This will be the 11th year I've held the Post-Gazette Backyard Gardener Plant Swap. Although there's some dispute with participants about how many years this has been going on. The first couple seasons I actually held the event at my house. It quickly grew and that's when we moved to North Park.

On Sunday June 16th, 2013 the event will be held in North Park across from the Skating Rink on Pearce Mill Road from 12 noon until 2 p.m.

Bring divisions from your garden to trade with other gardeners. Be sure plants are labelled and please don't bring anything invasive.

Thousands of gardeners attend every year and it's a wonderful opportunity to meet like minded people.

I'll also be giving away 'Limbaugh Legacy Potato Top' tomato plants. The Pittsburgh heirloom tomato was introduced to me by the late Fred Limbaugh, here's the whole story. The plants produce large (1-2pound), pink and meaty tomatoes.

Usually they are the last fruit picked in the garden, so grow other varieties too. There are a limited supply of plants, they will be given away on a first come, first serve basis, one to a family please.

Mindy Schwartz of Garden Dreams Urban Farm and Nursery in Wilkinsburg will have lots of plants to give-a-way too.

Here's a video that captures the fun and camaraderie of the event from a couple years ago.

Hope to see you there!

I don't think any photographer can pass up the garden after a spring rain. I know I can't.

There's just something about the way the flowers and vegetables look. All the spring plants thrive on this early season rain.

It's fun to explore the garden on gray days.

As always, I love to get close to the flowers.

Violas and pansies love cool, spring rain. Photos by Doug Oster

Tulips come in many shapes and sizes.

These tulips grow in the fenced vegetable garden. Since I'm a no till gardener, I'll simply put some compost down and plant tomatoes in the same bed. I'll start putting tomatoes in the garden around May 15th and will continue planting through July.

Looking forward to seeing this tulip bloom, I can't remember which variety it is.

'Shirley' is a pretty tulip. It reminds me of a friend who shares the same name. That's why I planted it.

Garlic greens hold on to a fat droplet of rain.

An azalea just outside of the living room picture window prepares to bloom.

This is a lettuce mix from Renee's Seeds called 'European Reds and Greens.' I can't wait to try it in a salad.

'Sir Winston Churchill' daffodil is beautiful and fragrant. Photos by Doug Oster

I can't remember how I discovered 'Sir Winston Churchill' daffodil.

It's been growing in my garden for 10 years and add some bulbs each season. It's a late bloomer, long bloomer and smells like gardenias.

The multi-flowering stems are sturdy happily holding the blooms erect. Many daffodils will thrive with a little shade, but 'Sir Winston Churchill' is better off planting out in the open.

 Even though the trees aren't fully leafed out when they flower, the foliage is looking for full sun.

The fragrance is intoxicating and when planted in mass a spring breeze will fill the air with the most marvelous aroma.

Fall might seem like a long way off, but as I constantly preach, gardeners should be planning right now for bulb season. This is when you can see what's missing.

Put 'Sir Winston Churchill' on your planting list for the end of the season. Next spring you'll be rewarded with beautiful flowers which will fill and vase and then in turn, the house with the smell of gardenias.

This honey bee knows, the fragrance of 'Sir Winston Churchill' daffodil is intoxicating.

J.C. Penney might be floundering financially, in the wake of its $552 million net loss in the fourth quarter and the recent departure of former CEO Ron Johnson. But its fashion and beauty offerings continue to improve as the retailer adds designs by some of the industry's biggest names (Nanette Lepore, Duro Olowu and Marchesa, for example) to its inventory.

Its latest venture is an amped-up jewelry department called The Bijoux Bar, which will feature modestly priced pieces by some of the accessory world's top names, including Kara Ross, Kenneth Jay Lane and Lana Bramlette.

It rolls out in stores starting today, or shop the collections online at www.jcp.com.

Here's a a look at some pieces from the collection (Pictured above: Downtown by Lana hexagon disc necklace/J.C. Penney) ...

 KJL by Kenneth Jay Lane goldtone octopus ring.

Dom by Dominique Cohen charm necklace. 

Rodrigo-Brave star cuff.

Diego Massimo open chain necklace. 

Telio by Doris Panos three-piece ring set.