Diane, Beautiful Augusta L!!!!

Trisha, It feels great to clean out closets & medicine cabinets! I agree! Esp. medicine you din’t know what it’s for! LOL! I was looking at MK Cosmetic reels on Facebook for inspiration & saw this delectable chocolare cake! Now that’s real inspiration!!!

i want some now!!! Join me?

I'm back and see it's a bit sloooow on this thread. You all are in hibernation or doing useful tasks like painting rooms or planting things in warmer climes.

Judi, I'm quite envious of you getting that Hidcote Pink, but the cost......When I looked at Digging Dog, I decided if I ordered anything, it would be three plants of what I wanted. I signed up on their mailing list, but haven't received anything from them. I don't think Hidcote is being sold anywhere else in the US, but I could be very wrong. I just took some photos of a great article on penstemon in The English Garden magazine. One of my favorites is Raven by plant breeder Ron Sidwell in England, I presume. He has a Bird Series of penstemon. Digging Dog sells several of that series. One is called Black Bird, which I really like also. So you might check back with DDog to see those and buy more! The British penstemon I've see in the magazine are gorgeous. That's where I first saw Hidcote Pink, and lots of big gardeners seem to grow this penstemon in their fancy gardens. One thing I had to watch out for were the DDog penstemon that were only hardy to zone 8 or 9. Hidcote is hardy to zone 6, I believe, as are the dark bird penstemon. I can't wait to see your new plants and the Dragon Prince Crytomeria. Diane

2025 Snowball, which is green before it turns white.

Boscobel had a rough year in 2025.

Kitty, I want some of that gorgeous cake, too..... About the only make up I wear is Clinque lipstick. When you're 80 years old, you're beyond help. Not to brag, but I don't have any lines or wrinkles, not even crow's feet. It helps to have a fat face. One thing I did was to always wear foundation when I was gardening during sunny hours and when I went anywhere. I really think that foundation was a great sun block. I didn't tan or burn at all when I wore it....... I need to clean out my closet, too. Lots of interesting stuff is in boxes up on shelves. Antiques fabrics and laces, a custom doll wig and forgotten treasures. Downstairs in the storeroom are lots more boxes. All my pansy china, Steiff animals, and a lot of my drawings, not to mention family memorabilia and photos from back to the 19th century. My daughter and granddaughters aren't interested in these things much, plus granddaughters don't have the space. Thanks about Augusta.... Enjoy your cake and closet cleaning. Diane

I just lost my post and I’m too tired to try again. But here’s my first bloom of Edouard Manet in my greenhouse. I’m positively smitten.

Carol -- so are you officially retired, then? I kept thinking we were the same age. Maybe not. I dream of retirement...Someone said I wouldn't be good at retirement because I'd get bored. I was dumbfounded. I replied that I haven't been bored since I was in 4th grade! So many gardens to see, plants to grow, novels to read, places to go, people to visit with, sites to see, work to do, books to write! Plus, I *like* just sitting sometimes with my thoughts. So I can't wait for retirement! Is there anything you miss about teaching? I would miss the interactions, but I won't miss GRADING. Ugh. Or having to do assessment work. Ick.

Trish -- you are too kind! How is Rosie doing? I think euphorbias are valuable because they are undemanding and gophers won't eat them, so I'm trying to make a sage, lavender, daffodil, euphorbia rubicon they won't cross...

Windowsill -- now I have a new thing to worry about! I have one super fat and persistent ground squirrel who comes right up on my front porch and eats everything I plant in my raised box on the porch. I had just planted little violas and pyramid broccolis (!), plus my parsley and chives. The little nasty ate EVERYTHING. Now I'm thinking he's going to move on to my roses! Of course he never comes when I might have my BB gun ready...

Kitty - I agree -- you are a wonder. How do you get all that done? I feel exhausted just imagining all you have to do. Do you think you naturally have more energy than most people do?? My friend Rachel has incredible stores of energy. When she was a toddler her dad nicknamed her "rocket." That cake looks delicious. Did I post pics from my New Year's Eve afternoon tea at Extraordinary Desserts in San Diego? That was an adventure. Did I tell y'all about taking the train from Santa Barbara to San Diego? Way down was lovely. Way back was in the flooding rain and then sent back b/c of rock/mud slide on the tracks, then back again. We were walking along dragging our luggage in the middle of the Pacific Coast Highway, because the sides and sidewalks were way too flooded. Whew.

Diane - I don't know how to snap a snapdragon. I've looked it up, and it seems fun, but I've never done it. I can see why euphorbia might be called devil's milk. If you trim it, there is a thick, white sap that is supposed to be very irritating if you get it on your skin. Probably why gophers avoid it. Yummy. You are crazy! Love your Augusta pics. Mine is not usually that lovely pink. More a vibrant orange-y. I remember Lilyfinch (?) calling it "angry Augusta" ! Mine doesn't look angry, but not really pastel. My snowball (yet another plant inspired by your posts) did survive its move last year, so I'm hoping I get some blooms! You mentioned Clinique -- I recently discovered their sheer lipstick/balm called...black honey? It works with everything. Do you think if you put some of your favorite treasures aside your granddaughters may want these things eventually, if only to remind them of you for years to come? I did not get kids, so I started giving away some of my grandmother's treasures to cousins and their kids. I don't think I got even one thank-you note (things like my grandmother's engagement ring, my grandfather's high school class ring, etc.). So, now I'll give things away to my friends and neighbors and local charity shop.

I was on day 3 of the pruning marathon today. I got a lot done, but not finished. I also planted some lovely little Levant Blue Anemones I got from Heirloom. They did a really nice job packaging their bulbs and corms. I felt special getting these in the mail this fall. But I might have waited too long on the anemones...I soaked them for about 3 hours before planting. Fingers crossed. I got a huge hole dug on the slope to plant a rose bush. Will dig out Climbing Butterscotch tomorrow. It's healthy - nice rose -- but as it ages it just looks dirty to me. I decided today that instead of making St. Elisabeth of Hungary wait any longer I will put her in that spot.

Oh -- that reminds me -- re Iris (who was talking about this before?) -- the guy at the local home improvement (Ace) nursery told me that if you don't make sure the center something doohickey gets sun, it won't bloom. It will grow, but not bloom. So I cleaned out accumulated mulch and leaves, and voila! I got blooms! So now I'm excited to try new Iris. I got Daring Deception and Coffee Trader from Heirloom. Another from my local nursery. I also got Obdam daffodils, which I planted 2 weeks ago. My narcissus are already finished. I need to stop talking. But first -- my report on an experiment. I was in the mood for a hot fudge sundae. I had a really good local ice cream (Susan probably knows McConnell's), and whip cream and nuts, but no hot fudge! So I found a recipe, made it, and it was good! But I feel kind of gross now. I didn't eat a lot, but it was soooo rich. Anyone want a ramekin of hot fudge??

