Beautiful. Harry you are rather handsome. I love silver hair

Harry, that snow with the blue sky above looks heavenly to me. Your kinda cute too.

Here, where I live in CA, the roses are starting to leaf out and we are alternating between somewhat cool stormy weather, with cold nights in the high 40's and spring-like days in the high 60's. But as hoovb mentioned, we are heading for mild days in the 70's next week.

Juliet

Snow in east Texas! Almost unheard of! We got about an inch...ground is almost covered - cant wait to see it in the morning! Started about 9:30 tonite! It will be gone by day's end....but exciting for us! I am sure people in WA and PA want to lob snowballs my way.......you could probably use some of our summer 105 degree temps right now! Hope everyone is OK up there and you dont lose your power.
Judith

Spring here for sure. We had a record warm January and February is mild too. Even took the sports car out topless on Saturday. The Roses are awake and so is most of the rest of the yard. It could always freeze and kill some of that new growth but I can't do anything about it.
Glad to see you having a cool one.

"Even took the sports car out topless on Saturday."

I think, at least, some additional explanation is necessary.

We're still frozen solid here in central Illinois. We've had plenty of snow and cold temps this season...we had 6" Monday nite with aother 1" predicted today. No spring for me!

Even with the ground frozen solid, somehow the darned moles seem to be able to work the soil and make new 'mole condos'. After the snow melts, I see tons of new hills that weren't there before. Stupid moles; I cringe to think of what might be going on in my gardens.

Harry, I hope you remembered the sun screen. At those temperatures a sunburn is almost guaranteed. You do look rather comfortable though; it must be the beer in your hand.

Ingrid

Okay Harry, I hope you don't mind me getting in on the act too.

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hmmm...not ready for pruning yet.
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Eric

We had 2 feet of snow on Saturday then 2 more feet (at least) this Wednesday. My back hurts from shovelling. The last time we had this much snow was back in 96.

Last spring was the first time I planted roses. Even though they are supposedly hardy I am not sure they will have survived the snowpocalypse. *worried*

aj in PA

Good for you Harry, don't let old man winter get you down...lol!
Here is a pic of the snow storm that we had on Wednesday. There is also a car buried in that mound of snow behind the truck.
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Good for you Harry, don't let old man winter get you down...lol!
Here is a pic of the snow storm that we had on Wednesday. There is also a car buried in that mound of snow behind the truck.
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Good idea on putting the windshield wipers up...I'll have to start doing that :)

Eric,

I'm glad to see that you also realize that rose gardening is a year-round activity. My picture depicts the typical, on sight planning session with adult beverage to increase creativity. Your pic is the basic collaboration with furry consultant.

Keep planning. It has to melt sometime.

Hoov, Juliete and Zyperis, thanks for the compliments. At my age, I don't care if they are sincere or just mercy...

MG, that Lens Hybid Musk I potted for you seems to be alive in the garage. I dumped some snow on it. Hopefully, I'll be heading north this spring for the delivery.

Let's see some real snow pictures. Whose got the most inches? Must be this winter to qualify.

Harry

So this probably isn't the thread to mention that I had the windows open airing out the house and the rose seedlings outside getting a little sun a little while ago...we're having an unusually warm winter here in the Pacific Northwest. Probably because the Olympics are in Vancouver.

Harry, so that you won't have a cold one alone, I think I'll go have one, too!

I live in Central Arkansas. We got 7 inches. It has just started melting today. We usually do not get this much snow.

Just finished my pruning. I didn't do so much last year and boy was there a lot of material. Now I have a huge pile of rose trimmings to cut up. I had to hurry because the buds were beginning to elongate on the canes everywhere I looked. I have my first few Blush Borsault blooms and the peach tree is flowering.

Harry, wasn't it you who said that you make all your garden decisions with a beer in hand?

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Picture a sunny 60 degree Spring day.
Trust me you don't want any other graphics:)

Well I'm glad it's not that bad here. We had 5" of snow the other day, but already I can see the grass. It was 32 today and sunny!

The mountains have so much snow that they disappear into the sky in some place but appear blue in others. We've had much snow, but it doesn't last, just estivates and the ground stays frozen.
One of our local weathergirls giggled during the evening news when she said the average high for today is 51 and someone asked her when we might hope to get that warm? She muttered March.

All bets are off as to how the roses are doing. They've never done frozen solid for this long without thaw.

In the heat of summer when we are all suffering we will remember this winter and laugh

lol, well, I for one am thoroughly enjoying the lack of snowfall the past month or so. Those snowy pictures are usually what it looks like here just about any day of the winter. We have very little snow on the ground in patches but it has certainly been cold enough to keep things dormant. But not too cold.

AJ, the snow on the roses is actually helpful, it helps insulate them from the cold. We have to worry up here if we have no snow on the roses and very cold temps.

It looks like another storm is forecast for the Philadelphia area Monday night and Tuesday morning. It shouldn't be too bad up here but I don't think Philadelphia can handle much more.

The roses aren't complaining.

This is my first "winter" in Fresno so I don't miss the snow yet. My roses, planted over the last few months, are just starting to sprout out, and as I head into my first year as a rose gardener, I am sooo excited about the possibilities. I just wish the rose of sharon (I know, not a real rose) didn't look like J & P skunked me--no sign of buds at all.

new2rosesz9cal, Rose of sharon leaf out late.
Here in zone 5/6, roses leaf out in early to mid April.
Rose of Sharon does not leaf out until mid - late June here.

