They're here, but compared to fire ants, they're a minor problem. I got in fire ants this morning and had to come out of my pants and shoes and socks out in the garden. It's good I have no neighbors.

Using this forum's built in picture hosting, you can only upload one picture per post, but you can repeatedly post into a thread and EACH post can have a picture. Starting a different thread with a different post just scatters you message all over the place. Otherwise you can upload all of your pictures to an external free hosting site and then add the html code to any post to display as many pictures as you'd like. If that sentence didn't make sense to you, just do it the first way I mentioned with one picture per post but all posts in the same thread.

We just had an energy audit and I had a long conversation with the auditor about this. There are a glut of CFLs and they are pushing them because entities bought them. But LEDs are even greener and the bulbs I got are as nice, if not nicer than the incandescents. I was using Reveals. Also, it turns out they are better for the fixtures long term, since they don't generate as much heat. So you don't get light bulbs breaking off in the ceiling -- I had one do that last week. I really like the Illumitech bulbs (made by Feit) I found at Lowe's. Went with 3000K (found the 5000K too blue). Lowe's also has the Lutron replacement switches. No discard issues. CFLs have a 1-3 second delay before they go on. I agree it's weird.

I can't wait to see pictures of Maggie. Love the name. If you wanted to try another DA rose, I have had great success with Pretty Jessica which laughs at the heat, is upright and stays small but tall for a DA rose. I would say mine is about two to three feet wide, if that and about four to five feet tall. Constant bloomer. Next one would be Princess Alexandra of Kent but give her room to grow. She is a beaut! Flowers bigger than my hand in spring and fall. Smaller flowers in the heat. She takes a beating and keeps on ticking! Next would be Munstead Wood. Love, love, loveo him. He also takes the heat. All three have to be the best DA roses I have seen for the heat. Now, that being said, my first timer roses that have been in the ground about six months (if that) and on their own roots, that seem to be doing pretty well for me are also Lady of Shalott and Alwick. They are both babies and being subject to full sun all day long and until this week, 100--110 degree heat. Both are producing sporadically with tiny flowers but their leaves look good and they are continuing to put on new growth. I think once they get established in a couple of years, they will be fine. I hope Lady's flowers tone down the orange a bit in the future. Another rose, still very young and on its own root that seems to be doing well is Occhi di Fata. It is starting to put out a few more blooms and the growth is good. It is a charming rose and I hope for great things in the future.