Spring Is In The Air: Annual Flower And Garden Show On LI Opens Thursday

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Spring is within reach as the annual Flower and Garden Show on Long Island is upon us.

CBS2's Carolyn Gusoff got a sneak peek ahead of Thursday's opening and some tips on how to get ready for spring flowers right now.

Hicks Nurseries is hosting the flower show this year.

"It's going to be a beautiful spring, a heck of a lot better than last year," Nate Jackson, general manager of Hicks Nurseries, told CBS2.

Jackson said that the plants had enough time to rest, even though it felt like an abbreviated winter. He told CBS2 that it's okay to put down mulch, despite snow in the forecast.

"Mulch is fantastic because it holds in the heat of the earth," Jackson said.

Doug Akerley, the COO of the nursery, told CBS2 that it's time to put in early plants.

"The first rotation goes in now with heathers, tulip and forced bulbs. You can plant ranunculus and pansies are the ultimate that everyone loves to plant," Akerley said. "They go in now, they like the cold better than the heat."

Experts say those with green thumbs can borrow ideas from the southwest and across the county by bringing indoor plants outside.

"You can do tropicals and they will live all summer long for you," Jackson told CBS2.

CBS2 reports it's still not safe to plant impatiens.

"My personal opinion, I think there are better things. Begonias perform even better than impatiens – more coverage, more bloom time. And why mess with the risk?" Jackson said.

Last year at this time, the ground was frozen two feet deep. Not so this year.

The Hicks Flower and Garden Show runs through March 20.