Hello, How close to the ocean is your garden? and what is the average day temperature during summer? With no water at all for 3-4 months in summer during our annual California seasonal drought, band sized and many gallon sized plants might die from lack of water if planted right away in your dry garden. Where day temps are more often in the 80's and higher, I would go with Ramblers which the East Bay park department says are drought tolerant in our area, and species and species hybrids. For 20 and more years, in the woodland acreage at the Morcom amphitheatre of roses, in Oaklland , Califorornia grow many R. brunonni outside of the irrigation system, ( many are seedlings from a mother plant) a few R. moschata, and many Banksiae., as well as Alberic Barbier, all do fine with no water at all during our annual summer drought which lasts 3-4 months each year. I volunteered at that park and made a cultiver and rose species database in the late 1900's(crikey that makes me sound old) and early 2000's. Large trees shade these roses for 4-6 hours out of the day, but all but those in the deepest shade bloom normally. My 'Albertine' was lost when moving and found months later crammed between several pots, with no water, and it lived and thrived. Because so many of the Rambler roses are species hybrids, and said to be drought tolerant, here, I would try the re-blooming rose 'Mermaid' in a dry garden after it had grown to be 5-6 feet tall. It reblooms very well and is gorgeous. I imagine a dry hillside planted with Mermaid, with a few Veilchenbleu , Kiftgate, Silver Moon, R. laevigata, Alberic Barbier, Susan Louise and other R. gigantea hybrids. R.californica transplanted after their roots are 3 feet long, or more. . If I never intended to water them. I might plant Califorinia lilac, ceanothus as mounds for the ramblers to ramble over. If I watered deeply once a month as Gregg does, I'd try the same with the largest cultivars of Old Garden Tea roses, and a few Tea-Noisettes. Tea roses seem to be common among the found roses in warm climates, where live and bloom without being watered during summer, in California and the Southern States. I believe that any of the huge roses R. gigantea , for instance, may be drought tolerant to an extent because of the depth to which their roots reach. R. palustris is said to be drought tolerant as well as wet tolerant, and it has a long bloom cycle too. A row of Susan Louise could provide more shade if needed, it is a gorgeous plant, grown on the ground or as a tree shaped rosebush with the lower canes removed. I would add R. californica, I rarely remember to water mine and it is glorious. It grows to be more than 13 feet tall and has a big bloom cycle in June and scattered bloom of c. 15% for 4+ months after wards, I find that the scent of its leaves has an affect of aromatherapy. The eglantine Meg Merrilees has the strongest foliage scent of any of the eglantine hybrids I've smelled, as good as the species. R. primula would be a treat by the edge of a pathway, for its incense scented leaves. Alba Semi Plena is also reported to be drought tolerant where summer temps average in the 70's F. I spoke to a woman at the Old Rose celebration who told me of a large 'Anna Olivier' growing by a highway near Santa Cruz, California. I'd try growing a large plant in a low-water zone. I've documented a 'Grandmothers Hat' and 'Alliance Franco-Russe' both mature plants, in abandoned gardens in Oakland, where they received no water from a hose nor rain for 3-4 months out of the year, for 10 years (g.hat) and 5 years (the Old Garden Tea). the grandmothers hat is a climber of c. 12 feet tall, and growing up a fir tree, the alliance f.russe was c. 8 feet in each direction the last time I visited it. I hope you can use some of this info. Good Luck, Lux

Tessiess, thank you for your input. I used alfalfa pellets for the first time this spring, and upon closer observation, I have not noticed any major differences that I can definitely attribute to its use; unfortunately I continued to use my normal March cocktail which could account for a lot of what I saw in terms of growth etc. I research, research, research and many experts warn against the use of alfalfa as it is believed to raise the pH, which is the opposite of what I want for my high alkaline soil. Years ago, I attempted to grow Blanc Double de Coubert. I had just began rose gardening and I am sure its demise is gardener error. I am happy to learn that you have had luck with rugosas; with very little intervention, which is probably key to its success? Now if I can just find someone who has had success with Paul Neyron to discover what the issue is with as so many gardeners seem to despise it.... Lyn, you are so correct. Las Vegas has its name because it means the meadows. This land was once very fertile and wet. Generally, the soil in Las Vegas has inorganic minerals, but is very low in organic compounds . We aspire to have soil that is 5% organic compounds but have to amend a lot to get there. We also amend the soil to lower the pH.

Thank you for the lovely tour! It is nice to see some old favorites with different partners growing beside them. I was curious about the plant you called angelica; I purchased one long ago that looked identical from Bluestone, but it had the name Thalictrum (meadow rue). Angelica seemed different when I did an image search. [Reeeeeally different searching for angelica--lol. Then I added perennial to the search line to find images of plants.] The red-calyxed abutilons are my favorites, and your photo reminds me I still need to pick up one for the garden. Nice butterfly photos, too. Glad you shared your visit in this forum also, because I am still have not made it to all of them here in GW.

The Ace Garden Center on Grand Ave and The Dry Garden Nursery are both in Oakland, and also have a lot of the same plants, but you are right, Longs was/is a fun place to shop, and particularly for the color junkies, they sure made it easy to pick up the plants you wanted in the full range of colors available, which is something many of the other nearby nurseries don't have the space to accomodate to the same degree. For those wanting the same full selection, as you have mentioned, East Bay Nursery and Berkeley Hort Nursery are good fall backs, but at higher prices. I'd also suggest that people discover the pleasures of the incredible selection out at Annie's Annuals in Richmond(www.anniesannuals), for those who need a fix for finding the less common things. Almost everything is only 4 inch pots, but this time of year is when they start having more of the rarer stuff available, and well worth a visit. Annie's also has the added benefit of the display gardens which give an idea of how to use/how big the plants get. Some of our local smaller Berkeley nurseries are also well worth checking out, such as Yabusaki's Dwight Way Nursery, and Magic Gardens. I'll also vouch that The Dry Garden Nursery is also worth a visit, especially if you have never been there before.