Mother's Day is this Sunday, a day to show off the love and appreciation you feel for your mom, aunt or grandma.

Some extra planning and coordination will surely make her feel special, but by now, I've got it covered: Her favorite restaurant has dinner reservations with her name on it. Her gift is tucked neatly within the folds of tissue paper that line a floral printed gift bag - a heartfelt card rests on top. And an order for a big, bright bouquet of her favorite flower has been placed at the local floral shop for pick-up.

Regardless of the way you decide to celebrate, Mother's Day should highlight that extra bit of appreciation felt for all moms - of course, not to exclude the mother of all things living and green, Mother Nature.

She's the mother to all trees, streams, shrubs and grubs; her beauty and grace deserves your attention throughout all seasons of the year. Although occasionally temperamental, Mother Nature is one to thank for the natural resources available to our ever-growing population: the natural foods we eat the fresh water we drink, the cool shade we value and the green grass on which we tread.

Now is the time to fully enjoy and appreciate all that Mother Nature has to offer. It's a time when flowers are blooming, trees are greening and grass is growing - time to absorb the warm sun rays and dance in the rain.

What better time to direct your attention to the natural world than today, National Public Gardens Day? An annual holiday celebrating America's public gardens, National Public Gardens Day raises awareness of gardens' roles in promoting environmental stewardship, plant and water conservation, green spaces and education - a message coinciding with the awareness Mother Nature deserves this Sunday.

Eager to get outside for the sake of appreciating Mother Nature and her provisions? Take a walk through Mother Nature's parks and gardens. Visit her beaches and dip your toes into the sand. Open your favorite book beneath one of her large shade trees. Soak in her sun rays.

Take a moment to appreciate the environment in which you live, grow and learn, and Mother Nature will continue to provide her shelter, beauty and solace unconditionally for many years to come.

It's a late afternoon on a warm spring day. You walk over to the kitchen window, grasp the tiny handles at the base and lift up.

With even a mere inch of screen exposed, you feel a cool, crisp breeze. You smell fresh grass clippings lingering in the air. And you hear the slightest sound of activity dancing through the yard - no words, just varied tones that highlight chirping birds, busy bees and nosy critters.

Photo: Elenathewise - Fotolia.com

But in the midst of enjoying spring sounds through your window, you catch a glimpse of a large, green beetle buzz past your ear.

Mother Nature has planted a boxing arena in your backyard, indicated by the noisy nuisances causing commotion  from the distance of your yard, and now, from within the walls of your home. But it's too late to call time out: The bugs are here and ready to force some punches at your plants.

Year after year, your landscape must face the excessive pest populations that spring up when warmer temperatures arrive. But what are some warning signs you can check to determine whether your trees and shrubs are struggling?

Check out the pest descriptions, symptoms and treatments below to determine whether your plants have fostered a bug battleground this season.

Boring Bugs Break It Down. What's inside is what really matters. Wood-boring insects, which feast on large populations of trees in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast, are often difficult to detect until they have infested a tree for some time. Although the exit holes they leave behind on trees' branches and trunks aren't always apparent at first glance, sawdust-like frass can sometimes be found by these holes. Ultimately, trees suffer from wilting foliage, weakening tree canopy and dying branches as a result of wood-boring insects exploring the depths of their trunks.

Aphids, shown above, excrete honeydew on plant matter, which wilts leaves and causes dieback of shoots and buds.

The Aphid Attraction. Plants are the perfect sap taps for thirsty aphids. Often the culprits for excreting honeydew on plant matter in the Midwest and Northeast, aphid damage wilts leaves and causes dieback of shoots and buds. To make matters worse, honeydew attracts unsightly sooty mold, as well as nuisance insects such as flies, yellow jackets and bees.

Tipping the Scale. Scale may be tiny insects, but they can't hide the damage they can leave behind, even in the mighty Mountain region. Although scale spend most of their lives immobile, limited exploration does not prevent them from removing sap from trees and shrubs and causing branch dieback - and in some cases, even tree death. Unfortunately, dozens of scale species can impact several different tree species.