Okay -- I might load a bunch of photos if Houzz lets me. Look out!

Snapdragon from seed. Might be Potomac Lavender?

Fava Beans are doing well!

Veilchenblau is blooming -- but look at all the crazy weed grass...

This is a thunbergia I got from Annie's a few years ago. Really slow to start. But such a pretty, pale blue flower.

This is the slope I've filled with lavender and let euphorbia re-seed (re-seeding from the globe one that Annie's sold me a few years ago, but globes have all been trimmed off). You can't see the sage here. Question -- in the lower left corner -- is that Orlaya that re-seeded for me??

Augusta on pruning day. Say goodbye to blooms for a while? I gave this one a hard prune. Had some odd growth, so hoping the hard prune will inspire her to grow a more attractive bush.

The roses in this back garden border got pruned first -- so lots of little leaves coming out already!

Plonk of Fragrant Lavender Simplicity as I pruned...

View from the train window. Poor car!

My tea and cake at Extraordinary Desserts in San Diego. I highly recommend!

Bulbs from Heirloom

Some of the Christmas cookies I made, and a favorite book, the Mole Family's Christmas. p.s. the other book I posted up top -- Badger's Perfect Garden -- is a good reminder for all of us who like to plan our gardens. I recommend you all buy it, read it for yourselves, and then keep it on hand for kids and/or visiting grandkids!

And a little image from the Internet that I find highly amusing. Probably more than is warranted. You're welcome.

Judi! is it scented? It's very pretty. It's in your greenhouse -- so not in the ground? New rose for you?

Also -- I meant to thank you, Susan, for sharing the leak pain. But I have no idea what a shower pan is?

Diane, you snap a snapdragon by squeezing the flower from the side, then the 'mouth' opens. Am amazed you didn't do this as a child. Does tossing up mean being sick in the US? We say throwing up here.

Deborah, thanks, Rosie seems fine, happy and active on walks, eating well, though she still looks distended in the stomach region to me. Laughed out loud at the vase! Your Christmas cookies are making my mouth water. I can practically taste the crescent shaped one. You know how to treat yourself with those afternoon teas.

judi, I'm smitten too.

Oh you guys with not knowing how to snap a snapdragon! You must have never been a kid in a garden with snapdragons. Put your fingers on either side of the bloom and gently squeeze... the jaws open and close with pressure. The azalea types don't do this (obviously). I like the azalea types just fine, but to me, a snapdragon must be able to snap. And I adore them immensely :-D

Trish, yes, you toss your cookies here in the US, though there are less polite ways of expressing this activity, too. And good old throwing up is acceptable, of course. You'd think I was Emily Post......That's wonderful news about Rosie, and I hope her enjoyment of life continues..... I don't think I was around any snaps as a child. Lots of other flowers, but not snaps.

Deborah, I've been wanting to comment on your plonk, and now I'm farther behind than ever. See my plonk comment on Mose's post. But your plonk is stunning and elegant looking with the background of leaves and buds with blooms in front. You took a hunk off that rose. Why do you and everyone else think it's necessary to prune so hard every year? I am truly curious. I don't prune all my roses, and my pruning varies from pretty hard to a light trim. Some roses do really need a good prune every spring, though. Your thumbergia is so lovely, looking a bit like Heavenly Blue morning glory. You know gophers and all mammals hate morning glory, too. It's toxic to them. Your snap is a pretty color, but I've never grown that series, so I don't know if it's Potomac. That vase is wonderful and definitely a cracker upper.......That might be orlaya in the corner of the pic. I'll post some pics of my orlaya and maybe that will help you decide what it is. Diane

Did you just seed it or did you have an orlaya plant? The plants and seeds are stickery.

For a change, Julia C in 2025. She can look elegant and is more than just a workhorse.

Windowsill - Oooh...I didn't know (or remember) that Martha Stewart's fragrance is excellent!! I hope you get one. :):) Thanks about my Perfume Factory blooms. :) It's a pretty amazing rose for me. We're above seasonal here with 1C/34F on Tuesday. We're getting colder weather at the end of the week, though. So we're warmer than you are now. I wish I could send Chinook winds your way. :) Your PF rose is young. It'll do better. I hope PCdM is in bloom when you see your mom. I tossed mine; it got DM and BS last summer.

Kitty - good luck on selling your stuff that has to go. There's no snow on the sidewalks anymore, and the snow has decreased elsewhere, but still there. Oh, wow!! That's good to hear that your Amaryllis is about to bloom. :) Pictures when you can. I need to pot up my bulbs that are resting in the basement and bring my finished ones downstairs. I wish I could get my act together and do that. I'm glad your snow is almost gone. :) But you need a bit more warmth. Ah, soon the cold will be a thing of the past once you're in the west coast. Oh, I thought that you quit your past job and MK was your new job. Since it's fun, I'm glad you get to do it. Thanks for thinking of me with the bubbles. :) I had a bath on Friday night...the water restrictions were over then. What a relief!!

Trish - Oh, yeah, that is interesting...chunder=vomiting...Watchout under! Neat! Afferbeck Lauder? So there was more flooding there. My goodness. I'm glad your garden got a lot of rain, and good job on throwing fertilizer on the roses!

Diane - wowza on the 2nd pic of AL!!! They're all beautiful!! That's odd to have something that we all know, but you don't...snapping snapdragons. But they don't actually make a noise. Yeah, Azalea types wouldn't snap. You need some sun and warmth to brighten your area. Smog inversions can get so dreary. Wartwart...will wonders never cease. lol And it actually gets rid of warts. :)

Kitty - the cake looks pretty, but not something I'd crave. Oh, I'd probably eat it, though. lol My mom used to make a dark chocolate cake with hard fudge icing...oh, yum!!!!

