Wow Connie! You have some setup going, that's impressive. I'll comment on the ones I know about. I grew Vintage Visalia in the mtns but it never got taller than 4 feet up there with a 3 month growing season and the deer kept eating on it. It was the only large rose I had that last the 13 years were there, through all the snows I did no winter protection either. I've seen the rose bush at the nursery, it's huge, it stands about 8' tall or so. I don't care what HMF says, when I went down there to get another for this house and saw how large that rose gets I decided I wouldn't have the room for that one after all, LOL* Sequoia Ballet is another I wanted to get and was dissuaded from doing so last spring as a new rose. It had a great growing season even with our weeks of 100's and the rose bush they grow the cuttings off of is gorgeous and easily 5'tall and it was still immature. I got one in Oct after the manager admitted then it's a terrific rose, she was very impressed by how vigorously it grew even in the heat. In two months of growth this rose ended Dec 17"Tx19"Wide. Thanks To Sue is slow growing for me, I had it in a bad place the first fall and it was one of the last I transplanted last spring. I have it in full sun now and in cooler weather the roses are more an apricot and hotter weather they're yellow. It has unusual growing shape and leaves and as the plant matures then it holds the blooms up better. The foliage is very pretty on this rose. I ended the first full year with the rose at 18"Tx40"Wide. I was looking to replace two roses in front of my dining room in back of my other minis and I love the Hybrid Bracteatas, I asked and the manager reaffirmed that Precious Dream and Out Of The Night will both be excellent roses. The latter had 4 fat buds that tried blooming end of Dec but it was just too cold by then and the roses aren't very nice looking. Tells me though this will be another of my roses that should go all the way through on milder years. These should be in the neighborhood of between 2 and 3' tall depending on your season. I planted them also in Oct. Not a whole lot of info but a little more for you. Leslie

Well, the only garden thing I did today was plant daylilies. Got a late start today in the garden because I had to work this morning and I just finished watering the planted daylilies and dragged myself in now afew minutes ago. Haven't even had dinner yet. I got the rest of my plants from Mike Huben planted plus almost all my order from Melanies North Country Daylilies. I have four more to do tomorrow but otherwise that order from Melanie of 31 daylilies (including some from Brian Culver in Canada) is all planted. I want to get them planted tomorrow plus my roses and sedum so I can drag out my tomato cages and set up my tomato rows in my veggie garden. I have got to get that done and should plant those tomatoes as this Monday I have daylily orders being shipped from Karol Emmerich, Don Herr and Phil Korth. So by Wednesday I could well have more Daylilies to plant and I certainly will by the end of the week. Trying to get everything done in what seems like all at once to me.

WOW Cindy,That was a lot of work to get all them daylilies planted.They sure have some big roots, too, ao they should really take off now.Very nice looking plants, that red asalea is really bright and pretty..I need me another garden helper.I miss Ms Blackie in the garden with me helping me,(and posing for pictures,too) The tiger cat I fed for several weeks has not been around for about 3 weeks now,guess he found a new place to get fed at, where other cats was around. Jean

Nikki, If I planted mine to where the green starts, they would all rot immediately. I live in a place where it rains and then gets to be 90 degrees. FUN. So, I find that for me, I plant them so that the crown (where the leaves meet the roots) is just barely covered - meaning that the crown ends up to be 1/4" - 1/2" inch below the soil. So like on the picture of Itza Pink Teddy - you see the twine on there? That is about where I would put the dirt up to. But, again... I have to deal with hot, wet, humid conditions... maybe someone who has similar weather (Seattle...hehehe - with all that lovely UK rain) can advise you better. It is just white there because the outer leaves have been stripped away for shipping. I don't believe (someone correct me here if I am wrong) that the plants were actually that deep in the ground. Another great tip someone here gave me (Gonegardening, I think - sorry if I got it wrong) was to plant your plants... you know, dig the hole, put a mound of dirt in the center so the bottom of the crown rests on it. Then the tip part was - fill in the dirt about half way up the hole around the roots. Then water. Then, fill in the rest of the hole. Water in again. Here comes the wierd part, but it seems to work great.... then you step all around the plant (not on the plant :o) of course)to make sure there are no air gaps under there where you can't see. Usually, it is a little bit mushy, and sometimes really muddy... but worth it. I have taken to putting down a thin layer of finely ground organic mulch before I do this. Helps to keep the mud off the shoes!