The catalog looks so great! I went on the early bloom tour and everything looks fantastic- some of the early once-bloomers are really at their peak right now but it sure looks like it's going to be a magnificent show for the Open Garden (God/weather/spirits/sprites/etc. willing).

I got there at 9:30 and was so distracted by the roses I ran out of time and didn't go on an active hunt for people ... but I did I meet Jannorcal, Jeri, Clay, the dals, Laura and Fred Boutin. I saw Darrell Schramm working the rose sale table. I recognized Anita by her nametag and pictures I'd seen of her ... but she was so truly busy that I didn't have the heart to interrupt her. Later I joined her rose tour but my time was up and I had to leave. I was there about 3 hours and enjoyed every minute. I didn't buy a rose but did get an apron - maybe I won't lose my gloves from now on. The event seemed so well organized; kudos to all of you that make the event possible and work so hard on the roses in that cemetery. On the drive down to Los Angeles I realized I never did meet Pam or Paula although I'd been looking for both of you. But as I said, I was really distracted by the roses in the cemetery. I know a lot of pix will be shared; the cemetery roses are really almost overwhelming - but here is a shot of the prettiest 'Sally Holmes' I've come across. So many more there as well ... I am so glad I was able to come and see that garden. I hope another time to meet up again with some of you all. Pam, I missed giving you a hug, because I'd planned to! Gean

Now, now Anita. One doesn't go at midnight to meet ghost in the Sacramento Cemetery. One goes at noon. Surely, you've met them? No? There are at least two according to my good friend who's accompanied me up there on several occasions. He was the one who pointed out to me that we had now met the same woman on each of our three visits, in precisely the same spot, dressed in precisely the same clothing, and that on each occasion she said the same thing upon surprising us: "I'm not a ghost." Of course, as my friend points out, that's exactly what she is. Then there's the lady, dressed in business attire, always the same business attire, who walks down the path under the Philips and Rix rose arch... but never emerges that very short distance on the other side... At least that what my friend says... I'm always too busy taking photos to pay attention to "supernatural" type stuff. MichaelAT

That is "Tamalpais Homestead Tea," a Tea-or-Old-HT collected in the Mt. Tam area of Mill Valley. Pretty delicious, I think. Kippy -- 18 April is a little early for most of the roses up in the Sierra Foothills. Late May might be more like it. Maybe even very early June -- depending upon the weather. But other lowland roses would be blooming, and the Heritage could be pretty spectacular then. Here's what it looked like in the Heritage, the day after the Cemetery's Open Garden. Jeri