Diane - nope, not me. :) I was doing nothing useful. I should have been doing something useful...but. So did you buy one of those penstemons? Double SWOON, SWOON on your Snowball bush in its entirety...huge and soooo impressive!!! GAH and SWOON!!! Oh, and SWOON on your last 2 pics of Boscobel!!! What a rose...utterly gobsmacking (I love that expression.) in its beauty!!!! I'm thinking of taking my Snowball bush out, even though it's growing and will bloom this summer, I hope, because it will only bloom once. Hydrangeas (I love them so much), on the other hand, hold their blooms all summer and fall. And I could get a small hydrangea that would fit that space well. Although the Snowball bush here probably won't get huge. What do you think? I don't wear lipstick anymore, because my lips have disappeared. They're so thin and curved inward that they're invisible. Yay me. lol That's pretty amazing to have no wrinkles at 80. I have a fat face and still have wrinkles. :) Remember when we used to put a blanket on the lawn and suntan? Yeesh. Holly would be in heaven if she could go to your house and look through your boxes. Absolute heaven. In fact, I'm going to copy what you wrote and send it to her Facebook. :)

Judi - oh, my!!! SWOOOON over your Edouard Manet!!! I especially love the 2nd picture. Oh, to have a greenhouse in winter would be wonderful. :) Why do you have a greenhouse? Is it too cold to grow roses outside over winter where you are?

Deborah - I haven't worked since my kids were born. My health couldn't take both working and being a mom. Being a mom took everything I had. :) I'm 63 now. I miss the kids. I had great relationships with all of them. I loved being a teacher in a school, part of the group. We would sing, play floor hockey, go out together. It was a big friendship group wherever I taught. We moved to Fort McMurray, so I taught at different schools. One of the teachers I taught with in high school English was Nathan Fillion's dad...Castle, The Rookie, etc. I hope you can retire soon. :) I love not having much to do. lol Oh, darn about the ground squirrel. Nasty thing. I'm sooo grateful not to have any critters eating my stuff. Maybe do what (gosh, who is it here that leaves walnuts out for their squirrel) does and leave nuts out as a special treat, and maybe he will leave your plants alone? I don't know. Oh, that sounds like fun, not, having to drag your luggage along the mud and rocks. Blech. There you go, grind up euphorbias to get the white sap, dilute it with water and spray it on your plants. Bit of work, though and you have to sacrifice your euphorbias. So maybe not. What? You didn't get one thank-you note? Yes, give stuff away to others. :) Pruning marathon...gardening takes a lot out of us, but we love it. I hope your blue anemones do well. They sound beautiful!! Oh, I googled Levant Blue Anemones...beautiful!!! Great choice! I think that's a brilliant swap...St. Elisabeth of Hungary for Cl. Butterscotch. :) That was me whose irises don't bloom. Hmmm...I'll make sure to do that this spring/summer. Thanks for the tip. Of course I won't remember who gave me this fabulous advice, so I'll thank you ahead of time. :) The Coffee Trader iris looks like a cafe latte and Daring Deception is very bold. More great choices! I'll take your chocolate sauce. Oh, wait, I'm not eating sugar, trying to lose weight. I lost 6 1/2 lbs in 11 days. And I'm not missing the sugar. Oh, beautiful Snapdragon!! Mmmmmm Your beans are looking really healthy. Yeah, that's a lot of grass in there. Bad grass, bad, I say!! lol Oooooh...thunbergia is so lovely!!

Deborah - I think that's a weed in the bottom corner. But hey, wrong has been my friend for a while. lol Your slope looks really nice! I love the euphorbia. It's lovely to see pruned plants and roses. I don't know why, but it is. :) Maybe next year I should try to get Fragrant Lavender Simplicity. Yours is marvelous! Having all the small buds is really eye-catching. Now, that cake looks enticing. I guess I like white icing the best. Yum!! Yes, poor car. I love that vase...that is EXACTLY what it looks like...an admonishing mother.

Trish - I second what Diane said about Rosie...it's wonderful news that Rosie is able to enjoy life. :)

Diane - this is what Holly said about your stuff:

Oh wow, I would love to see all that!!! It also kind of makes me sad, though, thinking of so many treasures that will eventually have no place to go. I see a lot of that kind of thing in my job. Though if she knows who the people in the old photos are, she could try donating them to a relevant museum or archives. Carol again: that sounds like too much work to me. lol

Carol, don't worry about my stuff. My daughter will keep what she wants and she will definitely keep old family memorabilia and photos. She's seen a lot of it. And there's nothing for museums. It's just family stuff. I do wish I could send holly some of those Victorian books. I haven't given up on that. Wait until you see my old jewelry. Photographing all that stuff is such a pain, though. You must have been a wonderful teacher to have and so much fun. But I understand what you were up against just a little bit. You do have health challenges, and being a mother to your daughters should come first, plus a little time for you to rest, too. Wrong has been your friend?! Sorry, but I had to laugh a bit. It sounds like you consort with bad company. Don't worry, I understand if you want a hydrangea instead of a snowball. Your season is short, and for me, the important thing about the snowball is that it serves as a bird habitat and is so convenient to the feeders. Only little birds can fit into the snowball branches they are so brambly and close together, and we have lots of wee birdies. Thanks about Boscobel. He really hated that early freak heat wave last May, and balled up most of his blooms, losing the big spring flush. But otherwise, he's been a good rose. And he really needs a good pruning. Mr Bosco is out of control. Did you see my orlaya? I think Deborah's corner looks quite a bit like that. Diane

Oh, phooey. I couldn't find a good group photo of the irises I've been forced to adopt.

Well, Evelyn never fails. Here's a little plonk.

Deborah, I love the vase! I laughed out loud when I saw it. Oh, and I am 99% positive that your plant in question IS orlaya. I have them coming up all over my garden as well, so many that I have been pulling them up. They hug the ground so tight and have a tap root that doesn’t want to let loose, so I use a hammer claw when weeding them out. My favorite weeding tool.

Yes, Edouard Manet is in my greenhouse, but will go into the ground in. Spring. I have had my greenhouse for twenty two years and use it to start seeds and cuttings and nurture baby plants, etc. It’s my happy place all winter and is a mess most of the time, not one of those beautiful show- place greenhouses at all.

Yes, EM is wonderfully fragrant! A very pleasant sharp smell I can’t describe.

Thanks Deborah, for the info on euphorbias. I’ll be watching for them in my local nurseries. They look happy in your garden!

Happy 2026 rose friends. Im so glad that the craziness of the holidays is behind us and the growing season ahead of us. Im not on here much anymore. Besides being busy, my eyesite is really bad and this small print is hard to read. Maybe I should my tablet and see if that is gentler on my poor eyes. It is good to so many of you hanging in on the forum and your friendly advice and concern.

