I place a plastic container on top of a heated surface and soak the seeds in water for a day. Then I plant the seeds just below the surface of a perlite/vermiculite/peat medium. I reuse the plastic container with the lid to keep up high humidity. I keep the container heated until germination. I will try to use a sand/perlite mixture the next time and maybe a water/hydrogen peroxide solution and see the results. Heat is critical to speed up germination. D. giganteus seeds germinated in 3~4 days under heat and low light, while P. heteroclada germinated in weeks under good lighting at around 60 degrees. It might be a good idea to saok seeds for longer if they still float after a day. I just had a Moso seed germinate about 3 months after its buddies did.

Mary it is amazing what a child remembers from the days when they were helping their mom's ..grandma's :-) garden. I do remember so much from my mom :-) Deb I am so glad you liked the little thank you pictures. ha ha ha you know. I was only a mailcarrier for 7 years but I did learn that it is a crime to open mail not addressed to you roflmao. No it would have taken the SPECIAL suprise away when we all gathered to open the package :-) As for the shells I want to build a congrete wall with soil build up above the ground high enough so I can plant a tree and know that it has soil to grow on and not just rocks lol. So the shells will get stuck on the outside. Think it will work? Kristy it was real good that Maddy got a bear from Deb. That meant that I did not have to share the one I got from Lucy Lou lol Yes thank you, feeling good enough not to have to stay in bed all day. Lucy

Theresa your wish is my command. I had to google the english version anyways hahaha Oh Tannenbaum, Oh Tannenbaum wie grün sind deine Blätter. Du grünst nicht nur zur Sommerzeit. Nein auch im Winter wenn es schneit. Oh Tannenbaum Oh Tannenbaum, wie grün sind deine Blätter. When we had x mas celebration at night on the 24th, we HAD to sing! My dad was deadly serious about it! As a kid we always giggled about it and he got real mad. As an adult and things happeing in life. The times we did get to spend x mas together and sang. I did not giggle anymore. For I understood now what CHristmas really means and for my father that was always clear as long as I can think back. To this day when I sing silent night, my dads one song he put his soul into when he sang it, you could hear it in his voice. I choke up and cry. Since my dad died 10 years ago I just can not sing it anymore for I miss him to much. In a good way. Not sadness. But I AM happy that my x mas tree did exactly what it was suppose to do for ya. You know I decorated it JUST for this special picture of the day :-)))) ha ha ha normally I do not think I would have come up with that idea lol. I feel sorry for you all. It will be a long brutal winter hahahahahahaha Lucy

