Hi Melissa,

I can't comment on the OGR's since I don't grow any of the varieties you mentioned. But I am happy for you that you are growing them, and your garden plans sound great!

I too ordered several roses from Lottum. I have to say the sloppy way they were packaged was a disappointment, and shipping to Malta was very slow. But this was right before Christmas so hopefully yours will arrive faster. In the end all of my Lottum roses are happily growing in their pots with no problems, so although it was a bit scary, I will probably order from them again next year. Their prices are hard to beat and the roses are strong.

I love the plants you will be using as a hedge! Rosemary is so much more than a windowsill kitchen herb. I let mine grow as big as they want on the roof and right now they are covered in flowers that remind me of tiny orchids. Shrub germander and Mexican sage are wonderful too! Great choices!

We've had very similar weather to yours this winter: torrential rain in November then almost nothing in December, January was totally dry and so far not a drop of rain in February. It is already 17 degrees here and I am honestly dreading the summer and how hot it's going to get this year.

Off topic: As far as I'm aware, most rose trials tend to test for cold hardiness and disease resistance, but I wish there was something like an ADR for extreme heat and drought tolerance in rose varieties. Is there such a thing?

Seaside,

As far as I know, we ARE the trials. We could do a thread on the topic at some point, if you're interested, though my comments might be mainly caveats. Have you grown phlomis? They're fabulous if you have room for them.

I certainly understand your feelings about heat. I've been planting trees and large shrubs since we began gardening, though most of them still have a lot of growing to do.

I ordered from Lottum around the same time you did, got the plants after some delay, which didn't seem to have done them any harm. They were planted in January.

So great to hear from you, Melissa! We, too, are having a dry spell for the last 6 weeks. Last Summer we had 41 days of 100 F or greater. I am so hoping for lower temps this Summer. I'm trying to put manure/compost mix and organic fertilizer around the roses as we speak. Without rain it just sits on top and does nothing.

We do seem to be in a bit of Limbo with Covid and political unrest. Glad you are hanging in there and DH too.

" . . . We've had an unusually sunny dry winter, which has been bad for groundwater levels,"

*** Here, as well, and no real chance of measurable rain any time soon.

Meanwhile, we're running out of "rainy season."

@Melissa Northern Italy zone 8

"we ARE the trials"

That made me laugh, and it seems it is true.

Good idea to do a separate thread for that topic.

Glad your Lottum rose order arrived in good shape!

I haven't tried phlomis. I'll check to see if they have them at the local garden center next time! Thanks for that recommendation!

Melissa, it's so good to "hear" from you again. I've said it before, and I'll keep saying it: your talent for writing is a true gift. Besides painting the image of your garden in my mind's eye, your prose is poetry. Or maybe your poetry is prose. How you manage it, I don't know. You use the same words we all use, in a conversational way, nothing flowery or self-conscious; but somehow you craft sentences and paragraphs that draw us in. Whatever well you draw inspiration from, we appreciate you sharing it with us.

John

It's good to hear from you all: Sheila, Jeri, seasiderooftop, John. I'm sorry to hear, though not surprised, that California is dry and likely to get drier. I wish you folks in that state good luck! Your temperatures are too hot for me (and, I imagine, for you, too). The forecast for rain here tomorrow is holding, and we still have time for late winter and spring rain: our fingers are crossed.

Sheila, the world's an uncomfortable place these days, for all kinds of reasons, though we folks on the forum are among the luckier ones. I do feel myself waking up and becoming more active. We continue to take Covid seriously: we're triple vaccinated, wear masks when around other people, and practice social distancing. Still, it feels like the world is unfolding again.

Seasiderooftop, if you don't know phlomis it's worth making its acquaintance, but be aware it gets big, though likely smaller in a pot than in the ground. My mature plants are mostly around 1-1.5m high and 1.5-1.8m wide.

That's very kind, John. I like writing and take it seriously: I'm glad you enjoy the results. How's your own spring going?