Your pictures show the full beauty of Lisa's garden, especially her hill. I'd love to know the progression of roses. However, it's the happiness in all your faces that strikes me most. The ones of Lucia and Millie are expressions of pure joy. It thrills me! I'm so happy you are near one another and can visit! Eagerly awaiting more pics! : ))

What a sweet post! I have to say, my favorite picture is Lulu with that huge smile! She and Millie adored each other! Jen was so kind, and didn’t notice (or kindly pretended not to) my “hidden” messy spots. I so rarely have anyone see my garden, other than family who are just not that interested. It was wonderful getting to know her, and see her so enthusiastic about the garden. There’s nothing like a fellow rose lover to talk with and enjoy the garden with. It gave me a fresh look at my garden. Where I was always noticing the faults, she was just noticing the beauty.

The pink flower you loved so much is the annual Lavatera trimestris ‘Pink Blush’. It had reseeded itself there. There are several smaller plants growing in my “veggie box”, that we could perhaps pot up and send with you to your new house. If they don’t transplant well, I’ll have plenty of seed soon. Lol.

It was wonderful actually meeting in person. I had worked myself into a panic about the state of my garden, but Jenna was so kind, and understanding. She even offered to come help next time! The time flew by so quickly, I was astonished when it was already time for them to leave. I don’t get a chance to talk roses with real live people very often, and I talked her ear off! It was a whole new experience sharing my garden with a true rose lover, and I highly recommend it. Lisa

Thank you Lily, for these wonderful photos! I am thrilled to see that magnificent specimen of 'Mel's Heritage' - in fact, that's one of the very best examples of it I have ever seen. Outstanding!

Paul, Thank you for creating a such beautiful rose! Lisa’s is breathtaking! Hopefully mine could grow into fountain ”tree” form in pots...... and I am trying to bud it into a rose tree trunk.....your Mel’s Heritage has touched down here by the Great Lakes in NY and PA!

Lilyfinch, you and Lisa have so much in common with the beautiful roses and other flowers that you grow and love. You are both such gracious ladies. And I’m so glad you shared these beautiful pictures of Lisa’s beautiful garden. Love the pictures of you, Lucia and Lisa too!

It is an absolute pleasure to see Lisa's beautiful garden through Jenna's eyes, and the pictures of Lucia and Millie and of Lisa, Jenna and Lucia are the icing on the cake. I very much hope there will be a time when I'll be physically capable of entertaining them all in my home, although I'm afraid my garden with the relatively few roses will be a disappointment after the absolute profusion of roses and companion plants at Lisa's. Thank you, Jenna, for this visual feast.

beautiful slope full of roses

Thank you, Lilyfinch, for this extra special glimpse into Lisa's garden. She is too modest to share all this. She works tirelessly in her garden and it shows.

Your post brought tears to my eyes. I've been concerned about you, a little country girl, readjusting to city life, but with friends like Lisa and Ingrid nearby, you will have all you need to feel at home and all the first hand expertise about warm climate roses you could hope for.

I love the photo of the three of you. The move certainly hasn't dampened Lucia's happy smile. Is that child ever not happy!

It’s the most wonderful circumstances, bringing you two together! I’m just thrilled that you have each other nearby. Your garden is such a gorgeous thing, Lisa! You have put so much work into it, and I’m so happy you could share it this way! :-)

This post brightened my afternoon! I'm so glad you are close to one another and can share fellowship and garden visits. Lulu definitely needs a kitty!!! And I definitely need Mel's Heritage :)

Lily, Buy the roses Lisa doesn’t have, then you guys could trade cuttings in the future. It’s like a rose union, sisterhood of rose land. This could be a cheaper way to expand both your collections. Before you two ordering any roses have a union meeting first.....Lol

I am so glad that the 2 of you the 3 of you including lucea got to hook up nothing better than having a rose friend

Wonderful pics!

Lucia and Mille are the best pair! Love the pics of Jen, Lisa, and Lucia...two of our dear Forum friends together.

