Echinacea. I have several newer ones and fear they will disappear in this cold.

Stachys monieri 'Humelo', it looked rather peely wally last year but I had a look today and it seems like it's coming back a little stronger, I might even be able to divide it this year. I love this plant.

I think the post about Spigelia marilandica may have been mine. I have a gorgeous specimen and it's spectacular in bloom. The strain I have has a chartreuse center rather than yellow; I believe it's rarer than the yellow. I originally got it from a now defunct nursery that carried unique plants and strains that you could find nowhere else (Seneca Hills Perennials). Oh, I miss that nursery.

My Spigelia self sows modestly and I give away as many babies as I can.

I have two new red hot pokers which I'm looking forward to. The ones I had before were just a big mess and didn't bloom much, but I'm optimistic these will be 'improved' versions! Also a few new phlox from last year which needed a little more time to settle in. Hopefully this year they will be amazing.

And snowdrops. I need them asap once this snow melts.

While not a perennial, the plants we most anxiously look forward to in spring are the wisteria-'trees', worrying about whether the flowerbuds made it through the winter or not. Last year's brutal winter killed all the flowerbuds so we had no spring bloom on them - or on the Clematis montana either. I was optimistic for them all this year until the nasty cold and windchills set in early this month. Now I'm sure we're going to have no bloom on them again this spring :-(

I, too, hope the spigelia gifted to us last summer returns and does well this year. They are such pretty things!

Since we've had our share of sub zero temps( -20 this morning) and virtually no snow cover this winter I guess we'll find out what's really tough. I'm not to worried about the established plants but I had to move two beds into a holding area last fall for a construction project to be done this spring. We'll see how they fare.

Like Mike, all is under snow here. I await seeing grass cuz it'll mean the snow is gone. lol I've learned to take things in stages.

tj

Hostaholic2, we had a year like that either last year or the year before and I was worried about how much was going to survive. I was amazed that just about everything did survive, although they were set back. They were slow to emerge and were half the size they previously were in some cases.

I'm looking forward to roses this year. We added new bare root roses last year and I can't wait to see how well they do in their second season. I am a little worried about having bloom on Hydrangeas this year. It was pretty cold for December and January before we got all this snow.

Some Echinacea and Aquilegia I started from seed last year that hopefully will put out blooms this year. I also planted a clematis 'Galore' and geranium 'Rozanne' in mid October that I'm hoping made it through the winter.

Callirhoe bushii, Bush's Poppy Mallow. It has extra appeal for me since it's on the endangered list for Missouri. It's one of two forbs in my yard (the other is henbit >:-O) that have any green on them here in the dead of winter. I've got it next to Heliopsis helianthoides 'Summer Nights' and I'm hoping it's a winning combo. Planted as nursery seedlings last spring.

After that there is one Psoralidium tenuiflorum that I started from seed last year. It's one of those prairie plants that puts most of its first year effort into putting down roots, and it was no more than four inches tall by the end of last summer. This one might be too wild-looking (loose/leggy) for a border, but I figured it might be interesting tucked in among grasses.

I would have said my 12 year old Japanese Maple. Unfortunately it passed away in last years brutal winter. I really wasn't even expecting it would have a problem. This past fall I added some new hydrangea's. I'm hoping they had enough time to settle in.

Too many to single out, but as I thought, there is one. A form of spring, woodland Anemone, called A. nemerosa 'Robinsonniana. Not special, or rare but not easy for me to get going. My little colony should return, and the color is, somehow, beautiful to me. Certainly not native to this very acid sand.

Patty, how did your Maple die? I am sorry to hear of that.

My Shasta Daisy "Silver Princess". I WSed last year and was surprised to see one bloomed for me! All I heard was they wouldn't flower the first year. Guess I was lucky. Couldn't wait to see how they come up this year.

Even in its first year we were so impressed with the pure white dinner plate sized flowers of Blue River II. This can't have been an easy winter for these "hardy" hibiscus.

