What a beautiful poem to express your profound sadness. I do know the pain, also. If it's okay with you, I'd may share this poem with our local Compassionate Friends chapter. I will put it in our newsletter if it's okay with you. Please let me know. I would like to give credit where credit is due, so if you would like for me to give your name, please email me and give it to me. By the way, my husband's and my email addresses on the website are not being used anymore. Use the email address on this site to email us. Lu Here is a link that might be useful: Christin Cosby Memorial Web Site

I'm not sure what secret sisters are, but you could buy some of those bookmarks they sell at the counter at Halmark stores that have cute little poems on them and include those. If you go to any tourist places, zoos, etc, they often have those penny machines that you pay to have them press the penny with a scene you choose. You could have those pennies made for her and include them in your cards. Include little sachets of potpourri.. I love quotes and have lists of them... but you'd probably do best picking out the ones you like. Just go to a quote site and most will have hundreds to choose from. Here's some sister quotes, (you may also like the best friend quotes section) depending on what you mean by 'secret sisters'. Here is a link that might be useful: Sister Quotes

Thank you all for your comments!! As I mentioned, it is just great to be able to share with you. I don't have any friends who are interested in gardening, let alone ones who are 'rose nuts'! Actually amazing how this forum makes the world seem so small with members spread all over the globe although most of you are in the US. Irisgal, Agapanthus would be great between the roses - I used to grow them when I still lived in South Africa. Unfortunately, they are not winterhardy here. Beth - Golden Monica is just great and thanks to you she is now in my garden!!! The blooms last forever and she hasn't shown any signs of PM or BS! Blue River on the other hand, is the WORST this year for BS - defoliated completely! As for Sutter's Gold - not really my favourite rose. Good color, healthy and smells great but I think the blooms are rather messy when they open. Melodye, I don't know if that is what you mean by old dish rags. Best to appreciate SG when the bud has just opened IMO. It is however a rose I just had to get because of the name - even if it was Sutter's SkyBluePink, I would have bought it. And of course, General Sutter has his roots in Switzerland;) Carol, thanks for the suggestion - sure looks similar but HMF describes it as having a strong fragrance. I had another wiff today - nothing! So it will remain a mystery rose like a couple of others that I have. Thanks again everyone Sharlene

Greetings! I'm a Central Florida freelance writer looking to do a piece on gothic gardening to run in the fall. While I am currently researching target markets, the subject has intrigued me enough that if I don't land one in time, I will do a post on it for my personal blog in October. I'm also looking to locate a few folks who have created such a garden and wouldn't mind describing their efforts and outcomes, as well as what made them want to create such a garden in the first place, and any reactions they might have received on their project from friends and neighbors. If anyone here is or knows someone like that, they can reach me at lwinborne704@gmail.com. My professional website is http://bluetypewriter.com. Thank you!