I cant help it, I hate Winter.
Just the part right now - when Seattle has seen a big cold snap and we dont know, but can be pretty sure, that there will be another one.....so you just have to sit on your hands. Which is really hard because it's been such a mild Winter up until now that even the plants got confused and got ahead of themsleves a bit.....(I had a maple BLEED on me 2 weeks ago! - if you dont know what that means email me and I'll explain!)....watching the early buds go black is just painful, even my espallier apple tree started to leaf out a tiny bit - it's on the S. side of the house in a very protected spot and for sure thought it was Spring already just a few weeks ago. Sigh.
So what is a gardener to do? Sit on those hands and especially those pruners until Feb. (with the exception of your deciduous trees of course, but it's getting real close to the end of that pruning season so get on it.) The urge to cut back the grasses and the foliage you left up on the perennials is strong, but hold on just a few more weeks! If we do get another cold snap that natural cover is the best thing for the plants.
For the more delicate plants that wont take the cold you should provide a little extra cover, like a pile of leaves. If it gets really cold go out and put a sheet, or hay, or fern fronds, or something to shield those plants each night before the temps drop.....and take them back off the next day when it gets above freezing (if it doesn't go above freezing leave it on for the day) This is a serious commitment but if you want your Gunnera, (for example) to live over the Winter and have those 5 foot leaves next Summer......you have to protect those plants.
(My Gunnera is wrapped in: it's own leaves from the Summer, which I just piled ontop of the plant and did not break off the stems and then fern fronds over the leaves.....then I also created a 'tee-pee' of sticks over the plant which I drape a old down filled sleeping bag for night and day time cold snaps......It's kinda nuts but so far it is still alive in there!)
Think Spring!!