ibheri, if I can grow it here I think you may have a good chance at succeeding too. Mulch is extremely important, and water of course, and some alfalfa meal would be welcome, although I haven't fertilized this rose since last year. As mentioned frequently, the teas take a while to build up. I think mine is probably at least four years old, but even when they're younger it's still enjoyable to see those beautiful flowers. I'm having a great time hovering over the bands that I received from Vintage and a few other nurseries recently, and seeing that first bloom is always so exciting. After that I force myself to disbud most of them to encourage growth. Ingrid

Marlorena, I'm so glad you see a difference. I'm here every day so it's difficult to judge. Titian, I wonder what causes the differences in SdlM. Other people have mentioned the pale flowers. You'd think with my rotten soil, heat and drought this rose would be a mess, but it's been one of my most reliable roses. Trust me, if you could see my list of discarded roses, you'd feel better. I'm afraid and ashamed to count them, the number is so huge. After more than eight years, more than half are young roses, which really discourages me sometimes since they take so long to get going. I've concentrated more on tea roses now, although I have a feeling many will outgrow their allotted spaces. I'm not too fond of Chinas except Mutabilis and many of the Austins didn't do well here. I always feel that no matter what I do I've made mistakes again, but I just keep muddling along.

Lily thank you, you will get there. It took me 7 years and that's only because I kept going and going and going, making more beds. I finally told myself that's enough! Just put border around all the beds (boy was that a job) this year to prevent myself from extending the beds anymore lol. Peren thank you for your kind words :)

Shrouded in fog: Volunteer trash tree--a box elder which reminds me of the apple-throwing trees in the Wizard of OZ: The base of the tall 'mushroom' in the middle is a box elder stump. You can see the roots which had spread in search of water. The tiny concrete mushroom in the lower right was a gift from my late sister: Grandson's portal to ... somewhere. Really an old wagon wheel missing its spokes, guarded by friendly gnomes. The box elder on the right and the wild cherry on the left came up between tumbled blocks so I left them for shade: I left a small mound of dirt and a piece of the old stump: The back side of the stump. I'd love to plant hostas here, but I know it would be an invitation to the deer--I'll have to settle for heuchera, Canadian ginger, and violets: The bird houses belonged to my late mother. When her house was sold, I brought them to my block garden, where they look as if they are climbing the tulip tree. Fire circle--under the firewood is the stump of a wild cherry tree. Twigs I picked up this spring, awaiting a trip to the burn pile on the other side of the creek: An old bird nest, with pebble eggs: A cow bone rodents have been gnawing for calcium: A row of stones which remind me of potatoes: Concrete mushroom top--bottom of a piece of concrete which was poured over large gravel and rocks: Photobombed by my cat, Gargoyle: Yes, I am Queen of this domain: More stumps with concrete mushroom tops: Some of the blocks were still held together by mortar and were really heavy. When I find an interesting rock or other object I add it to the pile: