So far, so good.

This summer has been so mild and wet so far that the garden is doing great. And I'm not exhausted from watering!  We've enjoyed long bloom periods, and lots of time outside enjoying the cooler air. Here are a few of my favorite spots in my garden this year:

Questions...

Perhaps the hardest part about transitioning my garden to zone 4 is the question of what is hardy. With the most recent update of zone boundaries last year (or was it the year before) my garden was very much on the border of zone 4/5 but now falls all the way in zone 5. I am moving to northern part of zone 4. I'm spending hours online trying to figure out what is marginally hardy up there, and coming up with some confusing answers.
Some of the plants I am most worried about include Rose of Sharon- both Blue Satin:
and Lavender Chiffon.

Some of my hardy gernaiums are rated only to zone 5.

And I'm uncertain about some of my perennial hibisucus as well.

Most hollyhocks seem like they'll be okay up there- but once in awhile I come upon a rating that scares me. I am still going to take my 'Creme de Cassis' seeds with me!

I'm not looking forward to feeling like a newbie again. And also having to wait longer for spring.

Sigh.

I've been winter sowing, and starting my dahlias to keep busy.

Happy gardening!

Winter is almost over, I promise.

Feeling the end-of-winter-I-simply-can't-wait-much-longer-for-spring blues? Here are some beauties from last May in my garden. They fill me with anticipation, and remind me there is life beyond the snow (that I also love so much).

Happy almost spring!