Cass, I didn't take it as criticism - I was not very clear in saying that even professional photography sometimes can add another whole layer of obfuscation. It is actually important and useful to us that you view the 'established' collections with a critical eye. It is also worth remembering that gardens such as Mottisfont and l'Hay are committed to holding the collections of their founders - Graham Thomas and Jules Graveraux - with the knowledge they had in their time of the roses. Subsequent research and later discoveries around the world which were not available to them give us a problem - do we replace their rose with the newer contender? That's a question for curators, but they would have to be very sure. These gardens, as opposed to botanical collections, are also maintaining a philosophy of gardening - the arts of displaying the rose. I know in GST's case that this was primary, and his intention was to preserve the best roses of each class for garden use, rather than collect every rose. Perhaps, like HMF, the gardens should be seen for what they are - 'warts and all', and we should accept that there are questions behind a great number of the Old Roses. I find that is part of the charm and intrigue. One thing that is most instructive is to read back through Rose Annuals to the beginning of the last century and find exactly the same questions and opinions being expressed generation after generation! Best wishes Jon

I don't think it's Arrow: the culms look too thick and there would be a lot more culm sheaths showing as these are quite persistent with japonica. What is the branching pattern at the nodes? Two branches, with one bigger than the other? Or what? And how long are the leaves?

Is the area that you want the bamboo to grow, in full sun or shade? Does it have room to spread without becoming a problem? Would a clumping bamboo be a consideration as opposed to a runner? How tall does it need to be? SouthEast Texas is covered with groves of P. aurea, a common bamboo which does well in wet and dry conditions here. Dig it yourself, is the cheapest way. It grows all along roadsides and creeks and rivers. I would wait until the plant is dormant, and the temps are cool but not freezing, around late January of early February. I have transplanted runners at all times of the growing season, but it seems to do better when done before the shooting season which is early Spring for runners. As with any plant, if you get enough of a rootball with undisturbed roots, then it can be done at anytime of the year, but may get setback somewhat. Three more very hardy running bamboos are: A. gigantea 'Macon' MACON RIVERCANE A. gigantea ssp. gigantea RIVER CANE A. gigantea ssp. tecta SWITCH CANE Which all would do well as barriers. Kt

Mario: LOL. You're the one who started this thing and you wait until now to come back in? Anyway, those "pruners" were put to good use in my script. However, I am surprised that you neglected to mention that the commercial ergonomic model you displayed also comes equipped with tools for farmers. . . it's called a "tractor beam". spectre