Thank you Lilyfinch! This group has been so helpful... and I’ve learned so much about roses and plants thanks to all of the collective knowledge that everyone here has shared... and I figure it only works if we all contribute and share what we can. I see you’re not too far from me. Do you happen to grow or know anyone who grows Pretty in Pink Eden or Parade Rose... or a climber that’s similar in shape and color? I have a spot that would only get late afternoon sun... and I’m trying to figure out which climber would do best in that spot. Also would you have any recommendations a for good repeat blooming rose with a romantic look that would look good planted in front of Eden and next to Bolero? Some of the roses I’m considering are: Pretty Lady, Ascot, Leonardo De Vinci, Princess Anne, James L. Austin... I’m not even sure if they would all thrive in my area and location. They would get all day sun. I LOVE peonies and have tried growing them with no success due to the fact we get no winter chill here by the coast. So I’m really drawn to roses that have a similar look to peonies... that round globe like, ruffly cabbage shape.

Yes, we are Sunset 3B here.... The sunshine on most days and temps in summer is the reason so much agriculture grows successfully here. Of course, they irrigate. I am surprised Wenatchee is the same zone as us, but I guess it doesn't take into account the amount of snowfall they get (They are probably the -15f extreme.. we are more like -5f.) RE: the suitability of the trees I listed, The Thornless Honeylocust seems to thrive here, it does well in alkaline soil and is drought tolerant. As a prairie tree, it thrives in full sun. I have noticed many honeylocusts in yards that do not irrigate, growing just fine... The list of negatives of the tree is pretty short, and it seems very adaptable to our conditions. Linden -- RE: irrigating, I don't know. We will have some lawn on the property, so a tree/trees in that area would get more water. Linden tolerates alkaline soil and has small leaves... Thus, it seemed to be an *option.* ash -- I still have to go to our local extension office.. I will ask them about borers here. Ash also tolerates alkaline soil and was another option for my lawn area. If the borers are that bad here, I won't consider it.

Laura, I'm not ignoring you, have just been REALLY busy lately! This will need to be short! Yes, I am still growing ferns. All the ones I have are still the ones that were planted in the original "potter's clay," so they're not "spreading" much at all. I still want more--but there are SO many things I want! Some of it gets done and some doesn't! The most successful one I have is the Japanese Painted fern, which has spread "moderately" (again, in HEAVY clay!), and looks great every year. It's just starting to grow for this year. Is usually semi-evergreen, but the wild temp swings Got It, like everything else that's "evergreen" got GOT this year! Next most successful is my Autumn Fern (don't have time to look up genus/species). I love that one because the new fronds coming out have a real bronzy look to them--thus the name! It hasn't really spread much, but it does come back "solidly" every year. "As time permits" I'm still planning to dig my existing ferns to GREATLY improve the soil and then replant them. Some day! The Ostrich fern, which is supposed to be invasive, and the Leatherwood fern both come back--BARELY--with one or two fronds every year. So they "still exist," but sometimes I wonder if I should put them out of their misery! Again, if I ever have time I'll dig and improve the soil--and see if they make it and start doing better. I still want a hardy maidenhair fern some day--and there are plenty of others I'd like to try! I'm not familiar with the Japanese tassel fern, but I looked it up and it IS hardy (I think it was z5), so I'd say plant it outside and see what happens! The more organic matter you put in the soil, the happier it will be! Give it mostly shade--some early morning or very late day sun should be ok. The north side of my (two story) house is already getting some sun I just noticed today. Otherwise keep it fairly wet, and for sure don't let the soil dry completely, or with some ferns they get "suddenly crispy" and, while they usually survive the "trauma," it can take them a long time to recover and grow new fronds. A thick wood mulch would definitely help with moisture retention in the soil--and did I mention LOTS of organic matter! Have to go! Let us know later in the summer how it's going! Skybird

You nailed it birdquill! Osmunda claytoniana is abundant in my county. I had wondered why the fronds were normal at the lower part of the stem, then turned brown in the middle, then went normal again to the top. btw: those are waist high already. Interupted fern...brilliant! :-) FWIW: I tried to follow the stem on the Onoclea sensibilis and found it went directly into the base of O. claytoniana and when I tried to separate the base a little to find the rhizome, the stem broke. I don't want it growing like that anyways and if I need more, I know where to find them. ;-)