It is the third week of November and if you have not cut back and protected tender plants such as dahlias, cannas, bananas and glads then this is your last chance to save these summer bloomers before a deep freeze turns their roots to mush.

There are also some plants not to cut back at this late date. Do not chop hardy fuchsias, sage or salvias, hebes, roses or any other rather tender plant material now. Pruning always stimulates growth and this is the month you want your plants to go fast asleep.

The third week of November is also a time to give thanks. If you are lucky enough to live in Western Washington you probably realize we can grow a wide range of plant material in our mild, moist climate. What you may not realize is that we have a wide range of nurseries in our zone as well.

This week, consider what gardeners in other parts of the country must deal with and take a moment to bow down to Washington:

Be Thankful You don’t Garden in Texas

Drought, dust storms and intense summer heat means you won’t find many fuchsias or ferns but you will find Texas rattlesnakes and horny toads. Besides that you’re expected to wear cowboy boots outdoors – not nearly as comfortable as the plastic garden clogs we get to slip on before weeding or watering.

Be Thankful you don’t Garden in New York City

Prices are higher and people move more quickly but what would really drive a gardener mad is the price of any outdoor space in the Big Apple. The skyscrapers of any large city block sunlight from plant life and create wind tunnels that suck the life right out of tender flowering plants. The extra noise, crime and litter are signs that NYC could benefit from more gardens and less traffic but this big city is one place you won’t find a cheap source of moo doo – or even a moo.

Be Thankful You Don’t Garden in Los Angeles

Talk is cheap but water is expensive in Tinsel Town. Gardens may get plenty of sunshine but gardeners must use plenty of sun block and also invest in multiple pairs of sunglasses. If the heat doesn’t wilt your plants the spider mites will. The soil is sandy in LA and not naturally acid so gardeners struggle to grow a decent azalea, rhododendron or camellia. Yuccas grow great all over California – and yuccas come equipped with a pointy barb at the end of each leaf just waiting to inflict pain on unsuspecting gardeners.

Be Thankful You Don’t Garden in New Orleans, Florida, or Alabama…..

The Deep South may be rich with the scent of gardenias but you won’t be welcoming spring with tulips and daffodils – unless you store these spring blooming bulbs in the refrigerator for a few months. Gardeners also battle June Beetles, spider mites, cinch bugs and snails that make l the pathways crunchy after a rain storm.

Be Thankful you Do Garden in Western Washington

There is no place in the world that grows more beautiful rhododendrons, fuchsias, delphiniums, or ferns. We also enjoy fall color, winter wonderlands and spring flowering bulbs that will return year after year. Western Washington also grows the best tasting blueberries, raspberries and blackberries, we can harvest several crops of lettuce and spinach in a single summer and Swiss Chard will overwinter and act like a perennial.

This week give thanks if you have a yard, balcony or windowsill and can enjoy the wonder of plants.

Marianne Binetti is a guest columnist for the Reporter.