I’ve never been a pansy person. Sure, they’re cute and all. But I’ve never really had a need for their sweet, silly faces in my garden. Until this year.

Pansies are among the handful of pretty flowering plants that can really take the cold. And they’re easy to find. And they’re cheap.

And so, I’ve got a potfull of pansies in the porch and another, bigger one by the front steps. Even though they look sweet and sorta silly, they look a heckuva lot better than the browned-out evergreens I had in those pots.

And my mood’s improved. Just planting a pot of pansies gave me faith that spring really is just around the corner.

Ugh. Snow. I know it’s good for the garden, but, after six months of flurries, flakes and frozen sidewalks, this dreary weather is rather soul crushing.

However, feeling sorry for yourself is not on this weekend’s to-do list. Our yards may be blanketed in white, but that doesn’t mean we can’t get out and get some green. Spring is closer than you think, literally.

Go see “Bob” at the Como Park Conservatory
It’s not as big as last year’s bloom at Gustavus Adolphus College, but “Bob” the corpse flower promises to be just as stinky. As of 2007, only 122 of the plants have been known to bloom worldwide. After a quick whiff, you can cleanse your palette in the cool fern room or the beautiful sunken garden.

Pastries and pansies at Patrick’s
Patrick’s Bakery and Cafe is one of the best things about Bachman’s on Lyndale Avenue. Order a handmade brioche, grab a table in the greenhouse, and enjoy the view. Retail therapy is a great way to beat the winter blues. Don’t forget to peruse their great selection of patio pots, pansies and more. You totally deserve a new pair of gardening gloves. Yes, you do.

Journey to another universe, the Nickelodeon Universe
I have a love-hate relationship with Bloomington’s shopping and entertainment behemoth, Mall of America. I’d rather gnaw off my arm than brave the weekend crowds. However, desperate times call for desperate measures. Nickelodeon Universe has some great indoor “gardens.” You don’t need to be a toddler to get down with SpongeBob and some Dippin’ Dots.

Here kitty kitty
Tie one on at the Kitty Kat Klub (You’ll need a drink after a day at MOA, trust me). The place is full of tall ficus trees strung with holiday lights. Curl up in a corner with a cutie and cocktail — It’s almost as good as outdoor patio seating. Almost.

However you spend you weekend, don’t let the weather get you down. There is no need to go crazy and adhere googly eyes on your houseplants. No. No. No. (If the video player doesn’t load, go here.)

Hopefully, this latest snow shouldn’t do too much damage to our yards and gardens. Plants that pop early can usually handle the cold. However, if the snow piles up and gets heavy, we could see some plants fold under the weight.

Here are some spring storm survival tips:

Trees and shrubs should be able to weather the weather. But if several inches of heavy, wet snow build up on evergreens or other shrubs and trees, you can gently shake it free with a rake. Though the branches should be less brittle than they were in winter, a load of wet snow combined with high winds could cause some branches to deeply bend or even break.

Don’t bother to cover emerging plants with blankets. They’ll only get soggy and wet. If you’ve got a couple precious plants that are several inches out of the ground, you can try covering them with a box or garbage can, but most plants should spring back after the snow melts.

When (if) you shovel, take care not to throw shovelsfull of heavy snow onto plants poking out along your sidewalks or driveway. You could break tender stems, which would cut back on this year’s blooms.

Finally, remember that spring snows don’t last. With any luck, this will turn into nothing but a memory — and dash of soil moisture — in a couple days.

Look out your window? What do you see besides the snow? Could it be? Why, yes, it is! It’s the Greengirls! Your favorite (second favorite? third favorite? In the top 10?) garden bloggers!

This is no April Fools Day joke. We’ve earmarked our seed catalogs, ordered more than we can possibly plant, and can’t wait to hear about your spring plans.

As soon as the snow melts, Jaime (the original Greengirl) is going to dig up more of her yard and plant some early veggies and some ornamentals including Himalayan blue poppies.

City-girl-turned-country-farmer Robyn already has her chickens. (Now all she needs is a coop.)

And me? Lazy gardener that I am, I’m planning to rip out the overgrown shrubs that have engulfed my house and plant something lovely. (Not sure what quite yet. Any suggestions?)

In our fourth season on the blog, we’ll be telling tales fresh from our gardens and asking you to share stories from yours. We’ll also be introducing a Gardener of the Week feature, a mini-profile of local garden all-stars (send your nominations to greengirls@startribune.com).

Since you can’t get out in your garden now (unless you shovel your way there), tell us what you’ve got planned this winter wonderland!

Isn’t this the best time in the garden? Things are in bloom. Other than weed and water, there aren’t a whole lot of chores that need to be done. Heck, there aren’t even very many mosquitoes! Not a bad summer, all in all.

I know it’s still awfully dry. And that the heat has been hurrying plants along a little. Some folks say we’re about two weeks ahead of schedule for bloom times. Other folks say we’re right on schedule.

What do you say? Are your flowers popping early and fading fast? Are your tomatoes ripening by the bushel? Or is your garden doing what it always does?