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Yes, it's been slow.

I thought it was set slow for Dave(Mr.47 that is)

Good info, Victor.

I keep forgetting which ones mine are, until they bloom. I am meticulous about labeling some of my plants, like my irises, others I just can't seem to keep track of. But the clematis seems to do well without me pruning it, but I'm sure it would do better if I did it (correctly).

One of the two DG servers is down - that's why we've been slow today.

What excuse do we give for the other days when those posting are slow?

I cut back more clematises today - even some that don't require it. I want more growth out of them so I'll baby them for awhile, until I get too busy to notice them.

That's always good the first two or three years for the group 2's.

Sorry to have to say this but they've been in the same spot for about 13 years now. It probably doesn't get sufficient sunshine but I love the setting too much to try and move them.

I'm debating as to whether to cut back mine or not, they all have new growth starting up. ☺

How old is it? What pruning group?

Mine, too. It's just that these four, all together in one plot, have never put on the show I want so I'm willing to risk waiting another six weeks of delayed bloom time to get so many blooms that they make me dizzy (as if I need an excuse).

I thought you were funny Dave.

I was out this weekend too!! Should've been out today and yesterday, but got lazy. I built a second compost bin 3 x 3 x 3 and it's full already. I cut back two BB bushes, raked under the taxus shrubs, pruned the taxus shrubs... did tons of stuff. Even DS did yardwork!! Well, he also broke my long handled bypass pruners trying to cut a 5" log... but, well.... he was working some of the time!

Well this is the time of year for taxus...

I almost think that was a set-up.

Har-de-har-har! Don't remind me. I still have to do mine.

Harper, You have discriminating taste!

Yup!

I had accountant do ours, it is so worth the price and it is deductible next year. :)

Went out to do a little bit when sun was out earlier. Found some treasures. Cut back a row of peonies that were left over because of early snow last fall and a few eyes were winking at me. Also a lot of DL and the bulbs are all coming up now and fernleaf bleeding hearts and honeysuckle is leafing up too. Now if the weather would just warm up nice and gradually and not take any detours along the way, it's all good isn't it. :)

Yes, it's all good!

Just came in - very blustery. Was amazed at how much frost heave I found. Never been this bad. Guess all the temp fluctuations. Lesson learned - fall plantings MUST be mulched! Also looks like the Gaillardia I planted both last spring and fall might not be returning. It's too early to say that for sure but they had the appearance that last year's annuals always have. Bummer. I liked the one I planted in the spring - Oranges and Lemons - so I planted six or so more in the fall.

Victor:

Thanks for the clematis info:
(If you are growing one that is a group 3 - blooms on new wood and normally gets cut back hard in early spring - you don't HAVE to cut it back hard.)

My pistachio clem is still under about a foot and a half of snow and ice. It will be great to see it again, and from where it will be sprouting new growth. Yes. We mulched the heck out of it last fall.

No problem. You should cut it hard the first few years though to encourage more and bigger stems.

Oh really???

How long have you had yours?

I have many varieties, but no 3's older than a few years so I have always cut them back. I will probably wait until next year to try this with the ones in my shrubs. I'm still cutting back most of my 2's as well since they are only one to two years old. I only have two 2's that are well-established and I just trim them back a bit.

I'll have to see what they look like when the snow has left the branches.

I agree on the extreme frost heave. We had freeze-thaw cycles all winter with virtually no snow cover. Tough winter.

Virtually no snow at all until the second half of winter.

I'm about 80% snowfree here now.

It pretty much missed me until 1 storm in March.

I only got about 15 inches total.

Al, Could you type slower, please.

That last 20% is agonizing, isn't it, Al?

You know it - I get to be crazy lawn guy and shovel it off the lawn in shady areas ;)

That's funny Al, because I thought about raking the snow out of a couple corners yesterday.
My DH is crazy lawn guy all summer with mowing and keeping a perfect yard.
One year I had a dream that we were shoveling the snow off the lawn and on to the driveway, so he could mow the lawn.

I have a crazy lawn guy neighbor. An alarm goes off if a leaf drops on it.

I have a neighbor like that too! Well, he doesn't shovel snow off the lawn, but he's meticulus about not having a single leaf on it.

That is a funny dream debilu. In many places now they are encouraging the removal of lawns to conserve water. The whole leaf thing is kinda nutty if you have oak trees nearby.

I would love to see an end to turf grass.

Well I think most of us are doing our part. DH has lost several square feet of grass to new flower beds. :)

Me too Victor!!!! specially mine... I was looking yesterday at a picture of an entire garden beautifully done with thyme... so gorgeous... and I am going to try to do a small version of it... very nice combination - 2 colors... really gorgeous... and of course has some large stepping stones so it makes a great walkaway... oh yes, I hope to get rid of all the grass eventually!!!

Poor Al! If everyone felt the grass had to go he'd be in trouble.