ALL-AMERICAN ROSE SELECTIONS “AARS” 1949 TO 2007 THIS IS NOT AN OFFICIAL ARS PUBLICATION 1) Exhibition name. 2) Petalage: single 4-8; semi-dbl 9-16; double 17-25; full 26-40; very full 41+ petals. 3) Bloom size when open. 4) Latest National garden & exhibiting ratings: 9.3-10 one of the best; 8.8-9.2 outstanding; 8.3-8.7 excellent; 7.8-8.2 very good; 7.3-7.7 good; 6.8-7.2 average; 6.1-6.7 below average; 0.0-6.0 not recommended. 5) Color classification. 6) Year rose received “AARS” award. All roses listed are in commerce in North America By: Ronald Schwerdt June 2006 GR---ABOUT FACE--------26/40----------------------------------OB---2005 S-----ALL THAT JAZZ---9/16----4.5”--------------7.4 (6.9)----OP---1992 FL---AMBER QUEEN---17/25-----------------------7.1 (6.6)---AB---1988 LCL--AMERICA---43---3.5-4.5”--------------------8.3 (7.5)----OP---1976 HT---AMERICAN HERITAGE---17/25---5”------------6.2----YB---1966 FL---ANGEL FACE---25/30---3.5-4”---------------------7.7-----M---1969 HT---APOLLO---17/25---5+”-----------------------------4.7----MY---1972 F-----APRICOT NECTAR---17/25---4-4.5”---------------8.0---AB---1966 HT---APRICOT QUEEN---45---5+”-----------------------6.4---AB---1941 GR---AQUARIUS---17/25---3.5-5”------------------------7.7----PB---1971 GR---ARIZONA---25/30---3.5-5”-------------------7.5 (6.0)----OB---1975 HT---ARTISTRY---30/35---4.5”---------------------7.9 (7.3)----OP---1997 FL---BAHIA---17/25---1.5-2.75”---------------------------7.2---OB---1974 FL---BETTY BOOP------4/8---4”--------------------8.0 (7.4)----RB---1999 HT---BEWITCHED-------17/25-------5”------------------7.7----MP---1967 HT---BING CROSBY---45---5”---------------------5.6 (6.5)----OB---1981 FL---BON-BON---9/16---2.75+”--------------------------7.5-----PB---1974 S-----BONICA ---17/25---1.5-2.75”----------------8.4 (6.9)-----MP---1987 HT---BRANDY---17/25---5”------------------------7.4 (7.1)-----AB---1982 FL---BRASS BAND---17/25---3-3.5”--------------7.9 (7.4)----AB---1995 HT---BRIGADOON---41+-----5+”-----------------7.8 (6.9)-----PB---1992 HT---BROADWAY------17/25---3.5-5”-----------7.0 (6.7)----YB---1986 HT---CALIFORNIA---17/25---5-6”-----------------------6.5----OB---1941 GR---CAMELOT---17/25--3.5-4”------------------------7.6------OP---1965 GR---CANDELABRA---17/25---4”----------------7.6 (6.7)-----OB---1999 HT---CAPISTRANO-----17/25----6”---------------------5.4-----MP---1950 S-----CAREFREE DELIGHT---5---1.5-2.75”----8.2 (7.1)------PB---1996 S-----CAREFREE WONDER---17/25-------------8.0 (8.0)------PB---1991 GR---CARIBBEAN---17/25---2.75+”-------------7.6 (7.6)-----AB---1994 FL---CATHEDRAL---17/25-----4-5”--7.8 (6.5)-----------------AB---1976 FL---CHARISMA---41+---2-2.5”-------------------7.1 (6.5)----RB---1978 HT---CHARLOTTE ARMSTRONG---17/25---3-4”----7.3----DP---1941 FL---CHERISH---17/25---2-2.5”--------------------7.1 (6.5)-----OP---1980 GR---CHERRY PARFAIT----26/40---5”-----------7.8 (7.4)----RB---2003 MIN---CHILD’S PLAY---9/16---1.5-2.75”---------8.0 (8.0)----PB---1993 HT---CHRISTIAN DIOR---55---4-4.5”-------------------7.2----MR---1962 HT---CHRYSLER IMPERIAL---45-----4.5-5”----------7.8-----DR---1953 FL---CIRCUS---45/58---2.5-3”----------------------------7.1-----YB---1956 FL---CLASS ACT---9/16------------------------------7.8 (7.1)-----W---1989 HT---COLOR MAGIC---17/25---5”-----------------7.9 (7.0)----PB---1978 GR---COMANCHE---17/25---3.5-4”----------------------7.1----OR---1969 HT---COMMAND PERFORMANCE---17/25--3.5-5”---6.5---OR---1971 GR---CRIMSON BOUQUET---17/25--4-4.5”-----7.9 (7.1)----DR---2000 FL---DAY BREAKER---26/40-----------------------7.9 (7.5)----AB---2004 S-----DAY DREAM----4/8------------------------------------------ -M---2005 MIN---DEBUT---17/25---1.5-2.75”-----------------7.6 (7.0)----RB---1989 HT---DIAMOND JUBILEE---17/25---5-6”---------------6.6----LY---1948 HT---DICKSON’S RED---9/16--5+”----------------------5.8----DR---1940 