When I saw this post I knew I had to go out and take some pictures so you could see what the rose looked like. Boy I would hate to wait for the new introductions...I want to try almost all of them to see what they look like and how they perform and not least smell the different fragrances. Yes I did post pictures of Claire Austin and Munstead Wood since I drove to Albrighton when I was in England/Wales in may and got a potted plant of each. Claire Austin are doing good, but sure did not like the cold rainy summer we have had this year (many flowers just rotted). It seems to be a vigorous rose, like Heritage but is more compact in growth habit. It has had good disease resistance and a strong sweet honey like rose fragrance: Munstead Wood looks almost like the Austin Rose Tradescant, but the flowers are not so dark. It is however a bit more vigorous and have a more upright growth habit. It has many buds right now but the flowers do not look so good since it has been raining almost 4-5 days every week. Disease resitance has been excellent. The fragrance is very nice .. similar to William Shakespeare 2000: I am going to get 3 more of each plant since I plant Austins in groups of 3 to form a really impressive bush. I posted some pictures of both Summer Song And Lady Emma Hamilton yesterday in the Antique roses gallery. Lady Emma Hamilton is a strange roses since the leaves and buds(sepals) are so dark!!! almost blackish green and brown: I was also surprised that it was not darker, I had expected a more warm apricot colour, but mine have the almost the same colour as Jude The Obcure, but are pale pink on the outer petals. Fragrance is similiar to Jude the Obscure, but it is not as strong: Hope that gave you a tasters test and something to look forward to when they become more available in USA/ Australia. I have planted Summer Song in a new border along with lady Emma Hamilton, Pat Austin, And golden Celebration. with various hot coloured perennials, bulbs and annuals.

I have had mixed results growing winter brassicas organically in a 7 climate . The City garden , which is regularly patrolled by a flock of habituated tiny birds , does not get aphids etc any more except on the bottom leaves where the birds don't land . The Island garden has seen the leaves eaten down to the very STALKS by crickets . I have personally never tried growing them under cover except in the very earliest spring when I dig and plant lettuce and broccoli seeds right after the first frost and cover with remay to keep birds off and provide a bit of insulation against harsh weather . My kale and broccoli , gorgeous blue cabbage and brussels sprouts and leeks seem to do JUST FINE coverless over the winter . As soon as the increased sunlight hits in Febuary I can start harvesting tender new leaves and even flowers .

Oh man. How terrible. Was the woodpecker a little Downy woodpecker or a larger one? House Sparrows are horrid little creatures, and it sure sounds like something one of them would do. Don't think that they could handle a large woodpecker tho. I know that they will kill Bluebirds and Tree Swallows when competing for nestboxes. Did the woodpecker have injuries that could have resulted from being pecked? Just yesterday, I had to take down a nest box in my yard because House Sparrows were taking in nesting materials. Of course, the woodpecker could have died of natural causes too. You can purchase or make a "Sparrow Spooker" to mount onto the birdhouse. I made and use them on my Bluebird boxes to keep the nasties out, and I have had good success with them. Just Google the words "Sparrow Spooker" and you will find info. Check out this info on the HOSP and their habits at the sialis site: http://www.sialis.org/hospattacks.htm Here is a link that might be useful: Sialis site info on House Sparrows

Beautiful follow-up pictures! It is always interesting to see the variety that different locations, conditions, and just the plants themselves in any species can show us. Love the C. striata photos! Jekeesl, if you are looking for this one, know that it is tiny. My third picture gives an idea. It is easy to miss, the subdued colors adding to that in my case. I nearly stepped on this plant. It was one of those "whoa!" moments where you stop a step in motion and back up. If off trail, I step lightly and carefully. Even so, it took a long moment for pattern recognition to kick in for me to realize there was something under foot.