That growth looks like healthy Dr. Huey to me (rootstock). Is the "nothing like the original bloom" red? Check to see where that cane is coming from. Is it coming out of another cane, or is it coming from way down in the dirt near the base of the rose? If it is coming out of another cane, it might be a disease or herbicide damage as described above. However, if it is coming straight out of the dirt, or way down at the base of the bush, then it is probably rootstock. What you need to do is dig down until you can see where it is growing out of the main base of the rose. Do not cut it off at the dirt level - it will just grow back stronger. You may need to dig down several inches below the surface of the dirt until you get to where it is sprouting out of the main stem of the rose. Then cut it off flush with the main stem, put all of the dirt back in the hole you dug, and hope that it does not re-emerge. If you let it grow, it will eventually kill the main rose, and you will be left with a rose bush that is 100% rootstock, which will probably only bloom once a year. Jackie

You could try the Fruit and Orchard forum (linked below), or if it's in a container, there's also a Container Gardening forum on GW. I just planted a dwarf peach tree a few weeks ago, and I'm still waiting for it to leaf out, so that I know it's alive. Hope you find an answer! Bonnie Here is a link that might be useful: Fruit and Orchards Forum

I do believe that the shrubs shown here are mountain laurel. The leaf spots are from a fungal disease called macrosphraella colorato. I know, my laurels are afflicted with this. I called up a radio show to discuss this. It was advised that the leaves underneath the plants be raked and disposed of. Also an application of a fungicide (Daconil) about 3 times during the growing season at regular intervals be tried. The plants will drop the affected leaves. New growth will be fresh and green but will soon succumb and get the spots too. After this year's blooming, I plan to prune off about a third of the bushes. I will continue with the fungicide applications. I live on a mountain and see the same leaf spots on my neighbors' Laurel. Whether they have a stash of fallen leaves at the base of the shrub or are growing in a raked area doesn't seem to matter. These mountain laurel are native to this area, south Central Pennsylvania, and have been growing here for decades. We built our home here 40+ years ago. The shrubs were lush and healthy. I noticed this leaf blight about 5 ? or so years ago. I have also noticed that my store bought rhododendrons planted in a nearby area are getting these spots on their leaves. I don't know if the plants will recover with time and attention, but it is sad to see the once beautiful mountain laurel, the state flower of PA., a shadow of its former self.

Moro, my mother used a wringer washer until I was 9, in the basement beside huge double utility sinks, she had clotheslines all over the basement. Mom was a hard worker as was most adults in the 60's with a family to care for,4 kids all a year or so apart and a drunk for a husband she worked full time in a sewing factory making clothing, than had the house and laundry for 6 people to do, our house was a farm house minus the farm lol..yet with all she had to do our home was immaculate, clothing clean and ironed and meals prepared, I don't know how she did this, pretty much on her own. But I used to watch her using that wringer, even than I was fasinated with laundry and everything that went with it, I remember thinking someday I'm going to make my clothes look as nice as mom did..I remember handing her dirty wrinkly clothing and when those dresses again appeared in my closet, they looked new. I still want a wringer washer, just to play with out in the back yard. Lol..we moved to town when i was 9 mom finially left the drunk, we moved right beside a huge laundramat that my two aunts had..talk about fun..I loved it, that laundramat was my second home and my #1 hangout, I loved helping and using the key to open the bottom of the dryers and sweeping them out. I would walk up and down the rows of washers and lift lids just to peek at the action, and I would wait for someone to come in carting their laundry hoping they would ask my help, small country town every one knew each other, so if someone said Cheryl could you start this load for me...I was in heaven, my greatest enjoyment, I hung out in that laundramat as much as I could until I was 24 years old, even taking my babies along, until a fire took my playground..I was destined to love all things related to laundry.. lol. Sorry for the rant