Wish you the best, Lilyfinch! Have a safe flight! Your daughter may enjoy flying and ease your anxiety. She'll take care of Mommy!

Wow, your roses are so beautiful! I am sorry that you have to leave them all behind but am glad that you are able to capture these pictures for inspiration and good memories down the road. Collette and Blossomtime are amazing! Hopefully, the new owners will pick up where you left off and continue your vision. Who knows? They may find the Rose Forum here and share pics and experience.

Thank you all so so very much for all the comments !! They mean the world to me. It’s amazing how the forum has allowed me to share 5 years of gardening here .. 2 years of comments while we rented and years before that in pa when I was new . What a blessing you all have been !!

i really appreciate all the wonderful comments here . I can’t wait to share the new place with you when we find it !

I had more photos but I must not have waited for them to post !!

Alnwick

Sweet Francis looked amazing

All these buds on earth angel !!

This I can’t remember who it is . Maybe ginger syllabub?

Pierre gangriere was very pretty too

Desdemona again

Fire opal

last one of lucia in the garden ! :)

I feel like we’re all getting one good last look at our own Tennessee garden, where we’ve seen both Lucia and the roses grow so happily over the years. I’ll miss the beautiful vista and endless rolling green hills, I’m so glad to see it one more time in all its glory. But I’ve always considered relocating to CA, I think there will be such happy gardening times ahead for you.

Safe travels Lily! Thanks fo sharing the pics they are beautiful. Hope you find a new place quickly :).

You saved the best for last! She has so many new adventures ahead of her, she’s so precious!

I am sure you will miss your beautiful roses.... I have enjoyed the pictures that you have posted..... I hope that you will have a place to start a new rose garden in California... too bad it isn't here in Florida... I would love having a person next to me that has and likes roses as much as I do.... Good luck on your new adventure to California.

What a bittersweet post. It was so nice of the new owners to allow you and your daughter some closure. Everything looks so fantastic. It is the hardest time of year to leave a beloved garden.

Hey look at that California girl! She is already looking the part :) Your daughter is so cute!

Would you regrow Cloud 10? Yours is so lovely and I've been debating on getting this rose as I need more white climbers for my moon garden.

~Sjn

Good luck Lily, you know what? This flight is gonna be a piece of cake for a lady like u who could manage this rose garden :)sending good wishes for the upcoming adventure. I hope the new owner understands the value of this priceless gift .. he has received from u along with the house ..the best rose is Lucia.. who is traveling with u. She will take good care of u.. get excited about the blank slate in CA. Best wishes!!!

Good luck Lily! Thanks for sharing these beautiful photos! You have done a great job!

Hope you find a good spot in CA within a good school dist for your kids. We will always be here to cheer you on! :-)

It’s absolutely beautiful! I’m so glad you got to see it one more time. I bet that your garden is part of why your house sold so quickly. Lucia looks so happy! Safe travels, I know you’ll be fine. Lisa

Lily, it was so nice to see your rose garden one more time.
New beginning and best part, I am sure you will go to Sacramento cemetery with Jeri, meeting Kim, Lisa, Ingrid and so many Rosarians and most of them are not to far. So many events there and I am sure you will be very busy.
Lucia looks so happy . Big hugs to her :)
Looking forward to your new adventure in CA.
jin

Oh, I forgot your garden looks great but you will do as great in CA too .
jin

Like BenT, I will miss seeing photos of the beautiful garden you have created (in only 5 years!), with those rolling hills behind. The new owners are so lucky. I would be overjoyed to inherit a garden like that.

Your photos are lovely, despite the setting sun. I especially love the ones of Blossomtime and Fire Opal. If you have time, I hope you'll add them to HMF - and many others as well, particularly the full bush shots.

I wish you safe travels with Lucia, who I believe will be a comforting companion for you, and all the best in your new life. Like everyone here, I am looking forward to seeing your new creation.

Prayers and best of luck Lily! Your Tennessee garden was so beautiful!

They're all so beautiful, Lilyfinch! I'm glad you got to say goodbye to them. Just think though, you get to start a whole new rose journey now!

I'll say some prayers for you and your daughter too. I don't like to fly either so I know how nerve wracking it can be.

Don't forget that when traveling with a child, most airlines will let you board first!

We always head straight to the last row.

I got lucky and lilyfinch sold me 2 of her new roses before she left- I will add pictures of Caramella Fairy Tale and Dame Judi Dench just as soon as they bloom.

Safe travels, and good luck!

Good luck, Lily to you and your family! California here you come.

I will miss all your pictures and comments on your garden and the advice you offered so generously. I don't know how you did it going back - I had tears in my eyes imagining leaving your heaven on earth. The best of everything for you and your family in your new endeavors!

Wow, Lilyfinch those are lovely photos. I've always enjoyed seeing your garden photos. I wish you the best of luck in this new chapter of yours and look forward to your new garden photos. I know you'll make it beautiful. I'm very happy for you.

Most everyone is helpful at airports and you shouldn't have any problems. Safe travels! :-)

Best wishes, Lily. Looking forward to seeing your new garden take shape.

Best of luck with your move! You daughter will have fun on the trip so don’t worry. I have been flying with my daughter since she was a few months old cross the country to visit grandparents in CA and cross the ocean for vacations. Kids are resilient and naturally curious. I always pack her stuffy, safety blankie, a few small toys old and new, 2 books, her snacks, kid’s headphone so she can watch movie (she watched Moana on board like 10 times already:). I put “earplane” earplugs in her ears to help with the pressure change, and she wears her seabands for motion sickness. Ground crew and fly attendants are always super nice to kids so just ask for help if you need.

California is great for roses. Look forward to seeing pictures of your new garden!

