Very interesting, insightful and very caring comments, thank you. Not to worry, Jon and I are good, via separate communication some days back. :-) We have people with all sorts of commitment levels here. Me, I like to take a dispassionate and objective view of the garden from time to time, to evaluate what all is and isn't living up to my expectations, hopes, etc., evaluating just how much do I really care about any given rose bloom and/or fragrance or even garden bed or section. Take Cressida. Horrible rebloom, yet amazing blooms that touch my soul. I defer, in this particular case, then, to that emotion. I change and evolve, therefore, my perspective of my garden changes too, depending on my mood, my larger vision, experience, etc. So, there is no unconditional love, the roses are there for our pleasure only. We're very busy, it's a lot of work, which we're fine doing, but we do need to feel a connection toward the rose in question. I want a connection toward every single rose. That said, it is uncommon that we SP a rose up to now, and for the foreseeable future in terms of larger numbers of roses but that can change too. Life is about change. In the meantime, I am also passionate about my garden, no question. I have 911 images in my Abraham Darby folder alone in my computer. Thus, the conflict, reconciling objectivity with passion, certainly a difficult task. And, I want to do that for the spring, summer, and fall seasons. I have many images of four seasons of my garden. Someday I should share my winter images and from the fall too and the uncolored buds of early spring, a sculptural sort of look. It really is a lot more to me than "grow!" "produce!" NOW! Fact is, it's very complex. And, there is a different perspective and journey for every rose grower. I appreciate your responses, they help me figure this out, as I consider different points of view. Thanks so much.

OHHHHHHHHHH AHHHHHHHH! I'm a terrible person. Or maybe whoever posted the new sale is just trying to get me in trouble, AGAIN!!! I had already placed an order at Maryotts so I could get Nancy's Quilt free a few weeks ago and now I just placed another one. I started to order Winner's Trophy when it was $65 but decided that I just couldn't afford it. I just could not resist getting it for $30 and of course I just had to have Vienna Waltz, Best in Class, Santa's Little Helper, Spc Dream Catcher and Written on the Wind to keep it company on it's long trip from California to Mississippi. I've been very good all year. I'd only bought 5 or so on the Auction and now this. Oh well, at least I did get some of the ones that I've been wanting and didn't just buy. If I can come up another $100 before their sale ends, I'll be getting some more. I sure do hope that I can find a way, they have got some of the best prices. SOOOO, all you addicts, have fun. I'm sure you all have a little more room. Blessing to all and may your dreams of beautiful blooms come true, Mona

well oh my gosh...... jo jo jo... are you kidding me??/ that is sooooooooo awesome.... youll be growing things for everyone!!!!! Jo, start with dahlis grin! thats awesome! novembers trade is... marea will you post this on the first post if you post again... so all will know... first we need a list of all those that did sign up,,,,, then we need someone to assign partners,,,, whos gonna do that.... the dahlia trade is secondary!!!!!!! its a side deal... shirley.... wheres the dahlia farm.... where where where... how many dahlias in a bucket for ten... please send me the list please please.... but not threw here.... have to do private email.... jo may i suggest that dec one is alot of work for you to do.. maybe roll it over till after the holidays???? mercy girl! oh ok???? here we go..... novemebers trade.. i pick dawn... so maria thats gloria Has dawn... i love being first! 1. write in a note why you are thanksfull for them.. 2. send them something speciai... 3 something new... 4 something old... 5 something blue... 6 something that smells good... 7 something that dont,,, 8 something they REALLy want,,, and even something they wont,,, 9 something for their very own personal self... 10 and something that will make the rest of us wish that we were all on the senders list!!! now i know this may seem a liitle hard, but its really not... and oh by the way... these must be sent out by thanks giving..... and there will be a winner.... ahhhhhhhh you all just love "winner games" dont yah! BUT beware..... the winner is decided on not what you send..... but...... grin!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! FLOWERSFORME123 ON EABY HAS BULBS ON SALE! MORE GRINS....

The good thing about BWS is that their webs are so easy to ID, you don't really have to see her to know she's there. We had an outbreak of them in the garage last year. I just told my kids if they saw a web that wasn't organized in any way, just strings and strings and strings and seemed abnormally sticky that it was a BWS web. I think by the time we'd erradicated them all, our count was at 14. Now, every spring we bug bomb the garage.