I finally finished mulch mounding the roses by putting 8 more two cubic-feet bags of mini pine bark mulch down, making a total of 23 1/2 bags, or 47 cubic feet (last year I only used 17 bags). The weather has been warm yesterday and today, but will be significantly colder tomorrow. It's these variations in temperature rather than the cold that the mulch is most helpful to protect against. I did some minor pruning to the edges of the two quinces, which are blooming more.

Back in December 2000, I had planted 100 daffodils, including in 3 holes, each around 2'x3'x7" deep, in between my front rose beds and the front blooming shrubs (quince, flowering almond, forsythia). Closest to the driveway, I planted 25 'Holland Sensation' (trumpet daffodil, midseason, cheddar cheese colored trumpet, white perianth segments, 18-24" bloom size) and 5 'Monal' (large cup, bright yellow with red/orange cup, 16-18", early). In the middle, I had planted 15 'Avalon' (large cup w/ unique coloration - yellow petals become faded buff over time and cup is white with some yellow, becoming pure white, 14-16", late-midseason) and 10 'Rijnveld's Early Sensation' (trumpet, very early, two-toned yellow, 12-14"). Furthest from the driveway, I had planted 15 'Fortissimo' (large cup, huge yellow crepe paper-type petals with large orange cup and strong stem, 18-20", midseason) and 10 'Rijnveld's Early Sensation'. One of the 'Monal's by the driveway just today or yesterday opened.