Lisa, you’ve been too modest about your garden, it is glorious.

How fun it's so beautiful!!!

First.... yes you must get your daughter a kitten :) .... She looked so HAPPY! Second I love all the pictures..... I really LOVE whole garden pictures, it seems most pics are just flowers, but I LOVE both pics.... but it is such a treat when we get to see someone's garden. Third, I am glad that you both got to meet and have hit it off.... everybody needs a friend that shares your passion... we have a lot of friends, but when you have one that you shares your passion is a TREAT! ..... and Most important... YES God opens windows, when doors are closed...

Lily, I am so, so happy that you met Lisa and posted so many beautiful pics. I love Lucia and her smiley, adorable , cutie face. She is so happy with Millie and I also agree that she needs a kitty too. Beautiful pics..

Lily you will meet many of them and I am glad you have great friends on forum. When you join a rose society pls take Lisa with you. When, Lisa and I talk on phone..... she wishes she had someone as a friend to go with and learn something new or old or new ideas . I hope she gets out of house once a month for classes of bouquets, cuttings or whatever is interesting to her. Her favorite topic is roses and companion plants :). Lisa is so knowledgeable and I learn so, so, much from her ( mostly ). She has guide me so many times. I love talking to her about roses too.

SORRY , Lisa .
and I am so, so happy that Lily is there. Things that I wish to help you with but I can't. I wish I can take you to rose society but I can't. Lily is excellent person and you get to talk roses . I remember we used to talk so many hours. You are a great friend to me. I hope you will feel better and needed help to plant so many roses and plants....

Lily thank you so , so much. I am glad you are coming back following weeks to help Lisa . Take care of yourself and congrats on your pregnancy.

jin

Lily thank you for posting such an amazing thread. What an amazing thing to be able to visit a garden friend like that. Gorgeous garden for certain, not just the roses but every companion plant looks perfect also. What is the cute little white companion plant that looks like queen Ann’s lace? It compliments everything so well. Lucia is the most incredible little girl. She is so friendly and happy all the time. It is wonderful to see her having fun with Millie.

Heartwarming post. Lisa your garden is so beautiful! Great rose companions too!

Friends, roses, children, cats — four of the most wonderful things in the world!

Such joy to see this post! I don't know what to comment on first. I see a lifelong friendship between the two of you, or should I say, four of you.

Perhaps Lucia would love a dog as much as a cat I believe there are some dogs which are ok for people who suffer from allergies...

Lisa, your garden is gorgeous.

Trish

I suspect with Lisa's garden, even the ugly bits are rather good... great photos once again, the 9th one down is just a gobsmacker...

...delighted to see people get together...

Great post,wonderful garden,and 3 beautiful,happy ladies...love it, and the photos, and the responses from other forum members, too. Thank you so much, Lilyfinch! Good karma all around, and congratulations/best wishes. I hadn't realized that Lucia has a little brother or sister on the way!!!

What a lovely post! Of course Lisa's garden is beautiful with all those plants; but I really enjoyed reading about the experience for you two! That is so nice to be close enough to each other to share your love of gardening!

I thought I posted a post, but either it disappeared or I did it while sleeping.

Lisa your rose garden is truly beautiful and I'm so glad Lily posted pictures. You have been holding out on us! Its beyond gorgeous. I wish I could borrow your helper, as my energy has been nil of late. I have so much to be done. Autoimmune diseases sure do suck and suck the energy and willpower from you sometimes.

I am glad that you both live so close and have each other to talk roses. Have fun!

Thank you so much for enjoying Lily’s pictures of my garden. She did a wonderful job of showing the better parts.

Here is the big Felicia, Jen was talking about.

The sun was a little pesky.

I’m sorry that I haven’t responded much to this post. Millie has been sick, and only got up to play with Lucia. She’s been going downhill steadily since. She’s spent several days on IV at the clinic, coming home at night. She’s not improving. Yesterday she had a “quality of life” examination by the vet, and he advised we give her another day. She seemed the same or worse, this morning. I (again) said goodbye to her this morning, and it’s likely she’ll be put to sleep today. Bless her joyful heart! Lisa

Lily, what fabulous photos of Lisa’s garden! Thanks for sharing. I am so glad you both were able to get together. What fun!

