flap Jacks' kalanchoe.

Shrubs: Flowering raspberry, beach plum (Prunus maritime), 'Sunny Knock Out' rose and 'Forever and Ever' hydrangea.

Perennials: Corydalis, 'Concord Grape' tradescantia; Clematis x durandii; Trollius chinensis 'Goldkonigin.' Tools include the Leonard Soil knife.

Soergel Garden Center, 2573 Brandt School Road, Franklin Park. 724-935-2090. Hours: 9 a.m.-7:30 p.m. Mon.-Fri.; 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Sat., Sun.

'Sea Star' sedum, 'Joey' pink mulla mulla (Ptilotus exaltatus), tree peonies and many varieties of heuchera. Also, a wide selection of pottery, garden ornaments and shrubs and annuals.

Stonebridge Farm, 2 Merriman Road, Economy. 724-266-7312. Hours: 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Tues.-Sat.; 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sun.

Herbs: scented geraniums, eight varieties of basil; calendula and lemon verbena.

Vegetables: heirloom tomatoes, leaf lettuce and a selection of peppers.

Vines: Six varieties of sweet peas; morning glories including 'Moon Vine.'

Annuals: sunflowers, both short and tall; 'Baby Wing Pink' and 'Baby Wing White' begonias; 'Double Click' cosmos; and five varieties of annual Rudbeckia including 'Cherokee Sunset' and 'Prairie Sun.'

Sugar Run Nursery, 1419 Sugar Run Road, Venetia. 724-348-6050. Hours: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Mon.-Fri.; 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Sat., Sun.

Trees and shrubs: 'Snow Storm' spirea; 'Butterflies' and 'Coral Lake' magnolias; 'Double Knock Out' and 'Home Run' roses on standard; 'Hearts of Gold' and 'Don Egolf' redbud; Leptodermis; 'Quick Fire' and 'Penny Mac' hydrangeas; 'Waterfall', 'Full Moon', 'Katsura', lion's head and other Japanese maples.

Sylvania Natives, Ira Way, Squirrel Hill. 412-596-4989. Hours: noon to 5 p.m. Sun., Mon., Wed., Thurs. and Fri.

Native trees and shrubs: Pagoda dogwood, American hornbeam, highbush cranberry, red-berried and blue-berried elders and lowbush blueberry.

Perennials: Blue woodland phlox, yellow celedine poppy, creeping ground mint and Jack-in-the-pulpit.

Trax Farms, 528 Trax Road, Finleyville, Pa. 412-835-3246. Hours: 9 a.m.-8 p.m. Mon.-Sat.; 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Sun.

Shrubs and perennials: 'Sunny Knock Out' and 'Rainbow Knock Out' roses, 'Forever & Ever' hydrangea, 'Dream Catcher' beauty bush, Whipcord Western red cedar, 'My Monet' weigela, 'Snowberry' coreopsis, 'Goldwell' veronica and 'Caramel' and 'Mocha' heuchera.

Also, a large selection of new aquatic plants; indoor plants and unusual herbs and vegetables.

Urban Gardener, 1901 Brighton Road, North Side. 412-323-4769. Hours: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Mon.-Sat.; 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sun. (closed Mondays after June.)

Trees and shrubs: columnar Persian parrotia, 'Diana' Diana larch , cut-leafed horse chestnut, 'Blushing Bride' hydrangea and a selection of deciduous native azaleas.

Annuals and perennials: 'Charmed Velvet' oxalis; 'Red Sensation' cardyline; 'Great Expectations', 'Atlantis' and 'Cathedral Windows' hostas; 'Key Lime Pie' heuchera; 'Pink Pantaloons' campanula ; 'Fragrant Angel' echinacea and 'Fan Rose' and 'Fan Scarlet' lobelia.

Garden accessories: solar-powered walk-way lights and CobraHead weeder.