ilovemyroses - some frown upon home brews, but I don't like spraying real chemicals... so a friend gave me this recipe and it has worked for me for 5 years now. In a spray bottle (like an old windex bottle that has been completely cleaned out) I put a few drops of liquid dish soap, and about a teaspoon of white vinegar and fill it up with water. When the sun is not shining on the roses I spray where needed, especially under the leaves where aphids hide. I can say since I started doing this i have never had a blackspot outbreak, although there has been a leaf here and there that is affected. My unscientific theory is that the vinegar does something to the ph of the leaf helping reduce blackspot and kill powdery mildew. the dish soap kills aphids by drying out their skin (or whatever it is). I do this when the sun is not shining on the bushes because in the past the sun plus the spray can cause new growth to burn. All in all this works for me, but may not for others. I don't like chemicals, as I don't want to harm bees, birds etc that may come to the roses. Unfortunately this doesn't do anything for June Bugs (Japanese Beatles). I am a cheapo, so I actually use water and vinegar mixture as a general cleaner around the house as well (with no dish soap). I started using this mixture on my roses after one summer where nearly every rose of mine lost its leaves to blackspot. My neighbor suggested I start doing it. I get a small thrill out of spraying the leaves and then looking at them the next day and seeing all the aphids turned black. :)

I suppose it wouldn't hurt to try countryrosegirl. I know our yard wouldn't look like it does if the 2 of us didn't work as a team to make it so. Be aware that Deb says I am sexy and I know she is just saying that to be kind to an old man :) Pauline, I couldn't believe how Deb had been treated when we met. One of my proudest moments was when her 5 year old son asked her why she didn't cry all the time anymore :) I should note that I have received much more than I have given in our relationship. I consider myself (know I am) the lucky one. Leslie, I was just teasing Harry. I knew what he meant :) Funny thing is.... I knew when I met Deb that she would find someone better for her and get tired of putting up with my ornery, uuhhh, self. I knew I was shooting myself in the foot giving her ego a boost. Advertising how wonderful she was would make that happen faster but she deserved so much more than the treatment she was getting. Had to do the right thing by her even though it would cost me. Could not imagine her putting up with me a year. 23 years should qualify her for sainthood LOL. Florence, the more self confident she becomes.... the more attractive she is :) Princess Debbie, I like the sound of that. Thank you Seil, Deb says Hot Romance looks great.... I think you got me in trouble :) She says Sweet Arlene is a sexy rose. I was told that I agree with her when I rolled my eyes. What have I done? digger

I wish I could get some more guineas. They cleaned my yard of Japanese beetles, grasshoppers and other pesky insects. Darned coyotes, and neighbor's dogs got them, one by one. Right now the JB are eating holes in my beautiful white hardy Hibiscus flowers and Seashell Cosmos. Yesterday I sprayed with some Ortho organic spray and I found a lot of them dead soon after, but that stuff is expensive as all get out and doesn't go very far. Ten bucks to spray three or four plants if just too rich for my blood. I am going to mix up some homemade organic spray and try that. I also have been squishing JB when I see them. I figure that every one I kill prevents thousands more from ever hatching. They are easy to squish and I get kind of a sadistic pleasure from it. If only getting rid of the dumb asses in Congress were that easy... Grasshoppers are chewing up my Canna lily leaves. Just a few holes really, but darn it. I catch as many as I can to feed to the hens. They love 'em. My grandsons think it is great sport! Another side note: I have killed a total of nine of those Asian Longhorned beetles now. While I was up in the vegetable garden watering the other day, I saw one come flying down into the yard from up on the hill. He flew right into my vegetable garden in front of me. I knock him to the ground in flight and then squished it with the end of the water hose. Take that! Haven't seen any new ones, but I will keep vigil. Glenda, Yes I am going to try to root some Mr. Lincoln roses. I have pretty good success in rooting roses. Some roses root easier than others, but it's worth a try. Right? Nothing ventured, nothing gained. Jim, I keep my ML cut to about 3 feet. Blooms are produced on the new canes, so every cut produces more canes and more blooms. The trick is knowing when & where to prune. I have a Peace rose that needs some severe pruning. It has gotten leggy and leafless at the bottom. It's kind of scary to do, but I will be rewarded with a healthier, more beautiful rose bush when I do. I should never have let in get that big in the first place. Here's a trick I learned about old climbing roses that have gotten leggy and have stopped producing many blooms: Put on leather gloves to do this. Take it off the trellis and carefully lay it down on the ground. It will almost immediately start making side branches. Leave it for a couple of months and then tie it back up on the trellis. You will be rewarded with tons of blooms and a bushier climber. I learned this from an old, old rose gardening book published in the 1930s. It's a great book. Black and white images, but very detailed instructions and explanations and lots of photos showing everything from grafting, to pruning, to you name it. How to do everything regarding roses. I've got to go move my America rose to a sunnier location. It was in full sun in the spring, but now is mostly in shade, so not growing and not blooming. It is healthy though. Now....where to plant it? Thank you all for your comments. Keep em coming! ~Annie

I think you need to consult a bag maker too. There are lots of them out there ...or find a tote bag that appeals to you and that is exactly what you are looking for on the outside and maybe partially inside...then have someone make all the extra pockets you need that will just slip down into the bag. Honestly, I cannot even imagine carrying the kind of purse you guys are talking about. When I go out. it's to shop or go out to eat , not for a weekend or overnight and truthfully, I can't fathom having to carry all that "stuff". I recently bought one of those as seen on tv phone wallets for $10 bucks and wear it on my belt.......It's the best thing since sliced bread and serves my purpose exactly. I'm hands free, I don't have to worry about aching shoulders or back..... I took all the straps off and just slip it onto a belt....I am just crazy about it......I can hook my keys to it or slip then into the cell phone pocket if I'm not carrying a phone............