Bolero was still blooming at Christmas. We have had unseasonably nice weather which could be a problem this summer with a lack if water. No snow, no water. pray that you all have a blessed 2026

Phoenix Perennials is now offering Flavorette roses. They're bred to have petals that taste a certain way.

https://www.phoenixperennials.com/?s=flavorette&numberposts=5&post_type=product&results_hide_fields=meta

Rosa Flavorette Pear’d is a new ornamental AND edible rose. The flowers emerge from lavender-pink buds to light pink blooms that age to white. They are fully double and bowl-shaped for classic charm in the garden and on the dinner plate. Flowers will eventually open to reveal golden stamens which will attract bees. Each petal is thick, soft, and sweet tasting for uses in both sweet and savoury dishes. Bred for performance, disease resistance, continuous bloom, beauty, and edibility! A low maintenance shrub that does not require deadheading for continuous bloom with a multi-branching, upright habit four feet tall and three feet wide. Blooms on new wood so prune back by at least one third as new buds begin to emerge in spring, making cuts just above a thick healthy bud. Fertilize at the same time. Fabulous in the border, as a mass planting, as a specimen, and in containers. Pollinator attractor. Cultivar ‘Bozdib023’.

Rosa Flavorette Honey-Apricot is a new ornamental AND edible rose. The apricot coloured flowers with tones of orange and yellow are fully double with multiple petals for classic English style charm in the garden and on the dinner plate. Each petal is thick, soft, and sweet tasting for uses in both sweet and savoury dishes. Bred for performance, disease resistance, continuous bloom, beauty, and edibility! A large, low maintenance shrub that does not require deadheading for continuous bloom with a multi-branching, upright habit of 5-8 feet tall and four feet wide. Blooms on new wood so prune back by at least one third as new buds begin to emerge in spring, making cuts just above a thick healthy bud. Fertilize at the same time. Fabulous in the border, as a mass planting, as a specimen and in containers. Cultivar ‘Boznatafra’.

Diane - Oh, yeah, I'm not worried about your stuff. :) Awww...thanks about me being a wonderful teacher. :) :) Yeah, it's been a challenge being me through the years, lol, but also lots of fun. Oh, yes please...I really want to see your old jewelry. So interesting! I know, wrong has been my friend...trying to inject a bit of humor. :) Thanks about the Snowball and my short season. I (i.e. Don, lol) may move it to the front of the garage...hmmm...I was planning on having a hydrangea there. I wish I had lots more room. I can see that Snowball is perfect for what you want. Yours is magnificent and glorious. I've never seen anything like it before. Yes, I saw your orlaya, and now that I look at Deborah's corner again, I can see stalks that a weed I'm thinking of wouldn't have. You're probably right. :) Oh, the irises from your neighbor's yard? They're beautiful. Are they once bloomers? Oh, SWOOOON over your Evelyn plonk!!! I really, really hope mine grows up to have beautiful blooms like yours.

Judi - oh, I see what you use your greenhouse for. That's a great idea to have a happy winter place. Mmmmm...Edouard Manet sounds wonderful, I love that sharp scent in roses.

Kristine - I've been thinking about you and wondering how you're doing. It's SO good to hear from you!!! I'm sorry your eyes aren't doing well. Is there anything to be done about them? Your Bolero is one tough rose! Blessings on you!

Haha, Carol, those irises are half on our property and spreading all over the place. They need dividing and no neighbor has volunteered. They're right in front, bloom about a week and half, and then spend months looking ugly with dying leaves, which nobody trims, but me. Every time I see the iris mess, I get irritated. Sorry, but it felt good to tell the truth about the blasted things--oh, yes, they are once bloomers that grow from rhizomes I can barely get my own chores done. Thank you about Evelyn and cheering me up, you doll, you. I always cut my own hair and just finished. What a whack job I did. Haven't finished the fun clean up......Edwards has sold the flavored roses for a couple of years. Don't think I'll bite. That was such an awful joke. The smog persists and our highs and lows are about the same temp, freezing. Poor birds. Two days ago, I had to start breaking ice on their birdbath. I change the water each day, so it's noticeable when things get colder. More later after all is cleaned up, including me.

Kristine, it's so nice to see your post and beautiful Bolero. You really have had it warm. We haven't had any winter until a few days ago, but no roses bloomed until Christmas, though Julia was close. I hope all is well with your family. I'm sorry to read about your eyes. Age is a challenge, isn't it? Keep popping in. We miss you. Diane

Poor little Abe. You can see his droopy friends on the left. The weak canes can't support the blooms.

Well, here'a few that aren't drooping.

I'm still kicking everyone its just been a busy year last year & this year so far... The estate should be settled by April hopefully... My girlfriend started having rat & mice problems so I told her to just move in here SO been very busy moving her and cleaning etc... I should be done with that soon.. :-)

I hope your all doing ok... I am itching for Spring to come! :-) Right now its very, very, cold here...lol

It's great to hear from you, Jim. Glad you now have company in your home. Boy, that estate takes forever to settle. What a job! I saw on the news that the eastern states are having, or had, a giant snowstorm, and was it Pennsylvania that had a 100 car pile up? We've had no snow whatsoever, but quite a bit of rain last month. It finally got a little colder last week, but I have some confused chives that are coming up like it was spring, and also some little alyssum seedlings. So funny. I hope you do some good gardening next year, including a few new roses. How is your Orange Dude. Mine bloomed all summer until November when a blasted deer ate every bud and bloom on that poor rose. A neighboring town had a flair up of rats, which I couldn't believe, since this hot dry area doesn't have problems with those rodents usually. Mostly deer type rodents here. Keep some Kaput around if a rat shows up. Have a great 2026. Nanadoll

Guess who?

I shouldn't have been so coy. That's Double Easy Orange just above. Diane

Diane - Ohhhhhh!!! Your Abe blooms are divine!!! Maybe they're the best of your rose blooms. Oh, I say that about every one of your roses. SWOOOOON!!!!! :) :) :) Funny that my irises don't spread everywhere. I wonder why. If you get rid of the irises, maybe you'll have room to plant another rose? Or are your irises border plants? My irises are no bloomers. lol I've got to try doing what someone here said...gosh, I wish I could remember who said what. See if there's any dirt or something on the plants. If they don't bloom this year, they're out. Maybe I won't even wait to see...out, out, d*mn spot!! Well, you cheer me up, so it's nice to return the favor, although I'm just telling the truth. :) I could never cut my own hair. I've tried stuff like that, and my brain can't figure out what to do. I end up poking my face with the scissors. Don't think you'll bite. :) :) I've never heard of them before. Go away, smog!! You need our winds to blow them away. Hey, did you catch Carney's speech? He was amazing!

Hey, Jim!!! We've got you and Kristine popping in. :) :) :) It's great!! And, man, I can't believe that your brother's estate still isn't finished. Rats and mice!! Yikes, that's cringey. I'm glad she is moving in with you. :) I'm sure itching for spring. What are your temps like?