HT---DOUBLE DELIGHT---17/25---5.5”----------8.4 (8.0)----RB---1977 HT---DUET---17/25---4”------------------------------------6.8----MP---1961 HT---ELECTRON---17/25---5”----------------------------7.8-----DP---1973 HT---ELLE------41+--------------------------------------------------PB---2005 FL---EUREKA---17/25--------------------------------7.7 (7.2)----YB---2003 FL---EUROPEANA---17/25---3”--------------------8.6 (8.8)----DR---1968 GR---FAME---41+-----5”------------------------------8.1 (7.5)----DP---1998 FL---FASHION----17/25--3-3.5”----------------------------8.0----PB---1950 FL---FIRE KING---17/25---2.5”----------------------------7.3----OR---1960 FL---FIRST EDITION---17/25---2-2.5”-------------8.2 (7.5)----OP---1977 S-----FIRST LIGHT---4/8---3.5-4”------------ ------7.8 (7.0)----LP---1998 HT---FIRST PRIZE---17/25---5+”---------------------------8.2---PB---1970 LCL--FLASH---17/25----------------------------------------6.5----RB---1940 FL---FLORADORA---17/25---2”---------------------------6.3----OR---1945 HT---FORTY-NINER---26/40---3.5-4”-------------------4.9----RB---1949 LCL---FOURTH OF JULY---9/16---4-4.5”--------8.1 (7.7)----RB---1999 HT---FRED EDMUNDS---17/25---5-5.5”----------------5.6----OB---1944 HT---FRED HOWARD---17/25---4”----------------------6.1----YB---1952 FL---FRENCH LACE---17/25------------------------8.1 (7.8)-----W---1982 HT---FRIENDSHIP----17/25---5.5-6”----------------------7.7----DP---1979 FL---FUSILIER---17/25--3-3.5”----------------------------7.0----OR---1958 HT---GARDEN PARTY---17/25---4-5”--------------------7.9----W---1960 FL---GAY PRINCESS---17/25---2.75+”-------------------7.3----LP---1967 HT---GEMINI---17/25---4.5-5”-----------------------8.2 (8.4)----PB---2000 FL---GENE BOERNER---17/25---1.5-2.75”--------------8.3----MP---1969 GR---GLOWING PEACE---17/25---3.5-5”---------7.4 (6.7)----YB---2001 FL---GOLD CUP----17/25---4”------------------------------5.4---DY---1958 LCL---GOLDEN SHOWERS---17/25---4”----------------7.4---MY---1957 FL---GOLDEN SLIPPERS----17/25---3”-------------------7.0---YB---1962 HT---GRANADA----17/25---4-5”---------------------------7.9----RB---1964 HT---GRANDE DUCHESSE CHARLOTTE---17/25---6.4----MR---1943 HT---GYPSY----17/25----------------------------------------6.2----OR---1973 HT---HEART’S DESIRE---17/25--4.5”---------------------5.2---DR---1942 HT---HELEN TRAUBEL----17/25---5-6”------------------5.8----PB---1952 HT---HIGH NOON CL----17/25---3-4”---------------------7.4---MY---1948 FL---HONEY PERFUME----26/40---------------------------------AB---2004 HT---HONOR---17/25---5”----------------------------7.6 (7.8)------W---1980 HT---HORACE McFARLAND---17/25---4.5-5.5”---------6.3---OP---1945 FL---HOT COCOA----26/40----2.75+”----------------7.9 (7.5)-----R---2003 FL---IMPATIENT---9/16------1.5-2.75”--------------7.9 (7.3)---OR---1984 FL---INTRIGUE---17/25---1.5-2.75”------------------7.1 (6.7)----M---1984 FL---IVORY FASHION----9/16---3-4”----------------------8.3----W---1959 FL---JIMINY CRICKET----28---3-4”-----------------------6.4----OP---1955 GR---JOHN S. ARMSTRONG----40---3.5-4”-------------6.9----DR---1962 FL---JULIA CHILD--------26/40------------------------------------MY---2006 S-----KALEIDOSCOPE----26/40----3”----------------7.3 (6.4)----M---1999 HT---KATHERINE T. MARSHALL----17/25---5”-------5.9----MP---1944 HT---KING’S RANSOM----17/25--5-6”--------------------6.4----DY---1962 