Cryptomeria scale | Photo: Lorraine Graney

Lean, Mean, Green-Eating Machines. When certain insects cross your trees, no leaf goes untouched. The leaf-chewing insects of the Pacific region, specifically, feed by biting, ripping or tearing the leaves off your trees. When insects chomp at your trees, their leaves may lose color, wilt or drop - all of which will reduce the trees' vigor in comparison to its healthy counterparts. Heavy leaf loss challenges trees to photosynthesize properly and weakens their abilities to successfully combat insects and diseases. Proper watering and mulching techniques will help prevent trees from suffering the wrath of leaf-chewing insects.          

Sooty mold damage

On the Fly. Perhaps you'll detect their presence by the glistening of their white wax wings in the sun. Whiteflies, or tiny insects with wings and bodies covered with white wax, develop rapidly in warm weather - one of the Sunshine State's most valued attributes. But residents shouldn't let the pleasant temperatures distract them from monitoring whiteflies' threats to their plants. Large populations can cause excessive leaf drop and even plant loss. Because whiteflies feed on leaf sap and leave behind honeydew, a medium for sooty mold growth, the presence of honeydew - and resulting ant populations - translate to a whitefly examination. A systemic insecticide soil injection can help battle increasing populations.

All Laced Up. This season, lace bugs are wanted in the West. Named for their lace-like wings, lace bugs suck juices from plant leaves, most often causing stippled and mottled yellow foliage. Sometimes these pests will leave behind whitish cast-off skins or black tar-like spots on the undersides of leaves. Eventually, damaged leaves turn yellowish-gray and fall off, twigs and branches may die back and flowering can be reduced.

Oak leaves suffering from anthracnose damage

When Anthracnose Attacks. In the Southwestern sun, where pests tread a bit lighter than their cross-country cousins, anthracnose often lingers on dead tree matter. The fungus develops during the Lonestar State's warm, moist spring conditions, and it's capable of overwintering on dead twigs and destroying tree foliage. Irregular, brown spots covering a majority of the leaf area are most telling of the anthracnose presence. The spots can distort leaves and leave behind a papery texture, as well as dark pustules later in the growing season. To prevent anthracnose from settling on your trees, remove dead, diseased foliage and branches, then treat with fungicide when warranted.

If you suspect a pest is troubling your trees and shrubs, consult a professionally trained arborist to help put them back in the ring - of good health. Soon enough, you'll be swatting the air and blocking those buzzing bugs from pinning down your trees, like the champion bug fighter you aim to be.

Mother Nature is making the headlines.

This week began with worldwide recognition of the environment in which we live.

Every year, millions of people recognize Earth Day on April 22 - it's the largest civic observance in the world that encourages individuals to acknowledge the planet and take action to maintain and protect it.

And we wrap up the week with Arbor Day on April 26, a nationally-recognized holiday that emphasizes benefits specific to trees, the living power plants that produce several psychological, aesthetic and health benefits.

It Pays to Plant Trees. To coincide with this year's Arbor Day celebrations, Davey not only donated, planted and cared for trees, both new and old, but also found a way to visually represent trees' benefits: Davey crews throughout the U.S. brought tree value tags to their communities and hung them on the trunks of trees visible to passersby.

Davey's tree value tags display the trees' monetary value of benefits over a number of years. Flip over the tag and read about the number of gallons of stormwater the tree helps intercept, the pounds of carbon dioxide the tree absorbs and the number of kilowatt-hours of energy the tree saves its property, all in one year.

Trees give back to community parks, neighborhoods and commercial lots in countless ways. Why not establish or build upon an existing sustainable environment from which you and your neighbors can benefit by planting a tree this year?

Plant Like the Pros. Interested in promoting a healthier environment in your community? To start, determine local areas where you can best optimize natural resources, aesthetics and space. Where will local residents and visitors most likely benefit from the natural entities your community provides? Once you balance your options and find the best solution, you're ready to dig in.

You can plant a tree today and gain benefits tomorrow. All you need is a shovel,some muscle and knowledge to ensure a solid start. Study up by watching a Davey profes­sional plant a tree at www.davey.com/plantatree, and learn how to plant a tree the right way.

On Your Mark. Before you choose a tree, size up your space. Does it get full or partial sunlight? Is the soil dry or does it tend to collect moisture? How large is the area and how close is it to other trees, landscape beds or your home?

Ready? Dig It Right. A tree's hole should be at least twice as wide as the rootball and only as deep as it needs to be. "The adage is, if you have $100 worth of tree, you should spend $200 digging your hole," says Davey expert and ISA Board Certified Master Arborist R.J. Laverne.

