Dear friend, we miss you, too.

It is true that sometimes our lives take us in a different direction for a while. I remember a period of about ten years when I did almost no gardening, my time taken up by the demands of school, work, and raising young children. But when my situation changed I came back to the garden, at first tentatively, and later with more enthusiasm than ever. You, too may find that a future day will find out out there once again, weeding, digging, pruning.

I wish you all the best. And yes, please, by all means do lurk! Many of us longtime members lurk more than we post these days. You will be in good company.

Rosefolly

You know, we miss you too!
And don't worry. If there is not this garden, there will one day be another garden,
just as Rosefolly says.

Don't just LURK.
Come back, when time permits, to just visit with us.

Jeri

Gee, I miss you too.
Truly.
Luxrosa

Hi Jerome-------I've missed you !!--You are one of my favorite rose buddies.

I am so sorry your job has changed--your roses were wonderful----

I uderstand and like rosefolly I've had periods in my long life when gardening had to take a back seat---I was a widow for 11 years and I was busy trying to keep body and soul together ---two kids in college ---a house --pets---cars etc---Just had a couple of hardy roses.

Now my gardening is limited for health reasons but I enjoy looking at everyone's roses.

Please keep in touch--

I miss you.

Florence

Jerome, I've been wondering for some time why we were no longer hearing from you. I'm so sorry that you're no longer able to work in your beloved garden. I do hope and believe that this garden or another will be in your future again.

Ingrid

Jerome, I've missed your postings. People in offices especially need roses, so I hope you'll still get outside to do a few things in the gardens - it's therapeutic, you know :) Gean

I've been thinking about you all week and here you are. I'm sorry your new job keeps you out of the garden, Jerome. Hopefully, soon, you will have an opportunity to get back to the garden you love so much. I have missed you. Can you find a spare moment or two to just visit and let us know how you are? I would like that very much.

Carol

Pile on the mulch and keep watering. The roses will be there for you when you get back to them. I have a pal in the movies who is gone for weeks at a time and his roses survive the so cal summer heat this way and make a great fall flush. Nice to hear from you.

Hi, Jerome, I missed you too and wondered where you were. I will pray for you to be released from your paperwork!

Jerome, Of course everyone misses you. I am so sorry to hear that you are stuck inside and not out in the garden. I can imagine how I would feel, terrible. I was wondering where you were. Please don't forget to let us know how you are.

Dear Jerome,

I miss you too! I am so sorry that your new job does not allow you the time to garden. I don't suppose there is any way you can hire office helpers instead of garden helpers? That way you could get back to the garden and leave them to the paperwork. In any case, I am sure you will return to the garden some day. Until then, please do not be a stranger.

Best regards,
Joanne

A little something in the mail for you. I have been pretty reclusive myself these days.
Love,
la

This forum rocks. Thanks for your kind words and the e-mails. I will answer as I can. Things are crazybusy here today. More later.

J

Jerome, I haven't been on the forum very long, but your posts were among the ones I have enjoyed the most. I first started hanging out here during the big Southern California fires last year (the year before?), and I started to feel that I knew all of you down there as you posted your bulletins from the front lines.

I really, really hope you can get back into the garden, and that you will at least check in with us from time to time.

I certainly miss you, Jerome. Hope you can spend some time with roses. It is so hard to be locked inside all the time. I also spend now 11-12 hours at work every day and have very limited time for my garden. It is depressing.
Olga

First, thanks to everyone for the kind words. I appreciate each one of your kind messages. Olga, you have it more intense than me...I don't have 12 hours at the office most days. But sitting at the desk/talking on the telephone and going to meetings...well, it just seems so un-monk-like. Just my preconception of what my life should have been but it's dying hard!

The office is about a 10 mile commute from the abbey, and I requested to ride a bike there most days, and started to do that last week. Otherwise, there's not time for exercise and it would be a double-whammy of no garden, no exercise, and that was more than I can bear.

Walking around this morning (I go to the office only this afternoon: half day work today), I noticed that the roses that do really well are a mixed bag of moderns and old - mostly old. Still, to be fair, I need to add to the list of "things that are thriving" some new ones I overlooked:
Marie van Houtte
Lemon Spice - a fantastic rose
Just Joey
Rosette Delizy

I think I am just going to post here periodically, if only to keep in touch with you people

Hey Jerome,
You have email.
Mary

Jerome, thank you for the update. I am sorry you've had to leave the garden for a while. I know you are disappointed but if it's cared for you can still see the beauty you created. Best of luck in the office job. I hope you will stick check in when you can.

Carla

Jerome, you are always missed when away, and I'm happy you are letting us know what is going on in your life. Continue to post when you can and let us know what's happening during this "office" time of your life (there have been periods when I can definitely relate to that). I hope everything goes well for you until the time that you can devote time to gardening again.

Randy

Jerome, I had wondered about you, too...you really must check in, from time to time...