Fun musings, Rick! Another option to consider in the mix of reasons for less BS for you this summer is the notion that rain actually washes the BS spores off the leaves so there's less chance for the disease to take hold. Even in relatively humid weather, regular spraying and/or rain seems to have a positive impact on BS - the real kicker is humid heavy weather WITHOUT the rain to wash off the spores. Nightmare city, eh? Your observations about the health of your plants providing extra vigor has to be a factor in BS being less of an issue, even if plants don't have an immune system per se. Still, if you have a healthy 4' bush putting out new leaves constantly, you don't really notice the 40 of those leaves that are blackspotted, whereas if you have a 2' one-cane runt, those 40 leaves would leave it bare-nekkid. Quick recovery from a disease is almost as good as not having the disease at all, at least as far as roses go. Cynthia

I'll second what Mantis said about rain. We have been watering constantly for the last couple of days, but it is hard to get around to all the beds. Rain or no, you have beautiful pictures of beautiful flowers. I really like Euphoric and Spacecoast Ojo Rojo.

Kay and Nancy - Purple Peace and Feathered Fingers are two of the newer Lambertsons that seem hardy here. I like the color of PP and white edge. It's certainly not the 38 registered inches here. Scapes are more like 26-27 inches tall. Feathered Fingers is close to being the right height. Nancy - I've had Blue Eyed Butterfly for years, and at one point I had two large clumps, but I sold a clump and a half of it. The grubs have attacked the clump left the past two years, so mine is blooming on very short scapes. I've moved to an area that's been treated for grubs, and I hope I can rehabilitate it. Debra

Thomas Tew is a pretty one, I like Castle Pinkney, but Peacock Maiden is my favorite. I am really likeing that one from your photos. .It is funny how some of them are able to take some rain and others almost melt, isn't it? On the other hand, they usually show their appreciation the next day by blooming away. kay