Don't let Jeri scare you. She doesn't get the hot summer temps needed to open SOUVENIR DE LA MALMAISON and CLOTILDE SOUPERT. Now as for CLOTILDE, I definitely prefer the climber. The beautiful blooms are wasted on the short shrub, although like most Polyanthas it blooms non-stop. As a climber CLOTILDE is superb in almost every way. For one the thorns are small and widely spaced, making it easy to grasp the canes without getting mauled. Second, the canes are long and flexible. Third, both the climber and shrub grow quickly on their own roots, hitting the ground running and never turning back. Third, the repeat bloom is truly exceptional, especially for the climber. I can't tell you how many times I've been disappointed with the repeat of large flowered climbers, but this climbing Polyantha blooms PROFUSELY in the spring then doles out flowers at a regular rate before launching a fall flush that is almost as good as the first. Finally, very good black spot resistance. Her one fault is that balling problem, which really isn't too bad where summers are hot. Heat being the necessary factor for the silky blooms to open under humid conditions. Either that or you can always blow a strong puff of air on the buds to "crack" them open. Actually you really just need to loosen the outer petals. Why do I put up with the balling? Well, when the flower do open they are perfectly formed and gloriously fragrant. The color is another bonus. Pristine white blushed delicate lilac pink in the middle. Extended vase life too and loooong stems (on the climber only). In Eastern Texas she is worth a try. This rose was MADE for the south.

A few Days ago I happened to watch a report on the Italian TV telling thereâÂÂs a web site where the most important and beautiful cemeteries are listed. I didnâÂÂt catch the name, but I remember a few names listed among the first ten. The first is Highgate , I also remember Pere Lachaise in Paris but canâÂÂt remember on which rung it was placed in the ladder. As far as Italian ones are concerned, they listed the Catacombs in Rome , even if they are not a cemetery strictly speaking, and always among the first ten thereâÂÂs Staglieno that is in Genoa, my city, which is deemed by us Genoese the eighth world wonder, maybe we exaggerate just a bit, but it is true that is really impressive. As it often happens, IâÂÂve never been inside it, from time to time my wife and I are used to saying, sooner or later weâÂÂve got to visit it but so far we havenâÂÂt. Once I remember reading in a novel this phrase, more or less, if you want to see some really awful marble, go to Staglieno in Genoa and I was outraged, what ?!?!?! Are they really talking about our wonder?!?!? I was sure I had read it in "Farewell to Arms" by Hemingway , he spent some time in Sampierdarena in a Genoa neighbourhood , thatâÂÂs I Know for sure, but I checked it on Barnes and Noble using the search inside option, and neither Genoa nor Staglieno is named. Speaking of cemeteries and lates, thereâÂÂs one funny (both meaning: strange and ah ah ah) thing to say. In Italy poetry isnâÂÂt read that much, I have to say we donâÂÂt read much in general, but the most sold popular poetry - book is not by an Italian author but by an American one , Edgar Lee Master and the book is, of course, Spoon River Here is a link that might be useful: Staglieno

Sorry for the delayed response. It has been a very hectic past few days! Dumb question. Is RRD contagious? Meaning if I try the wait and see approach (by removing only the impacted canes instead of digging up the whole plant) with the roses who don't seem to have it as bad yet.....will I take a risk that somehow the RRD could get transmitted to the roses who don't have it? I would hate to lose any of the seemingly healthy roses by doing this. Moving forward, is there anything I can do to lessen the chances of the roses getting RRD? This summer Japanese beetles have been widespread in this area. Honestly, I can't ever remember them being this bad before now...or ever even seeing them really. I know of several other people who have knockout roses here and everyone is having the same problem with the Japanese beetles feasting on them. So as bad as it may sound, I can take some solace in knowing it is not just my roses that are getting hit. Is there anything I can spray on the roses to prevent Japanese beetles from attacking them?

Deborah, thanks for reminding me of Code Girls, which I've wanted to read for quite a while. Prices have probably dropped now. I'm sure this book follows the long line of those books featuring women who did the science, while men got the credit. My uncle was a code breaker in WWll. We still don't know exactly what he did. Strangely, I like English novels of manners and comedies of manners, which "Remains" is, but it's not really clicking with me. Not long ago, I finished he sixth novel in the Mapp and Lucia series (comedies of manners), written in the 1920s-30s by E.F. Benson. They start slow and become hilarious and ridiculous. And though the author wrote lots of other books, probably more serious, these six novels are his best known. I'm an Anglophile, and they are British to the core. The author's father was the Archbishop of Canterbury, no less. I promise to post the cuke sandwich recipe in the autumn thread today. Curried chicken salad makes wonderful little sandwiches, too, and is another mainstay for tea parties. I saw Love's Promise photos a while back and thought it was a gorgeous rose. I need to look it up again. I hope your Hot Cocoa makes a full recovery. We have few gophers out here because of the blessed badgers. There are lots of voles, though, and Finn makes short work of many, Plus, he never eats them, which is a good thing, because they carry parasites. There's nothing like seeing a worm hanging out of a kitty's rear end--gack. Carol, I'm so glad for your warm temps--I swear your weather predictions are the same as ours. We're having smoke again and some wind. Not nice weather to be out in. My sympathies on the spruce tree. I have a story about Colorado Blue Spruce for another time. However, Noooo, on the "stupid avocado tree". My father in law had the most wonderful avocado tree in LA, along with citrus trees. How I miss them, and the perfect avocados he gave me. We all are big avocado fans, and can use many up fast. I wish you could experience the fun of tall candelabra on your roses. I really get a kick out of them, but yes, they are weird looking. Some roses never shoot them up--like Tamora, which is too busy blooming, which I like better. Diane