GARDEN PLAN: We just wanted to remind readers, it’s about time to start thinking about what you wanted to plant in your gardens this year.

The season always sneaks up on us. It’s hard to think about digging in the ground when it’s still frozen and covered in snow.

How are readers preparing? We’d love to hear tips anyone has to better plan for the growing season. Is anyone planting anything unusual this year?

It’s easier for us to take on a project like gardening if we write down a plan beforehand. We think about what we want to plant and where, then write a schedule, perhaps on a small calendar, reminding us of each task as it needs done.

It helps us to get excited about it, plus it reminds us that spring is on its way.

In addition to getting seeds and bulbs, we also have to do an inventory each year of what supplies we have and what we need.

Here’s a tip we used last year: we started vegetable plants in cups we made out of old newspapers, which we kept in disposable tin pans until it was time to plant them in the ground.

WATCHING BIRDS: Just to give you an update, after writing a column Jan. 21 with tips on getting birds to eat from your bird feeder, we put fresh sunflower seeds in our feeder and sprinkled a bunch on the porch railing so birds could see the seeds.

We saw our first birds at the feeder of our new residence Thursday morning: a chickadee and a junco. Apparently the tips helped.

When we woke up Friday morning, everything was covered with snow, so we might have to start at the beginning again today.

SUPER BOWL: We’re sure none of the big sports fans have forgotten about the most popular football game of the year, but we thought we’d remind the more casual fans.

This Sunday is the Super Bowl XLIX game between the New England Patriots and the Seattle Seahawks.

Readers will have to let us know if they try any new recipes that turn out well at their Super Bowl parties.