Bruce Spangenberg is the Statewide Horticulture Outreach Specialist with UW-Madison Division of Extension. He writes a weekly Wisconsin Yard and Garden column. In a recent edition, he shared that poinsettias are perennial plants, not annuals as usually assumed. With careful maintenance, they can beautify homes year-around instead of just during the holiday season. In another entry, he suggests that while winter is downtime for hands-on gardening, it is a good opportunity to plan ahead for the upcoming growing season, and recommends resolutions such as thoughtful fertilizer use and pest management.