Wonderful pictures - I especially like the mutabilis - who knew it cllimbed trees?

We are further South than you are, but I think are having similar weather. It has been in the high 60s, with no wind and just lots of sunshine. No one has told my Duchesse de Brabant or Rosette Delizy or Niles Cochet that it is Winter - they are all covered in blooms and buds. I wish it were raining, but since it is not this is the "silver lining", and I am enjoying it.

Jackie

snow for us, apparently, by end of week.....but what do I care having invested an eye-watering amount of money on heated insoles with rechargeable batteries. Suffering from Raynauds syndrome, cold weather is a bloody misery with blue corpse-like freezing feet. Having tried many socks, sheepskin, chemical heaters, pills and potions, I finally coughed up and what absolute bliss. Why did I wait so long?

With warm feet, I am invincible, indomitable, legendary (it feels).

Whereas in the past, after a couple of outdoor hours, I would be piteous, snivelling, hopeless.

(sound of heavenly chorus, swelling chords, trumpets and harps)

I am reborn into a new world of toasty tootsies.

Gorgeous pictures! I am particularly impressed with Devoniensis. Is that the climbing version, or is it the shrub but doesn't realize it?

Hope we get some more rain along with the cooler temperatures. I went out to start the winter garden clean up today. I just put in an hour, not feeling very energetic, but I see enough difference that I think I will be inspired to do some more tomorrow. I know you are often well on your way by now some years.

Have a good trip!

Rosefolly

I knew Mutabilis will climb trees. I've seen it. I said that a while back, and no one believed it -- so I'm glad you posted that beauty.

Travel safe!

Jeri

Nice pictures and have a great trip.

Nice to hear you found a way to keep yer toes toasty Camp!

We are predicted to get another week of -25C weather so I will agree, winter is here!

Hope everyone keeps warm.

SCG

What a beautiful bright spot in my otherwise gray day! Have a great trip!

What, exactly constitutes a cold snap, Mendocino? A need to wear an extra T.shirt. Maybe even (gasp) a woolly something?
Possibly a....coat (you know, those thick warm things we wear when it snows (that frozen white stuff you might have heard of).

I would trample my own children to get a chance to live somewhere like Californ.i.a where plants grow all year, everyone sunbathes and no-one has ever suffered from chilblains or frostbite.......although, on the brighter side, we do get a good 3 months of slacking.
Safe trip though.

Love the pictures, Pam, and especially Devoniensis. I have a baby plant and enjoy seeing what it looks like when it's all "growed up". Angel Face with the hills in the background is beautiful. My Mutabilis, which is mainly in the shade this time of the year, looks nothing like yours. I hope you have a safe and enjoyable trip. How nice that the roses put on a show for you before you left.

Camp, I'm so glad you finally found a way to have warm feet. I tend to get cold feet very easily, even here in the autumn and winter, but nothing as awful as what you describe. And yet you're out in the garden in all kinds of weather. You have my respect; you're an awesome lady.

Ingrid

Camps,

So glad to hear you have warm tootsies. With Reynaud's you must keep them warm or risk losing them. My brother had Reynaud's when he was a teen but got over it.

Cath

Roses this time of year? sounds like a fairy tale to me! LOL

They are lovely, especially shot against the blue sky that way. Are they really that tall? or are you creating that effect with your upward shots? Very effective, anyway.

Kate

Camp I love hearing about your insole warmers. Northern California starts a bit north of Monteray. I'm 150 miles North of San Francisco. The cold snap will bring night time temps of around 25 F and Days into the high 40s. I know that's still mild for some folks but not at all like Southern Cal.
Kate they really are that tall. Denvoniensis is 8 feet tall. The Mutabilis is 20 feet up into the pear.
Paula that is the shrub version of Devoniensis. I'ts a plant I received from Joyce Demits. I feel like it is a superior clone. I hope you get some rain too. The end of next week looks promising, though we might get snow here.
About the Mutabilis, I never asked it to climb into that tree. It just threw itself up there and kept going.

