Hi Grace: Since you are in zone 5a like mine. It's good to watch out for hardiness so you don't lose roses to winter. Earth Song is hardy to zone 4, moderate scent, can reach to 6' tall in warm zone, or 4' tall in cold zone. All the Carefree series that Kathleen mentioned are hardy in zone 5a, and make a spectacular display, no scent though, and shorter than Knock-outs. The thornless Bohemian Rhapsody is hardy to zone 5a, with strong fragrance at 3' x 4'. Since you ask for a FRAGRANT, rrr, healthy hedge - nothing beats the rugosas in health. Frau Dagmar Hartopp is hardy to zone 3, nice fall color, large red hips, STRONG fragrance, low shrub. Hansa is pretty flower, zone 3, moderate scent, 5' x 5'. Jens Munk is moderate scent, red hips, best for hedge at 5' x 5', hardy to zone 2. Therese Bugnet with nice fall foliage only has light scent, 7' x 5'. This would make a tall pretty hedge, hardy to zone 2. All the above Rugosas are sold at High Country Roses in Colorodo. Big healthy plants for band-size, shipping cost is cheap, great customer service. Last year I ordered 5 Austins from them and the total cost was around $100. Rugosas are sold there at a lower price than Austins.

Although the tank is underground, some of the pipes leading to the pump are not far below surface, though even there the difference in temperature from morning to afternoon will not be large. But the pipe above ground and the pump and the meter in the box above ground are cold. Remember how the warm water coming from your hot water tank is only tepid for a while until it warms up the pipe? While that gas is still chilly from the above-ground equipment cooling it as it passes through, it takes up less space, so you get more per cupful, which is how the meter works. Probably a good idea to use a pump that has been sitting filled with gas for a few minutes, thus letting the cool ambient morning air get a chance to cool the piping down while it has gas sitting in it for a while. I know that a number of people that I've heard express an opinion on the subject say that they don't fill at a gas station that is having a delivery, if they can avoid it, as they feel that sediment and crap, plus any water that has been sittig at the bottom of the tank, gets stirred up and may be carried through the pipes to their car's tank - which they prefer to avoid. It seems to me that gas dropping in a slow stream into one's tank might be less turbulent and splash less, producing less vapour. I note that as I fill my tank, which I'm inclined to do as quickly as possible in cold weather, I note the smell of gasoline while I'm pumping ... which indicates that a substantial amount of vapour is being expelled from the tank beside the filler nozzle. Whether that is simply vapour-laden air that is being displaced by the gas, or super-vapourized air due to additional turbulence as the fresh gas rushes into the auto tank is debatable, I guess. It's smart to keep your tank nearly filled for another reason, especially if you live in northern areas. As the air cools, it drops moisture - on the grass, we call it dew, but in a gas tank we call it a pain in the butt. It gathers at the bottom of the tank and causes it to rust, over time. It gets into the line and filter and sometime blocks it ... but if the weather is freezing, it sure as heck blocks it! For that reason the northern gas delivery people add some antifreeze to the gas during winter months and many motorists add gasline antifreeze to their tank. Keeping a small amount of air in the tank means less condensation of water as ambient air cools, to add to one's list of potential sources of trouble. Being stranded at 40 degrees below is no fun! Especially if there are no warm houses nearbvy ... and one is wearing low shoes to trudge through snow. Best to stay in the (cold) car. People trained to travel on the Prairies in winter carry lots of warm clothing, blankets, etc. in their cars in winter. Do I detect a smidgeon of hot air flying around here, in addition to gasoline vapours? ole joyful

Nancy - Sweet Prairie Wind seems to have found it's sweet spot. I hope it will multiply better in the coming year. Beyond the Sea is an applique, but the applique is not very noticeable on this first flower. The Ultimate Sacrifice is an outstanding daylily. The petals are so velvety looking, and the blooms are large and lovely. I wish I had started watering that one earlier. Lori - Incandescent is a beauty. This Longing will be even prettier on sunny days when it opens more fully. Julia - Thanks for your comments. I'm glad you are getting rain for your plants. I hope you'll be able to post lots of photos this season! Debra

@JudyG Designs thanks for your input.. :-) in my mind 'no offense intended' translates to i am going to offend you.... and that put my guard up.. i would have phrased it differently.. I would keep the floor if I could (that grey is very nice by the way) but 3 companies said it cannot just be cleaned and polished as the original company used a proprietary acrylic coating and they are out of business... so the only way is to grind to raw concrete and redo... and after 11 years the coating is worn at spots, there are chips from dropping things, there is wear in the high traffic areas, peeling at the edges, etc.. I agree the green was not a good choice - it is only on one wall.. bi am bad at color choosing.. I chose a georgia rose for my bedroom that now looks lavender.. yuk.. I have a friend who is a decorator who is in charge of paint colors in my house moving forward.. as in the title my original post was that the cost was more than I anticipated for the floor.. because of the grinding... I will either bite the bullet and spend the money to grind and do tile or grind and redo concrete or decide on a floating engineered hardwood...