I have used the Miracle Gro potting soil (regular, not with the crystals) because it's pretty hard to find a local source of decent potting soil of other sorts. I don't grow roses to keep in pots other than temporarily so I don't have an opinion about it long term. In the short term it can be fine, but you're not supposed to fertilize new bare roots for 6-12 months so I try to avoid the ones with fertilizer built in when I can. Having said this, the ones I potted up temporarily last year did as well as the ones I planted in potting mix without fertilizer, but it's not generally recommended to have that fertilizer for new bare roots. For amounts, I put a tablespoon or so into a 5-gallon bucket temporarily so you might use a couple in a 20 gallon bucket. There are some controversial posts about Soil Moist and potted roses (Quest-Rison is one that comes to mind), but there's a variety of opinions about anything else involving roses too. There are different results of planting with Soil Moist in the ground vs. in pots, and the pots are the ones more likely to benefit from the extra moisture. I'm sure people in your zone may have more opinions about this, but in my zone and yard it hasn't had any adverse effect that I can tell and has absolutely helped roses survive my summer with scant rain. Cynthia

Marianne is a favorite of mine. She's a modern Gallica, so she needs chill hours and is a once bloomer, and blooms on old wood (no fall or winter or early spring pruning ). She likes pegging and room, but she's my favorite orange/apricot rose.

Look to the west maybe 45 minutes after sunset. I believe the comet will be setting about 9pm tonight our time or about 2:45 hrs after sunset. Venus is pretty easy to see as it the brightest "star" in the sky, usually the first one you see. You can tell it's a planet as it doesn't twinkle like stars do. I've read 20° north of venus but the degrees don't mean anything to me so that didn't help me at all. I know it makes no sense, but I think in feet and inches, so about 16" north. About 14" up from the horizon...but even that would depend on how high you are relative to the horizon... mountain vs. valley would be very different. It looks very much like the picture Fun posted, though much fainter. I had to try from a much darker area before I could see it with my naked eye. I managed to get in the shade of some trees which helps as the moon is full. If you can find your way into the shade, it'd be easier. Also spend some time at it. It takes about 20 min for your eyes to adjust completely to the darkness. I needed binoculars to find it. Once I knew where it was, I could faintly see it with my naked eye, but the binoculars really helped.

Beautiful and one of my favorite trees. We had one that was mid size, not fully grown, that died during a bad drought. My favorite part about the tree was watching it literally rain leaves in the Fall. Monarchs used to nest there in groups.