Last Friday was a perfect day to spend some time outdoors. Bright sunshine in an almost cloudless blue sky, and a mild temperature around 60° lured me outside to take stock of winter happenings in the front garden.

Daffodils are up about 3 to 4 inches in some sheltered spots. The two gardenia bushes look healthy, without signs of winter damage. Tiny, pink buds have appeared at the tips of the Clethra branches, and Jim noticed a few green leaves unfurling on the elderberry bushes. All of this new growth could freeze within 24 hours with a severe drop in temperature or a sudden snowstorm. The daffodils would survive a spate of harsh weather, but new growth on the other plants likely would not live.

Last fall, we removed some spent perennials from the beds and potted extras to re-plant in the spring. Several species of broadleaf winter weeds have set up housekeeping in the vacated spaces. I didn’t pay much attention to them, because they were green, but I realized on Friday that th...