Get Set, In the Hole. When you place the rootball in the hole, the root flare should be level to the ground. Then, cut away the twine and burlap and set the tree into the hole. Fill in with soil and follow with mulch on the soil surface.

Go & Move with Care. Tree planting is stressful-for the tree. Never lift a tree by its trunk; always move it by the rootball.

Davey's R.J. Laverne measures the diameter of a tree. He uses i-Tree tools to input tree data and determine trees' values.

Ah, Time To Hydrate. "Imagine how thirsty this tree is after getting it planted," Laverne says. For the first year, take special care of it and be sure it has enough water. Wilted leaves are a sign of stress. After a year, consider pruning and adding a slow-release fertilizer to promote root growth. "Before you know it, the tree will be well on its way."

Tree Tags Tell All. i-Tree tools can help you determine the value of the trees you plant for the current year and beyond. The resulting dollar amount will support your decision to plant the tree now but also help you better understand its benefits and how they will carry into the future.

In the words of Davey's tree value tags: "Larger trees provide more benefits. Help your trees live long lives."

Regrowth, rebirth and renewal: Yes, spring is finally here. I see pockets of fresh, green grass expanding across my lawn. I smell lingering raindrops in the air. And I hear bees buzz, beetles click and birds chirp in my landscape.

My patio, now swept clean of winter's debris, provides me with the perfect view of my backyard. There, I settle into my favorite reclining lawn chair in a deep state of meditation, staring into the depths of the forest at the edge of the lot.

My focus shifts to the giant, seemingly ancient oak tree that stands tall slightly to the left of the area where a childhood jungle gym once stood. I imagine the tire swing that once swayed gently in the breeze from its largest branch, as well as the excitement I felt each spring when I could freely play outside and enjoy the fresh air until dusk.

There's something about that tree, the gentle giant in your landscape that has been there longer than anything else in the neighborhood. It's been there longer than the houses, the perfectly manicured lawns, the beds of overflowing annuals and even the nests of creatures that make homes in that tree's sturdy branches.

It was the first tree you climbed. It has a sturdy "arm" that held your tire swing. That tree was the backdrop in every family photo, providing shade for picnics and serving as a natural cathedral for a relative's wedding.

We benefit from trees in so many ways - economically, environmentally and socially.

"Trees truly make our lives better," says Davey expert and ISA Board Certified Master Arborist R.J. Laverne. "They make history for families richer, and our children will remember us by the trees we plant. They are truly magnificent, and if we keep them healthy, we can enjoy the environmental, economic and amazing social benefits of having trees in our cities."

Breathe Easy, City Dwellers. Thanks to our trees, we can take a nice, deep breath of clean air. Trees replace the carbon dioxide in our stuffy, urban world into fresh oxygen so we can fill up our bodies with life and thrive. Really, trees are like nature's respirators. They give us that essential element.

Actually, 1 acre of forest absorbs 6 tons of carbon dioxide and puts out 4 tons of oxygen, which is enough to meet the annual needs of 18 people, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

If purifying the air wasn't enough, our trees benefit the water in our atmosphere by slowing rain impact so the soil can better absorb the moisture. "If we simply had pavement instead of trees, that water would run off into sewers, and we'd have higher incidents of flooding, especially for communities around streams," Laverne says.

Meanwhile, those tree roots keep soil in place and reduce erosion, which can be a real problem on slopes. Reducing erosion improves water quality by preventing dirt and debris from entering our streams.

Seeing 'Green.' Tree shade is the cheapest air conditioning around, and it's the cleanest form of cooling you can get. Tree shade keeps buildings cool in summer, so you can stop turning down that thermostat. "That results in lower electric bills," Laverne points out. Plus, less utility reliance means fewer emissions, "and that's a good thing," he adds.

In fact, the net cooling effect of a young, healthy tree is equivalent to 10 room-size air conditioners operating 20 hours per day, according to research from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. "If you plant a tree today on the west side of your home, in five years your energy bills should be 3 percent less. In 15 years, the savings will be nearly 12 percent," according to Dr. E. Greg McPherson of the Center for Urban Forest Research.

Of course, the primary economic benefit most of us think of when we invest in planting new trees is our property value. Landscaping adds more value to a home than any other renovation. For every $1 you invest in your landscaping, you can expect up to $1.35 in increased property value according to a study by Texas Tech University. "It's a direct financial benefit," Laverne confirms.

