Yes, I in error posted it here, just now posted on C&S (took me forever)! But would like any help. Thank you in advance.

Steph, A few weeks ago I planted five Exburys: three 'Berryrose' and two 'Satan', and each morning I noticed some branches had been pruned. The cut ends were at about 45 degrees, almost like they were intentionally knifed by someone! After some on-line research, I found an IPM article that said rabbits prune plants in exactly that fashion. So I went back to the Depot and replaced the worst 'Berryroses' with more $5 versions, and built a chicken-wire fence around this bed. So far, no more damage has occurred, and the damaged plants I left in the ground are sprouting some new leaf buds, but they have a long way to go before they look respectable. By the way, a 'Klondyke' I planted last year is looking pretty healthy with lots of new leaves sprouting, but the flower buds are only now starting to swell at all. Have any other Great Lakes area folks found their deciduous azaleas to be extra-late this year? A.J.

Most spring bulbs will carry on happily. I've seen them growing, and flowering, through snow in New England. You might mulch your asparagus, although it would probably be OK - you might lose those particular shoots, but more will come from the crowns. I have various daffodils, crocus and grape hyacinth flowering - only a few, I grant - for the past 10 days or so, and figure they will be just fine. If it's newly planted, and didn't grow a good root system, then a sudden hard frost might kill things, especially marginal plants. I planted 3 figs last year - late, because I got them on sale. They were fine with the mild weather, growing well, until the ice storm in Dec., when they died to the ground. But they had a good root system, and came back over the summer, and I trust I will be able to pick fruit off them next summer, since the 2 that fruited this summer did so too late to ripen. If you got late growth on woody plants/shrubs, due to the weird, warm weather in the fall, that might get killed back, so you might have to prune out a bit more deadwood than otherwise.

Hi Can you keep us posted on the success of the tubers? I love Dahlias and I start Figaro and Harlequin every year from seed. When I've pulled them after the frost has killed them I've noticed fairly big tubers too, but I never thought to try and overwinter them (I'll get them before the frost this year). I always start my seeds about 8 weeks before the last frost to get them big enough to transplant at the end of May - so mid-March here in Calgary. It might be nice to save some seed starting room. I'm intrigued!