Good morning, Cynthia and all, from Florida where I just had breakfast outside in sun and seventy degrees — heavenly. The land with no winter. If I were rich, I would spend most of the winter here.

I don't know roses at all, but I can think of one lady whose name is fairly legendary, I think. One of her initials is G. We'll see how that guess turns out for me.

TM

TM, I saw your post almost immediately, but decided to wait for others to chime in, too. Looks like another quiet Sunday.

I know of whom you speak, but you are in the wrong country. Prior to the work of this lady's horticulturalist, most new rose cultivars were rare occurrences as they were either accidental, bee-induced hybrids or spontaneous mutations.

I would love to be able to plant some old climbing roses that would cover our fence, but I am afraid we have just too much shade or dappled light in our back yard. :(

Cynthia

Ha, the only name that is popping up in my crystal ball starts with a J, I don't think this is who you are looking for, waiting for more clues.

Annette

I wonder if you and TM are thinking of the same woman-Gertrude Jekyll.

Cynthia

That's who I was thinking of, so I guess I am wrong!! Oh well. Not England then, hmmmmm.

Nancy - who is just back from the Perth Seedy Sunday!! My first and it was fun!! Got some sea holly, lupines, blanket flower - some goats milk soap and some fresh garlic! Oh yes, and a lemon meringue pie - yum. There were quite a few people there will all different types of beans - I was thinking of you Annette. 2 actually did have CTTs but no Auntie Vi's. One woman was looking for one called Montouk - not sure of the spelling and no one had heard of Yacon. Oh well.

No, not GJ, another J :).

Hey Nancy I think I've found a source for Yacon keeping my fingers crossed this pans out, also having a go at growing Oca and Crosne. Skirret and Sea Kale seeds are in the mail, ever since I watched the Victorian Garden series I've wanted to try these two. I know Sea Kale can be difficult to germinate but hey you know me I love a challenge.

Not so much of a flake of snow this winter so far. They say Vancouver Island is heading towards a Mediterranean type climate, might be why our native cedars are dying.

Annette

Sounds like a wonderful haul, Nancy! We are all anxious for spring, n'est-ce ps?

Our lady was so intent on collecting every known rose (she was actully called Rose early on as it was one of her given names) that her husband ordered his men to seize those they found on captured vessels. Able they were.

ETA: ah, you may be on the right path Annette!

Cynthia

I am still at sea!!

Nancy.

One thing my students love are palindromes, Nancy. Anna, a man, a plan, a canal: Panama, Able I was ere I saw Elba.

One other note now that spring is on the horizon. Does anyone still wear empire waist dresses?

TM, have you ever gone further south for your vacation? I have never been to the islands, but would love to visit Martinique someday (French, you know, so I would love that one!).

Well, I still have no clue - lol. Although, the phrase, "not tonight" comes to mind - hey wait??!

Nancy.

Aw Nancy, and she is such a romantic character. She wanted English style gardens at the place she purchased while her DH was away in Egypt and brought several of the best horticulturalists from England to her.

Cynthia

I had forgotten the rose connection completely!! Good question!

Nancy.

Checking back in after being gone all afternoon. In spite of what seem to be gobs of very good clues, I am no closer to an answer than I was. Apparently, Gertrude Jekyll was the only name in my brain. The Elba clue makes me think of Napolean. Did he have a wife? Josephine, or something?

TM

Now your cookin' TM :).

Congratulations! Stars and roses for all three of you. Josephine (nee Marie Josèphe Rose Tascher de La Pagerie) became the wife of Napoleon and was crowned Empress by him when he became emperor. I will link a wiki site, although it was not my original source. Too lazy to type all the info out for you, but I have always felt a little sorry for Josephine. All in all though, not a bad life. I would love to visit Malmaison

some day. It appears that I do not quite have the houzz site down-picture too big and can't get anything to type beyond the link. Sigh. Cynthia josephine

Thanks for playing. Bobbie, if you pop in later, I imagine you will have figured out the answer as well, so stars and roses for you, too.

Cynthia

Son of a gun! I got it? Thanks, Cynthia. Blue roses! Wowser!

I'm a fan of palindromes too and I remember reading Able was I, ere I saw Elba long before I knew anything about Napolean.

I feel for you and the kids having to go through all the testing that is pointless for many of them. Good luck to you and them.

TM

Oh golly, TM! I can't believe I miswrote (I know, not a real word) the palindrome! Sheesh. Color me ashamed and embarrassed.

Thanks for thinking of me, Cynthia, but I deserve no stars and roses. Reading through the postings todat I got the French references but had forgotten about Empress Josephine's rose connection.

I'm not a rose grower as don't like thorns.

Loving these high temps, 70° tomorrow, but it has created havoc with winter sowing perennials needing cold strat.