Carol, this is the third delayed cold and snowy spring in a row on the Canadian prairies, ugh! We're still under the influence of La Nina and indeed the forecast is holding true with these predicted much below temperatures. During La Nina events, this region is especially plagued by continued arctic outflows.

The last strong El Nino had occurred way back in 1998, that year being one of the warmest springs on record ... actually, we did not have spring, for on April 1 st we had gone directly into summer. Sure, there had been a few cooler days here and there, though otherwise we experienced amazing warmth. At that time, I recall seeing a current news video from Atlanta, Georgia and observing that we were almost on par with them for the leaves popping out on the trees, now that's rare! I love it here in the summer with our moderate temps and generally low humidity, though summer is just way too short, did I say short! I'd really like to move south or southwest, but it's not that easy to just up and leave. So, for now I'll just live in envy and enjoy the warmth if and when it ever arrives here, lol.

Terrance

Well you are doing the healthy thing and enjoying roses in spite of the weather. My sister in Alaska must escape to Hawaii at this time of year. She hates the melt-down or breakout time or whatever they call it.

Even our Spring has been colder than usual. No snow, but, things moving snail like here for now.
We are behnd about 7-10 days compared to last season.

Carol, the weather is not much better in BC. I'm sure this has to be the worst spring I can remember. I thought last year was bad, but this one takes the cake! It has only reached 3 degrees C here today. Buying a bouquet of roses is a very good idea.

Same here. I am absolutely SICK of cold weather!! This is the first spring I can ever remember keeping the heater on much past April 1st. Here it is the middle of the month and the heater's still going. It was all dreary and cloudy out when I was out this evening. Looks like more rain coming. Auugggghhhh!!!

Wow - Beth even in zone 9 you have cold weather blues. I'm surprised.

Yes everyone - this weather sucks!! LOL

The rose bouquet has really done the trick for me. I'm smiling and happy. Whenever I pass by the roses I just sigh and go all giddy. They are sooooo gorgeous.

We'll get through this. Summer WILL come --- now go out and buy a rose bouquet!!!

Carol

You are brave growing roses in zone 3! I have a friend who just moved into zone 4 and is wondering if it's worth it. I hope your spring comes soon! I usually don't like florist flowers, but DH surprised me with a dozen red roses on V-day and they were lovely (except no scent!) I enjoyed them for the week and then put them in my compost pile so they can help my garden roses.

Beth's comment proves that everything is relative! It is true that here in No Cal we have had an unusually cool Spring so far - for us! That means temps in the 50s and 60s, instead of the 60s and 70s, and more rain & clouds than usual. I have been complaining, too.

HOWEVER, this thread made me pull up and stop complaining. About one third of my 100+ rose bushes are already close to being in full bloom - right outside of the window I am looking out of I can see the banksie lutea and the climbing Cecile Brunner, both of which are blooming madly right outside of this second story window - they are peeking in at me, and the pale yellow and pale pink color combination is marvelous. The banksie is just beyond its full bloom, and the CB is just about half way out. In most years they succeed each other, but do not bloom simultaneously. The unusual weather this year must be responsible for this beautiful display.

So, when I read Carol's plaint about more snow than usual in zone 3, I have to admit to myself that I really do live in paradise, with a 12 month rose growing season and hardly any humidity, and I should not ever complain about the weather, ever.

Good for you Carol, for buying roses to cheer yourself up. Maybe you can plan a trip down here for next Spring - mid April to mid May we have loads of open rose gardens and other activities to celebrate the Spring bloom here in No Cal.

Jackie

Fortunately we far north gardeners have memories that allow springs like this to fade away with time....likely an "advanced primitive" survival skill! And as Terrance so correctly states "this is the third delayed and snowy spring in a row" for the Canadian Prairies....possibly due to a La Nina correlation (see attached USWS link).

As an avid rose grower, I can't stand to see these high-quality light conditions (i.e. 14hrs/day and increasing rapidly) go by not being utilized. Roses love these light conditions...they literally explode from dormancy. But to address the temperature issue is the challenge.

Every successful longtime northern gardener has, over time, developed a system that works for him/her...usually the farther north, the more extensive/expensive the infrastructure. But it can be done...and the rewards have to justify the effort....as simple as that.

Years ago a trip to Hole's Greenhouse in St Albert (a suburb of Edmonton) in early spring inspired me to add a greenhouse to my yard....and my gardening life has never been the same since.
It has allowed me to start gardening a month earlier in the spring and extended my fall season also. The Hole's have inspired many of us over the years and I sure miss Lois. She, and my mother-in-law, were of a generation of tough and inspirational gardeners that I'm sure brushed aside countless springs like this.

