Congratulations. That's no small feat. Last fall we had snow and freezing rain before I had a chance to do any kind of winter protection, and it hasn't left yet. I took a quick walk through the snowy yard last weekend, and between the frosty temps and the rabbits, there isn't much left of my climbers. Put some chicken wire around the bases before the bunnies undo all your hard work.

Mike

Thank you Mike!

What was I thinking, or not apparently--- fairly common problem here.

You probably heard my scream of anguish from where you are at. Luckly, I checked Gardenweb before retiring. One thing we do have here in abundance is chicken wire. We need fences inside of fences.

Although I had put back my temporary gate (need to get that done,) still no secondary barrier.

It was snowing quite fair last night. I got them fixed with a secondary barrier and will make it pretty tonight.

Thank you very much!

F.L.

It´s alive! Great to see that your tipped roses have had their comforters removed. Lets hope that you will get some nice spring weather after the long cold winter you have had this year. Usually daffodils blooms a few weeks later in your town than here, but this year it has been opposite. Here they stand all frozen .....

I think you hoped the wrabbits would do the pruning for you? But they do a rough job at that. Lets hope for a good rose season D.

Niels

Thank you Niels! I hope we all here have a super rosey year.

One year I bought up a bunch of tomato cages cheap for 10 cents a pop and I wrapped them with chicken wire.

Niels, do you remember that one Alba where they had climbed into the cage to eat the rose down to nubbins? Bummer!

The daffodils are tasting the air with their tips. I love daffodils. We just got a new catalog in so I have something to do to while away the time.

Foghorn

"Thank you Niels! I hope we all here have a super rosey year"

Well I just renewed my prescription of Zanax and Prozac so what ever happens ...it will be super!!!

I think it was Felicite Parmentier they were after ... I think you can learn something from Robert. Get a gun!!!

But I must say that it a lot of work seeing you have to do all this work in order to winter protect the climbers. There must be some climbers that can grow in Cold Iowa. Perhaps not repeaters unless they are against protected walls. But repeat blooming climbers are not very hardy. What about William Baffin, May Queen, Baltimore Belle, Flammentanz, American Pillar, Mme Plantier and Perhaps Rosa Arvensis Splendens. ... GEEE to bury the roses every winter!

Zoloft & zanax here too, super duper we will be for sure.

I ordered a replacement Baltimore Belle and R. Splendens is on my wish list.

I think I will put my overgrown tomato cages to work next year except for Col. White (LFC) and Eden. No choice with those monsters. We will see how my energy levels are next fall.

Foghorn

............and don't forget Calamity Jane, Pauline, has become a good shot with the pellet gun!! remember?? may be not! I now hunt wrabbits in the garden to feed the owls, keeping my roses safe from home! hehee! ...and I did check your link Foghorn! I ofen wonder how that middle fat thing works - got me stumped. I have a hard time with my tum - gets too big for my liking and I keep yoyo dieting to try and keep it down, but my waist is still always quite small, so hopefully that means I do not qualify!!!!
Pauline.

Pauline,

Yes, a slim waist is what to shoot for. Although I gave up drinking, I still have a substantial beer gut which is very bad for one's health.

I have lost 14 pounds and holding. I have been going to the gym after Martial Arts so hopefully I will drop off of this plateau I am sitting on.

Next year, I am going to try wrapping some of my climbers like Claire Matin, Dortmond that I do nothing with now. I will put my tomato cages (rebar 4x4 netting, about 4' tall or so) and fill with leaves and try that. I will still have to tip my monsters, but that is OK for the massive spring flush is worth it.

Pauline, anytime you need more target practice you are welcome to our little weed patch.

Thanks!