Melissa, your last comment is so true. Yesterday we finally got rid of Earth Song which has been a disaster for me (of course everyone else has had brilliant success with it). Putting Wild Edric in its place was immensely satisfying. Mutabilis and Belinda's Dream arrived two days ago and will be in the ground within a week, and La Reine de Violettes should arrive any day. Spots are being filled that have been divested of roses that have been given every chance but have failed to grow and/or satisfy, and Mutabilis is going next to the studio, where no rose has ever grown. All this seems like a very satisfying ending to a period of culling diseased or non-growing roses and replacing them with what I feel are sturdy, healthy and drought-resistant roses. The exception is Reine de Violettes which is going to be in a morning sun-only spot where I hope it will prosper and lend elegance and depth of color to the front garden. The wind is still blowing and we're in a record heat and drought situation, so I'm thumbing my nose at the elements, but these roses were needed to complete the garden picture and I'm going to do my utmost to help them to prosper.

Ingrid

Melissa, that sounds like so much fun, and hard work.
Sometimes i wonder why I do this to myself making more work than i can possibly keep up with. Then in summer when the air is sweet, our dog is sitting drowsily in the sunshine , and 6 year old granddaughter Lizzy is cutting a bouquet, then every thorn in my fingers was worth it.
Linda

Melissa,

Your garden is one of my favorites out of all those I've seen on the boards. I can't wait to see photos of your work in the spring. If only I lived close enough to you to pick your brain on design and rose selections.

Josh

Ingrid, a normal winter here is wet, but this is our second unusually wet winter in a row, and I sure wish we could give it to you where it's needed so badly. Good luck with your roses: I hope they flourish! And I hope your wise water use strategies work as well. It's hard to imagine now, but the day will come when you'll be wallowing in mud and here the winter hills will be bright and dry and I'll be despairing about the following summer. These situations come, and go again. In the meanwhile we just have to hang on, playing the hand we're dealt as best we can.

Linda, that's a pretty rose: I like the color and texture of those petals. I think it's very good for children to grow up with a garden, and with much contact with the natural world if it's at all possible. Here in Italy at least this part of people's education seems to be greatly neglected. Your granddaughter's lucky. So is my daughter.

Josh, you have no idea. I would so love to have an enthusiastic and curious gardener close by, to share information and swap ideas with, and plants, too. I find it really frustrating that I garden in such a vacuum: I feel like I'm sitting on a hoard of gold, with no one around who desires gold. Loaded with plants, and no one who wants plants! or hard-earned knowledge! Terrible.
I very rarely post photos of my garden; are you SURE that you don't have it confused with someone else's more orderly, more carefully cultivated place? Seriously, though I know that the implication isn't flattering and am sorry for that. I adore my garden, but it's wilder than most and, for an ambitious garden, has possibly more than its share of problems (drainage greatly occupies our minds these days).
You're going to have a great garden. I do enjoy your enthusiasm and activity and your participation on the forum.

Melissa