Interesting to see how the totals vary throughout the US. The key is comparing to average precipitation. I haven't found the official numbers for precipitation but we where down about 50% for the year. The driest months dropped in during the typical wettest time of the year and also the hottest meteorological summer on record. 2012 was officially the warmest year on RECORD. This past summer I learned to hate sunny days and fall in love with cloudy rainy days. It was so unbelievably brutal. I will never complain about a rainly day in my life after establishing a garden during the 2012 drought.

Adding some more views of Pamela's amazing Work of Art - the marriage of the sculptures and ceramics with the glory of the plantings is more beautiful than words can express. Barbara, Anita and Michael, and a spray of Dr Huey - the very first rose in what has grown into an incomparable garden. Dense and intricate plantings - here a wall of Russelliana with mixed columbine in front: Paths lined with brilliant blooms lead the wanderer on a journey filled with surprises. To open vistas, and featured objects, and supporting the plants and objects, a bicycle hides!: The visual humor was one of my favorite features: Most of all, this is a garden infused with love. Regina

I am so happy to find this topic. Thanks all for great contribution. I live in Ho Chi Minh city too and started growing rose a couple of months ago. I am still learning but I believe that we can grow tempertate rose plants in this city with some care. The most important thing is lighting; rose would love morning sunlight in this city (till 12pm) but afternoon sunlight will burn young leave if they expose to direct sunlight too long. So growing rose with morning direct sunlight and afternoon shade is important. However I have a balcony with afternoon sunlight only; I do have 3 rose plants on this balcony (Alexandra of Ken, Red Eden and Spirit of Freedom); I make sure that my roses expose to direct sunlight only 2-3 hours; remaining time is with great light but not direct sun. They are doing quite well and Kent provided beautiful flowers last month and now some more are coming :)

My husband who had AZ had a brain scan and the result was part of his brain had atrophied. It could never get better, that part of his brain was dead. Nothing helps Alzheimer patients. The meds they give them are all experimental, never been proven to help.