He probably filed those marks off, thinking the damage dummies inside did that to break the funny rod! Uhhh---what is "timing"? Kin ya set yer watch by them? Ohh, yes, How have we gotten this far in life?? Didn't anybody pay attention in school? When they passed out the brains, I hid behint the door, because I wuz scared of trains! Yes--the old guy is back! Still hale and hearty! Still fixin' stuff! Got a new lady friend, and life is GOOD! See ya! RJ

triple_b, Can you email me the link to the sunset seeds? I was unable to find it on that website. My email is: josie_1955@hotmail.com

I think your trees will be OK. As for pinching off the new shoots/leaves?--I don't think this will kill the tree. If there was too much root loss resulting in severe and persistent wilting, I prefer to selectively prune off the less important branches, such as lower branches that you will want to prune off anyway, branches that by chance are growing very close to each other and/or crossing each other (the smaller of the two), and some smaller branches carrying foliage in the interior ot the tree--to thin it out a bit. And, of course, if there are two leaders, cut one off. It is normal for red maples newly planted not to grow much for the first year of two. As for the wilting appearance--this is also normal if it just means that the leaves seem a bit limp in the afternoons. If this wilting persists and worsens, even in the mornings, then some pruning as described above can help. And, of course, keep the trees well watered. If they were groqn in pots, sometimes the soil in the pots is thin and does not hold much water. Because the trees don't yet have their roots growing much into the surrounding soil, you must be careful to keep them well watered, maybe as much as every other day if the soil in the pot is a light thin soil and the soil you have planted them in is well drained (meaning the water soaks through it fairly quickly). --Spruce

Below is a link to a nursery in West Palm Beach that carries moderns on Fortuniana. They have a few OGRs too. From what I have read Fort is the only way to go in S. Florida. Other rootstocks only last a few years - literally, so it's almost like buying annuals. I have two Don Juans in Fort, 1st year, growing well, but they do get BS. Not much doesn't here in the summer - and other times, too! There are several mail-order nurseries online that carry Old Garden Roses and more modern ones, too, on their own roots. A few of the Chinas are foolproof as far as the rootstock is concerned; they don't mind our nematodes. In fact, Louis Philippe (go to: http://helpmefind.com/plant/pl.php?n=2044) is called The Florida Rose. These roses don't look like what you'd expect - different flower & bush shapes, but they stay healthy here and are everblooming (with pauses) & evergreen. Tea Roses are fairly long-lived here on their own roots - I've heard ten years is not unusual. Also, this is going to sound funny but the nematodes don't like cement, so if you plant own-roots next to foundations, driveways, sidewalks, etc, it's an advantage. They don't like organic matter also, so I have greatly amended my very sandy soil. Hopefully, I'll get some years out of my roses this way. I have many more own-root than Fort rootstock so my fingers are crossed. You can Google these nurseries: Ashdown in SC, Roses Unlimited in SC, Antique Rose Emporium in TX, Vintage Gardens in CA (they're having a sale now), Chamblees in TX and others. They're all very reputable, I have ordered from all of them. When you move beyond Teas, Tea-Noisettes, Noisettes and Chinas, you need to do further research. Some are not well suited for our heat, humidity, lack of dormancy, heavy BS pressure, ad infinitum. But these are beautiful roses - just different from the type you find at the florist. As to organic concoctions I really don't have any. The milk didn't work, the baking soda didn't work, the vinegar didn't work, and regular spraying is not my cup of tea. So I am going for disease-resistance in my rose selection. And even then it's trial and error and how much BS can you tolerate. Some can look past a lot, some can't. But yellow leaves either constantly or from time to time are a given on roses in Florida. The really ugly-BS-prone roses you just want to do without because beautiful blooms on bare canes aren't that beautiful. Sherry Here is a link that might be useful: Cool Roses