There are quite a few I feel perished (had some cold nights with no snow cover) this year.

I'm a bit anxious about my Ginkgo 'Mariken' that I purchased last spring. I noticed quite a few of the smaller branches were dead, though the "trunk" and larger branches seem to still have green at heart.

The Cedrus deodara 'Feelin Sunny' I was gifted has likely died (at least 60%+ from the top down). An experiment that did not prove successful I'm afraid....

CMK

I am hoping that my butterfly bushes come back. In the Carrollton near Dallas we had some great snow fall where it happened during the week and then again the following week.

My potted Praying Hands hosta I have tipped over on the ground. The last two years have not been kind to my potted hostas surviving the winter into spring due to rot. If it comes back, then I know what to do to keep potted hostas alive in Michigan and I can attempt to keep more in pots. Those that did survive were all planted in the ground last year so I wouldn't have any more casualties.

A little snow on Buddlieas won't be any problem at all. It's extreme cold that does them in.

Was waiting to see if my Salvia reopens made and all three did. As of this morning , I see some green shoots coming up.

I can barely remember what's in the garden.

I have a newly planted autumn brilliance serviceberry that I planted in October when most of the leaves were already gone/turned dark. I saw little white poofs popping out from the buds yesterday and I'm very excited to see how it performs this year.

Awsome, great catch.

Annette

Just enough clouds.

"anxiously awaiting"
At this point...a whole bunch of things. There was less snow cover than last winter, though still the coldest nights tended to have it (that's part of the reason they are the coldest nights).

Particularly worried about: rare South African plants such as species Kniphofias...last winter killed K. northiae and then the massive late April rainstorm...5 inches...caused the little sliver that was trying to recover from the deepest roots, to rot. The hybrid Kniphofias will probably be fine, but even there I'm not 100% sure.
One Eucomis is surely dead as some animal pulled the bulb from the ground, I guess there could be an offset someone still buried. Also fear for various others like Dieramas, etc. The more interesting plants of the antipodes will always be long term experiments here, I knew that. They just don't have these kind of cold outbreaks when they are separated from Antarctica by hundreds of miles of open unfrozen ocean. Yes, the higher elevations can be very cold because the lapse rate is higher there, but then in that case, they are consistently cold, and/or have reliable snowcover. I mounded a huge pile of snow around the base of my Eucalyptus, so we will see if that means it can resprout.

I had a new hybrid Narcissus from "The Bulb Baron" that I was worried about, but at least one of them seems to have survived the winter. Reasonably impressive for something bred in coastal northern California of somewhat tender early species. It was 'KayKay'.
Also worried about Penstemons, they don't do well under wet snow I've found. I'm talking the intermountain western hybrids, not the midwestern or SE species or hybrids of them, they will be fine.
Worried about all of the Chilean Rhodophialas, which if nothing else could have been eaten by voles or mice.
My Cyclamen graecums which I were proud of, were all killed by last winter. I just tried one replacement from Lazy z Farms...I'm glad I didn't order the replacement last spring! I'll try it in a more sheltered spot.

I don't begin "anxiously awaiting" for another month or so here in the far north, but the first things to bloom here will be daffodils and apple blossoms, in late April or early May. I did plant more daffodils last fall to fill in some bare spots, so I am looking forward to seeing them peek their heads up.

And with much of the protective snow gone we are forecast to get temperatures of 7F this evening :(. Out damned winter!

I'm anxious to see the condition of all my shrubs, small trees and evergreens covered so deep in snow, you can't see them. I can only guess where they are.

While I am jealous there are many of these plants I can't grow because we are too hot/humid, I'm NOT jealous that everything in my garden is coming into full flower right now (azaleas, camellias, delphinium, foxglove, columbine, violas, roses, Louisiana iris, penstemon, callas, phlox, amaryllis, etc). We get aggravated when we still have a couple cold nights in February down here in S. LA. Will be walking the dog tonight after work in shorts. Can't imagine dealing with neverending winters like you guys.

late last fall I picked up 2 Kerria bushes on very deep discount at the nursery, and I'm dying to see if they made it through the winter. They were late getting in the ground, but I pampered them until the ground froze. Should know in a few weeks here!

