March in Vegas. It’s the season of haze-inducing allergies, turbo-charged winds and, hopefully, warmer temperatures. With more sun in the desert sky, it’s also the perfect time to start planting that garden you’ve always wanted. Star Nursery’s Joe Rivela says colorful plants are in their prime right now and can last all the way up until the first cold of winter. Choose from lavender, sunscape daisies, salvia, snapdragons and dusty miller—they should all thrive in the springtime weather. Got areas with afternoon shade? Rivela says to opt for popular plants like geraniums, marigolds and petunias. If you have trouble keeping your houseplants alive, Rivela says to bring them to Star for a little green thumb 101. “If you’ve got the pots to put them in,” he says, “have one of us show you exactly how to plant them.”