Ah mes amis - Problem with Austins is that they're not going to grow no-spray. I actually have one - Climbing James Galway, and it's essentially no-spray, but it's the only one I know of that can make that claim, at least in my area. I'd grow Dainty Bess if I could grow it no-spray but that's why I don't have it here. Seems much nicer to see a healthy KO than a defoliated rose. Mzdee - As for pampering teas, if I have to pamper a rose, it goes. I'm not pampering anything. Not doing winter protection, not spraying, not doing anything I wouldn't do for daisies other than trim back the roses. IF you can grow teas in your area, some of them are fantastic. For example, Isabella Sprunt. Very little disease, not a great plant however, as it's twiggy and rambles all over, uniike Blush KO which stays together somewhat. So you need to grow it near a fence or someplace where you can tie it up. This is what I see outside the window - that's one reason the pic isn't all that great - dirty windows! ”> It's Blush KO, Mons Tillier, and Climbing James Galway at the back. They go from smallest blooms to largest and I think the KO's are kind of delicate as compared to the JG. After all, not every rose needs a thousand petals! Stashed in there is Smith's Parish, which I believe is also a tea and which is also a very twiggy plant that needs support.: "/> And La Marne, which is almost as disease-free as KO but also has a rather uninteresting bloom that really fades in the summer. However, it deepens in color and blooms into December every year, when it's the last plant alive in the garden and it looks pretty much like this: "> Scent is more or less irrelevant to me - it's nice if it's there but I don't spend all day with my nose in the flowers - I spend a lto more time looking at them than smelling them so I don't really mind one way or another. But KO has a lot of virtues, not least of which is that it can be grown free-standing w/out flopping all over. Moreover, it lets a lot of people enjoy roses who never would have otherwise, and it was a pioneeering rose in that it indicated to all the breeders that there would in fact be a market for a rose that didn't defoliate. They're mostly sold own-root so you don't have Dr Huey all over and for their significance in causing breeders to focus on disease resistance, I believe they're UNDERRATED if anything. Over the years in different locations I've gone through maybe 100 roses, which isn't as many as some on this forum but does serve to give me an idea of what's up with them. The best all-around plants so far have been KO, Marie Pavie, La Marne and Phyllis Bide, which is unfortunately only a once bloomer. Here's a sibling of KO: ”>

Thank you all! Cindee...Take up photography? I really wish I had the time. But as you have mentioned, I don't have much of this for myself. The photo sessions with the flowers are "maybe" a way to release stress. I bring the flowers in the guest bedroom, get my camera and close the door shot! I could stay there for like 30 min. to an hour with just me, the flowers and the camera. Sure enough, when I come out of the bedroom, I am so refreshed and ready to go on with my life. :-) Jodic...Yes, Elvas is a very good model. Huge, fully double flowers that opens it's behaved petals nicely and stays upright. Very proud of itself. It has all traits that I value in a double flowered variety. Arif...Hello and nice to see you back and posting more often. You did get to use Elvas in your hybridizing before...right? I cannot wait for your 2008 pics of your creations. They are all lovely.

I'll post some pics for you tomorrow (I don't have them on the I pad). I'll also hit the carriage house and check on the name of the paint. I know they changed the names of the lines despite it being the same paint ( why do they do that lol). But I have a couple of gallons handy here. I know it wad in their professional line so you have to go to the contractors section to find it verses the consumer side of the site. They also changed the name of their bonds and seals primer. I have some of that here too so I'll add that name for you in the morning. If you use the bonds and seals primer made for glossy surfaces you won't need to sand or do aNything else to to your wood. Personally I prime everything with this stuff, but if your ceiling is in a light gray on a now light color you will probably be fine. I have mine tinted as dark as possible for dark colors though which saves on paint. I don't have the paint in my lap, but I believe it says recoat after at least four hours...I could be wrong though. You wouldn't want to guess on that. High gloss paint has an unfortunate brush over issue if not handled correctly. So just be sure to check. I personally like to wait overnight because that's how I learned to paint when I did it for money a thousand years ago. It gives you the added benefit of being able to sand down any mistakes and I find that a blessing with gloss. I can't tell you how many people have tried to talk me out of gloss over the years for both walls and trim, and yet, as will be the case with your gorgeous ceiling, everyone who sees it raves :). I'll post in the am as soon as o shove ds out of the car at preschool....umm I mean drop him off reluctantly because I miss him so much and stuff lol.

Don't know where my comment from yesterday went, might be at the same place my Sunday newspaper disappeared to. I would like to have Annie Besant at the party too.