I was holding my breath to see if my Mediterranean Pink Heather was alive when the snow melted. There had to be 20 + inches here of accumulated snow here along with very, very cold temperatures starting in January. The snow finally all melted and my heather was healthy and blooming while the snow was disappearing. I had lost one the winter before that was planted probably too late to get established. This one was planted last spring and it's healthy and happy right now! I'm so pleased to see it. It's nice to have a little bit of color right now.

On the other hand, we planted several potted perennials very late last fall and I wonder how many will be showing up this spring. I have some green growth on some perennials already, but not all of them. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that the late-planted ones make it.

Linda

Today I spied two stems of the Amsonia hubrechtii I planted last Fall--Yay!!!!!! I've been patiently waiting for that and way too many others to name.

mrtulin, that was hilarious!

catkin and others: For years here I was idabean. I want my name back, in part because I'm a female Tulin. I don't know where houzz picked up what appears to be my new user name. I'm could figure out how to change it but will someone please tell me where to go first?

I still don't see any garden. Debris, sunflower shells, cracked pots, a rotting wooden arbor and filthy snow. When I get a glimpse of the hellebore buds hunkering down in their raggedy leaves Iĺl believe spring is here.

This season will be the first time in years I'll be gardening with two good knees. Gotta love some aspects modern medicine and a new lease on life. If anyone is contemplating knee replacement and wants encouragement, I'm the gal to talk to.

idabean/Marie

Catkin, I want to add Amsonia this spring. Glad yours came back.

Marie, that's wonderful that you have had such a good experience with your knee replacements! I hope you really enjoy this gardening season.

To change your Screen name…go to ….Your Houzz/Edit Profile/

I’m not sure if you change ‘User Name’ or under Profile Information, ‘First name’, ‘Last name’.

I put my zone and state in the ‘Last name’ column.

Finally the snow has melted off one of my borders and I spy daffodils pushing up. You got to love them, they are so consistent. Vegetable beds are still frozen and half my yard is still covered with snow. Tomorrow I plan on pulling the mulch back and adding black plastic to the vegetable beds to try to speed things up. It will probably be June by the time the large snowbanks in the front melt. [g]

We had one storm over the winter that was so windy that a neighbor's spruce trees lost a lot of the tips of their branches, which blew all over the snow in the back then we had more snow. Another storm blew the remainder of the fall leaves all over the snow then we had more snow. So as the snow melts, there are these layers of what was buried there. Very amusing, but it's going to be a clean up to remember. I've seen three boxwoods that are going to have to be pruned very hard, along with two Syringa palabin as well. And forget about all the foundation shrubs in the front, quite a mess and I can't get in there to start pruning them yet.

Not much of an anxious waiter because I can never remember what is in here from one year to the next. It is always a surprise to me and maybe, months later, I may vaguely wonder where such and such a plant went (usually when looking at old photos). I am doing the seedling hover in the greenhouse though - squinting down at the green-filmed chick-grit to spot the first signs of cotyledons. Sometimes several times a day.

In a month or so, I will be remonstrating with myself - why did I sow so many seeds...and where am I going to put them whilst they grow on to be strong enough to survive without my benign neglect? This happens every bloody year! Am I a simpleton?

It is always a surprise to me and maybe, months later, I may vaguely wonder where such and such a plant went (usually when looking at old photos).

I always find it lots of fun coming across a forgotten perennial. I used to have a rough map showing where and what was in the ground but things seemed to change so quickly through the season I haven't had one for a couple of years. Now that I think of it, looking ahead, I am predicting that this season the composition of our gardens will likely change very little. So maybe such a map is doable.....another 2015 gardening resolution.