S-----KNOCK OUT----4/8-----------------------------8.6 (7.5)-----RB---2000 S-----LADY ELSIE MAY-------9/16---3.5-4”----------------------OP---2005 FL---LILIBET----17/25---2.5-3.5”---------------------------5.9----LP---1954 FL---LIVIN EASY----25/30---4-4.5”-----------------8.1 (7.2)----OB---1996 HT---LOVE & PEACE----26/40----------------------7.8 (7.3)-----YB---2002 GR---LOVE----17/25---3.5”----------------------------7.6 (6.4)----RB---1980 HT---LOWELL THOMAS----17/25---4-4.5”--------------5.0----DY---1944 GR---LUCKY LADY----17/25---5+”-------------------------6.7---LP---1967 FL---MA PERKINS----17/25--3.5”---------------------------7.1----PB---1953 FL---MARINA----17/25-----2.5-3”---------------------7.5 (7.4)---OB---1981 FL---MARMALADE SKIES---17/25---1.5-2.75”----7.8 (7.3)---OB---2001 HT---MARY MARGARET McBRIDE----17/25----4-5”--6.6---MP---1943 HT---MATTERHORN----17/25----3.5-5”------------------6.1-----W---1966 HT---MEDALLION----17/25----5+”------------------------7.1----AB---1973 HT---MEMORIAL DAY----26/40--------------------7.6 (7.2)----MP---2004 HT---MIDAS TOUCH----17 /25---2.75+”------------7.5 (6.7----DY---1994 HT---MIKADO----17/25---3.5-5”---------------------7.4 (7.3)----RB---1988 HT---MIRANDY----17/25---5-6”--------------------------- 6.6----DR---1945 HT---MISS ALL-AMERICAN BEAUTY---55-----7.7 (6.3)----DP---1968 HT---MISSION BELLS----17/25---5”----------------------6.3----PB---1950 HT---MISTER LINCOLN ----17/25---4.5-6”--------------8.3----DR---1965 HT---MME. CHIANG KAI-SHEK----17/25---5-5.5”------6.0---LY---1944 HT---MME. MARIE CURIE---17/25---5”-----------------5.6----DY---1944 HT---MOJAVE----17/25----4-4.5”---------------------------5.7---OB---1954 HT---MON CHERI-----17/25---5”---------------------7.4 (7.4)----RB---1982 HT---MOONDANCE---------------------------------------------------W---2007 HT---MOUNT HOOD----40/45----3.5-5”-------------6.9 (6.5)----W---1996 MIN---NEW BEGINNING---40/50---1.5-2.75”------7.2 (6.9)--OB---1989 GR---NEW YEAR---17/25---3.5-5”------------------7.1 (6.9)----OB---1987 HT---NOCTURNE----17/25--4.5”---4.5”------------------5.0----DR---1948 HT---OLYMPIAD----35---5+”------------------------8.6 (8.0)---MR---1984 HT---OPENING NIGHT----26/40----4.5”-----------7.8 (7.4)----DR---1998 HT---OREGOLD----17/25-------5+”-----------------7.0 (7.6)----DY---1975 HT---PARADISE---17/25--3.5-4.5”------------------7.6 (8.0)-----M---1979 HT---PASCALI----17/25---3.5”-----------------------------7.8-----W---1969 HT---PEACE ----17/25---6”----------------------------------8.1----YB---1946 HT---PERFECT MOMENT---17/25---3.5-5”-------7.8 (7.1)----RB---1991 HT---PERFUME DELIGHT----17/25---5+”--------------7.6----MP---1974 GR---PINK PARFAIT---17/25---3.5-4”--------------------8.0----PB---1961 POL---PINKIE----9/16---1.75-2.5”-------------------------7.4----MP---1948 FL---PLEASURE----17/25---2.75+”-----------------8.0 (7.2)----MP---1990 HT---PORTRAIT----17/25----3.5-5”------------------------7.1----PB---1972 MIN---PRIDE ‘N’ JOY----41+-----1.5-2.75”-------------7.7----OB---1992 GR---PRIMA DONNA----17/25---5+”--------------7.4 (7.5)----DP---1988 GR---PROMINENT----17/25--3.5”------------------------7.5----OR---1977 GR---QUEEN ELIZABETH---17/25---3.5-4”------------7.8----MP---1955 S-----RAINBOW KNOCK OUT-----4/8---------------------------PB---2007 FL---RAINBOW SORBET-----15/18----3-3.5”-----------------YB----2006 