I have snow on the ground, so I do not even know the damage I have from the winter storm. I live in subtropical climate, and I have many subtropical evergreens (gardenias, camellias, and crape myrtles). I generally did not experienced issue with snow to kill a plant, just breaking it under the weight. Sudden deep late season freeze like last year caused a loss of six well established gardenias. My first step for the start of the season generally begins with pruning that I do in February. By end of the month I usually get early spring bulbs out like crocus and muscari.
I had issue with one flower that previous owners planted and became invasive, and on top if it causes allergies. My mom develops severe rashes from them, so I eventually had to use chemical warfare and indiscriminately sprayed herbicide to get rid of them. Otherwise I am avoiding using chemicals, because I am cancer cautious.
I see a big problem in the environment is a loss of bees. I am thinking about building a beehive, but it is bureaucratic issue (because of mites). I even have a place where to put it on the backyard. I have on my backyard a nest of wild bumblebees and yellow jackets. My goal is to have a yard blooming from frost to frost and have bees feed on it through the year. I see sometimes wild bees sitting on my blooming flowers even at the beginning of December.
I find crape myrtle, french hydrangea, and chaste trees attracting butterflies. I was not very successful in growing butterfly shrubs (buddleia) and over the years I lost every single of them. I also have hummingbirds but they seem to be more attracted on my neighbor backyard. My ideal garden is French Provence with wine, gardenia, hydrangea and lavender, but I also love camellias. I got some of them through catalog and so far I was very successful with them. My grandmother was vivid gardener. She lived in the warmest part of the country where she had almond and peach trees on courtyard around the well and house surrounded by vineyards. Everywhere she had marigolds, lavenders, and many to me unknown flowers. She had geraniums in the windows. My uncle had beehive there and further up was mile long orchard with apricots. However, I am hesitant to plant any fruit trees, because I do not want to attract any rats.