I wonder too. Ingrid has added so much to these forums. She was taking a break due to the devastation she was experiencing in her garden from drought and climate change. I'm hoping she resurfaces this Spring.

Lisa too is so missed. I loved her writings so much.

These two lovely women were at the heart of what made this forum so special.

Thanks for answering, Sheila, I'm really slow about noticing that people aren't around. What's happening with Lisa?

Melissa, I don't think Ingrid has posted in quite some time. I remember her checking on our west coast friends when the wildfires were in Oregon. That's been about six months ago. I know that she was mentally, emotionally, and physically exhausted from all she's been through with her and her husband's health, her garden, the pandemic. She's had a full plate. I have her email address, and if we don't hear from her soon, I'll touch base with her. It's a toss up whether contacting her might be a bother, or an encouragement :(

John

Edit: Arrrrgh! I evidently DON'T have Ingrid's email. I have 20+ emails for forum members, but I can't find hers. We might try "@-ing" her. If she has her forum email alerts set up, she'd receive a notice that she was mentioned.

Lisa too had some health issues and family issues that were exhausting her. I know we love and miss Ingrid and Lisa and are hoping for the best for them.

Sheila, are you thinking about Lisa Adams? I DO have her email address. I just saw it while looking for Ingrid's.

I've wondered how Ingrid and Lisa are, and also Carol from Portland. I haven't seen her post anything in a while. Garden forums are sort of seasonal though -- I usually look at the forum when not much is happening in my garden (because I miss gardening!) but I'm sure others come to the forum more when they have pictures to share, etc -- maybe some of these folks will visit the forum soon.

Yes, Fig. Lisa Adams. Maybe you could ask Lisa how they are both doing. Ingrid and Lisa are friends and Lisa would know I'm sure. I so hope Spring gives them both a boost.

I'll email Lisa right now, Sheila. I'll let her know we're concerned about the two of them. It might be best to ask about Ingrid indirectly anyway, rather than bothering her. But let's hope their absence has just been "seasonal".

John

John and Sheila, I do appreciate the kindness of people like you, and hope you can get some news..and hope the news isn't too bad! Like K S, I was wondering as well about Carol: does anyone know how she's doing? Thanks again to all who are involved in asking after our forum friends.

Melissa

I think Carol is fine and has posted. She has not dropped out.

I was wondering where everyone was too. This is Alana. In my husband's phone.

@K S 7a Yakima "also Carol from Portland. I haven't seen her post anything in a while."

I've been in communication with Carol several times in the past few months, and last time we spoke she was doing well - dealing with pandemic restrictions and all that is involved in keeping her daughter connected to schooling services, etc. - she seems very upbeat in spite of it all.

@User Thanks for the good news, Paul.

To all: I haven't heard back from Lisa, yet, but it's only been one day. I'm hoping...

Thank you for that post, Lisa. We are all with you (and Ingrid) in spirit, even if it is too much to hope for you to post right now.

You have no idea how much joy you have brought to us with your wonderful garden and life musings. Thank you so much.

Ingrid has taught me so much about climate change, although it has been so excruciating for her to experience.

You are two of the most wonderful women I know.

I wish life were fair and you would be having the most supportive environments you both deserve.

@Lisa Adams Yay! So good to hear from you, Lisa. I hate that your health and family problems have been so bad. You are truly missed here. But don't feel obligated to post. You don't need any more demands made of you. But just know that your presence is appreciated whenever you're able. Please tell Ingrid the same.

We wish you both peace and comfort.

John

There's no need for people who are ill, or busy, or discouraged (or all three) to write. But I am glad that folks on the forum have managed to get in touch with you, Lisa; to know Carol's all right--thanks, Paul!--and I hope contact Ingrid. Lisa, that all sounds like a tough set of problems to wade through: good luck! Ingrid, if you read this, I wish you well. John said my thought better, so I'll borrow his words: "We wish you both peace and comfort."

I've just heard from Jeri J., someone else I've been concerned about. Her computer died the final death, and she's just now getting things in order again. We'll be hearing from her soon.

John

I've missed Jeri too. Good to hear she will be here soon.

I think I've seen Jeri posting things on facebook rose forums, so I just assumed she had gotten fed up with Houzz. So good to know that Carol is doing OK. Thanks for letting us know, Paul. Lisa, I hope things improve for you soon, and thanks for showing us that gorgeous bloom from Mystic Beauty! Ingrid, if you read this hello! I've got a little Aunt Margy's Rose with buds on it already, and every time I look at it I tell it that it has a lot to live up to if it is going to be as lovely as yours. :)

K S, I think the problem for Jeri is that when her computer crashed, she lost the link for this forum, plus, she's not sure she can recover her password. She may appear under a new screen name if she can't log in under her old name :(

I heard Ingrid has been participating over at Point of View.

What is POV?

It's a forum.

On houzz?

Lisa, so good to hear from you. I've been wondering how you were. I'm sorry that things are no better with your son, and that you had such a hard time after your hip replacement, and that now you have to have the other one done.

I miss your posts a great deal. No more chatty conversations with coffees and Dutch bakings!, as well as seeing your beautiful garden.

I'm sorry, too, to hear that you and Ingrid have had so little rain. I was hoping her garden would eventually recover. It's been so disheartening for her.