Yep camp. I found a heavily shaded Loddon Anna Campanula sleeping behind a large evergreen yesterday. I knew I'd planted three of these years ago but never took the time to search the nooks and crannies. It wasn't until I was in the border getting up close and personal that I saw last years bleached white stalks sprawled out on the ground with a few rosettes doing their thing---now it's on my move list. I love this plant so much and am happy to have another to give and give it a prominent place.

Another plant I was happy to see in my garden stroll this morning was my little clump of Haberlea rodopensis, I had to move this one last spring when redoing an overgrown flower bed. I did have both the mauve and white flowering but lost the white one several years ago, haven't been able to replace it yet, they are such pretty little things. My several varieties of Tradescantia ( I know not everyone's cup of tea :) are up and growing strong but I noticed my clump of Leucanthemum 'Cobham Gold' took a hit, I think I can salvage some bits, but it sure looks miserable right now. It's been a funny winter, things I thought I might lose have come through with flying colors, others that I wasn't in the least worried about haven't, go figure.

Annette

OK , its official, I am anxious over my Plumbago. I planted it right before the first VERY EARLY unlooked for freeze. I think it was making tiny green earlier this spring, but then we got the VERY LATE unlooked for freeze and bye bye green shoot.. I just dug it up and scratched a brittle twig below soil line and YAY it is green! My Mexican honeysuckle is in the same dead looking boat but it has made an ever so tiny appearance. I was apprehensive of a ammonia ciliata that was advertised as liking the caliche flat limestone marl in habitat here in Travis county. Well I had some habitat for it and it is dead sun and unfriendly as all get out. It has sent up three stalks and is putting on some blooms. I was hovering like a worried crow over a barren patch of gravel mulch where there might be a subtererenian silver leafed ironweed from the Big Bend. We did have a wet winter and I was worried that it might have been too wet for this new species that says "For Western Gardens only". I am on the wet side of that no mater how much I moan and groan about how dry it is here. I think I see something but I also have seeds volunteering in the area. I am chanting to myself. " I will not dig it up, that is like picking at a scab"

I did not realize that I was so anxious over so many plants. I had marked all 4 of these Starrfire Scutellarias as dead as a doornail. I guess I was beyond anxious and in mourning. I had already scattered penstemon seeds over one spot. I was out by one of the spots weeding some winter grass and I think I see many shoots coming up in the ground all over through the rock mulch. 2 in a different spot are still not showing.. There the ones with the penstemon seeds. Scutellarias will grow from cuttings so I am cool.

Hello Idabean, I hope you get your name figured out!
Prairie, I finally succumbed to the Amsonia after having seen so many photos of huge stands showing Fall color so pretty!
I also saw some Allium I'd planted. They're about 3-4" tall. It's almost like I need to do a search daily and I'm up for it. I keep forgetting how early in the year it is.

After Midnight, that Haberlea does look pretty! I read it doesn't like to be too wet? Probably lets my PNW climate out. What do you think

Wanton, knowing myself all too well, I'm purposefully not getting out my mail order invoices so I won't be able to see what's missing! I'm giving it more time, then I'll start worrying.

Catkin, I'm in the PNW on Vancouver Island, we have very wet winters most years. As long as you have good drainage where it's planted it should be fine, a raised bed would even be better.

Catkin, You save invoices? now there is a strange idea. I just want to forget that amount on the bottom as fast as I can.

AM, thanks for that! The drainage may be an issue but I'm willing to try. So many plants I'd like to have but can never find.

Wanton--LOL! Yes, it's a double-edged sword! I save them to remember WTH I bought/planted and also to remind myself not to go on a Fall mail-order frenzy if the majority of the plants I planted don't reappear this Spring. I'm not going to be happy if that happens. I see the Penstemons are toast...I'm now officially done with them. Too wet, I spose.

I just did a spring time jag and licking my wounds waiting for the package to be shipped.