I'm new, so I hope I am doing this correctly. I have Canna and 4 O'clock bulbs I could trade if you're interested? My orange Canna are over 7 feet tall, and I have some smaller, red ones as well. My 4 O'clocks are the "Marble Mix" colors-hot pink and yellow. Please let me know if you are interested :) I would love a yellow one.

You might consider the pretty pink, Belinda's Dream. It's a true pink and has the high center of a hybrid tea (a hybrid tea is in its parentage), but it has much better disease resistance than most, if not all, hybrid teas. Many people can grow Belinda's Dream without having to resort to chemical sprays at all to keep down blackspot. It makes good cut flowers but has little fragrance. For a red, Maggie is looking good to me. I'm less certain about its health in a no-spray yard than about Belinda's Dream, but some people who have it have said that they don't use chemical sprays on it. Low in thorns, its fragrance is reputed to be wonderful. For a white HT, you might consider Pope John Paul II. For a hybrid tea, it's fairly disease resistant, and you might stand a chance of getting by without using chemicals to keep it looking reasonably presentable. Good fragrance and good for cutting, though it doesn't last as long as some others. Best wishes for a happy retirement ahead! Mary Here is a link that might be useful: Some Earth Kind roses to consider for an easy upkeep yard

So many good suggestions still coming in--appreciate that. I won't be ordering until after Thanksgiving (or maybe after Xmas), so I'm open to any more beautiful ideas. I'm looking them all up. Some I kinda know. But I don't know much of anything about Mrs. Dudley Cross, cherrykist. Is it hardy in Zone 6? HMF say Zone 7--but I know it is sometimes rather conservative on hardiness. And I'm not sure about its height since HMF says 3-5 ft (or something like that). What is your experience--does it stay around 3 ft? It is a lovely rose, but not a type I have ever seen, so I'm not sure what to think about it. It's really cool looking at all the gorgeous pics--thanks everyone. Kate

Boy do I know how ya'll feel. I purchased a Cajun Hibiscus at a garden show the name "Red beans and rice" a beautiful red with yellow markings. I just had to have. Well I watched over it all winter, and found just the spot in the garden for it this spring. Last week I noticed a single bud. Boy was I excited. I was outside eating lunch with my DH and grandson, when the bloom caught my eye. On further investigation I could see a beautiful flower, but no where near the color it was supposed to be. Oh well, maybe I'll try again this October when the garden show returns. I couldn't even find a match on the Cajun hibiscus web site. Oh well all a part of gardening. Keep those hands dirty. Brenda NOLA PS how do ya'll post pictures with your text? I tried to copy and paste but that didn't work.