Another coolish May morn … no, wait – make that a downright cold Michigan May morn. It was 37 degrees when I left the house in the seven o’clock hour. But we were lucky – we didn’t have a freeze warning for our plants, and unlike the U.P., where people woke up to snow flurries just after the last of their 17-foot snowfall melted, at least we were not getting any of the white stuff. After last Sunday’s severe haircut to my stand of Knock Out Roses, and, after the torrential rain events earlier this week, I was curious to see how my rose bushes fared. I must admit I was almost afraid to look. Actually, the haircut was a better description of how I handled the smaller shrub roses – the larger roses were so brittle, large and unwieldy, it was more of a hack job. So, I stole around to the backyard – well, looking good … three of the four Knock Out Roses have tiny green and dark red foliage. The shrub roses have rallied back as well – no buds, but at least some greening up from the bottom. Even the large clematis looks promising, with a few green shoots and flimsy tendrils. So, that wee peek at the backyard buoyed my spirits somewhat and determined this morning’s agenda. I hopped into the car and took off for Meijer to peruse the plant rescue products. Since I am trying to have a positive outlook over my post-Winter garden disaster, I bought enough products to fertilize everything through the Summer. Twenty minutes later I came away $75.00 poorer, but hopefully holding the Rx to restore my damaged plants and bushes. As usual, I parked far away from the store to get in a meager walk back-and-forth, then I walked in and around the garden area. I left the pedometer in place while I worked out in the yard and I managed to muster two miles, which is not too bad for an errand/yard work morning. I dragged my wonder products to the backyard, scraped aside the dirt and mingled in the pellets, then covered them up and patted down the earth. Next, I moved on to nurture the holly with a similar product. At the end of all that bending , I groaned after straightening up, wishing my morning agenda had been a nice stroll in Council Point Park. I surveyed the backyard, once my little paradise, and it is looking sorely in need of alot of TLC right now. I’ve also lost half my perennials from this brutal Winter. Well, “chin up” I told myself as I put my yard utensils away. I glanced up at the thickening dark clouds. Perfect timing! The predicted rain will come to fruition and help “the cause” since it is out of my hands now, though, as of this writing I still await those promised raindrops. If the rain comes in the middle of the night while I am fast asleep, I’ll have to rely on my trusty rain gauge, pictured above, since their future beauty and fate now depends upon a little rain, much sunshine and … I’ll just defer to ol’ Mother Nature to take care of the rest.