Kitty and Windowsill - I finally potted two new amaryllises. I've been meaning to do that for a few weeks. I potted a striped named Santiago and a pink one named Sweet Star. Was I supposed to take off the oniony paper?

Jim, estates take forever dont they. And it looks like serious weather for so many of you. Dont hate me I I have been wearing my flip flops. I cant help but think that we will get it this summer lol My sister just ordered what will probably be my last rose. I am trying to downsize and that hasnt gone too well. She ordered Chantilly Cream, mostly due to Bens review. And I really wanted something yellow. Carol, how was the wedding ?

Picture from Edmonds

Judi -- That Edouard Manet bloom is absolutely stunning, and I love the thought of a sharp fragrance.

Deborah -- That's a good sign that the squirrels haven't bothered your roses yet, but so annoying they treated your planted boxes like a buffet! Funny story -- when my parents were temporarily living up in the San Bernardino mountains, my dad used a BB gun to try to scare a squirrel away from the garden. Well, instead, he accidentally shot a big bud off of my mom's Double Delight. The roses were growing in rather inhospitable conditions there (shade, rocky soil, competing tree roots), so rose buds were few and far between then! Her new DD is much happier and more prolific at sea level now. That's so cool you can grow fava beans right now. I'd never tasted them until a few years ago, and they are SO good. The texture is wonderful.

Trish -- So glad to hear Rosie is able to get around and enjoy her walks. I had to look up Afferbeck Lauder, and I found some examples of phrases he wrote with Australian pronunciation. Wow! Nowadays, I'm used to the Australian accent being very easy for my American ears to understand. It's reassuring when I hear about you and others having to replace roses, as well. I'd really been aiming for sustainability with the roses I have/had, but that's just not going to be possible with my weird growing conditions.

Carol -- I think those Flavorette roses are really pretty, especially the apricot one. Are you thinking of trying one? I've wanted my partner to come up with a cocktail that somehow incorporates rose petals, but it's not a high priority for him. Haha. Yes, I'm going to keep my eye out for Martha Stewart. Menagerie just released their collection for this year, and it doesn't include MS (which I think Deborah or Susan had previously confirmed...I may be misremembering). But Heirloom had announced it as a forthcoming 2026 release, so I've set up an alert.

Diane -- I love those Abe booms, even if they are droopy! I've never seen an Abe growing anywhere and would be curious to experience the scent. I saw on Instagram that Echo_Texas_zone9a, who sometimes posts on these forums, crossed Abe with Fun in the Sun and is planning to sow the seeds from that cross. Maybe it'll create something like a less twiggy Abe! New flower bracts are forming on my bougainvillea, so that makes me happy. I'll post pics in a couple weeks when it's actually blooming. The fig is coming out of its dormancy and making it feel like spring is on the way, even though frigid outside.

Kristine and Jim, so good to see you popping in here.

Kristine, Chantilly Cream looks luscious. I love yellow roses. You've been wearing flip flops in Winter?!

Jim, rats! I get them here. One climbed up the sideboard and ate half a banana in the fruit bowl. While Rosie and slept a few feet away with the door open. How the dashed thing climbed up a smooth vertical surface with a lip beats me. Hope the moving goes and stays well.

Carol, Afferbeck Lauder (Alphabetical Order) was the pseudonym of a fellow who wrote Let Stalk Strine - a book about how Australians pronounce English ie, Emma Chisit is How much is it. I'd read previously somewhere on here about those flavoured roses. I can't see why anyone would bother breeding them. Maybe there's a tiny market in fancy French restaurants.

Diane, I wish I could fly you over and get my roses to bloom like yours. I've had about 4 blooms on my PCdM this year and it's in its second year. And the only rose that blooms much is The Opportunity Rose, though Sespe Sunrise is gearing up for what looks to be a good third flush.

I've been wondering what to plant in the front area. It used to largely Belgium Clivias but then I had to have a huge tree removed that was lifting the steps. It's now an area that gets morning heavy shade from my neighbour's forest and then blazing afternoon sun. Also it's full of tree roots from those trees. I've tried Australian bred camellias that can take full sun, but they're not flourishing. In fact, two have died and a third looks about to follow. I've decided to order 2 Opportunity Roses this March and see how they do. My present one is in a similar situation - in Summer, at least. In Winter, it gets more sun as the sun is lower than the tree shading that area (another of the same neighbour's).

Dwarf gum, Summer Beauty, beloved by lorikeets, who strip the blooms almost as fast as they appear

windowsill, I saw your post after I'd written the above. So I was wrong, you'd like a Flavorette rose too. I'm really surprised at how well Rosie seems, though she certainly looks distended to me. Puzzling. Yes, I wish I didn't have to keep replacing roses, but there's no point keeping the ones I don't like/don't do well, and it keeps the growers in business!

Carol, how did I get so behind? Thank you about Abe. I have very mixed feelings about that rose. He looks like he isn't a bit dormant right now with all his fresh looking green leaves. So weird. And he grew a lot at the end of the 2025 season. It took him 8 years to have that growth spurt, the little weasel. I read a transcript of Carney's speech, and was I impressed. What a brilliant man. I like his ideas, too......I wish I could send you a U-Haul full of iris rhizomes. They are massing up in clumps, many, many rhizomes. I'm afraid I'll be throwing a bunch away. The blooms are quite beautiful for all of 10 days. I don't want to bother my neighbor about it because she's had a very rough year, losing her husband. Her middle aged son stayed with her for months, and I should have talked to him. I don't know where he went off to, but he lives and works in Alaska in the warm months, so I don't think he's up there.

Kristine, lovely Chantilly Cream, and I hope it's a stunner of a last rose for you. I got no new roses last year, and in the last five years have gotten three new ones. I'm at the end of the line in buying more roses. It's good to know your limits, I think.

Windowsill, the fig and bougainvillea surely had a short dormancy. Oh, well, some of my plants outside don't seem to be very dormant, either. Can't wait to see bougie. I hate spelling that long name out. I really think my Abe is so wimpish because he's own root. But Noseometer in New Mexico has a fabulous Abe that's own root, so who knows what my rose's problem is. I'm pretty sure that Edward's here will carry Martha and I'm sorely tempted to get her. Her blooms are supposedly huge but the Martha plant itself is small. We'll see. But frankly the most beautiful rose I've seen lately is your Discovery Rose and also the photos of it on HMF. What do you think of this gorgeous rose? It has huge blooms, supposedly. Is yours an own root from Heirloom? Does it seem vigorous? I think you had a big snow storm in NYC, but isn't another on its way? Take care now. Diane

Angry, Angry Augusta

Diane, I'm glad you mentioned Carney's speech. I wanted to find a way to say to Carol how much I appreciate our Canadian friends. I've been so impressed with Carney since he took office, but he really knocked it out of the park yesterday. Unlike the other one, who embarrassed us "bigly", both yesterday and today.

