after two very very brutal winters

[pumba]

we only lost part of the double white lilac trees.........and the other 12 are going strong......My favorite will always be the old fashion purple lilac. for the smell (as long as it is outside) and the most beautiful lilacs are the french double purple lilacs...we thought we had lost three of them but they are doing good......our pear tree lived too.......boy we are going strong.......ONE THING hard to kill is our "strawberry Rhubarb" that is the name of this type. we already picked a large bag and brought it to the nursing home and they made rhubarb crisp for the residents.........and that was only part of the crop...

 

[Mamu]

Pumba glad to hear the severe winter didn't damage too much.

Although our winters are never as severe as our northerners and spring comes a little earlier here. The last 3 winters have been severe here too. Heavy snow and very cold, not as much wind this year.

Most of my trees and plants came through this past winter fairly well. Little damage. One Rhododendron has had difficulty the past 2 years. The leaves seem to be getting winter burn. I'll try moving it to a more sheltered location and see what happens. My oakleaf hydrangea did not have a good winter, I think too much salt spray. Only 1 branch seem to be sprouting. I'll try saving it but I think it a lost cause.

The strawberry rhubarb sounds interesting, does it have a strawberry taste?

I do hate northern winters, but dislike the alternatives even more. Guess I'm a New Englander at heart, but a southern one.

 

[pumba]

is more of a sweeter variety of rhubarb (but can't prove it by me) it is also bright red in the strings of the stalks.....I am not a rhubarb lover so I do a few pies for hubby and the rest goes to the home.
Remember to pull the stalks out and do not cut them. This way the stalks will be coming up all summer and into the fall. This is a good way to keep it tender and sweet too