I have finally experienced the wonder of a tea in massive bloom this year. I planted a Duchesse de Brabant about 3 & 1/2 years ago. I have had a few blooms here and there.

It now looks like a massive four foot candelabra just covered with lovelies. I can just lean over and bury my nose.

Up til now, I have tried very hard to be judicious about my rose purchases. One or two, here and there, as the funds allowed. And always bargain hunting. From this forum, I learned so very much and I have been making and refining lists since I joined late last summer.

Well, after going to the University Botanical Gardens plant sale and getting rooted cuttings at five dollars per, and buying anything that I didn't already have, and looking them all up on HMF,... I now have two monsters out of four new ones and two of them are once bloomers and where am I going to put them, because I am saving the one fairly sunny place for my top ten, those that I REALLY want.... And facing a long. hot growing season... And I KNOW so much more about growing them, now.

I finally came to the conclusion... What the Heck am I waiting for????

So I burned the card and ordered what I really want... More Teas!!! Mrs. Joseph Schwartz, Niles Cochet, Sunset, Wm R Smith and Mrs. B R Cant. Tried to find Adam, Tipsey and more but most are sold out. Threw in Marie Pavie and Excellenz Von Schubert for good measure. Now I shall refine my lists for the fall.