Kristine, I'm liking Chantilly Cream a lot... also enabled by Ben. It's pretty new for me, so hopefully it will do great when I get it in its permanent home soon :-D

Windowsill, I should be getting Martha grafted from Witherspoon in a few weeks. Never seen it in person, but it has my name written all over it... Meilland, very fragrant, lotsa petals, small-ish plant. Keeping my fingers crossed... one rose with shipping is a pricey indulgence. It's the only rose I allowed myself to get this year.

Trish, I want that book. Emma Chisit? I cackled over and over. Ya commawaltzin? I made that one up. I wear furry flipflops in the house year round, unless I'm barefooted...... I commiserate with you on tree shade and tree roots. I hope you're able to dig nice rose planting holes for the Opportunity Roses in spite of those tree roots. They are the bane of my existence, whether I'm trying to plant things, or I'm dealing with the root suckers that shoot up all over the place around here. As for increasing rose blooming, I don't know what to tell you except: water them abundantly, maybe more than you do now. Water is the best fertilizer. In May (our November) apply generous compost around each rose. A compost containing a little manure is even better. In August (our February), apply an organic fertilizer that's like Plant Tone, and in early September (our March), give the roses a good organic granular fertilizer. The two fertilizers are the yearly feeding.....The dwarf gum, Summer Beauty, shrub (tree?) is gorgeous. I didn't know gums could look like that. And those little w*nkers eat the beautiful blooms? Too bad you couldn't have a guard koala in the dwarf gum scaring off the lorikeets. Hope you have a fun walk with Rosie tomorrow/today here.

Susan, the Canadians are longsuffering in dealing with us. I won't get started on Turnip, but I wish I had an Australian expression for him. Trish, any suggestions?......I look forward to a report on how your Martha rose does in your garden. Diane

2025 Evelyn looking pale in the summer heat.

She gets a hug.

late in the season and more colorful.

Diane - that's a very pretty double orange. Do you have a bush picture of it? :)

Kristine - flip flops!! I was wearing ice cleats today. lol Oh, SWOOOON over that Chantilly Cream picture!! Mine got disease, and I got rid of it. I'm only keeping healthy roses. The wedding was fantastic!! It was in the mountains overlooking a huge valley. Everyone threw my rose petals at the brides. :) I felt so good having contributed those fragrant petals. :) :) It was so good to have both families together for almost 3 days. We really bonded. We still haven't got the pictures. I'm thinking that maybe they did and are making albums for everyone??? We were sent a few pictures, so I'll repeat a couple so you can see. :)

This was down in the valley.

Here's the petals. More are thrown as they walk down the "aisle." I'm in the front chair to the left, and Don is beside me. Holly, my older daughter, is standing up on the left next to the man.

Windowsill - oy vey!!! Your dad shot off one of your mom's few rose blooms. I bet she wasn't too happy. She got another DD at her newer home; must be a favorite rose to do that. You have no idea how many roses I've trashed. It's embarrassing. But it is what it is. I'm going to continue until I get it right. Which may be never, lol. No, I'm not thinking of buying a Flavorette rose. I've bought enough for this year (14). In coming years if they have a really beautiful one, I might. They sound like a perfect fit for a cocktail. Maybe next year I'll try a Martha Stewart. Abe crossed with Fun in the Sun! Now that sounds intriguing!! Go fig!! Those are huge leaves!

Trish - we don't get rats in Alberta. We have a rat-free status, which helps us sell our grain for a good price. Here's what AI says: Yes, Alberta is famously "rat-free" in the sense that it has no established, breeding wild rat populations (like Norway or Roof rats) due to a strict, decades-old control program, but occasional rats do get in (often from vehicles or goods) and are quickly eliminated by the Alberta Rat Control Program. It's a continuous effort, not a total absence, requiring public vigilance and reporting.

Me again: I've never seen a wild rat, thank goodness. That is so gross that a rat was that close and ate your banana. Oh, that's interesting about Afferbeck Lauder. How much is it. I should have been able to guess that. Easier after I'm told what it is, though. Well, as to the flavored roses, if everything else is equal, i.e. beautiful, fragrant, tons of blooms, healthy, etc., and it's tasty to top it off, why not? :) So far, they don't have it all, IMHO. :) I so understand what you're saying. My roses don't bloom all that much either, especially compared to Diane's, Bens, Kristine's, etc. Some of mine do, but I would looooove to have incomparable roses like Diane's!! Good luck with your difficult area. I hope the Opportunity roses do well there. I adore your Dwarf gum!!!! I've never heard of them before. The blooms are like pink mist!! Are they fragrant, too? Well, Rosie is enjoying life; that's everything right now. How old is Rosie? I'm like you and Windowsill...constantly replacing roses, but like you said, we're keeping the growers in business and supporting the economy. :) My neighbors think I'm crazy though, buying 15 or so new roses every year.

Diane - breathtaking (not angry) Augusta Luise....SWOOOOOON!!!! I love those blooms!! It's so easy to get behind, isn't it? :) Eight years for Abe to get a growth spurt...well, maybe this will be the year of ABE (George)!! I hope so. Those blooms are incredible!! Oh, you should check out youtube and hear Carney read his speech. Really impressive, and he got a standing ovation. The only other ones to receive that were Zelinsky and Nelson Mandela. I'm so proud of him!! I've actually been (and still am) afraid that the turnip will invade Canada. Did you see that map of Greenland, Venezuela, and Canada draped in the u.s. flag colors? Scary stuff. Thank heavens he's given up on Greenland. No thanks to the irises. lol They haven't bloomed for me for about 5 years. I divided them. Didn't help. ?? That's so sad when a spouse dies. Maybe as spring comes, you can visit her outside.

Susan - awww, thanks, Susan!! It feels good to be appreciated as a Canadian. I swamp myself with videos about the Turnip, and it leaves me feeling scared and angry. I shouldn't watch them, but it's like a drug I can't say no to. Yes, Carney was so impressive!! What a brilliant man. He wrote the speech himself. I'll be excited to see what you think of Martha Stewart rose. :)

Diane - I've been so mad at the Turnip, and now I'm fearful. My daughter works by the LNG plant in Kitimat. Maybe he'll bomb that. This would have been ridiculous before him, but now? Awful man, especially his ICE for Democratic states like Minnesota.

