No, nothing like that going on here. The snow receded slightly with the last warm spell, but nothing like what you're talking about.

The snow we have, probably around 8", is very dry and fluffy - very little moisture in it and it won't take much to melt it all off. We had bitter cold and no snow in early November, so I'm expecting some losses this season.

Nothing like that here either. We've had some melting but that just means an inch less of snow - everything is still covered. You should maybe shovel some snow on to your roses or try to protect them otherwise.

Nothing like that here either... just glad to not be in the "deep freeze"!

Ang

Nothing breaking dormancy here either. Really just one day at +5 but it wasn't all that sunny.

I think in general though, snow seems to lose some of it's insulating properties the older it gets, especially if mild weather hits and it develops that hard top to it. Even if it stays cold the drifts seem to sink a bit after a while, I assume from the weight. Still, it must still be able to protect plants somewhat.

I find the side of the house always seems to melt first. In fact, even when it's fairly cold out the snow touching the side of the concrete foundation seems to slowly melt and leave an air gap. I usually just keep finding new fluffy snow and piling it on.

As much as I hate driving in snow or on snowy roads, hopefully we'll have snow new stuff before any cold snap should hit (or, just cancel the annual cold snap and declare us zone 5).

Glen

"or, just cancel the annual cold snap and declare us zone 5"

Definitely the option i'd consider! LOL

I'll add my vote, no cold snap and zone 5 would be delightful.

Can you imagine all the beautiful things we would be able to grow that we have never been able to have.....

honest to goodness climbers & ramblers
hydrangeas

oh don't get me started.....lol

cathy