I'm on the 5/4 zone border, and the mums I planted this fall have quite a bit of new growth under the ratty stuff from the fall. One of the peonies I planted earlier this summer has nice red buds, but I don't know if that's normal or not. I've been checking several of my plants for new growth, but I don't know if any other than the mums have enough growth to be in danger. I am worried, though! I don't have enough experience behind me to know how to judge our much-too-warm November. Send me some snow!!

Deanna

I've got the same thing PM2, and you know I'm a bit further north than you.

My forsythia has been in bloom again, sporadic blooms for a couple of weeks, and it looks very, very strange with most of the leaves gone. A close look at the branches and there is plenty of swelling new growth as well.

The neighbor's spreading yews all have new growth, (plenty for the deer to feast on all winter, like they always do.)

Some of the buds on the rhodies are swelling as well.

Iris leaves are popping through the ground again, as are the daylilies.

My gazania are still blooming their hearts out as are the alyssum, viola, scabiosa ebony and ivory.

I'm still picking my parsley, chives both regular and garlic, and I still have buds on my dwarf stock.

I'm not worried about any of this though. Past years have done the same thing and there was very little snow to protect the perennials.
The only difference that year was very little blooms on my true niko blue hydrangea and many people lost roses, including myself.

Either way though, worry or not, there is nothing we can do about it. It's all in the hands of mother nature and what ever curve ball she wants to throw at us.

If we are lucky, we will have a far better spring and summer this coming year than we had last year.

Fran

Well, Fran makes a good point, nothing we can do about it. I hope the shrubs will manage to produce foliage and blooms next spring. Today I see that the lilac buds are green as a granny smith apple and looking ready to burst open. I'm less worried about the perennials. I'm sure they will manage. I haven't checked my iris. I wish it were spring and the winter was behind us already. [g]

There are Black-oil sunflower seedsd sprouting like crazy underneath the bird feeders, and they even haven't been nipped by the frost the last 2 nights. Apparently it has been warm enough for germination of this annual.

I was finally able to dig a bit this fall and went a little crazy planting and transplanting. I'm happy that all these plants have had a long mild fall to get their roots established!

Yes, Terrene, I held off on planting some things this fall because I thought I had waited too long. Now I'm kicking myself because I keep thinking how much time they would have had to get established!

Well, maybe I can claim credit for this mild fall. After all, if I HAD planted things, it would have snowed the next day, lol!

:)
Dee

PM2, my lilacs routinely bud up in winter, with no ill effects. It's one nice thing about them that people overlook, when they complain that lilacs only look good for the few weeks when they are in bloom. I LOVE those green lilac buds in winter.

I suspect that we're noticing a lot more activity in our gardens than we normally do partly just because the weather's been nice enough for us to be out there - rare for November and December.

Thanks dtd....I'm happy to hear that it has not been a problem for your lilacs. It's interesting that you are in one zone warmer than I am. I imagine your winters might usually be a little slower to arrive then mine here in zone 6 and maybe your shrubs normally deal with this warm fall weather, yes? We have broken the record here in my area, for the latest first hard freeze, which hasn't arrived yet! I usually expect that by mid October or late October at the latest, we would have had a hard freeze. We have really enjoyed it though and managed to get a couple of projects done that I thought I would have to wait until spring to finish. Amazing! I wonder if we will come to expect this every year.

All my bulbs are coming up. I planted them in a panic in October (when it snowed!).

I hope they won't be spoiled.

I see daffodil foliage peeking out of the ground too. This is definitely not usual for us. The way the trees and shrubs are looking, is what it starts looking like come late February when we have a few warm days. They never look this far along in the fall or early winter. I think they should be okay. Not so sure what my viburnum carlesii will do with new leaves all over it though. I suppose it will figure out a way to produce new leaves again in the spring. Maybe a little later.

Today, while driving along a back road in Bucks County, PA (north of Philadelphia, z.6), I was startled to come upon a whole line of BLOOMING cherry trees on someone's lawn ! It has, indeed, been a milder than usual Fall. . .it just keeps us on our toes. . . Then, later today, it has been snowing like crazy. . .

Carl

My Autumn Joy Sedum started coming up. :( They are under a lot of snow today here in CT. I hope they do well for spring!

I could have sworn I passed a pussy willow with catkins on it yesterday (ok, had to look up the term for the fuzzy bits...didn't want to be non-pc! LOL).
Tara