I was looking at my rose list, and the rose I'm the most excited about is Living the Dream by Bedard. It's sooooo beautiful!!!

I just ordered my new soil for roses in pots. Look at the goodies in it.

Plant Power Plant power is bursting with life! This premium grade potting soil made from a blend of compost, peat moss, pumice, fir fines, coco coir, worm castings and biochar. This Soilless blend is course in texture, rich in organic matter, and packed with nutrients and beneficial bacteria, with an optimal pH for amending. It makes an exceptional planting soil for all types of plant material and when used as a soil amendment will transform even the poorest soils

Wow, i just watched Carney's speech. Carol, you must be so proud to have him as your Prime Minister. What an intelligent, thoughtful and articulate man. I took to heart his belief that the old order will not return. We, sadly, are still pandering to the turnip. Diane, I can't think of a better Aussie description of him that the one you used about the lorikeets.

Summer Beauty is a smallish tree, said to grow to 19', but more likely to only reach 14'. Most dwarf gums are smaller. They came on the market about 20 years or so ago. I don't think they're fragrant, Carol.

Diane, I've 'saved' your fertilising routine. I have been watering loads. I agree, nothing beats water. A grower here kept a few roses in water only, for some months, forget how many, but a lot, to see what would happen. They lived.

Carol, lucky you about the rats.

Carol, thanks for sharing the wedding picture. It looks lovely! what a setting. Susan, im glad that Chantilly Cream is a good one for you . I wasnt going to get anything this year but my sister got her first rose catalogue from Edmonds and temptation won out, especially since she wanted to treat me. I had a hard time choosing but yellow is a color I dont have many of. I was going to remove about 20 roses, that dropped to 6 lol Diane, your Augusta is a dream rose!

Carol, I have Bedard’s “ Livin’ the Dream” rose coming this spring as well. I’m usually not very fond at all of pink/ yellow combo roses, but I fell for that one. I’ll find out if I like it in person. Some of the pictures show the yellow part softer like a creamy white color and that’s the look I’m hoping for.

Diane -- I bet you'd even eat a bowl of beets if it meant no more Turnip. I'm of course only talking about root vegetables. ;)

Of course, Windowsill. Those dastardly root veggies. Potatoes are an exception--ha. Are you having a blizzard currently? Hope not, but at least your plants are inside. Diane--back later

2025 Spirea "Snowstorm"

Festiva Maxima peony, introduced 1890. This one is from a mother plant at least 100 years old. Multiple passalongs.

Late season plonk of Rouge Royale

Carol, thank you about Angry Augusta. I guess other people (thanks, Kristine) like her angry, too. Those pics were late in the season, and I have never seen her so dark. She goes through all kinds of color phases, and I wish her color was more predictable. I prefer pale pink or pale apricot. Her medium pink is OK, and her sorta orange I really dislike; the dark orange is kind of shocking when you see it in person, but I do like it as long as she keeps it under control.....Do not be fearful. All will be OK for you. Check out your scrap gold and silver and get rich. Gold sold for nearly $5000 today. Back to roses....the plonk above was late in the season, and Rouge Royale darkens a lot when it is cut. I believe I waited a day before I took the above pics. I think the color difference is that I changed the light in the room.......I loved those photos of Kedra and Chloe. Such joy and fun. I hope they are doing well and going forth with all their plans. I also hope your Achilles is a lot better and you're feeling good. Our smog is supposed to leave tomorrow, but it's too cold to work outside at my age. Excuses, excuses. I hope this forum picks up soon. But I understand with the hideous weather in the eastern half of the US, and not much happening elsewhere, except for those lucky gardeners in California. All I can do is post photos and feed and water the birds. They do appreciate it. I think all is deserted out in the snowball, but when I fill the feeder, those little guys know immediately and start popping out and heading for the feeder. Then I break up the ice on the birdbath and fill it with clean, warmish water. They love that, too.

Trish, for this thread, it's turnip, and elsewhere, I'll use the Aussie word. How awful about the rodent. I won't suggest solutions because you know more about this problem than I do. I've never dealt with the varmints, just vole and deer varmints, and maybe some outside mice, which Finn dispatches, but that's pretty rare because he's been so efficient. I think they surge a bit in winter when Finn hardly goes out, so I've been keeping an eye out for voles. Good luck with the blooming program, and have a good day tomorrow with Rosie. Diane

Eglantyne in early November 2025

Double Easy Orange during our first heat wave starting in late May. He looks a little stressed.

In July and he's oranger.

September

October

Evelyn in mid November. I can't believe how late she's blooming. I think they painted Evelyn on the antique dish (teehee).

Same Evelyn bloom on my white table. Carol, see the little Royal Copenhagen bunny?

Still going strong in mid August--- the Orange Dude

Also mid August. Carol, this is as good as I can do for a whole rose bush. Shows the upper part of OD.

Another blue transferware plate. I have lots of this pattern in pink/reddish.

Eek! Who are these geezers?

Trish - I am so proud of Mark Carney!!! Go Canada!! :) Yeah, I'm super glad not to have rats here. :) :)

Kristine - yes, it was a wonderful wedding, and thanks. :)

Judi - your Living the Dream should bloom before mine, so I'll be excited to hear what you think of yours.

Diane - Your Snowstorm is lovely. :) :) That Festiva Maxima bloom looks huge, hence "maxima." lol How big do you think it was? My goodness, what an old peony! Rougie looks wonderful. Mmmmm Gosh, your Double Easy Orange rose is fantastic with all of those color changes!! I think my fave colors on it are 1st and 3rd. And my fave Eglanytne pic is the first one. The pink in that picture makes my heart sing! Yes, apricot on AL is gorgeous. I hope you're right about things being okay. :) I don't have any scrap gold, lol. What a price, though!! You nailed it about K&C...joy and fun. Well put. :) Yes, they're doing very well and will be moving back here in a few weeks. You know, my Achilles is getting a lot better. I walk with only a small limp. I've been doing lots of exercises for it...well the same one over and over...rotating my ankle around and around. I tried the stretch on the stair tread that was suggested by my doctor...that made it bad for a few days. I'm quite happy about how it's progressing. Thanks for asking. :) :) Too cold here, too, to work outside. It's going to be -10C/14F tomorrow with snow on Saturday. Oh, that's so good that your smog will FINALLY get the blank out. lol So does your Snowball bush/tree still have leaves? Your birds are very lucky to have you. Good Finn, good cat. :)

Diane - I'm not good enough at recognizing composers to know who those geezers are. Although the first 2 busts look like Beethoven?? Your Evelyn does look a lot like the rose in the dish. I adore the 2nd picture of Evelyn!!! That color and those petals!!! SWOOOOON!!!!! Awww, yes, I see the little bunny. That's sooo sweet. :) :) The Orange Dude isn't gigantic in your yard. So it fits better with your small, leftover spaces. What a rose!!

