You need specific information from rose exhibitors in your neighborhood as to how they time their blooms for a show. I've done roses for three nieces' weddings and fall is easier to plan. Don't rely on one kind of rose; don't rely on one massive rose bush (Eden, which I planned to use for the bridal bouquet got the worst case of thrips in creation and brown edged roses don't do it. That bouquet ended up being noisettes and polyanthas) If you hear hot weather predicted, the roses will come faster, maybe as much as two weeks faster than normal. Line up refrigerators to hold buds and blooms that come to early. Test those refrigerators with max/min thermometers to find ones that the bud area doesn't get below 26F. Have rose friends nearby you can depend on. Have alternative flowers growing. Have a source for commercial roses as a back up. Consider using the cute blooming minis from Canada as Brides Maids bouquets. Let there be lots of alternatives and don't stress the small stuff....it's all small stuff....the wedding itself is the big stuff.

Here's a couple shots of stuff that 'anchors' the corners of my (messy) gardens. Pay no attention to the lack of mowing on this particular day: "Red Prince" Weigela: To the right there's an "Alfredo" bush in this shot This one is just various tall 'stuff' like bee balm, milkweed, and phlox...probably not what you're looking for... To the far right in each of these pictures, you'll see a Ninebark (the dark brown shrubby thing)... ...and this one has the Spirea way in the back right corner Another shrub is this Golden Rose of China bush that in this pic was 3 seasons old (planted mere 'sticks' and it's doing fabulous...have a whole row of them 'guarding' our front property line). May be a little big for what you're looking for, though at I believe 6x6 mature size. I don't have a pic of my dwarf lilac...can't remember if it's a Japanese or Korean one, but it's cute & lovely lavender. Currently checking in at only about 3', and not sure how tall it'll eventually be since again, I'm not sure which nationality it is ;) Maybe some of these helped, maybe not, but figured I'd throw them out there for you.

Hyacinth, Daffodil, Tulip, Grape Hyacinth come to mind. Are you growing for your bouquet, table decorations or church? For a bouquet, a bunch of tulips tied with a ribbon is simple and elegant. Here is what I have in mind for an example. I'm sure any color would work. http://www.simplyblooms.com/gallery/union.htm For the table maybe bulbs that are forced and placed in a decorative basket? http://www.dutchgardens.com/Shopping/department.asp?DeptPGID=22199 For the church I really am out of my element, but I think that the same bulbs you use could be forced in a larger basket (Tall tulips maybe) and use woodies for height.(yellow twig dogwood or curly willow come to mind) Good luck to you. Patty

Good Morning: Dee, DH and I saw Gene Pitney a few years back in a small night club in NH. We went with a bunch of family members and had so much fun singing along to all the oldies! He put on a great show. We also have been to a Hot Air Balloon festival several times (in Gilmanton Iron Works, NH, Suzanne are you familiar with it?) and every time but once they were unable to fly either because the wind conditions or whatever were not right. They did fill them up so you could view them on the ground but it was a little disappointing, so I hope yours goes well. It will be fun to be part of it though. Have a great weekend! Martha's Vineyard was great. BJ, so many questions you asked. We only went for the day. It is about a 2 hour ride from here to the ferry in Falmouth, MA and then about a 45 minute ride on the ferry out to the island. We had a great time. Did a little shopping, ate too much food. There is an Italian restaurant there that we love so ofcourse I had fettucini alfredo, (and I blew off WW this morning). The other couple that came with us have not been to MV in about 25 years, so it was fun to be with them. We are making arrangements to take our boats out there next summer for a week. Suzanne, I'm glad that you are doing well. I am sorry about your DH. What is it about people (and I don't want to say it is just men, because women do it too) that feel they need to kick you when you are down? I laughed out loud on your current reading selection. It is not a book that I am familiar with, but I am sure my sister has read it! DS and fiance have found an apartment and will probably be moving in a couple of weeks. I am very happy for them and I think it is a great idea that they live together before the wedding next year, but my emotions are on a roller coaster right now. I just keep thinking that this is it. My son is leaving and I won't see him first thing in the morning or when he comes home from work. He won't be telling me about his day every day. Am I crazy? But I am also happy because I know it is time for him to be independent and to be a man. It gets stressfull at times here because his DF is here alot and there are alot of adults in the house at one time. Raeanne, I am so happy that your situation worked out the way you intended. I hope that she comes back with some good news for you. Who is Jared Coffin? QOD: No plans. The weeks worth of laundry that I have neglected is waiting for me. It is the last weekend of DH vacation and the weather is supposed to be beautiful, so I don't know what we will do. Probably some boating and fishing. DH went tuna fishing today, so I am taking DS and some of his friends to the beach. Have a great day! Love, Besh