Question
I just bought a home in northwestern Montana with an existing English perennial garden. It is currently under several feet of snow so I have no idea what's there(the prior owners have left and are unreachable).  I want to continue the garden come spring, but have no idea what to do.  I do have some gardening experience (in Florida!) and understand mulch, compost, etc. I guess I'm most concerned about pruning issues and how to bring the garden back in the spring correctly.  Thanks!  

Answer
 This situation calls for the "SURPRISE-Wait and See what comes up" method.  Watch in the spring and keep the weeds at bay (once you have the weeds all gone in an area-one you're not going to seed-spread PREEN all around. I swear by the stuff-keeps those weeds gone).
 Watch over this summer season what comes up and when and kind of sketch out what and where things are.  If you don't like something-dig it out!! I'm not a fan of bark mulches but do like compost mulch.
 If you have the room make 2- 3 sided paving-wire bins.  In these you deposit grass clippings, leaves, twigs (some are good for aeration) and food scraps (read the composting websites for what you can put in there and what NOT to put in). Read about the layering of materials.  I put in bone meal between layers of leaves (like in the fall). It doesn't hurt to get a compost starter as you are in a shortened season.  I turn the compost piles every 2 weeks in the summer....just build them in the winter, and spring.  If you make 2 bins, turning is easy...put the contents of one into the other, and alternate until one is full.  You need to keep the pile moist also.  Again read.  Search "composting" on the web searcher and you will find a lot of info.  If you have the room and are game, worm composting is great for Northern areas.  I did it in Alaska and it was the richest stuff.  You've got to really read about it and build your own bins.  And No-it doesn't stink.  If you have it in the house, you would only use it for food scraps-put them in a food processor first-helps it to gofaster!

Enough for now--If you have questions down the line don't hesitate.

Sijka