FL---REDGOLD----17/25----1.5-2.75”-------------------7.3----YB---1971 HT---RIO SAMBA---17/25---2.75+”----------------7.4 (7.6)---YB---1993 FL---ROMAN HOLIDAY----17/25---1.5-2.75”---------6.9---MR---1967 FL---ROSE PARADE----17/25---2.75+”-----------7.4 (7.0)----PB---1975 HT---ROYAL HIGHNESS---43---5-5.5”-----------------7.7----LP---1963 HT---RUBAIYAT---17/25---4.5-5”-----------------------6.8-----DP---1947 HT---SAN FERNANDO----17/25---5+”-----------------5.4----MR---1948 FL---SARABANDE----9/16--2.5”-------------------------8.0----OR---1960 FL---SARATOGA----17/25---4”----------------------------6.6----W---1964 GR---SCARLET KNIGHT----17/25---4-5”---------------7.4---MR---1968 FL---SCENTIMENTAL---17/25---4-4.5”-----------7.7 (7.2)---RB---1997 HT---SEASHELL----17/25---3-4”-------------------6.7 (7.0)----OP---1976 HT---SECRET----26/40----2.75+”-------------------7.9 (7.7)----PB---1994 HT---SHEER BLISS-----17/25---5+”----------------7.8 (7.7)----W---1987 HT---SHEER ELEGANCE---30/35---4.5”----------7.8 (7.8)---OP---1991 GR---SHINING HOUR----17/25---3.5-5”-----------7.1 (6.7)---DY---1991 FL---SHOWBIZ----17/25---1.5-2.75”--------------8.3 (7.4)----MR---1985 GR---SHREVEPORT----17/25----4”-----------------7.1 (6.9)---OB---1982 FL---SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN---25/30--------------7.7 (7.2)----AB---1995 GR---SOLITUDE----26/40---1.5-2.75”--------------7.2 (6.8)---OB---1993 HT----ST. PATRICK----17/25---5”------------------8.0 (8.0)---YB---1996 GR---STARFIRE----17/25----5”---------------------------7.1----MR---1959 S-----STARRY NIGHT----4/8------------------------7.6 (6.9)-----W---2002 GR---STRIKE IT RICH---------------------------------------------YB---2007 FL---SUN FLARE----17/25----3.5”----------------8.3 (7.1)----MY---1983 MIN---SUN SPRINKLES----17/25---2-2.25”------7.8 (7.3)---DY---2001 GR---SUNDOWNER----17/25---4”------------------6.3 (6.5)---AB---1979 HT---SUNSET CELEBRATION---17/25----------7.8 (7.3)----AB---1998 HT---SUTTER’S GOLD----17/25--4-5”------------------6.9----OP---1950 FL---SWEET INSPIRATION---26/40---2.75+”--7.7 (7.1)----MP---1993 HT---SWEET SURRENDER---17/25---5+”------7.4 (6.8)----MP---1983 HT---TAFFETA----17/25--3-3.5”--------------------------7.2----PB---1948 HT---TAHITIAN SUNSET----25/30-----5”---------------------AB----2006 HT---TALLYHO----17/25--3.5-4”------------------------6.4-----DP---1949 HT---THE CHIEF---17/25----4-6”------------------------6.7-----OB---1940 HT---TIFFANY----17/25---4-5”----------------------------7.9----PB---1955 HT---TIMELESS-----17/25----4.5”------------------7.8 (7.5)----DP---1997 HT---TOUCH OF CLASS---17/25---4.5-5.5”------8.9 (8.6)---OP---1986 GR---TOURNAMENT OF ROSES---17/25--------8.2 (7.4)---MP---1989 HT---TROPICANA----17/25---5”--------------------------7.6----OR---1963 FL---VOGUE----17/25----3.5-4.5”------------------------7.2-----PB---1952 HT---VOODOO----17/25-----------------------------7.4 (7.2)----OB---1986 GR---WILD BLUE YONDER----25/30---4.5”-------------------M----2006 HT---WHISPER-----17/25----------------------------7.5 (7.3)----W----2003 FL---WHITE BOUQUET----45---4.5”--------------------6.9-----W---1957 HT---WHITE KNIGHT----17/25---4”----------------------5.8----W---1958 GR---WHITE LIGHTING----17/25----3.5-4”------ -7.2 (7.5)----W---1981 FL---WORLD’S FAIR----9/16--4”-------------------------6.0----DR---1940 HT---YANKEE DOODLE----17/25---4”---------- 6.2 (5.5)----YB---1976