Although the temperature outside is still dipping pretty low, here in the Denver area, we're already starting to experience some warm and sunny, springlike days. Yes, although it's still officially a full two months away, spring is definitely in the air. While it's a bit too early to start any major planting, late January and early February is a great time to begin making plans for your spring gardens. Use this checklist to start planning now for beautiful springtime blooms:

Make a Chores List: First, identify any major gardening jobs you know you'll have to complete before you can begin your gardening. Are there lots of fallen branches cluttering the yard, or other casualties of winter storms? Do you know your lawn will need aerating, or that your garden soil will need some compost added to it? Did your garden spot become a weed crop at the end of last summer? Make a list of these big jobs now so that you'll be ready to complete them as soon as the weather allows.

Make a Dreams List: Now that you know what you need to do, take some time to think about what you want to do. Gardening is a commitment that means long hours of hard work, and it's disappointing when you realize you've poured a ton of energy into a garden that you don't really like. Come up with a list of gardening dreams. Have you always wanted a trellis covered in vines? Do you wish you had a garden of fresh culinary herbs to spice up both your cooking and your gardening? Decide what you really want from your garden, and identify the steps involved in making it happen. Planning ahead has a way of making our dreams come true.

Identify Trouble Spots: Are there areas of your yard or garden space that really bug you? Are there places that are horribly overgrown, covered in leaves and other debris, fraught with briars, or just plain ugly? Identify these trouble spots now, make a plan, and be ready to strategically defeat these challenges come spring. Transforming your least favorite parts of the yard is an empowering experience.

The best part of planning your spring gardening now is the inspiration and promise it can bring. It might still be a long time until we can push those first seeds into the freshly warm earth, but thinking about it sure does make the cold days in the meantime a little brighter!