Kim said... >My original obsession was outrageously out of hand and I loved it. [...] I'm keeping to the level area as much as possible. Weeding that slope is offensive enough without having to traipse up and down, sliding on every other step, to maintain anything down there. I know I will resent the ones which go on the slope and will eventually allow them to go the way of the Dodo, so I'm choosing to rid myself of them, instead. That's a LOT of roses, quite a few of which are seedlings either generated through my obsession or those shared with me by other "obsessives", but that is what it is going to take to keep this "fun", doable and prevent the water requirements from eating me out of house, home and desire. Weeding through them to maintain those which are just happier to be here with me and those which are endangered, has been a real chore. Now, if there was a ton of level land with high ground water. Hi Kim, Back in the Dark Ages we lived in California in just the sort of spot you are conjuring up as a high ground water fix. But native trees really like spots like that too... and our house had lots of shade, too much shade for most roses. Still, we wouldn't have dreamed of cutting down a tree. We didn't own the house, we like trees, and anyway, removing a tree was illegal without a good reason for a permit where we lived (a Monarch Butterfly preserve). Anyway, we were relative youngsters at the time and didn't know just how wet that property was until our vegetable garden was swimming in water during the winter months. It was fine, fine black silty sand that held on to the water pretty well too. Your post made me think about what we'd do if confronted with your lack of water problems back in California again. What you're doing makes a lot of sense. But I also am wondering whether a bank full of Renaes rambling around might not survive and also keep the weeds down once they proliferated and established themselves? They might take over the other remaining roses, but if you weren't still trying hard to keep those... A bunch of Renaes might not require so much watering once established? I don't think a big crowd of them would look bad at all, depending on personal tastes, of course. In fact, I prefer that kind of look. We've done that crowded thing in a pretty good sized area with azaleas and rhododendrons here; they all grow together and if there's a weed under there somewhere, well, you can't easily penetrate to find or see it. Once in awhile there's a tree sneaking in that will have to be pulled up, but basically it's too shady under all the plant thickness for most weeds to grow. And I adore the looks of those crowded plants! No, we don't have big problems with fungal diseases, even with the crowd. Maybe fewer than average problems, though phytopthera wilt sometimes does require some cutting back of rhododendron limbs. You know a big problem with azaleas and rhododendrons is that they aren't drought tolerant. Well, we have lost huge numbers since our drought problems began big time here around 2001. It's been wonderfully rainy most of the time during the last couple of years, but the next drought period is probably just around the corner... and if we lose some more azaleas and rhododendrons then, well, I'm thinking of trying to establish some Renaes and Annie Laurie McDowells in their place in the relatively sunnier spots... along with some more camellias, which are drought tolerant after the first year. (Though blooming is less than ideal if August and September are dry.) We lost our Annie Laurie McDowell to Rose Rosette Disease last year, but I am figuring that if it's anything like our Renae here, well, it's as no-care, no-worry a plant as any other plant of any kind we've ever had in our yard. Not a touch of blackspot or any other disease here thus far (though that may well change just a bit as we get more shade as the sun angle changes during the fall). Anyway, I'm hoping for another Annie Laurie McDowell eventually too. Ours is a no-spray all-organic yard for everything we grow and Renae fits well into that way of doing things. I think Annie Laurie McDowell will too. I know it hurts to cut back some on what you are able to continue doing, Kim. But I keep thinking mostly about your achievements and how much you have helped so many others in what you have already contributed. Thank you! Best wishes, Mary

For Betty, or b2allicia (z5a Colorado): The picture you posted and asked if anyone can indentify your rose - my guess is Paul Shirville. I'm in zone 5a and looked up on hardiness, and Paul Shirville is the closest match. He's listed in Encyclopedia of Roses as hardy to zone 5. If your rose is fragrant, it's a good bet. I second "Christopher Marlow" as the prettiest rose, and the prettiest bush, 100% healthy, and best of all - no animals eat him. Radio Times and Mary Magdalene are also in the pretty-gang, healthy, and NOT eaten. I love Austins and want to get more of the above mentioned: Princess Al. of Kent, Young Lycidas and Perdita.

Tom - Well, last week's cold snap was kind. Minimal damage. However, I am really worried about this week! This is 'red round turnip' and some papaya that I picked last Sunday. This variety does very well for me. These are 3 views of my garden today. The recent freeze wasn't hard enough to turn the papaya trunks to mush. I picked off a lot of the green fruits in hopes that I get to eat a few more ripe fruit. These pea pod vines have produced a lot of pods already. My husband and I covered several of my favorite fruit trees today to get ready for tomorrow's hard freeze. I use plastic to make mini-greenhouses and then I put a little heat inside. This is my 9-10 foot three year old 'Carie' mango tree. You are so lucky to not have such low temps when the cold fronts come through. ibarbidahl - No, those are not paper cups, they are the top part of plastic cups. I only use them for plants that I started from seed in "pots" (plastic cups). In the heat, the plastic collars help to capture water and they act as cutworm protection too. When the plants get large I often remove them. Christine

Right now I'm into the color GREEN! Green means IT LIVED!!! I'm loving the green sprouts from the trees to the potted plants. And, My BIG Su-prize! While cking my 'shade plant' holding bed I saw a huge hydrenda (sp) bloom! Further inspection showed it to be my little 5" snowball bush! The bloom is as big as the plant! Not only did the baby live, but it bloomed grown up size blooms! I'm so proud! Blooming now in my yard- 2 bunches of purple oxlias (also the ones in pots I just bought from HD) 2 wh salvia blooms 2 tulips 2 bunches of mini daffs 1 old fashion wh petunia bloom And 3 acres of weed/wildflowers-breath taking!