And nothing creates curb appeal like a mature tree-one with grand, outstretched branches that welcome visitors, a full show of leaves that creates a natural canopy and character that hints at a rich history.

Meanwhile, in our cities, the Arbor Day Foundation notes how trees can stimulate economic development, attract new businesses and drive tourism. Commercial retail areas are more attractive to shoppers, apartments rent more quickly, tenants stay longer, and space in a wooded setting is more valuable to sell or rent.

Isn't it time you plant a tree today?

"Indeed," Laverne says, "the trees in our urban forest are truly valuable from an economic, environmental and social standpoint."

In spirit of Earth Day and Arbor Day, the national holidays that will cushion next week with tree plantings, donations and care, plant a tree for goodness sake. There's no doubt you won't regret rooting one into the earth of your local park, school or backyard. What are you waiting for?

Mother Nature has fashioned a trend - in your closet.

Blouses, scarves, shoes, jackets and even jeans have adopted colorful floral patterns this season. Fabrics of several materials and textures mimic the beautiful blossoms and bright buds Mother Nature has presented in your local park, flower bed or backyard. So, with the clasp of a button or the tie of scarf, you can delight in spring's fortunes wherever you go.

tatty - Fotolia.com

Your dark, drab sweaters, thick coats and scarves will gradually make their way to the depths of your drawers and reveal the bright, bold hues, pastels and patterns you've been longing to wear for months. Like a flower bud that opens in the sun, spring's demeanor will shed light through your windows and heaping arrangements of floral fashion will emerge.

Flower power is in.

From the minute I wake up in the morning, squinting to take a quick glance out my bedroom window, I'm overwhelmed by the palette of pale pinks and purples that brighten my day from the blooming trees below. The flowers I see are my garden's cheerleaders, bursting with pom-poms of color that add a contagious spirit to the landscape. They draw attention, lighten the mood, add color and breathe life.

Flowering trees transform outdoor living spaces. In many ways, they're jewelry-pops of color inviting you into landscapes. And if you choose wisely, your flowering trees can provide year-round appeal. Their leaves offer interest before buds pop, and in winter the artistic structure of their branches lend sculptural qualities to the landscape.

"Just consider the wonderment of a tree throughout its seasons," says Dr. Charles Hall, professor and Ellison Chair in International Floriculture at Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas. Hall relates how flowering trees-all trees for that matter-cycle through stages each season.

"Trees impact the deepest parts of our being," he says, noting how we anticipate the "sometimes-showy but always fragrant flowering" in summer, and are rewarded in fall with "the explosion of color, as red and orange pigments take over to form a blanket of coloration that painters have tried to capture and poets have tried to describe."

A bonus of flowering trees is many have colorful, edible fruits that attract birds. Flowering dogwoods are especially interesting to birds. Time fall migration by watching berries mature-red berries ripen at migration's peak.

And let's face it, flowers just say "spring." We associate the promising buds that dot branches following winter with warmer weather and new beginnings. We wait for certain flowering trees to show their stuff each year.

So why not plant a flowering tree-that spring special you can always look forward to, just like your spring-exclusive, favorite floral blouse?

When choosing a flowering tree, remember showy varieties can stand alone. (You wouldn't don your floral denim pants with a busy, patterned jacket, would you?) Consider the tree's size, form and overall appearance. And tune into the bloom season-and flower intensity, duration and color.

But if you want a great show, take care of your flowering trees. Prune, fertilize and protect them from insects and diseases. Consult a professionally trained arborist to help you choose the most stylish specimens for your property. Then, line the earthy runway with spectacular spring blossoms and watch Mother Nature strut her stuff all season long.

The pitter patter of rain drops and faint, distant clasps of thunder tell us April showers have arrived. The fresh rainwater fuels your landscape, preparing it for new growth, new color and new life.

And for those who have yet to experience a wet, rainy season - and have been anxiously waiting for months for one to arrive - the warmer temperatures awaken your plants. The new season prompts tiny, green buds to pop, bringing smiles to the faces of those who pass by.

Ah, spring is here.

Regardless of your property's reaction to the beginning of spring, making sure your trees are prepared for the warm season is a vital spring to-do. Those who feel they don't have the eyes for catching potential issues should consider enlisting in an inspection by a professionally trained arborist.

