Suji - You are welcome to stop by my open garden near Brookeville on May 29 -30. A few folks come from near and far to see the garden and how it is changing year to year. This year with the devistation of 3 Blizzards and crushed roses, I'm guessing that we will have much of the wild look of years some time ago which some visitors may welcome again. With warm weather after the snow, my rose classes appear to be a few days ahead of schedule. However, there should not be a significan shortage of bloom. We always welcome rose enthusiasts of all sorts. I am even cultivating more visits by teasing a couple of local garden clubs with OGR talks this spring to come and smell the roses - even the HT folks sneak a peak sometimes (I may have a few of them as well). Please stop by and enjoy whatever we have and share some of your OGR stories and ideas as well. We'd love to share the garden such as it may be this spring. PS - The roses have already begun to bloom. Father Hugo's rose, Old Blush and Sophie's Perpetual have already begun to bloom and some HP's buds are showing color. What's not to love about zone 6b? Best, Nick

Here are some others not to forget: Griffeth Buck Vernon Rickard Paul Barden I don't believe Americans are dissinterested in things that were not invented here. We seem to be quite fond of things with European names like Krupps, Braun, and all those other coffee makers. We eat tons of ethnic food. Lots of us are tourists. When the Beatles came out many of us became Anglophiles and a lot of us still think the English cottage garden is the ultimate. We are a country full of appreciative people, IMO. I have never noticed anyone not wanting to buy a rose because it was bred by a non-AMerican. Excuse me for digressing. Anyway even with it's flaws I bet I could really enjoy looking at that book, Devon. I usually check the big Botanica's out from the library but have my easy to hold paperback copy which I enjoy. My library also has The Rose Bible and Antique Roses for the South, both of which were responsible for a number of roses in my garden. Linda

Membership fees are extremely reasonable - often under $20 for a year. A few benefits of the Mount Forest Horticultural Society, one of the societies I belong to- -great speakers -incredible potluck dinners -friendship -local information about garden centres, plants, perennials, great gardens, hardiness etc. -experience- there are some incredible gardeners who belong -discounts at local nurseries -bus tours - expeditions with the hort society usually costs less than if I went by myself -prizes at every meeting -belonging to a community of gardeners Plus, the horticultural societies usually use the membership dues and other fees to get great speakers and to beautify the town. Joining the hort society is sometimes a way of expanding your own gardening experience and area. Imagine driving into your beautiful town and knowing you helped make it beautiful! For me, the problem is only choice and time. My local towns of Harriston and Clifford also have fantastic hort societies. One last benefit- some of the members are elderly and do not possess computer skills. But their depth of knowledge is extraordinary. I'd join for them alone. Go for it. You'll like it.

One of the most useful books I own is a Ball Publishing book - Water, Media, and Nutrition for Greenhouse Crops. Growing Media for ornamental Plants and Turf ~ Handreck and Black - Austrailians both. Neither do I have an interest in managing greenhouse crops or turf, yet the books were instrumental in helping me put together a working knowledge of soil science and nutrition; so, it's not wise to campaign against suggested reading material based on what title the author decided to put on the cover. Without doubt, knowledge will end up being the central and pivotal factor. Whenever someone asks about reading material or what they need to know to sharpen their growing skills, I suggest texts that facilitate a working understanding of soil science and plant physiology. If you wish for the ability to keep your own plants in a high state of vitality (saleable) and be able to help customers/others do the same, you must understand how to maintain a healthy root system and provide the cultural conditions that are far from the limits the plant is genetically programmed to tolerate, which is the only way to limit stress/strain. None of this is intuitive. IOW, it's unlikely that experience will provide an understanding of how photosynthesis works, how water and nutrients are absorbed, how temperature affects uptake of nutrients and conversion of nitrogen types to usable forms, ad infinitum. As a younger man, my sense of 'need' to become proficient at the art/science of bonsai was a driving force that strongly influences me still. I see my situation as being only a half-step removed from Iman's, the only difference being that I don't produce trees for market, though I am always determined to ensure their appearance would make them more than marketable. I have little doubt that when Iman becomes successful, hindsight will provide much the same overview as I've herein outlined. An understanding of how media work and how plants work will always be the core of the acumen so valuable to every plantsman that utilizes conventional container culture. Al