Thank you Maybee! Also, thanks for letting me know how they came out on your screen. Olga, I know what you mean. When I lived in Texas, I wanted the Austrian copper, too, so I tried it, it barely survived summer and then died (I didn't know about planting it deep, perhaps it would have lived longer that way). Its first year here it was a BS-magnet, but last year for some reason it stayed totally clean, and it's been clean this year as well so far, with only the occasional Aerated Compost Tea spray (the roses in the fields get more Tea sprays). Jenn, I'll post more photos from time to time as ours start blooming, right now, only the occasional rose is blooming, but it's getting close! Patricia, I used to think the same thing before I moved here! It's true, we can grow an incredible variety of plants, especially up in Northern California, but we have our own pests to put up with, seems like more kinds of pests here than I had in Florida or Texas. But, going more seriously organic has helped a lot, even with the near mono-culture in the fields. If you have space (maybe a small tree to climb up in), I do recommend that FDY, it does as well your way as it does in the west, assuming you don't get crazy cold in winter (we go to 15°F & 20°F here, and it's unharmed, but I've noticed plants are more cold-hardy here, even in wet winters, which I attribute to the fact that generally, when winter hits here, it stays, not like Texas where it was 18° one day, and 70° the next). When are you going to come out here? So many places you ought to see! --Ron

Just wanted to update all of my friends on how MOM is doing....she is the cutest little lady in that nursing home and the staff just love her....and physically she is doing wonderfully. They get her up walking with a walker every day and she insists that there is nothing wrong with her...she begged me to take her "out of that place" so now she's getting feisty! She's also complaining about the food and not eating and insists they feed her the same food every meal. She also feels sorry for all the "old folks" there (she doesn't think of herself as "one of them") and calls them "the poor dears" and worries about them....its so cute. She tried to feed another lady today who also has Alzheimer's but who only speaks to herself and doesn't respond to anyone. My mom can barely feed herself and is in a wheelchair but she insisted on helping her "friend" Marguerite....whose name is really Maggie and doesn't respond to Mom's conversations, but Mom keeps on chatting with her and smiling. Mom insisted that when I come to get her out of there, that we must take Marguerite with us. Here's Mom....so fragile and so beautiful, and through the haze of Alzheimer's....still, a heart of gold. Celeste

That's definitely a bag worm. Usually I find them on my Aroborvitaes and Junipers, but a few can end up on other plants as well. They can really do some damage if left unattended and are particularly hard to treat on tall evergreens. Every one of the bags left behind can contain as many as 200 eggs which will be ready to infest your plants again next year. They usually begin to feed and form bags around the first of June in my area of NE OK., so be on the lookout next year about this time. If you can catch them when they first appear BT works as well as anything and won't harm beneficials. You will need to spray more then once to catch new hatchlings. Make sure the BT is fresh. We weren't having much luck with BT and discovered there's a world of difference between fresh and old. Use a spreader sticker. Some people not familiar with our area may not understand just how hot AND humid it is now. So be careful when you spray. You need to spray ideally when the temperature is 85 or below and make sure that in this drought your plants are fully hydrated before you do spray. I've burned plants spraying when it was too hot. Best time of course is in the cool of the morning...Last year we had a major infestation on our Arborvitae and sprayed 3 times with frest BT. This year (fingers crossed) I haven't seen any hatchlings - yet. ........Maryl

I'm so glad that you're turning out (I've seen your other post) to be an avid poster. Keep more pictures coming!!! Your roses are heavenly. Your Love and Peace really stands out. Gorgeous!!! I adore my Paradise. Don't you just love that rose!? It's one of my more hardy roses growing in pots. Your dog is precious too!! What a sweetie!! Is that a breed - red nose? Just curious. What a stunner! Thank you so much for bringing your rose beauty into our lives!! Carol