Rose of Sharon is not budding out here in San Juan Capistrano yet either. Not to worry.

Patience....Patience.

We have a few hints of spring, witch hazel blooming, buds on the maples, pears, and a few buds even beginning to show on my intrepid, southern exposure-facing roses...just a little more time to wait...I get out to dig holes for the new roses when the temp is above freezing

My first fruit tree started blooming today.

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The first Robin arrived in my yard over the weekend. She looked pretty disappointed. Fortunately, my crab apple tree is covered in fruit. The worms won't be on the menu for another month.

Four to seven additional inches of snow forecast for tonight. I hope my roof holds.

Spring is an elusive myth here in Illinois. It is snowing again today. The Winter Olympics should have been held here instead of balmy Vancouver BC. On Friday nite, Brian Williams of NBC reported that there was snow on the ground in all 50 states except for Hawaii....

More snow forecasted for today and tonight here also. We have had some sun which has melted alittle of it.

No, it isn't Spring yet, it's still winter. Enjoy it, because all too soon we will be complaining because we need rain terribly, and the heat will be really turned up, the lawn will need cutting and all the rose diseases in the world will be covering us like a blanket. Then and only then will we be wishing we could say, "Is it spring yet?"

Spring, Summer, and Fall don't suck here. We get water from the sky. Any disease is manageable.

Eric

Is this Kentucky or Alaska?

Hey Chuck Billie, NICE CAR!

"Picture a sunny 60 degree Spring day.
Trust me you don't want any other graphics:)"

Only if I am crusing down the road with the top down.

Oh and the radio on.....lol.

There is a flock of robins that must overwinter nearby because during the last storm, they were all over my porch and in the roses. Silly (and messy) creatures. A neighbor has bird feeders, but the fact that the robins (and there were a lot of them) are even around so early in the season always surprises me. Same thing happened last winter. I also saw a cardinal in the backyard on Sunday.

Today's "stormlet" seems to have passed, but I think MG might have gotten a nice coating this time.

Yankees pitchers and catchers report tomorrow, Phillies report on Thursday, it is BASEBALL SEASON!!!

We've had cardinals here all winter, but no robins yet :(

Yes, we got something today. It may have been as much as six inches. Enough to shovel the walk, but not enough to bring out the snowblower. I may take pictures tomorrow, just to prove how underwhelming it all is. That's a grand total of six inches on top of nothing. At least we finally had a snow day with actual, real live snow.

Well, after weeks of rain, we've had a bit of a reprieve. Got up into the high 60's the last two days. My husband said the almond trees are blooming in Chico already. I still don't have that "springe fever" feeling yet tho. Supposed to start raining again on Friday. Prob'ly go for the whole next week. I know we're behind in our average rainfall, but I'm really sick of it. I seriously need to get out an finish up my deadheading and winter pruning. Only have about 1/20th of it done. At least the days are getting longer and I might be able to get out there for an hour after work some evenings. We could still get some snow before April tho. We traditonally get one or two in Feb or March. Just little flurries that last a day or so. So I know this lull is just a dang teaser!!

Ms. Bee says that it's spring:


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I think the secret is to be in the same neighborhood as the winter olympics--guarantees warm and sunny weather. The crocuses are going full tilt:


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And the roses are leafing out like crazy:


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Just keep your fingers crossed that we don't have more freezing weather!

More snow forecast for next week. I can't wait... :-P

I'm fighting my way through this blizzard to go inside and dream about Spring.....

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Now, off to dream land......

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Ahhhhh, this is much better, paradice.................

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Oh, I can't wait to see my crocuses popping out this spring! Sigh...

Jim1961 and KStrong--Thanks for the encouragement. I will be more patient for the roses of sharon.

Another two days of snow for the Northeast! We could get an additional two feet. I have accomplished nothing in the garden the entire winter. But, there is good news 'cause my employer closed today and may be closed tomorrow.

My starving Robin moved to the holly near my back window and gave me a photo op:

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That is a great photo, Harry!

Another great shot, Harry. I think you should make this your Christmas card for next year.
Renee

Yep, it's spring here. This butterfly sat on this bloom of Gold Medal, maybe trying to pretend he was a petal, half the day yesterday.
{{gwi:229577}}California Dogface butterfly on Gold Medal

This is a California Dogface Butterfly, our state butterfly.

Kathy

Great picture Harry-----I had my back surgery the morning of Feb 5 and then the big snowstorm came that night----thank goodness most of the nurses were able to come to work the second storm happened while I was staying with my daughter in Lancaster----I was lucky to squeeze between all those storms and make it home on the 15th---

I'm lucky to be home and snowed in and enjoying all the Olympics---

AGAIN--that is a great picture

Florence

What a wonderful thread, Harry! Thank you so much for starting it. :)

And what wonderful company here. Thanks everyone who contributed to Harry's post. This has been great fun! :)

Zeffy, dear, so glad to see you are posting. Take extra good care, hon. :)

Debbie -- (Looking forward to spring!!)

Florence, I didn't realize you would be having another surgery! I hope you have a quick recovery, and are able to enjoy your garden this summer.
Best wishes,
Judith