Oh Lisa. I'm so sorry. I'm in tears, so I can only imagine how you feel. She seemed like part of my family too.

I wanted to say thank you all for the lovely words here!!! It really was such a blessing to visit Lisa and I know we will have lots of fun together this summer . She is very modest about her garden , I couldn’t get over how beautiful it was and how talented she is ! And I’m as always so thankful for all of you .. flowers your comment made me tear up too, as this is actually a harder adjustment for me and I’m trying to keep it together. My husband is on the road training and it is just so overwhelming here. Someone made a comment when I was out that “ oh this town is great for a small town “ and I couldn’t believe it. There is nothing small town about it. Nothing! but it’ll be ok soon enough

Lisa , I’m still praying for sweet Millie .. what an honor we got to love on her that day and we hope to hear better news . Please keep me posted . We are praying for your family in this as well!!

Jin .. as soon as I get settled I plan on joining the rose society!! It’ll be wonderful to go to meetings with Lisa if she would like . There is a local one with a stunning rose garden ! I can’t wait !

I am so sorry about Millie. Though I don't have a cat, I can surely sympathize as my sister's family is going through the same ordeal with their cat. Their male kitty has been with them for 18+ years and he is getting to be very old. He can't eat and often throws up. His days will soon be up and her sons who grew up with the cat are very sad of his impending passing.

Lisa, Oh so sorry to hear about sweet Millie. We must have posted at the same time so I didn’t respond to that in my previous comment. Millie was blessed to have you and your beautiful garden. Thinking of you today.

I'm so sorry, Lisa, about Millie. What a darling trooper.

I spoke to Lisa on the telephone today, and both of us were crying because Millie has no hope of getting better. She had obvious brain damage as she was bleeding from her nose and had erratic head movements. Lisa's son works at the clinic where Millie has been having her IV treatments and he will be there with Millie to hold her when she takes her last breath. Lisa is devastated and unable to post right now, but I wanted to let you all know about what is happening, because this wonderful and very special kitty has a place in all our hearts. Her life was much too brief but the impact on all who knew and loved her is huge. She will not be forgotten, and that little spirit lives on in Lisa's garden, a place that Millie loved above all else.

I am in tears and can hardly post, but to give Lisa my love and to say a prayer for little Millie. I never met this sweetheart, but she touched my heart so deeply. You can take heart that she experience love and joy through you and because of you and the wonderful son you raised.

Oh that is so sad. Poor little kitty! My sincere condolences to Lisa, and to everyone else who loved Millie.

Lisa, when you text me about Millie. I was so surprised and shocked. I am so sorry and I know how much you love her. Millie knows it too. I did not realize how bad Millie was since Lily's first thread.
I did tell Vap but I was praying for full recovery and did not expect the other journey to heaven.
Lisa as you know if you want to call anytime..just call. I am always there for you. No matter what time it is.
Jeff, my kids and I send our condolences to you and family. So sorry for your lost. We will miss Millie

jin

Oh Lisa I am so very, very, sorry! My heart and prayers go out to you!

And Thank you Ingrid for letting us know. Let Lisa know we are all thinking of her.

I know your kind and caring words will be a great solace to Lisa. She had such hope that her little one would recover but it was not to be.

So, so sorry to hear about Millie. I am crying along with everyone else over this special little kitty.

I'm sorry to hear this sad news. Millie was a beautiful cat, I enjoyed seeing photos of her in the garden. She will be missed...

I just received an e-mail from Lisa. Her son made the decision to wait until the end of the day since Millie seemed to be rallying, possibly from the steroids she had been receiving. She actually ate some food and was purring a little, but if she goes on she'll have to be on steroid medication for a very long time. It's a roller-coaster ride for Lisa, very nerve-wracking. I'll keep you updated as soon as I learn more.

