I love robins, but think they truly are "dirty birds"; the water in our bird bath, which I try to change daily, is always really dirty! They are messy, too; they dig for worms in my garden and kick dirt on the sidewalk. George, maybe your cat will change her mind about eating outside, since there are "food thieves" in your neighborhood! ;>)

I have a "Prairie Rose" or Carolina Rose. It has a great lemony fragrance and fills my yard with it's scent. Own root roses (OGR) look much like that. Even David Austin loved them and used them (for their fragrance, hardiness and disease resistance) and crossed them with other roses to create his awesome English roses. I have several OGR. All are very, very heady fragrant and only bloom in Spring. (but worth the wait for what they bring to the garden IMHO). They are stoleniferous (spread by root stolens), but not so fast that you can't shovel prune them. Mine are just beginning to bud and bloom now. They will be in full bloom in May and bloom from 4-6 weeks. Blooms are small as are the leaves, compared to other roses. The light fragrance, large leaves and the leaf rust tells me that it is probably NOT an OGR. I think she may be a Climbing Old Blush. She prefers some shade to conserve moisture. Her blooms have double petals and is blousy, and she has pointed leaves, all like yours. Check out the link below. Make sure you read all the info at the bottom of the page, too. ~Annie Here is a link that might be useful: Climbing Old Blush - pictures and information

Wonderful! Which variety of Amaranth is that? bob

My situation has many similarities to yours, and I agree with everything Silviatexas has said. My stepson was recently diagnosed with PTSD and some ODD. It's sad and we're getting him counselling, but we need to keep him in line to protect the wellbeing of the other kids, and adults, in the house. We also need to protect our marriage because it's the foundation of the family. You and your husband need to set boundaries right now, and enforce them in every single case. There must be a consequence for every rude behaviour. Communication can be quite simple - "rude comment means no cell phone for a week. Next time, it's a month". It works like a charm in our house. Therapy is essential, and you might also want to consider some extracurriculars for the boys to given them some structure and self respect. The psychologist recommended cadets for my stepson. Sleep away camp this summer was also very good for him. They will not want to do these things but, again, the adults control the computer, cellphone and TV. If your husband is a decent father, he will enforce the rules and ensure that the boys stay in line. If not, you need to reassess whether this man is a good stepparent for your children. It is not your job to be patient while chaos ensues in your house. It is your job to support your husband while he raises his children. If he isn't doing his part, then you are already on your own.