I think I have hives. I feel itchy all over, like I have a million mosquito bites, and I have raised circles about 1 cm wide. Unfortunately, I don't have any Claritin. I googled, and my circles look like hives. They could be stress hives. Holly had a health scare and I've been watching too much Turnip.

Carol, I got a notification of your comment, and your symbol shows up on the main listing, but where is your comment? It's not here. Diane

Oh, Diane, I love that photo showing real Evelyn mirroring the painted rose. Orange Dude would be a must in my garden based on the pics you and Jim have posted. Yes, we have a snowstorm and frigid temps coming this weekend.

This video of Kristin Bell made me laugh. I feel the same way as she does when I try to explain why a particular rose excites me to non-rose people!

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DTyDCTFj65k/?igsh=MWR1YmZqMWNoMTNqMg==

Do you see it now, Diane? I had forgotten to put a * in you know who's name.

Kedra's temperature today is -38C/-36F in Saskatoon! Brrrr

Windowsill - those roses!!! Unreal!! She needs to start growing roses. The force is strong in her. :)

Carol, I can see your post, but you must have excised the forbidden word. Good idea. Thank you about the Snowstorm spirea. I have two and they bloom in late spring. I wish they bloomed longer. And no snowstorms here. Kedra's temps are hideous. Is this without windchill? .......The Festiva Max is about the same size as the Sarah Bernhardt blooms, 7-8 inches when fullly open. Sarah debuted in 1900. And more thanks about the roses. I can't praise Orange Dude enough, except, you know, he doesn't have much scent. Eglantyne may look delicate, but she's a toughie. I am glad your Achilles is much better. I kind of thought so because you hadn't mentioned it. I hate exercise, so I admire your persistence.....The snowball lost its leaves ages ago, but the branches and twigs provide lots of protection for the little birds, which are the ones I feed. Larger birds simply can't move around or perch in the snowball. I've seen hawks try to chase a bitty bird through the snowball, and they can't begin to do it. Elaine says that lots of hawks lose an eye trying to plow through dense branches chasing prey......You are correct on the two Beethoven's. The next two are Chopin and Brahms. I won these in audition piano performances when I was a kid and got to pick my fav geezer as the prize.....It sounds like you do have a bad case of hives. If you catch them before they get worse, apply over the counter cortisone cream, which should stop them. Another cream that works for me is Sheffield Anti Itch cream, which contains an antihistamine. If it gets worse, a trip to the dematologist might be in order. They prescribe a stronger steroid cream that really knocks out dermatitis. I know.

Windowsill, yes, the Dude is a must in your cottage garden. I planned that Evelyn photo because I'd noticed E's resemblance to the painted rose. I'm glad I don't have your kind of snowstorm, and I see that you'll be getting another around Sunday. Oh, fun. Come on, spring! Diane--thanks for the link.

Poor Brother Cadfael is not enjoying the late May heat wave last year.

Looking a little better, but he had a bad 2025.

I think everyone must be lost in a snowstorm or are out whooping it up in some low class bar--I'm just jealous. Our smog didn't leave us yet, so it is frozen both night and day. Ugh. Since I have mega photos from last year, I'll just proceed to post a few more, though I'm not sure when a human eye will actually view them. I do hope those of you in the eastern half of the country are safe and warm. And all my seeds have arrived in the last few days. What have I done? I'll never use all these. Diane

Love Song

Twilight Zone

Wild Blue Yonder

Twilight Zone

Diane, it's not just the east coasters who are in danger... it's a lot of the southern and mid states. Currently sweeping across New Mexico towards Oklahoma & Texas. Supposedly 200 million people are going to be affected, and that's out of ~340 million. Yowza!

I know that's why I said the eastern half of the US--east of the Rockies (how did New Mexico get into this). We just don't get those horrendous winters here. Never lived through a blizzard. Oops, got to get my taquitos out of the oven. Diane

Diane - Your Spirea bloom in late spring. So about the same time as your Snowball? Yes, Kedra's temps were without windchill. We had -18C/-0.4F today, but we're warming up and getting to 8C/46F this week!!! Yay!! Seven-eight inches...mmmmm...Oh, it seemed like I could just smell a peony. The mind is a strange thing. Thanks about my persistence. :) :) Wow...hawks could lose an eye going into dense branches. Such a good haven for the little birds. Chopin and Brahms. Okay, I'm going back up to take a look at them. Chopin looks so refined compared to the wild man look of Brahms. Well done on winning a piano performance. You are so talented. You remind me of my daughter-in-law...like you, she can do anything. I had Benadryl today and a nice long nap. I'm just a little itchy, not about to go crazy like yesterday. I've broken some of my capillaries by scratching so much. I'll keep an eye on them and see if they get worse. Thanks for the idea of going to a dermatologist. You know from experience. :) It's snowing now. Ooooh!!! That last picture of BC is da bomb!!! My goodness!! And he created those huge blooms during a heat wave. Well done! I was "busy" today having a looong nap and then a bath. That was my day. lol No low class bar for me. :) Still with the smog. Come on, Boise, get with it. You could go on a mad seed spree through the city, like Johnny Appleseed, flinging them everywhere. :) Oh, that first picture of Love Song!!!! That color!!!! SWOOOON!!! The 3rd picture is pretty awesome, too. Your 2nd Twilight Zone picture...mmmmm :) :)

Susan - I haven't heard about this? A blizzard? No one down in the deep south is prepared for that. I'm trying to stay away from the news so that my stress hives go away.

My old Chandos Beauty. I hope my new one gets that luminous look

Chartreuse de Parme ... I would loooove to get this one again.

Carol, I just checked the photos' date stamps, and the greenish snowball photo was taken April 23, and the totally white snowball photo was taken on May 12. The spirea photo was taken on May 28, so the spirea blooms a few weeks later than the snowball. Most peonies don't have much scent, which does disappoint me a little. I (and everyone else from what I've read) thought it was Beethoven that looked like an angry wild man with his scowl and wild hair, while Brahms looked like someone's grandpa. Thanks about the Bro Cadfael. And I hope your dermatitis goes away fast. It's usually what the doc calls contact dermatitis. More later on that. Here's to balmy temps--a big haha on that happening. Diane

Brother Cadfael during a nicer spring.