Dear All; On Jan 6 about 7 weeks ago I reported on precocious blooms after an extended warm period and the foreboding that "I do not doubt these early riser will 'pay'.". Now after more than 40 days of daytime high temperatures below freezing and many extended dips to zero (all F) we have finally begun to melt. Some parts of the garden are still encased in ice, but more than 90% of the garden is snow and ice free. The Galanthus just showing buds are now urgently blooming although stems are barely above ground and the tips of the petals are nearly touching the ground. Still honey bees find them as they open. Some tip burn on foliage. I have not seen this freeze influence before and hope the extremely short stems will extend as the weather continues to stay mild. The first 'Rynveld's Early Sensation' daffodils are frozen dead to the ground, but later buds are appearing above the frozen dead foliage and new foliage is coming around. Crocus sieberi 'Bowles White' had all its early flowers and foliage a mushy mess, but new buds are opening now. And Crocus sieberi 'Firefly' which had no early buds is going strong suddenly in the last 48 hours. And Crocus ancyrensis has appeared in full bloom where there was no sign earlier. The Eranthis that were blooming in January have turned to brown mush (foliage too), but just slightly later ones have come up and are blooming around. Iris aucheri, not yet in bloom or expected , has most foliage burned badly, but this is not unusual. All the earliest Hellebore stalks are frozen to mush and all foliage is deadly brown. Already more stalks are 'trying' to push up and healthy looking buds are apparent. I suspect we'll have around 1/2 the normal bloom. The With hazel 'Jelena' that popped open a few flowers, slowly retracted them in the past 7 weeks and then exploded open into full bloom in days. Other Witch hazels and early Cornus (mas) are now showing color. An Adonis amurensis bud is now showing through the leaf mulch. This has been an exceptionally long period at such low temps both day and night. Some plants seem to have been cooling their heels waiting for the warm up and others have new growth in reserve. I am certain we'll see more winter damage, but the sudden bursting of color is very well received and NEEDED. AS I predicted these precocious early Jan flowers have paid dearly as February comes near an end. Let's hope this warm up is the first sign of spring. Ever optimistic. Best Jim W. -- Dr. James W. Waddick 8871 NW Brostrom Rd. Kansas City Missouri 64152-2711 USA Ph. 816-746-1949 Zone 5 Record low -23F Summer 100F +