By securing garden catalogs - You will treat yourself to many hours of real enjoyment if you spend just an hour or two now to send for seed and nursery catalogs. They will keep you in touch with what’s new in the gardening world.

But beware of the enthusiasm of the catalog writers! It’s catching. After you browse through a catalog brimming with portraits of tuberous begonias, you’ll be a confirmed tuberous begonia addict. A few minutes later, while glancing at a colorful iris catalog, you’ll feel like changing your mind in favor of collecting hybrid iris.

Chores for the puttering gardener - Holiday celebrating will naturally cut down on the amount of time left for gardening. However, the gardener who can find time to putter a bit will find plenty to do: clean up pots and flats; mulch azaleas, rhododendrons and camellias; spray. shrubs and trees; and take cuttings of favorite shrubs.

Setting out bulbs-In all parts of the West except east of the Cascades in Washington and at high altitudes, where the soil may be unworkable, tulips, hyacinths and daffodils can still be set out.

In Southern California and Arizona December is the ideal time to plant the “big three.” By now the soil has cooled off and the bulbs and night blooming cereus houseplant will be able to make proper root growth and later produce long-stemmed flowers. Too-early planting often results in short-stemmed blooms. It is for this reason that gardeners in Arizona and Southern California are often advised to pre-chill tulip bulbs for thirty days at 30.

Ranunculus and anemone can be planted safely in all mild areas of California, Arizona and the coastal areas of the Pacific Northwest. Remember that top-grade ranunculus tubers give more blooms per plant than the bargain sizes.

Pruning the right way - Though the big job of pruning does not get under way until next month, it’s a good idea to start tackling some of the specimens now. If pruning is a new technique to you, first study some of the free pamphlets on the subject that are published by state colleges and manufacturers of pruning tools. Get some expert advice before you tackle major pruning jobs.

And, as always, it’s worth repeating that spring-flowering shrubs and trees should not be pruned until after they bloom. To prune them now means loss of flowers during March, April and May.