I'm several hundred miles north of Mary Sue, and here we have seen more erratic weather than normal. Our rainfall is close to normal levels for this time of year, but it is coming in intense clumps, with prolonged dry intervals between. So, 2-3 weeks of snow and temps in the 20s in December, then a break. Rain, rather a lot, in early January, then a break. More snow, then a break, more rain, and then, several weeks of dry clear weather. It's been lovely from a human point of view, as sun in the middle of winter always is on the PNW coast, but where's the steady rain and snow to recharge mountain storage, lowland aquifers, and everything in between? Not here, clearly. ' Most years I would say this area is zone 8 (which is the USDA's determination), a few years it's zone 9, and this year, I think it's leaning to zone 7. I'm planning to build a suitable 'protected cold frame, if only to have a spot to hold those zone 9 species I can't keep myself from trying, when zone 7 winters roll in. As for flowers, a few crocus and snowdrops are in flower, and lots of shoots hint that many others are on their way. I've gardened intensely at this location since the early 1980s, and have seen 'peak' spring bloom range from March to May, and only one other winter (1985) when winter temperatures were this low. So this year it will be very interesting to see what happens when. Kathleen