Luanne - dare I say YES YES YES!?!?

We are having the cemetery Open Garden on the 12th - I usually am yoked to the cemetery, getting ready for the event, but we have plenty of volunteers - I think that it's possible to come over and join you.

So put me down - I'll see if any other cemetery volunteer wants to play hookey with me, too - looking forward to it -
Anita

Let the celebration begin! Er, the work that is. Actually the work is fun, lovely, lovely soil, panoramic scenery, and the company of congenial, like-minded crazies. I have never yet not had fun at one of these gatherings.

Anita, it is wonderful that you can join us this year.

Rosefolly

It sounds wonderful, but I'm just too far away. I adore the thought of meeting people who can describe good soil as 'lovely'--it's so TRUE!!!!

You all have fun!

A bit enviously,

Melissa

I'm beginning to think that I just need to come to California for the entire month of April so that I won't miss any of the fun stuff going on. DH probably wouldn't go for that but it is a happy thought. I envy the fun and fellowship you all will share! Hope the skies are blue, the breezes are balmy and the day is perfect in every way.

Carol

Melissa and Carolina, Italy and SC have not yet been a part of the fete. Why not be the first from your part of the world and join in! (Note to Carol: Bill will get over it!)

Dirt Day hooray!

What shall I bring?

Carol

Ofcourse I'll be there. I think Michael is again working on Dirt Day. Too bad.

The girls and I will be there - along with Mike who can dig the holes! Looking forward to seeing everyone! I'll be bringing some rice and curry as usual.

Aprille

Yes Italy, Italians always bring such felicity even the ones by marriage. And Carolina, yes a month would be good or a week early would be superb--fly in Friday,dirt day on Saturday, messing around with all of us until the trip to Hearst Castle, a little over two weeks. I went to India for three months after we were engaged. I was so appreciated when I came home...
We'll miss Michael, I'm bringing one of the nurses from UCSF, although force of nature that you are,you worth two people alone.
Aprille, your food is always wonderful and the girls are sheer delight and Michael is great hole digging or not.
Listen to Fang who can bring anything she wants.
Anita, I was hoping you'd find a way.
Melissa, we share dirt worship, I think. Vintage has primo soft luscious dirt that the weeds leap into your hand. I have never dug 20 holes in my life before except there, not big ones but in an hour! I was younger then.
A toast to Paula who got me in gear. I've always enjoyed myself, new folks are as welcome as any!
la

Luanne,
I am really going to try and drive down this year. Every year I am so envious of you all getting together. At least I am also on the left coast and not across the continent or an ocean. I have a friend I can stay with in the bay area. Happy Valentines Day.
Fondly
Kathy (your PNW friend-to-be)

Och, can't believe I'll miss this one by a week! I'll arrive in Sacramento on the 11th, so the closest I'll come to Dirt Day is to hear tales from Anita about what a good time you had. It's the most glorious experience to work in that garden and have rose time with all of you while we're doing some good with the plants. Weeding was never so much fun! I'll see most of you when I arrive; meantime, haul up a weed or two in my name for Gregg and Phillip, enjoy the feast, and save your stories.

Sue

Sue, you have many friends in the Bay ARea, get yourself down here early and have some fun. You can dog sit for a week and weed. Isn't that everyone's idea of fun?

You can dog sit for a week and weed. Isn't that everyone's idea of fun?

You know it's MY idea of fun especially if it's huskers or basset hounds!

And Bluesibe's dogs can be induced to sing to you very melodically. Just ask LA. I've seen her do it, and heard the results. Very musical it was, and loud, too. Perhaps we can entice Jackie to venture out this way? I'm sure we can find a place for you or indeed any other out-of-town friend to stay.

Kathy, I'm delighted that you will be joining the festivities and looking forward to meeting you in the RW.

Carol, it would be fun if you could come early. I'm getting concerned that you won't have time to cover everything on your list. You don't want to leave anything out, you know.

Melissa, if not this year, perhaps next. You could plan your trip to America that way. Didn't you used to live in this part of the world? I'm sure you have some old friends you're dying to look up, and I know you definitely have some new ones!

Aprille, I may have been credited with nudging LA, but you were the one who reminded me.

Rosefolly

I changed jobs and my only week of vacation is from Sept 27th to Oct 4th. I am on call for work 24/7 so it is impossible to get away even for one night, particularly since I work every Saturday and most Sunday nights.

Southwest Airlines flies right into Santa Rosa now so it is nothing more than a very short drive, or an easy pickup for a rosy buddy in the area.

For anyone thinking about doing this, I would say go for it. The friendships are real, the food is delectable and the work is not as hard as it always is in your own garden. As an added bonus you get a friends of Vintage Gardens discount to make those rose purchases not quite as painful on the wallet.

Lance

Several things keep me at home in April: my nine year old daughter; our budget; my own garden. When we go to the U.S. it's during summer vacation and we go to Florida where my family is; and as long as my aged father is with us, to Florida we will go. We have wonderful vacations there, in the small town in north Florida where I grew up, seeing my siblings and nieces as well as my dad; and the swimming is wonderful.

I've had a plan in the back of my head for some time. When my daughter has finished middle school, say, if I can come up with the money, I might take her on a summer tour of the U.S. We could fly out to Washington state, work our way south, visiting rose forum friends, if I may call you so, along the way, and then zigzag across the country back to my home state. My girl has never seen any of the U.S. except Florida, and that would be a good time, I think, for her to become better acquainted with her other native country.

Meanwhile, while you folks are working on Dirt Day, I'll be out digging my own soil, which certainly badly needs it. We have six tons of oldish hay arriving this afternoon--HALLELUJAH!!! we were nearly out--and I'll be able to resume digging it into the clay which constitutes our soil. Five years of this kind of thing are showing results: the soil is becoming friable, and is loaded with earthworms. But we have a long way to go. So, you all have fun, and we'll meet one day.

Happy Spring!

Melissa

Good morning all,

Bill and I will be there for sure. Having spent the week hacking through my own yard I am now ready to take on the delights of rural Sonoma county. A day with friends will be much appreciated. A lovely sunny day is on order.

See you soon, Karen