Buds are popping up, forsythias are yellow, Branch Brook’s cherry blossoms are in bloom. All good reasons to put a little spring in our steps!

First, we head for World Pottery (www.worldpottery.com) in Montclair. We love the colorful pots from South Africa and Mexico. We can wander through their indoor-outdoor displays and find something to fill every space in our garden or greenhouse.

His still life looks better in real life… you need to see our friend Frank Diaz’s amazing floral photography at the Jacklyn Kling Gallery, also in Montclair. (www.klingarts.com/JKDF/gallery.html). He helps bring the natural world indoors year round.

Buy a great spring dress with flower power. Shop at Princeton’s www.shopzoeonline.com and check out the Rebecca Taylor rosette mini. Or Rozae Nichols' red hot silk floral. Or get the authentic flower power look at the Hippie Shop (www.hippieshop.com), on-line or at their Fairfield warehouse.

Petal over with the bikers at Branch Brook Park in Newark and Belleville (www.branchbrookpark.org) on Saturday, or drop by “Bloomfest 2007” on Sunday. More than 2,000 trees are blooming—more cherry blossoms here than in the nation’s capital!

Make your own greens greener… hire an organic landscaper. There’s a list on www.nofanj.org, the group that represents organic farmers in the state.

Finally, surround yourself with the romantic scent of those fine floral perfume bouquets at Floris (www.florislondon.com) in the Garden State Plaza.

Remember... you never know who may stop by to help your garden grow.