Cant even imagine living up north, you all are tough! It is cold today in east Texas but I have been out planting my bare roots and finishing pruning. I found my first bud today! Its on Grandmother's Hat - a $2 rose I got years ago from Chamblees sales bin. I noticed for the first time that some of the trees are thinking about putting out leaves. Have a white flag iris blooming, but none of the rest of them are. Have seen bluebirds, but no robins. Fish are coming up to eat in my ponds when I throw feed. Daffodils are blooming. We can certainly always expect another freeze. Last year, it came when my huge wisteria was in full bloom. Just wrecked it - no more scent, fried blooms. I was furious! Will be ready for it this year. I am getting one of those pop up tents from Big Lots, will hang tarps around the sides and put heat lamps on extension cords to keep it warm. Will probably be the laughingstock of the neighborhood but I WILL save my wisteria! Hooray for spring! Judith

Hi, thanks for the reply -- here is my list of the roses I've ordered (it's a lot!!). Asked the question because I noticed after I ordered them that some say zone 6. I'd like to keep them in the ground if possible, with mulch, etc. Any help on any of these -- how to help them, will be appreciated. Thanks! And my list: Autumn Splendor Baby Austin Baby Boomer Bambino Cal Poly Celebrate Life Charlie Brown Chasin Rainbows Cinderella Climbing Kristin Doris Bennett Double Take Electric Lady First Impression Iced Raspberry In Memory Julie Link Little Pinkie Live Wire Love and Peace No Worries Old Glory Overnight Scentsation Pacesetter Peach Delight Pinstripe RalphÂs Creeper Red Minimo Renny Ruby Princess Sachet Scentsational Southern Delight Sweet Fairy Sweet Sue Tiddly winks Ty Vista Work of Art Ada Perry Cherry Hi English Porcelain Golden Halo Green diamond Halo today Hope and joy Iced Tea Irresistible Jessica Rose Mary Marshall Minnie Pearl Mother Lode Mr. Bluebird Ora Kelly Patrio Song Pennies from Heaven Polly sunshine Ralph Moore Ring of Fire Rita Applegate Robi Rose Gilardi Saluda Sequoia Ballet Sleeping beauty Starina Sunny day Sunshine Sally Sweet Caroline Toy Clown Winter Magic Wistful Woodstock Yellow doll Constellation DenverÂs Dream Double gold Focal Point Gem of the rockies Jean Keneally Jeanne Lajoie KeithÂs Delight Lavender Delight Millie Walter Montana New Beginning Red Cascade Rose Gilardi Ruby Magic Ruby Princess Snow Twinkle Splish Splash Starina Sunswept Vineyard Song X Rated Pam tillis Thanks -- if you have any that are less winter hardy than others and need more protection -- let me know (and also, what do you do -- extra mulch?) We also get -20 degree weather on a pretty regular basis!! Debbie

Some of them chose to stay around for the winter. It is not unusual to see flocks of them in the winter. It is theorized that some will risk the winter in order to be able to claim the best nesting spots come spring. We have them here (in MA), and I know some people in NH that have them overwinter. Maybe you could try to help them out with some mealworms or homemade suet. Also, a heated bird bath is very much appreciated by them.

These are Blues that have decided to overwinter. They will flock together in the winter, and the second they decide it's time to start nesting, they will chase each other away. Since you have a nest box ready for them, only a single pair will (hopefully) stay. The others will disperse to find their own nesting spots. I have had flocks of 10 in winter, but this year I'm only getting up to 4 coming for mealworms and suet. Sometimes more will show up if the weather gets really bad though. If the weather gets really cold, supplying them with water is really important. I keep a heated bird bath on my deck. I'm north of you in MA.