Hi again, Kate....I don't recall exactly which it came from many years ago....either Pickering or Hortico, but it was grafted. The funny thing is, this rose has 'self-rooted' for me a couple times, where its canes had bent down to the ground and where the cane touched the ground, it rooted. Its very low-maintenance and gets no special treatment, yet rewards me every June with amazingly beautiful and plentiful blooms. It would be a perfect rose, except it does sport some nasty thorns, so be forewarned. In spite of them, I adore this rose and its one of my favorites. I'm posting one more picture to convince you...lol. Florence, thank you for your always endearing words of support & love. My dad is doing great now. He stays with my brother now but drives to his house so he can still have his amazing vegetable garden. He is turning 87 next month and still has the most LUSH garden I have ever seen! Dad is nearly hidden when he is working in his garden. You may recall a post I did about him & his garden a couple years back....well here is a picture of him the other day in this year's garden. Thanks for asking about him. He did have a bad fall awhile back and couldn't walk for awhile, but he's walking & climbing stairs again. Good to hear from you, Carla! I have missed you. I hope all is well in your life. Thank you for your kind words. mille fleurs....that is so sweet of you & I appreciate your taking the time to let me know you've enjoyed my pictures. Its not easy being a cold-zone roselover! Becky, thank you for your cheer and compliments. I always love to hear from all of my friends, and it does a heart good to know I have some wonderful rosey ones. Thanks, All.... Celeste Dad, in his veggie garden....

Hi Littledog. Section 8 is a wonderful program. They are truly a fine bunch of folks. Unfortunately, our local authority is stretched really thin. A lot of the properties don't get inspected like they should. We had a house across the street from us that was exceptionally bad news. Drug dealing, trashed property, scary people, etc. It had been like that for years. We took on the landlord and, working with HUD, forced an eviction and made the landlord clean up his act. It took a full two years and lots of retaliation and dirty tactics towards us by this butthead owner. I documented the on-going saga of the Pig People on this here site. Yes, Diana, I got my Westie, thanks in large part to you. He can get just as big as he wants. Just on the other side of the fence is a 3 foot by 20 foot area that will be all his. Mr. Westie will sit here above a retaining wall that has about a six foot drop to the neighbor's driveway below. I know it will eventually swallow the fence, but I'm not concerned. It's wonderful to get to say hello to you kiddo! How's trix? Give us an update. Thanks for the compliments, Denise. I'm into my third season growing roses and consider myself a beginner. But I've learned much and am feeling a lot more confident. I've got two new Iceberg Climbers on either side of the arbor. Down the way (out of site in these pix) I've planted and Eden to spill along the fence. Waiting to be planted are the Westerland, Ballerina and Christopher Marlow. I also have The Ferry and have chosen the perfect spot for her. I will certainly be adding clematis right along with the Iceberg on the arbor. I'll have them dotted along the fence here and there as well. See, great minds think alike ;-) Hi again, Napa Kathy! Your gardens sound beautiful. I would love to have that many roses but I have to fight my partner on them. Sort of like Lucy sneaking a new hat past Ricky. I'm up to 16 hats, erm, roses now. So you get your 'maters from Copia, huh? Nice nursery that. We usually get ours from Mid City. They have a very good selection. We actually use them as our primary nursery. Their customer service is top-notch. Family owned and such sweet people. You bet I'm looking forward to the rain tomorrow. It won't be much they say, but it will give me an excuse to sit on my duff sipping coffee all morning. I need a little break. Enjoy! My gums are flapping tonight. I can sure be a windbag LOL. Sowngrow, Lorinscott, Miss Aftermidnight, Michelle - thanks for your comments. I can't wait to show that puppy off this summer. My mouth is watering for a sun ripened heirloom tomato!

In the last ten years or so, I have had Easter lilies blooming outdoors, in late October. or November on two occasions, in Zone 5. Most years it has not happened. They bloom in July. I have planted Easter lilies each year after taking them outdoors. Some do not survive, but a surprising number do. The first spring and summer, they keep their green leaves for quite awhile, before turning brown, but after new green leaves appear the following year, they bloom in July. The first time I had a late Autumn Easter Lily in bloom, I had decorated a Christmas tree just after Thanksgiving indoors. The Easter lilies had escaped the frost up to that point, as I plant them in a semi protected area. I re-potted about three of them, brought them inside to take their picture in front of the decorated tree. I have never had any other types of lilies bloom in Autumn other than Easter lilies.Easter lily bulbs should not be planted as deeply as other lily bulbs.

I have a friend in physical rehab (since December) and when I was visiting before Easter I decided I wanted to get each patient on her hallway a little something. Food was not acceptable so I found little flowerpots with silk flowers at the dollar store. They were so pretty- - sure didn't look like dollar store items. I packaged each one (25) in a little gift bag also from the dollar store and made little tags decorated with flower and butterfly stickers and wrote a few words on each. They were a hit and when I go to visit now I see many of the patients have put them on their window sills. It sure was fun.