Tenor_peggy , I spray my potted roses with milk and garlic and all the leaves look healthy even the HPs. I accept spraying because just about every plant I have (zinnias, vegetables, etc) have to be sprayed to reduce the pests and diseases. This Fall I might experiment with putting organic banana peels and cleaned eggshells (with a little cinnamon to deter ants) in the pots to see if the thin leaves will become thicker.

Local public rose gardens aren't very good for old garden roses. If you want to drive all the way down to Salem there is a fair collection in Bush Pasture Park. Otherwise, at the moment nothing public pops to mind. There are certainly some substantial private displays. The best wild or wild-type Synstylae I know of for a good total combination of attributes is one I got from Heronswood without the correct name. I have never identified it with surety, I should try the online Flora of China key and see if it fits a wild Chinese species. They lost track of where they got it, were mistakenly selling it as Rosa soulieana because Roy Lancaster saw a stooled, non-flowering specimen in the borders there and said "Nice soulieana because of its gray leaves, while walking by and not looking at it carefully. After that I think they offered it as an R. brunonii relation, because it seemed to be most close to that in technical details of English-language descriptions available at that time. But it really looks like it is a form or hybrid of R. longicuspis, a sort of blueleaf version of 'Polyantha Grandiflora' in general aspect: great reddish new growth and stems, heavy glossy, contrasting gray leaves, rounded close bunches of large white flowers, and long-persistent rounded orange hips. Mine spilled out of a tree in back to cascade down and give the neighbors something sweet and spectacular to look at. They whacked it away. Another plant grown on a house by a former associate who may have planted it because of knowing me (or it may have been a coincidence, I don't remember) was apparently taken off the house at some point during the transition from her to the current owners. I am helping them with their new hobby garden, which they find overwhelming. The rose is current growing and flowering as a heap on the patio. Today I suggested we dig it up next winter and plant it against the long stretch of south-facing fence near the public street and sidewalk, currently housing only an indifferent trumpet creeper that may not even be flowering much, if at all - it even has a dieback problem (often with these the problem is trying to get them to die). I'm thinking trained all along the front of the fence the rose would make an aromatic spectacle for all to enjoy. After some years it might be possible to turn the fence into a nearly solid panel of thousands of flowers in June, followed by a hip display lasting months (on mine they are both slow to mature and slow to deteriorate and drop). Here is a link that might be useful: Work party for the Antique Rose Garden of Anne Belovich March 25 - Northwestern Gardening Forum - GardenWeb

How nice to stop in and see that we are celebrating my birthday already!!! I have been telling people that I don't mind the party, but I am NOT turning older this year... those numbers are just getting too large. LOL I have been doing lots of digging up and moving plants. We have to get the siding replaced on our house and guess what's in the way? Arg! The contractor has told me that the workers will not be careful around the plants, so out came any small plants and the smaller or the shrubs. The others we are cutting back and tying in hopes that fewer branches will be broken this way. It was especially bad timing because the azeleas are just starting to bloom! I am taking some of the cut branches inside and putting them in vases so we can enjoy them a little. (I was tempted to tell the contractor to delay, but just knew if I did that he would get busy with someone else and there will be a long delay. I think you need to get them when you can...) Anyway, party on, Garden Circle ladies. I think we should have fun all week! Jeanne

Hi everybody, Wow have I been missing things! Sounds like good news there for Bunny and Veeja's Grandbaby( great) it a cutie. Earthly, and Mellen and Sue K and Jeanne and Raggedy and Oh Mercy I'm sure I'm forgetting some of you, Anita.... SO GREAT to see you back active. You have been in my thoughts over the past few months. Really wish I could get back into trading because that is even more fun than gardening but..... I am limited to what will survive life on the road. My picnic table is half full of plants and I know I can't take them all with me so I am going to tuck few herbs into a corner by the laundry room here. I'll leave a sign telling folks to take some and enjoy them. Hope they survive the summer OK I have fallen in love with deep East Texas. It is more pines than Palms so does not feel tropical but is so mild that the Amarillis are growing in yards in clumps of 12 or 15 flower stalks. What a beautiful sight. The people are friendly too and I look foreward to getting back here again. Wednesday, I'll head for Oklahoma to see parts of the historic RT 66 and visit museums about that. Then on to New Mexico. So much to see there too. I'll be working for the summer right by Mesa Verda in Colorado. Plan to spend my free time visiting/studying the history of the Four Corners area. With the price of Gas continuing to go up I'll have to plan my trips carefully but I'm thinking if I don't see it now.... then when will it ever be any cheaper???? Carol, I have told many people about the book "The Long Emergency". He was so "right on" I hate to thing about next year oe five years from now. Hugs to all, Miss you. BB