Some damage is obvious-and some problems can fester and go unnoticed without the trained eye of a professional. It's no secret a bare branch is suffering when the rest of the tree is bearing leaves. But diseases and insects can creep in unexpectedly. "Spring is a favorite time to inspect the landscape because you can see the turn of trees and shrubs as they come out of dormancy," explains Davey arborist Jim Houston.

Jump-start your spring with a thorough tree inspection by following the steps below:

Branch Out. Look for consistent leafing and flowering activity on the branches of your trees during spring. Does one area look sparse? Observe how leaf tissue is emerging, Houston advises.

Wet Watch. Look out for yellowing leaves on shrubs that could be a sign of excess water from winter storms, Houston warns. This yellow coloring can indicate poor soil drainage and too much moisture. "The shrub is telling you it is not doing as well compared to others that are healthy, vibrant green," he says.

Clear The Way. Dead wood is dangerous, and it's often the byproduct of winter weather. Be sure to clean up dead branches, which are a safety risk. And, while you're at it, have a professionally trained arborist check the structural integrity of the tree. Spring showers drench leaves and weigh down branches. You don't want any surprises.

Deal With Decay. Fungi can weaken wood tissue, resulting in cracks, seams and other "internal" wounds. While healthy trees bend along with the wind, decayed wood cracks and breaks. So keep an eye out for wounds and cankers-perennial tree diseases that can be quite aggressive and increase risk, writes Larry Tankersley, an extension associate at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. "Wounds and cankers can be weak points on a trunk, and a tree is more likely to break at a wound or canker if it is facing the opposite to the direction of the prevailing wind. Vertical cracks or seams along the trunk suggest internal defects."

Paffy - Fotolia.com

Crown Check. When a tree is stressed, branches in the upper crown often die from the top down, Tankersley says. Stress can be caused by insects or diseases, drought, soil compaction or root disease.

Look Down. Those roots are a key indicator of a tree's health. Look for these above-ground clues that something's not going so well "down under" with your trees: thin crowns; dwarfed, off-color leaves; stunted growth; discolored, loose or resin-soaked wood at the root collar; and fungi growing near the base of the tree.

Always contact a professionally trained arborist with questions and concerns about your trees. To watch a live spring tree inspection, check out a Davey professional in action at www.davey.com/spring.

Old Man Winter may have overstayed his welcome, but spring's light, breezy character has gradually swept him away - the gray cloud cover that shadowed us for months has been lifted at last.

Kletr - Fotolia.com

And, there you have it - a clean slate.

With the soundtrack of chirping young birds ringing in her ears, Mother Nature gently rustles the branches that form the brown, barren canopies above. She wakes them from the dormant state they've endured all winter long.

Alert and anxious to greet the new season, small twigs eagerly spring up to face the warm sun rays. The increased, hurried activity encourages the branches, the bark and - finally - the buds, to break out of the deepest of their winter woes. The growing season is here.

Ruud Morijn - Fotolia.com

A few strokes of pale tones upon the undersides of flower petals and grass blades familiarize us with the new growth we've been more than ready to see. As the buds begin to break, tiny bits of color dot the canopies of your trees, reviving them from the still, dull canvas they've represented in past months. Now, the painted limbs dance on frequent breezes through the air, more than happy to rejoice in renewed freedom and joy.

April showers bring May flowers. As the old saying goes, this month promises to deliver the rainfall required to nourish your trees. Flower petals will peel away from the cocoon-like structure in which they've cultivated rich, fresh color. Prominent clusters of blossoms will emerge from the canopy, mingling with the tiny green leaves all around. Mature flowers will develop bright, bold shades soon after to exaggerate spring's flair.

line-of-sight - Fotolia.com

And come mid-April or May, Mother Nature will reveal a true masterpiece right before your eyes - a masterpiece no famous artist can ever quite replicate via paper, pencil or paint. All at once, the beautiful scenery of pinks, violets and whites bursting from the new blossoms on your trees will introduce you to the palette of color Mother Nature beholds.

Regardless if Mother Nature has yet to color your world, take advantage of that clean slate she has provided and inspect your trees and landscape for problems areas that may delay the vibrant pop of color you're looking for. Then, you can look forward to some warmer weather and more time to enjoy the presence of your trees this spring.