>Thanks Mary, your advice is very helpful as I am relatively new to rose gardening. Rebecca, I am relatively new to roses too (though not to gardening). I'm just disposed to share what I (think I) might have learned from lots and lots of reading. (I want to strongly recommend taking advantage of the inexpensive used rose books available at Amazon.) :) >It seems like re-potting would be hard on the plant, but I'm no expert ... Would you advise doing that now or perhaps waiting a bit to see how emerging leaves turn out? Maybe if the new leaves look okay, I could just forgo re-potting it altogether? Yes, forgo if possible! I had some qualms about mentioning it. Yes, it might be too hard on the plant. On the other hand, they look so desperate now, that if whatever is making them so susceptible is partly due to the soil, it might be something I'd try if the emerging leaves don't look good. First, though, if the emerging leaves don't look good, I'd probably toss some copper sulfate powder and epsom salts its way and water that in well, just on the PH hunch. Theoretically you don't do things like that without a soil test and knowing what you are doing, but it's frankly what I'd be likely to try anyway. After that, if I couldn't see some slight improvements there for the better within a week, with the plant in full sun and deep watering to help with the PH problem (if indeed there is a PH problem) and strong cutting back of the worst canes, then I'd try repotting with new soil and lots of organics. And cross my fingers because an unhealthy plant will have a tougher time enduring even a little transplant shock than a healthy one would. >If both of the plants recover, I plan on putting them in the ground this fall. (I need a little time to convince my husband to convert more lawn to flower beds, hahaha!) I'm very familiar with that consideration! >my rose collection now includes all of (drum roll please) eight varieties: DA Golden Celebration DA Mary Rose rugosa 'wild spice' a mini called 'what a peach' 'Colette' (not ONE BIT of blackspot this spring, btw) Cinco de Mayo Livin Easy You certainly do have some lovely roses, Rebecca. Congratulations too on your good luck in growing them!... Though "luck" is probably not exactly the right word here. :) Best wishes, Mary

Restoring the bed should begin with the soil. If you have access to horse manure, load up some garbage cans with it and lay 4 inches over the beds, keeping it pulled away from the roses a little. Water from melting snow and winter rains will wash the nutrients into the underlying soil. Next spring work it into the soil. Your roses should show some immediate results from this. Not knowing where in Western NY you are located, go the the site linked below to find a rose society that may be closer than Rochester. A contact e-mail and phone number is listed for each. If you'll e-mail me, I send you a list of New York Consulting Rosarians. One may be close to you and willing to give you instruction on pruning your roses next spring. 'Roses for Dummies' is a good easy to understand book. If neglected for many years, there's a good chance any roses left are hardy or they'd have died long ago. With proper pruning next spring, the roses should bush out and if you get flowers right away, it will indicate they've not reverted to root stock. Here is a link that might be useful: NY rose societies

Looks like a little Garden of Eden for sure! Don't cha' love it when things do well without a lot of fuss? Are hysops the same as agastache? I just bought some Tutti Fruiti agastache at ARE and it looks like what you have in the top photo. The bamboo will be beautiful and make a good screen, but please tell me you know for sure that it is a clumping variety and not the running kind. My son fights it constantly in his acre lot and he will never be rid of it.

Hi Rick - sorry, no! There must be another Roger who did that and knows Cheryl from Australia. :) All I know about Adeniums is what I've learned watching this one grow over the last 11 years and from the posts on this forum, for which I'm very grateful. Edit: You have reminded me that I once tried to grow Adeniums from seeds. But it was a total failure. :( On 16th Feb 2013 I noticed a strange growth at the end of one of the branches: It grew bigger and the two sides opened up so it was straighter. At that time (18th March 2013) I had no idea what it was: And then it exploded! (7th April): I took a close-up of one of the seeds: And eventually the wind blew them all away: I collected and kept many of the seeds and planted them in about 20 different pots of earth. Some I kept dry, some I watered a little and others a lot. But after several months there was no noticeable growth. I am curious as to why they didn't germinate and if Cheryl from Australia - or anyone - has any recommendations I would like to try again as I have kept many of the seeds.