Oh Lily, I’m so excited for you! I know it’s hard to leave, but what an adventure you have ahead. I remember moving with my kids when they were young from rural Alabama to Atlanta due to a job transfer. I really enjoyed planning and maintaining my small yard there. It was perfect size for that time in our lives…enough of a garden for enjoyment, but not too much to take time away from all the activities the kids were involved in. I was transferred back here 7 years later, but we did enjoy big city life while we were there. I’m sure you will find plenty to love about your new home in California! Sending you big hugs and best of wishes!!!

I’m glad you had a chance to go back and enjoy it one last time. That has to be difficult leaving behind the beautiful garden you’ve created and shared over the years (and we will not forget) but what amazing opportunites moving to California will bring! I looking forward to seeing what you will create next. I will pray for you as well.

Sending lots of good wishes and thoughts your way....be sure to post about your new space!

Sad that you must leave your garden behind, but hoping you will find joy in your next garden. Praying for safe travels and that you will settle in quickly in your new neighborhood.

Best of luck Lilyfinch!

Safe travels Lilyfinch. You and your family will be in my prayers. Thank you for being such an amazing person and always sharing your knowledge and advice. You know I have always admired your beautiful garden and it has been very nice getting to see it again in full fantastic bloom. I think you will love gardening in Cali without blackspot =) and I can’t wait to see your beautiful next garden. I don't know if the people who bought your home are into rose gardening, but they must be amazed at the beauty they are getting to enjoy right now. Please let us know after you have made it safely and had time to relax. This modern world may not be perfect, but it sure has a lot of awesome things, like being able to keep up with friends no matter where in the world you go. Happy California adventure to you!

Safe travels, Lilyfinch! Living in California IS part of your journey.

Safe travels for you and Lucia. A

new adventure begins. The gardens you created in Tennessee were absolutely stunning and I can’t wait to see what this next chapter brings!

Have safe trip and hope to see your dream garden soon.

I look forward to your new garden and new adventure with roses!

Safe travels Lilyfinch! Here's to a brand new garden, many new adventures and of course more rose shopping yaay :) All the best to you!!

I wish you and your little girl a very safe and easy journey toward your new life, Lily. You've made a truly amazing garden, and with your talent and vision I know you will make another one, different but equally beautiful.

Lily, good luck with the flight, the move, and transition in California. I am sure we are all sad to say goodbye to your old garden, but all excited for your new chapter in the sunny Califonia!

claire

Lily, Safe travels! Once you get settled you will have time to get new roses in this fall/winter for rose planting season in California. I am looking forward to watching your new garden bloom.

I'm so going to miss being at Lowes and texting Lily with questions about disease resistance or sharing which plants are available at which big box store. Or in winter and I'm trying to figure out what to order. Or standing over my fist batch of alfalfa tea and wondering what I should add to it. Lily was my "local knowledge."

I ended up with a handful of her orders from this year, Chas de Gaul, Eden, Nahema, Celestine and some others--most bare roots from Palantine. Since Lily selected them I know they'll be great here. I'll be sure to post when they bloom. I also got to dig up and bring home the two Renaes from each side of her gazebo that was the gift from her husband and the first big structure she put in this garden.

Having seen her garden in person I can't imagine leaving it. But I know without a doubt she has some amazing gardens in her future--not just the next one in California, but a life time of beautiful gardens. I'm so appreciative of these forums for producing garden friends to greet her when she arrives and to be her sources of local knowledge!! And selfishly so I can keep up with her and watch her build another beautiful garden space.

Bon voyage! (But you still have to come back some day!!) (And I'm still going to text!)

Safe travels, looking forward to seeing your new gardening adventures.

Gosh everyone... thank you so much from the bottom of my heart !! It means the world to me . I wish I could reply to every one of my dear garden friends!!

We survied the flights ! It was quite a day and I am exhausted! Our second flight was delayed by an hour over a burned out bathroom bulb ! lol oh well we survived and I can in fact do things I don’t think I can !! :) thank you for al the prayers and well wishes . Tomorrow and Friday we house hunt . I’ll let you know how it a goes !! I’m so tired Im headed to bed .love you all so much and am soo thankful!!!

Good luck, Lily!! Your garden pics were stunning! I can only imagine how many beautiful you'll be growing in your new home! Best wishes to you and your family on your new endeavor.

I am happy to hear you all arrived safely. Take it easy and take care of yourself!

Lilyfinch, I thought about you all yesterday and it seems all our well wishes helped you survive your flight! It's amazing what one can do when there's no choice! )) I was so touched by your last visit and I'm sure the new owners will cherish the garden just judging by how they welcomed you back. It was a garden of dreams for your future and now you are living those dreams. In that way it served its purpose and has freed you to find new horizons. Here's hoping you find a house that says "home" to you.

subk, how lucky to have seen it in person and have Lilyfinch so close by. I hoped she would visit sometime on her way back to Pa., but who know where life takes us!

I sympathise and empathise... not having flown for 20 years and don't intend to do so... best of luck with house hunting in California..

Happy New Gardening Zone! I'm verklempt at the thought of leaving such a garden but agree you are in for a treat. Oh the things you will grow :)

Glad you made it okay. Enjoy your new adventure!

Glad to hear from you Lily! Good luck with house hunt!

Thanks for the update. Hope you find a place soon.

Just saw this post, a little too late to wish you a safe flight! But I was happy to see you got a last visit to your garden. And wow it looked amazing! The roses looked beautiful. All of your experience will only help to create another fantastic garden. I hope house hunting is going well for you & you find a perfect spot for your family! I also have to admit that I'm a bit jealous you are escaping the black spot & humidity issues of rose growing!

Take heart! Roses grow well in California!

Lilly, like many, I have enjoyed your garden and roses. Hope you enjoy growing roses in Cali

Best wishes Lily!