Published every year by the University of Minnesota Extension Service, the calendar boasts beautiful photos of Minnesota-grown plants and delivers timely tips for our rather unique climate. Want to know when to prune oak trees? Plant lettuce? Fertilize your lawn? The calendar will tell you when.

In addition to month-by-month tips, it includes more general gardening information (such as average spring frost-free dates and USDA plant hardiness zones) as well as resources for northern gardeners.

A must-have for local green thumbs, the $13.99 calendar is available from the extension office (1-800-876-8636 or go to www.extension.umn.edu), the Minnesota State Horticultural Society (651-643-3601) and some Barnes & Noble bookstores.

CONNIE NELSON

Poinsettia power The festive season is in full bloom at Como Park's Marjorie McNeely Conservatory, where its Sunken Garden has been decked with more than 1,000 poinsettias in a palette of red to pink. This year's Holiday Flower Show has an art theme, featuring poinsettia cultivars named for renowned artists, such as Da Vinci, Monet Twilight, Premium Van Gogh and Premium Picasso.

For those interested in using the display as a backdrop for a family photo, Como is opening the garden before (8-10 a.m.) and after (4-6 p.m.) public hours on Dec. 16, at a cost of $5 per person. The show runs through Jan. 21. 1225 Estabrook Dr., St. Paul. 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

Red poinsettias also add seasonal color to the north wing of the Cowles Conservatory at the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden, 726 Vineland Place, Mpls. 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Tues.-Sat., 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sun.

Meanwhile, the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum has decorated for the holidays using a nature theme. The arboretum's Great Hall features 11 large evergreens hung with ornaments made from natural elements, such as pine cones and birch bark. There's also a "Windows on Winter" display, demonstrating creative winter landscaping and outdoor decorating ideas, such as how to adorn planters with berries, pine cones and birch branches. On Thursdays, admission is free and the arboretum is open until 8 p.m., with informal musical performances at 6 and 7 p.m. and free family craft activities from 5-7 p.m. 3675 Arboretum Dr., Chaska.

KIM PALMER