Here in Sydney Maine...it’s been cool but I work a perennial farm (we supply the big retailers up here) the plants look GREAT but its been kinda grey... with a few days sunny and nice. I wouldn’t say it’s been cold but rather a good winter with snow cover and a nice wet Spring. Personally I put some nice Cardinal flowers between my conical evergreens and a few bleeding hearts in a big ceramic bowl on the corner of our porch(porches) that face the road....chestnuts are rooted from seed in two good spots... I have to say i have access to things most do not and I am a novice but learning from a couple that have been living off of their 100 acre tract of land and been selling their perennials since 82’......Zone 4 perennials. The couple are vegetarians and grow all their own chow...3 wells / to be blunt they are self supportive with food/timber/water etc... and great people in general....I lucked out crossing their path 2 years ago....no droughts this year huh?
My sister and B-I-L live in Lee. Way up there.
A six hour drive, but lovely home in the mountains.