Anyway, love to you both. You have both been lovely presences on this forum.

Sheila, it's a totally different forum, not related to Houzz.

Lisa, dear sweet Lisa, I have missed hearing from you so much.

I am so sorry that your hip replacement had been such a challenge. And now looking at a second surgery must seem daunting

With trouble with your health and from your son, you have a full plate.

My prayers for a better year full of improving health and a turn around for your son.

Fig, good for you for reaching out and checking on our friend.

Lisa, you got a hip replacement at your young age?! Were you a runner? Hope your hips get better fast and you won't need another hip replacement.

Dr. here. Bone on bone arthritis does not get better. Lovely Lisa may need another side replacement down the road what ever she does. This is not her fault, not that you were saying that Summers.

I hope you get better, Lisa, and if you do need another hip, that it goes better next time.

It is so much harder having operations and MS too. Our lovely Lisa is quite the trouper.

A friend with a son with addiction can only relax if her son is in inpatient rehab. This is another very difficult issue.

Summers, I know your family is Medical. Let's hope some of these very difficult problems have treatments develop that could help people. Maybe a cure for MS would be a start. Arthritis is so complex too. My husband had a hip resurfacing in Belgium before it was approved here in the States and there was a girl in her teens getting her hip surgery because of congenital issues.

Some athletes do have injuries but many afflicted with arthritis are not athletes.

My husband's roommate in the hospital in Belgium was a wonderful Dutch man. I really have hope that Medical science could help with cures and treatments for all these difficult problems.

I was in Primary Care and never discovered a cure but saw thousands of people through these problems. My son is soon starting an internship in Medicine and will be on the front lines too but I have hope the researchers could help. Go science.

Yep, go science! :-)

Sheila, congrats on your son’s milestone! A new doctor has been born! I hope his hospital won’t be too far from home, he could visit you on holidays.

Summers, he'll be in Pennsylvania because his wife is a twin and can't be far from her sister, so we will travel in May and meet their new baby Juliet.

He was so happy to get his new contract with the M.D. on it.

I know we are all so proud of the next generation trying to do something positive. Good luck to yours too. The forum is probably 50% Drs. ha ha so we can all have some hope for science progressing. My rootless roses are doing well in the ICU I think.

Congratulations on your new grandbaby! Med school isn’t an easy task in life. Everyday is a journey to learn to remember. You must be so proud of him, a job well done! It’s wonderful we have a lot of doctors on this forum. Glad your rose patients are back to life! :-)

Hello, all you dear and wonderful rose friends! Lisa told me you were asking about me, and I'm so touched that you remember me kindly after all this time. Compared to dear Lisa, I really have no complaints except for an ever-increasing weakness which is now slowing down my mind also. Everything has become a huge effort, even writing, and I also haven't been on the Point of View forum for months now; incidentally it's an offshoot of Hot Topics which was one of the forums here and which Houzz shut down.

My garden is basically gone except for a few stalwart large bushes which I hoped would recover in the rainy season. Unfortunately there has been little rain so that nothing has recovered so far. The wildlife is so stressed that they are even eating the junipers and have killed most of my large rosemary bushes. Melissa, Sheila, Trish, Kristine, John, KS and everyone else, please know that the memories of you and your roses will never leave me. I hope that Jeri will soon be among you again also. Thank you again for thinking of me.

Oh I am so glad to hear from you, Ingrid. You have been such an inspiration to me and many others I am sure.

I am still hoping for more rain for you of course and that you will get some restorative sleep and relief from all that is going on over time. Many of us here are not Spring chickens any more and let us hope whatever happens our memories of our roses and photos will live on.

Thank you for popping in. You and Lisa are two of our most adorable people here.

@ingrid_vc so. CA zone 9 Ingrid, we miss you immensely, but we do understand the limitations your health puts on your ability to join in like you used to. Please just know that we'll be overjoyed to hear from you whenever, and however often, that you're able.

Peace and comfort to you and yours,

John

Ingrid, I'm so sorry to hear that your mind is slowing also. You have articulated so many of my thoughts and feelings, that I was never able to do. Many thanks. I shall just have to go over your old posts.

Lisa and Ingrid, It’s so lovely to hear from you both. I think of you both so often.

Thanks for letting us know how you are, Ingrid! I hope that you can get some relief when this pandemic is under control. I believe that the stress of the last year has done untold harm to all of us, and I sincerely hope that when everyone is vaccinated and things start to normalize our stress will reduce and we will experience a feeling of increased health. I'll post pictures of roses when they bloom here -- you can enjoy our gardens vicariously since yours hasn't gotten rain.

Ingrid, I'm glad to hear from you, and appreciate your taking the trouble to contact us on the forum. I'm sorry to hear of your health issues, and hope you will see some improvement. I agree with K S that the pandemic has been mightily stressful, and am hopeful that, once the worst of it has passed, we'll all enjoy the relief and feel happier, and perhaps even more energetic.

Hear, hear! Well put, Melissa.

I'm glad to hear from both Lisa and Ingrid,too Best wishes to all!

I love your flower pictures Ingrid and the wonderful sunrise pictures at your home. Also your beautiful china collection. I know you care about the animals. Do you have flowering plants inside?