Sherry, my MJP is doing very well. She's still small, and I've had only one bloom from her, but it was lovely. Cream and apricot and pink all washed together. She seems quite healthy and is currently putting out new growth - I think she is just a quiet little aristocrat who doesn't take giant strides, just little dainty steps. Another small rose that I got even later last year is really leaping ahead, and has given two flushes already (only two blooms each flush, though!). But I don't hold that against MJP - they are just different from each other. I am also facing the problem of less sun this year (the trees have grown), so I have been moving them all around for maximum exposure. Also I'm repotting the ones most in need of it, one at a time (I'm not known for my stamina), and this has helped the ones that have been done. In the ground is not an option for me, but it sure sounds like it helps! Your SdEV is exquisite. Laura

They are all beautiful. My favorite out of this bunch would be Sugarplum Glaze. The hybridizer for APH (Emily Olson) lives about 5 miles from me. I think she still does mail orders. I haven't been to her place in a couple years. Had to go to the grocery store here today also. Spent the rest of the day steam cleaning carpet. yuck.... Not sure how much good it will do with all this rain and 4 children. lol But we're having a birthday party this weekend for my daughter. Hoping the rain stops before then so they can stay outside. Michelle

Thanks so much for the kind words! I thought I had already responded, but I guess I messed up somehow. It so nice to have a place to share the joys of gardening. To answer some questions, thyme2dig, the potager is at the back of my yard about 45 feet from my house. Here's a picture taken from my kitchen window. It makes me smile to look out there. Next project? Well, I kinda already have a couple of projects going. The ground clearing for the fence left me with a very barren fence line. I had eight 5-foot'Dragon Lady' hollies planted today. I got an amazing deal on them and the planting. They even dug out the old stumps from the old mish-mash fence line plantings and put in drip irrigation for the hollies. Another I am pondering is a patio and pergola near the house. I also have more borders to dig and plant around the perimeter of the back yard, too. Schoolhouse, the lanterns were a little whim that hit me as I was perusing the clearance section at Homegoods. Saw those little lanterns for $5 and thought of incorporating them as post caps for the gate. They are just little votive holders. I got the actual wooden post caps at Lowes and used a Dremel to shave down the square on top to fit inside the square bottom of the lanterns and attached them with construction adhesive. Since then, I've seen lots of lanterns that seem to have a similar design, so it's a very easy project. The photos were taken before I actually attached the lanterns, so I think one is sitting a little crooked in the pic. That's fixed now! Luckygal, I'm glad you can't see the shortcut he took! Pippi, a "potager" is a French term for an ornamental kitchen garden that focuses on growing vegetables (or something like that!). I have a very small yard in town, and wanted to grow veggies and herbs but wanted it to look pretty, too. The garden incorporates flowers, too. That's a lot of what I have left to plant around the perimeter (both inside and outside the fence). Prairiemoon, no, I've never done this before. Buh-lieve me, you don't want me to FINISH projects at your house. LOL. Not my forte'. Actually, the potager project is probably a diversion from finishing many details from prior projects. Someday I'll get all caught up! Hope I caught all the questions. Thanks so much for the words of encouragement. It means so much. Lisa

The first two yellows are my favorites today! And I love your garden shot, such a pretty bed! "All facing the neighbor" is just too familiar :) Sometimes I have to go to neighbor's driveway to look