LTGF, I had only one brug out of 5 I put out that bloomed consistently over the summer, and it seems to like heat. Once the cooling began I got buds on 4 plants, one has begun to flower inside (it's just 2' tall in a pot), one spent the night outside last night and I hope it didn't freeze, one is in the garage going in at night and out daytime, another in my bedroom window taking up way too much room in my bedroom. It's been frustrating but now that I've had a first freeze here I need these guys to bloom so I can cut them back and put them in the basement! Each year is different with them, so keep your spirits up and look forward to what they'll do next year. Meanwhile I have other houseplants blooming their hearts out to make up for the brugs!

Hi Bill, I'm glad to hear that my cuttings are looking okay. I will cut off the inflo on the cutting with the two flowers (Celadine). The one behind it (Yellow Twirl), the claws are wrapped around the inflo quite tightly. I don't want to damage the claws. Thanks for all the help you have given me. Hi Karen B., I sure like the color of that Paul Weissch. The yellow is so rich. I can see that some of your cuttings do have leaves growing. They must like something that you're doing. Thanks to you too for all of your help. Hi daviddurant, An inflo (inflorescence) is the flowering part of the plant which usually forms the flower cluster. The main stem that the inflo is attached to I believe is called the peduncle. This I learned from Jim Little's book, "Growing Plumerias in Hawaii". Someone with a lot more experience in these plants will have to help you with your "cuttings" question. Happy growing to all of you, Rick

NoTitle Insurance mentioned? Sorry I cannot be of any help but this is a good lesson for anyone considering a land/property purchase. Even after due diligence, don't agree to purchase property or land without adequate title insurance. One needs to cover one's investment; it's true title insurance costs money but money worth spent especially when spending a significant amount on the purchase. A copy of a title insurance is almost as important as the land deed. For my coast to coast land purchase last year, I paid a couple of thousand for title insurance; it ensured a risk free transaction and covers me for a host of other unforeseen issues way into the future till I own the land. Zero lawyers were involved in the deal though it is advisable to engage a land attorney if one is not confident about understanding the fine print of any document.

Our roses are on schedule, with the very first warm climate roses just coming into bloom, along with what little of R. hugonis was spared by the drought and cane girdler. Our wisteria has also bloomed normally. We lost the entire flowering of one of our two Ceanothus thyrsiflorus repens, a big plant (the other is in bloom now, late), and the large double white Lady Banks on its pergola also got well frozen and looks like it won't be blooming this year at all, though the older hardened growth is green. The double yellow L.B. in the trees has some flowers. Last year's drought and this winter's late freeze did things, though I'm not always sure what. I've seen no sign of box moth this year, and think it should have shown up by now: I know that last year I was spraying for it in March or early April. I have my fingers crossed! Also it appears that the porcupine that ravaged the garden for a year may be gone....I'm not sure...but I devoutly hope that it couldn't take that week of hard frost and snow and headed south to warmer climes. All in all, for such a hard year as 2017 was, the garden looks tolerably well. We've had unseasonably warm and dry weather the last two or three weeks, and heaven knows I hate stable high pressure systems, but am hoping spring will return for a while yet. The plants are full of sap and the first roses are just coming into flower. Ingrid, I jumped into your post to answer bart's description of what's going on in her Italian garden: I hope you don't mind my hijack. I hope you get some blooms soon, and some springlike weather! Winter was long, long, long here. We all need that sense of returning life, and the joy and delicacy of roses.