I've seen 'Mutabilis' used as a climber around Lago di Garda, and once years ago a in a garden not far from here saw a plant about the size of my living room. I'm not surprised that yours heaved itself up into the tree.
We got our first snow on Saturday, 3"-4", and it's been freezing at night, the lowest temperatures in the upper twenties. Cold enough for a hot brick under my feet this evening while I snoozed on the sofa. 'Sanguinea' is still opening some of its buds, and my best plant of 'Old Blush' has some flowers; everything else has shut up shop, The grass is still lush, though, in spite of the hoarfrost in the shade. After a wet October and November, toward the end of last month the sun finally came out, and the late autumn landscape looks quite cheerful. So far only the tenderest growth on the repeat-blooming roses has frozen back. We had a mild fall until a couple of weeks ago. I'm thankful for the opportunity to get out and dig and clean up. Last winter all I remember was snow and rain.
Suzy, congratulations on your newly warm feet! It sounds like you found a solution you needed,.
Nice photos, Pam. I love persimmons.
Melissa

I'm feeling dreamy over that Mutabilis against the blue sky as well. Look at the wonderful color on your Devoniensis! The delicate blossom color and the pretty reds on the leaf parts. We had some beautiful sunsets these last few days. Cold air is on the way but will be dry this far south. The Sierra Nevada is promised some snowfall so I am happy about that. My golden ash is finally getting some fall color and the peaches are losing leaves at last.

Some of the roses from this week have been very large and richly colored. The pale ones have been lovely since they have not faded to white right away. Pristine was especially beautiful and has opened more slowly than it usually does. I was enjoying each rose as it opened.

Pristine

mendocino-rose, I am so happy to hear that Mutabilis will climb up trees. My neighbour has planted a mango tree right next to Mutabilis, and also a Frangipani 6 feet away which is bang next to Ms T. I thought MsT might give the Frangipani a run for it's money, but am thrilled o hear that Mutabilis will also conquer!

December 3rd, 82F degrees and beautiful sunshine. I have roses in bloom, which makes me smile.

Marechal Niel

Mauve girl,

I'm so jealous of your Marechal Niel!! How does it do for you? And what part of Texas are you in?

I might order one from RU in the spring. I hear it likes the heat.

Josh

Josh, it's a tiny plant, thus far (1st year). It has bloomed a little.
The form is is flowy & droops. Weak neck?

Mine is from Roses Unlimited.

I simply adore its particular shade of yellow. I would describe it as a pastel canary yellow.

It can get very cold in Houston. But in comparison with the rest of the nation
our winter is short & mild.

Beautiful pics of roses and sky; all the pics brighten a winter day.

Oh, I love the blue, blue sky in your photos as much as the lovely roses, Mendocino Rose! We're now in our dreary time of year - rare to have sunshine here in Michigan in November or December. Our wonderful Great Lakes keep it cloudy almost always these days - and usually snowy to boot. Thank you for letting us northerners dream on through your garden. :-)

Camp, glad to hear you have 'happy feet' now. There is not much worse than having your toes so cold. A great purchase - and good for you for taking care of yourself, hang the cost!

Kitty what a lovely photo of Pristine. Mauve Girl. wow 82 degrees! Now wonder you have a nice Marechal Niel.
Titian, I'm sure that the Mutabilis will climb the Mango tree. That should be perfect. Melissa, I'd love to see that living room sized Mutabilis.
I must tell you all that the world changed completely while I was in Oregon. Snow came down Friday night followed by temps in the low 20s. Like I thought, all my beautiful blooms are gone.

Kitty what a lovely photo of Pristine. Mauve Girl. wow 82 degrees! Now wonder you have a nice Marechal Niel.
Titian, I'm sure that the Mutabilis will climb the Mango tree. That should be perfect. Melissa, I'd love to see that living room sized Mutabilis.
I must tell you all that the world changed completely while I was in Oregon. Snow came down Friday night followed by temps in the low 20s. Like I thought, all my beautiful blooms are gone.