So to their credit I can go out into my own greenhouse - this time of year and putts around - my outside roses have to wait under their covers until the end of this month. But I know that this summer, like every other summer, my yard will be full of color and fragrance.

My small greenhouse outside:

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My small greenhouse today inside:

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Here is a link that might be useful: Last 60 yrs el Nino/la Nina

Nice little indoor paradise you have rosecavalier - and roses in bloom too! Your greenhouse looks so well organized and the growth looks wonderful. I know spring will eventually come our way, but it's almost as bad as waiting for Santa! Have fun in your greenhouse.......

Holy cow rosecavalier!!!! Okay now I have some questions. My husband has always asked me if I would like a greenhouse, and I always say no. But looking at yours, I'm going holy cow!!!!! So were those roses outside in pots last year? What are you going to do with those - plant them in the ground or keep them in pots? I'm really interested in what you're doing with all that. I love Hole's, but I find that Greenland GArden center has a much better selection of roses, both tender and hardy. So we have been driving from Calgary to Greenland (Sherwood Park) to get roses. This year we're going twice!

Jackie - yes everything is relative. I used to live about 8 hours driving north from here. Summer was intense, but very short. Winter was very, very cold. So this, by comparison, is wonderful. I think that's a great idea for a trip!!! I want to go right now!! :)

Buford - yeah, I agree. I usually don't bother with florist roses, and I tell my husband to not buy them for me. But, I just couldn't bear it. We're around 12 degrees colder than usual and warm weather is so very far away. :) Tell your friend that growing roses is always worth it. I can't fathom not being able to grow them - how unbearable.

Chin up everyone - summer is coming some time.

Thanks Mandy and as you observed, it is a piece of paradise for me. Some people look at me rather strangely when they hear the piped-in bird music.

The greenhouse allows me to have tender roses in full bloom by the May long weekend...it's then that I take them out into the yard with the exception of the likes of Marechal Neil. This one is permanently mounted to the inside and acts as a sunscreen...it fills the greenhouse with it's exquisite fragrance.

Carol - I sourced this greenhouse from Lortan Manufacturing in Beaumont a number of years ago - totally impressed and close to you - link attached. With DH asking you if you want a greenhouse, I'd "strike that iron while it's hot"!

The roses in the large brown pots were outside last year and overwintered in my garage. Most of the roses in the smaller black pots were seeds in Dec 2010, and grown out over winter under grow lights in my basement - most of them will be culled as they are coming into there second flush so I've had a pretty good look at them. If they're not intensely fragrant and healthy, they end up in the compost. Flower form is secondary - sometimes there are exceptions.

Only the proven hardy plants are eventually planted outside.

Thanks for the tip of the Sherwood Park supplier.

Here is a link that might be useful: Lortan Manufacturing

That is impressive, rosecavalier, especially all your seedlings!

So...Rosecavalier - You don't have the roses in the greenhouse all winter? You just use them to start your spring stuff earlier? I've never had a greenhouse, so I'm quite puzzled.

Thanks!
Carol

i hear ya- vancouver is so cold and soaking wet. everything is at least 5 weeks behind and all of the roses i pruned earlier have blind shoots due to the coldness. all of them will need to be repruned.

Seil - thank you Seil - I've enjoyed your posts over the years. Playing with roses sure helps the winter go by.
George Mander (Canadian west coast rose breeder) had a step by step "growing roses in your basement" procedure on his website that really helped me get started with seedlings.

Carol - My apologies for not making this clear - Marechal Neil is wintered in the garage, with other potted roses, but attached to the greenhouse ceiling from now to fall. So the greenhouse is shutdown for the winter....this year started March 31. The greenhouse is used to get a jump on spring.

In February, my garage wintered roses are wanting to break dormancy so the end of March seems to be just about right to put them in the greenhouse. Any earlier and we don't have the hours of sunlight.

There's a rose grower in my area that lowers his pots down on old hand-dug well for the winter - it works....what we won't do to create our own Eden!

Rosecavalier ... you have yourself a bit of rose heaven there in your very nice greenhouse.

Carol ... yes, the weather is rather most discouraging, though most all of Canada is receiving a cold delayed spring, so don't feel so bad! Let's just hope for a good summer and extended autumn!

Here in the greater Seattle it has been wet wet wet..not just cold but WET. This weekend is great however. I pruned and am going to try and finish the fertilizing. I wanted to mention that Julia Child and Livingth Easy look great with no bs

Ya'll are singin to the wrong choir about the weather. It's gonna SNOW here tonite!