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

Recently I: - Had my grandchildren choose and plant their own plants in our garden - children do make excellent choices (like Helichrysum and Brachycome)! My almost six-year-old granddaughter pouted when I told her we had to bring her home and wouldn't have time to plant any more plants. Sounds like me! - Planted lots of new (to me) variegated plants (e.g., Carex 'Beatlemania', variegated daylily and spotted Heuchera) with the goal of lightening the mood of the garden. - Acquired lots more ornamental grasses, after getting hooked on them last year. - Started consciously thinking more of designing with color, and being bolder with it. - Realized that, with a nice variety of plants in place, and with something blooming at any given time in the growing season, I can splurge by getting lots of each of a few plants that I love. The backdrop is in place now, about seven years after the start of my current garden. Wishing you a belated happy birthday, Wendy

All you pepperheads are soo blessed. My one huge desire this year, other than for Italian roasting peppers, was for poblanos and my worst fear came true, mislabled pepper plants. What was supposed to be was a couple of poblanos turned out to be Aneheims. That's part of the beauty of raising your own seedlings, you know what you're getting. However, as long as I can make Chili Rellanos with them, I'll still be a happy camper. Anyway, on today's menu from the garden will be sweet corn picked just before dinner time, NY Strips with roasted garlic butter from garden garlic. (I'm definately off my vegetarian kick.) Then, a tomato, green pepper and cucumber salad. I was surprised I've been having tomatos for a couple of weeks now, but that due only to a few large tom plants I bought for starters. The biggest and prettiest ones have been Parks Whoppers from my raised bed. Happy 4th to all, Barbara

I've thought a few times about a pressure cooker and came close to making the plunge a couple times. But then I started seeing how the speed is not quite what it's hyped up by the manufacturers. Cook in 20 min... OK, but they fail to mention it also takes 20 min or so to bring it up to pressure, then another what, 10-20 min to depressurize so the time savings isn't as significant. I didn't grow up with one and haven't been with anyone who uses a pressure cooker to know what the food is like so I don't know how I'd like it. The other concern I have is whether I'd clean it well enough. Seems to me you have to be pretty careful to disassemble and clean all the seals, valve and other parts of it thoroughly or it wouldn't seal properly. I've also read that the electric units don't build up the same pressure as a manual one so it would be longer to cook than an old fashioned one, although I would think I'd much prefer an electric unit. Lastly, can't quite justify the cost although I've seen that Aldi occasionally has a unit at a pretty reasonable price. I need to get more of an education on them to make a decision. I enjoy reading about peoples' experiences and thoughts on them. Have watched a lot of videos on them already!