PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - Ahh, that’s better…our recent warm spell finally melted most of the snow away so we could actually walk across the yard for first time since late December and visit all our plants to see how they’re doing. Surprisingly, most shrubs that seemed flattened a few weeks ago have recovered really well – while a few branches broke here and there, most bent boughs have already returned to their regular height – and it’s still only February.

It’s a good reminder that no matter how bad things seem in the middle of winter, it’s important not to panic, prune or plan to yank everything out. Why not wait and see how things look later in the spring? If a few warm days can perk up what looked like permanently-pancaked azaleas, yews, and other stooped shrubs so recently, just think what weeks of warmth and sunshine will do for them in the months to come.

Reported By Phran Novelli, KYW Newsradio