mxk3...Wish I had some volunteer roses. I did plant some rose seeds from Europe (see link) in the fall. They are doing nicely. eahamel...same with my VIP petunias (Laura Bush series). Only had 3 come up from seed the first year. Couldn't grow petunias well from seed.This year I have many volunteers. Plus I crossed some supposedly sterile- type of petunias from 2 plants I bought from Lowes. What do you know, some produced seeds and many, many germinated. Then I got "Rain Master" thru a trade. Most of those seemed to germinate. Now I am swimming in petunias from seed. Yea, I guess that counts as a surprise. Also, I have had many vinca volunteers, but when I try to plant them from commerical seed; that's tough to do. My favorite volunteer is currently growing in a drive way crack. The lack of soil all around keeps the soil borne diseases from killing it. Also have a beautiful strawberry swirl bloomed vinca still growing from last year in the IVY. Same with the soil diseases. The rest of the vincas in the beds get "sudden death" by August here. Here is a link that might be useful: Not the hybrid tea Garden Party This post was edited by bugbite on Sun, Mar 24, 13 at 17:29

I realized that I didn't really answer the original question of the thread. I'm zone 9-10, SW 18. hot and dry summers, mild winters! Apologies as this is NOT the OGR forum and some of my faves are OGRs or old HTs. :) :) :) Ones I really liked this year: Lavender Lassie - I saw a charming specimin of this at Descanso Gardens that I feel in love with. It was absolutely wonderful. I bought a 2 gallon from ARE and planted at the end of 2010. She's put up at least two 5' or so canes with such beautiful clusters of blooms at the end. She seems really strong and vigorous. I can't wait to see what she does next year. La France Cl. - Just gets more beautiful and beautiful. It has some little bit of something that makes it more romantic than a typical hybrid tea to me. Mme Berard - So beautiful. Growing fast and blooming frequently. Tipsy Imperial Concubine Just a baby but keeps blooming! The blooms are such a lovely mix of colors. Sombrieul now in it's 2nd year it's really starting to throw up huge canes,... like 6 feet. I'm in love with it. It's blooms are so beautiful. They have it growing up a huge arbor at Descanso, it's to die for. So many petals... ! Duftendes Weisskirchen Planted 8/10 as a band... it's just a charming little thing. It's blooms are such a vibrant purplish hot pink. It wants to bloom all the time and just is very happy. Eden Cl. and James Galway cl both put on a LOT of growth and bloom this year (they were planted early '10) The Faun (Bossa Nova) this blooms more than anything in my yard and I love the fully double old-style blooms on it. I love the low shape of the bush. Great for a border plant so far. Archduke Charles I love you, Archduke! The blooms change color and even though it's perported to be a slow grower, I'm still getting some growth on mine. Such a charming thing. Madame Joseph Bonnaire the most beautiful creature. Threw out a couple big canes and a big root down through the pot and into the ground. A vigorous thing! Bounced back after I repotted it and I can't wait to see what it does next year after I get it in the ground. The blooms are GORGEOUS. Madame Alfred Carriere Despite being in partial shade, throwing up huge canes... can't wait to see what it does next year. Delicate beautiful flowers,... such strong growth! Dissappointments: Tiffany - an own-root since late '09... still super tiny and rather upset. Might replace it with a grafted one. William Shakespeare 2000 1 of 2 died and the 2nd one hasn't grown (both put in the ground early '10). I'll see what it does next year. Yves Paiget Had to pot because the bed wasn't ready and it outright died, almost immediately after getting it. :\

I tend to get holyhocks, poppies, daisies and even snapdragons popping up all over the place from self seeding. I love it! Talk about a cottage garden! Same thing with the sunflowers that the birds drop. I don't usually pull them out and welcome any others that like to make my yard home. Fennel is another one. Can't say I care for the weeds and the million or so baby trees we get every year.

Randy, The red one is Edna's Wish x Romantic Evening. The colors seem to be a mix of red, orange, and orchid which give the overall impression of red. There is a tiny rim of orchid. The standards stay pretty tight during the life of the flower. Laetitia, Thanks for showing Purgatory. That iris will be twenty years old next year---doesn't seem possible. It has given only one pod for me, and I didn't save any of the seedlings. Superstition Gardens still lists it. Walter Moores