Well, Denise, when gas gets cheaper, come ahead! Mari, for some unknown reason I don't have much problem with weeds except for one particular one that has tiny leaves and grows flat on the ground out like the spokes of a wheel, kind of burgundy/green colored. Hate those things. I had milkweed plants until the catapillars devoured them, and they have reseeded everywhere, but I'm pulling them while they're tiny. Most of my beds are bare dirt, too. I can only figure the horse manure compost has something to do with it. The green arbor came from KMart and was originally white. I painted it with my house paint. Maman Cochet's trellis is made of 2x4 and 1x2 pressure treated lumber. I regret using the 2x4s for posts because one of them warped but hasn't caused any problems yet. My roses have had a leafless summer. I'm too new at this to know why. Grasshoppers? Heat? I've been feeding monthly. Finally, Fay came and gave them some cool temps and lots of rain for a week, and they have perked up & greened up. But, my goodness, if roses in Florida need 8+" of rain in a week to keep them green, I'm in trouble. We had a good rain a couple of days ago, and I took the opportunity to give every one of them a gallon of alfalfa tea. Hope they like it. I'm even going to give them an occasional dose of MiracleGro. Probably should get a soil test, because I think I don't have enough phosphorus in the soil. I didn't use any when planting because I read that it was bad for the mycchorizae. My circle of grass is dying and has been a bear to keep in bounds, so I'm going to replace it with dwarf Mondo grass. We're required to have a lawn here, so that'll be it. I considered synthetic grass for a while, but I'm not rich. I could show you my ugly roses but I'll spare you and me the depressing images, but I will show you the side of the house where the tunnel is going. Labor Day weekend I laid the timbers to terrace the side yard which had a big slope to it and put down most of the mulch. And I planted E Veyrat Hermanos that will be my "tunnel" rose. We bought the six 4x4x10s last weekend. Waiting for cooler weather for construction. Then in went Gen Schablikine and Maman Cochet (bush). I left Iceberg where it was. Didn't have the heart to dig it up, but it may be in the way. I'm about to start planting roses on top of each other, cuz I still have 18 in pots. My, my. Come to think of it, I could give Iceberg to my neighbor which would free up a spot! Sherry

"Sudden Oak Death" is actually a different fungus (phytophthera) from Oak Root Rot Fungus (armillaria). I am afflicted with armillaria in my front garden. In 1998 I planted 70 roses in that 25' x 60' area, and in 2002, the first one inexplicably died. After a few nearby roses died shortly thereafter, I had my county extension agent come out for a diagnosis, and he confirmed armillaria. Ground zero for the dying roses was the spot where we had an 80' pine removed and ground out the previous year. The roses continued to die in an outward pattern from this spot over the next few years. We have multiple theories about why this fungus is so active in this area, which I won't go into here. Anyway, armillaria fungus is endemic in many areas of Calif. I have since replaced all of the in-ground roses in that area with 15 gallon potted ones sitting on stepping stones. I was sad to lose my in-ground roses in that particular garden, but as a trade-off, I now have 180 roses in an area that I used to have 70. Gotta love that smaller footprint in some ways. It's pretty spectacular. The ancillary in-ground plantings are variable in their susceptibility to the fungus. Many things resist it quite well, although I lost some of my hydrangeas to it. It's been a very long 5 year journey of research and dealing with it. I could write much more on my experience with it. Hope this helps.

I have half a dozen heaths blooming some have been in bloom for months and almost done. Daphe odora opened this weekend. 'Summer Ice' has barely been out of bloom. Primroses (standard grocery store varieties) have been in bloom for a couple weeks. I have species crocus blooming and 'February Gold' daffodils. Many more bulbs on the way. boxofrox, when the citrus trees bloom you can smell them from your car when you drive by with the windows open. star jasmine, pittosporum tobira, gardenias and many others are very fragrant down south too. Daphne odora is in a class by herself though. :)

Wow, loving everyone's photos! I'll upload some after getting on the phone app. So far I have a bed of lettuce, tons of radishes, tomatoes just got put in the ground, and peppers and such going. Our Eva's Pride Peach is setting tons of fruit, and our Green Gage Plum and dwarf peach are also setting fruit now. So many plants back from the brink after years of drought, it's really something. Potatoes, raspberries and grapes all doing well, just busy terracing and trying to find room. A dove has taken nest in our grapefruit tree, which is overwhelmed with gorgeous blossoms. What a harvest it will be this year in our orchard. Just loving all the photos. So grateful for the rains we've had this year. The canyons in SD are extra green and lively right now in a way I haven't seen in so long.