No takers yet, but the roses are coming with me. So they will be available to anyone there who might like them. My gardening style hasn't changed. I've been growing roses for decades with the same methods with no problems. It depends on *which* roses though that like this type of care. Those native to mediterranean climates and desert climates do beautifully here. Some of the studies posted on gardenweb already (as well as others) on growing roses in low water areas, indicate particular classes are much better adapted to my local conditions and cultural practices. Found this out after reading the studies that I had and was still gravatating to the same roses the authors had determined performed well in these conditions. I find it interesting that some of the posters on gardenweb in CA mediterranean areas who have success with classes I don't, also have dismal results from the very same roses that are superb for me. IMHO a lot of that is due to our opposite gardening practices that actually favor certain classes over others. For me, I'd rather have roses that like conditions as is, and don't require substantial alterations to the natural environment. Often this involves the amount of water used. And I think the culture surrounding roses for many years, including breeding of roses regardless of any efficiency of use of resources (flower production being selected for over other factors), has made a more labor and resource intensive style of gardening seem normal for roses. I disagree. I don't think it should be normal. I'm even adding more of the classes that do best here, the ones adapted to long, hot, dry summers. Gallicas are excellent as are albas, damasks, rugosas, and multiple California natives like Rosa minutifolia. It blooms profusely and sets abundant hips when grown in full sun and given no summer water, whereas in partial shade and summer irrigation, its hip production is low to none. My city is implementing water restrictions more and more, and yet none have come close to affecting my garden since I am a low water user in the area. Roses that like to guzzle water stand out from the others and I'm eliminating them while continuing to expand my collection of water sippers. Melissa

Niles is coming along nicely, Jerome. I love Salvia leucantha! We can't seem to give it both perfect drainage and enough freeze protection during our winter rains to keep it alive. I've moved on, sadly. It's basically an annual in my Winde Country garden, altho it lives in Mill Valley. Anyone else love Salvia nemerosa 'East Friesland'? That, Agastache and Phygelius are my best garden perennials.

Every rose with that many petals balls here in rainy conditions. Whether plain humidity combined with lots of heat would cause Niles Cochet to ball is something you need to hear from someone with a climate more like your own.

Wow!! That's incredible!! Love the color, the shape, in fact, everything about this rose!!! Thanks for showing!! Carol