Prayers, Lisa, for brave little Millie's best.

Such sad news, I so much enjoyed hearing about Millie such a sweet and happy kitty. Hoping for a miracle!

I just now got off the phone with Lisa, and just possibly the miracle you are hoping for, Ben, may have happened. Millie was brought into the examining room with several of the doctors there and proceeded to greet all of them and then to play with a piece of tissue that had been left on the floor. After examining her they felt this was no longer a clear-cut case for euthanasia, and gave Millie a 50/50 chance of survival. She is on her way home to Lisa, and how well she does this evening and overnight will tell us a lot more. Perhaps the antibiotics and steroids have helped her to turn the corner, although her prognosis is obviously still guarded. At the very least there is hope now where there was none before.

Lisa - thinking of you & your sweet Millie! So sorry to hear about her health crisis.

Lily - I grew up in SoCal (all over, but partly near where you are now), and I've also spent a bit of time in southwest Virginia, near the Tennessee border. THEY ARE VERY DIFFERENT PLACES!!! Give yourself lots of time to adjust - it's a big change.

Thank you all for your very kind words. I have been reading them, but wasn’t able to respond yesterday. It was an emotional roller coaster, and I hope today won’t be a repeat of yesterday.

I have zero news as to her condition this morning, as I slept through Brandon taking her to the clinic with him. At 9:30 pm last night, she was sleeping peacefully in her bed, and Brandon was asleep next to her. Last night she went back and forth from wobbling around happily, to crashing into sleep, as if she passed out. She is dirty and thin, as she wasn’t eating much, or bathing herself.

Update: As I was making this post, Brandon called. He said she is doing great, and although very weak, is her normal happy self. She’s reaching through the bars of her kennel at the clinic, trying to get the attention of every passerby! The Dr.’s who were set to euthanize her 3 different times yesterday, are amazed. I’m overjoyed that prayers have been answered, and so far, we have our miracle!

The Dr.’s are not totally sure, but think she contracted some very rare form of feline encephalitis. She may need to take a steroid daily, for the rest of her life. I’m ever so hopeful that she’s going to be alright.

I started cutting a few roses yesterday, but couldn’t continue. I do have a lovely Pretty Jessica bloom with Boule de Neige. Thanks so much everyone. I’ll keep you updated. Lisa

A thin and weak Millie, last night.

Wow Lisa i am so sorry for all the terrible times you and Millie have endured. You and her have been in my prayers. It is a wonderful thing to see her doing better after such medical troubles. She is certainly a tough girl who is not ready to go and a fighter. Will continue to pray and keep my eye on your updates.

Thank you Dianela! I’m being cautiously optimistic. Brandon warned me that it could just be that the steroids are making her feel better for 24 hours, and she could crash again. I’m hoping it’s the change in antibiotics that are really making the difference. You’re right, she’s a fighter, and clearly not ready to go. We had to stop her wobbly self from going out into the garden when she returned last evening. Lol. She was happy to make do with a walk around the garden while I held her.

Funny thing, Sebastian gave her a small bath on her face, last night. I was awaken to Sabby demanding treats in the middle of the night, and he has now eaten all the dry food in the bowl, still asking for more. I mentioned to Brandon that Sabby must be feeling extra happy that Millie is doing so much better. He said, “Oh Oh, did he groom Millie last night?” I said yes, just a little on the face. Turns out Brandon has been putting an appetite stimulant cream in Millie’s ears! He must have gotten a lick of that! That’s the last thing my little fatty needs. Lol. Lisa

Great news about Millie! I hope she pulls through. Lots of love to you and your family! K

I wanted to add about the lovely garden, but also my thoughts and prayers for your kitty. It sounds like she is getting amazing care, and with so much love and support for her, I hope she will be home with you for good tonight!

I woke up so many times last night and said a little prayer for her. i hope they are answered by this reprieve. Do you give her special food when she's not hungry? My baby loved duck and rabbit cat food. It was amazing!