Overnight and this morning we got a layer of ice and during the day that was topped off with some snow. The weather this winter has been unbelievable. The gray dreariness of the day has gotten to me. I almost laughed a while ago when I checked on my rudbeckias to see if they were finally blooming. They are… but they are Charlie Brown blooms. Kind of pitiful, really, and pretty fitting for the day overall.
I’ve got a new worry: my City of York climbing rose. It has “climbed” enough that it covers about 60% of my arbor. It covers more every year. At least until now. I’m not worried about the rose dying but I am worried about it dying back to the ground, or even part way. If it does that, my arbor will be uncovered and, worst of all, my traffic-stopping display of roses in May, like this one, will not happen:
That rose has always laughed at winter before now, but this winter has been a whole different beast and, frankly, I’ll be surprised if City of York doesn’t die back severely. I’ll be worrying about this until the roses leaf out. Judging by our weather so far, that’s going to be late this year, so I’ll remain in suspense longer.
