Thanks - I'm pretty proud The beds were made from scrap boards I had at hand. Some of them are cedar, I think the others are oak and pine. The man that owned this house before me left quite a bit of nice lumber. I designed the garden based on the lumber I had. I may have to actually buy some next year when I expand. The unhealthy plants aren't in the pictures - notice the tee-pee with nothing on it? I put in sweet peas that produced 2- 3 peas each and then died. Bush beans havent done well for me either - lots of insect damage, there has been some fruit production, but the plants are about the same size as when I put them in. And yes T-Bird, Carmen Miranda was my first association so I had to include the pic.

My sympathy, Trevor. I've been battling the same thing on zucchini plants and got some good ideas from the folks here and also at a farmers' market. To control or not get PM in the first place, it seems important to have lots of sunshine and good air circulation (I don't, but my neighbor does and it makes a huge difference from what I've observed). I am still getting squash from my zucchini plants and some of the leaves have come back -- that is, new ones emerging from the center of the plant. I carefully watered for 20 min. (each plant) with a hose garden wand set on "drip/soaker" mode (1/3 volume). Then I trimmed off all the PM leaves that I could and trash binned them. Then I fed each plant (we have lean soil) with a solution (per package) of fish emulsion (into the soil at each plant. About a month later at dusk, I sprayed the squash leaves with a solution of NEEM OIL (as per instructions). My plants are doing better, although the zukes are still battling PM. I think next year I'll grow them in full sun with a breeze, or get them at a farmers market. I do enjoy going out to my own patch and picking fresh vegetables. There is nothing like it ;) Hang in there and good luck.

Hi Sophia, I can give little input on repetition. I don't pay attention to that here in non-winter land. Poor Abraham Darby got suckers from his Dr. Huey root stock after 4 yrs. and I thought they were the octopus canes I'd read about. By the time I figured it out they had taken over. I battle them every year (difficult access). Poor Abe is now only 3 feet high but in my climate grows easily to 6 feet +. Dr Huey is stealing nutrients and water. Large petal packed wafting uber fragrant blooms. Some blackspot in a non-spray garden. Evelyn is in the path of the wind. She has a lovely spring flush (no winds) and sporadic bloom thereafter (regular winds). No blackspot this year on either as yet. Disease wise I'd say they're equal here (very little). Evelyn's blooms are probably the same diameter as Abe's but not as deep. I keep her under 5 feet with pruning. A 7 ft. arching cane appeared after 6 or 8 years. Colors - Abe is usually a pink fully infused with peach-yellow-mango. Full bodied oomphy color. Lasts no more than 3 days in a bouquet. In Sept. mine changes to a warm medium pink, not as peachy as spring but never bluey-pink. A boring everyday color. In Nov. it is back to a prettier peachy pink. Evelyn, ah Evelyn. The pink dawn touched by sunlight? Not pink, not peach, but a sophisticated blend on gossamer satin petals. I think it is the delicate iridescence that captivates. If I could only have one rose bloom a year it would be her. So you see I am terribly prejudiced and pay little attention to the bush.

Thanks so much, everyone! Prettypetals you are totally right with the garden always needing pruning and weeding! Grr is right ;) Sharlene, thanks Royal America is a surprise for me this year, the blooms and so old fashioned and enchanting. And Gene Boerner is really being a show off! I adore that shade of bubblegum pink! Thanks thorngrower, love your username btw! Thank you Sara-Ann, I love seeing all of your beautiful rose photos too :) Thanks, Beth! No way I have a rose you don't lol! Irisgal, thanks for your sweet words! Montezuma is a showstopper for me! Also thanks for your help on the iris board ;) Rosecanadian, thank you! I love sharing with my gardenweb friends because you guys really appreciate the love it takes growing roses. Towandaaz, thanks glad you enjoyed!! Jasmine, thanks I am really have fun with the close ups I can take with the phone camera, I can just get lost in the details. Hareball, I think I am just lucky with naturally good soil, I do use Miracle Gro sometimes too. I would like to experiment with fertilizers but just get so busy that they are lucky if the get a dose or two of MG throughout the season.