Although the outdoor landscape may still look colorless and bleak, there is a way to enjoy some popular spring flowers prematurely.

Growers use “ice tulip” technology (bulbs are held in sustained cold) to confuse the biological clocks of tulips and “force” them to bloom on a different schedule than they normally would outdoors, so you can delight in them even during winter.

• Optimal storage: 34-36 degrees Fahrenheit, with high humidity.

• Handle tulips gently to avoid bruising.

• Place in clean container of cool water containing floral preservative.

• The genus name “Tulipa” is a Latin derivation of the Persian word “dulband,” which means “turban.” The bloom’s name is thought to refer to the tulip’s overlapping petals resembling a turban or to the fact that Turkish men customarily wore tulips tucked in the folds of their turbans.

• As members of the Liliaceae (lily) family, tulips are relatives of lilies-of-the-valley, Gloriosas, lilies, hyacinths, stars-of-Bethlehem, asparagus and onions.

Tulips, daffodils, lilies and roses — customers are ready for the bright-colored, spring flower selection. Easter lands on Sunday, April 5 and Passover starts Friday, April 3 and ends the evening of Saturday, April 11. Be sure to order your supplies ahead of time and create a pre-holiday display to let the consumers know what is available in floral. Here are some merchandising tips:

No matter which day of the week the holiday falls on, or the weather outside, or the political party in office, Valentine’s Day remains a very busy and challenging holiday for the floral industry and 2015 was no different. It’s still too early to have the final results from all the various sectors, but a non-scientific survey of industry members gives some indication that holiday sales seemed relatively flat compared to 2014.

f you’re not one of the lucky ones who gets to go on a long cruise after all of your hard work at Valentine’s Day, and you’re seeing the oncoming freight train that is six spring holidays in eight weeks, hopefully you won’t follow the words of advice from radio humorist Garrison Keillor, “Sometimes you just have to look reality in the face and deny it.”