Thanks for the responses yall. For those of you who are looking at my list for the purpose of picking roses for dry areas, the ones that are doing amazingly well are the must haves: Sombreuil Baronne Prevost Cecile Brunner Teasing Georgia (Daivd Austin) Reine De Violettes These roses have not blinked an eye. And I am shocked at the constant growth and blooming of Baronne Prevost. Truly a beginners rose!!! But, Teasing Georgia must go down in history as one of the greatest modern imitaters of an OGR, and in such an unusual color. Sombreuil? I just think it is the Sir Anthony Hopkins of the rose world - one class act! And, Reine des VIolettes? The fragrance makes it give Madame Isaac Perriere (She didnt make it) a run for the money But, if you live in a dry alkaline soiled area, go with these as well, you wont abuse them like mine were: antique teas like: Monsier Tillier ( a mack truck) Duchesse De Brabant - amazing amazing.... or chinas like Mutabilis on a northern wall (requires some water)and Old Blush And, all you beginners should get yourselves a Belinda's Dream rose, even though it is not an OGR. Hope this helps. Its just my opinion! Also, in answer to questions, Pauls Himilayan Musk was one I had great hope for. But, it was 4 yrs old and just getting started on its cluimb. A very very slow starter....If you want instant gratification and flowers, better go with Cl. Cecile Brunner - the everblooming variety , if you can find it. And, the only noisette I grew was Crepuscule,and it was gorgeous! And, I had it in a shady spot on the wall of my house. I have a beautiful photo of it if anyone wants to see it. It did not make it. Noisettes do well in the south, but they are tender roses.

I've had pretty good luck with the few nurseries I've tried. Usually the prices are so much higher, I just go to the end of season sales, but when I can't find a plant I really want, then I go to the nurseries. Perhaps part of the problem is that many people probably like plants, which is why they start a nursery...however, people buy plants and that's how you stay in business. Raising beautiful plants would be only half the challenge...you have to be able to sell them. I'm sure there's a lot of frustration, when people like myself compare their prices to the big box stores...but that's going to happen. Like any business, you have to be able to work with people and explain why these plants are superior, better quality, better choices, whatever...and taking the time to help people with their gardens would be something that might bring them back repeatedly, even if prices are a little higher. There's usually a better selection, too. This year, I've had great luck with Northland Rosarium, very nice customer service and beautiful roses. They even offer classes about roses! Some other nurseries I've tried haven't had such nice customer service, but still adequate. However, another nursery I went to with my mom had beautiful plants (and I bought some) but we would have stayed longer if an employee had not been using the VERY loud leaf blower right by the building. He was out there at least 20 minutes, (we even asked the employees at the register if he would be much longer, but they didn't seem to get a clue) so my mom and I grabbed a few plants and left. There may have been some great plants out there, but we couldn't take the noise. Seems they could do that type of thing BEFORE they open...but that's just me :)

It's unfortunate when these things happen - but being the owner of two dogs myself, one a pit mix as well - I would fully understand if either of my dogs got away and killed someone else's animal - that they would do what they have to do. I would be sad, angry and all sorts of emotions directed in all sorts of places - but ultimately that's what happens. Yes sometimes dogs do get out - they push past you and bolt, they dig, kids let them out - but all of these are preventable. Our dogs don't go out unsupervised. Period. We let them out to go to the bathroom, and we watch them and keep an eye on them. If they're out to play, we're out there with them. My dogs won't bolt out the door - but there are times the door needs to be open for a longer period of time, and we put them out of the way, just in case. They're both great with other animals and people - my beagle might go after a mouse if she sees one, but even then as soon as it moved she'd probably run away with her tail tucked - but, you just never know with any dog or animal, what they're capable of. And they should all be treated as animals with the potential to turn back to their instincts and do what animals do.

Dirty underwear? omg. That's despicable. When DD was little, I asked her to go through her things that she had outgrown to give to charity. She came up with all the junky ripped clothing that still fit her, but otherwise not really suitable to wear anymore. I asked her why she didn't want to wear these things anymore and she said because it was ripped and torn. So then I asked her if it wasn't good enough for her to wear, why would it be good enough for someone else, especially someone who had next to nothing and was probably embarrased that she didn't have any nice things at all. It stunned her into silence. So now the old ripped stuff is put in bags marked "Rags" and we ask around if anyone (or any instituion) could use them, some of my quilting friends love the "free fabric". Gently used items, are washed and taken to whatever charity (or women's shelter) is in the most need at the time. I am also a bit of a online shopaholic (lol) And a major bargain hunter (and darn good at it! :-). Sometimes the stuff (not always) I get online doesn't fit or isn't something we'd wear, instead of spending the postage and sending it back, we save it for charity. On the weekend, Old Navy had an amazing deal on jeans and tops, with free shipping. Jeans for $1.47, up to $3.00. So I ordered quite a few things for myself and dd, hoping that they will all fit! But if not, it's going to charity, with the tags on. I know if they don't fit us they will fit someone else and it's brand new with the regular price being 20x the price I paid on sale. It would cost me more in postage and/or gas to send them back. When Christmas rolls around and the clothing drives start, we usually have a nice pile of brand new clothing that we give, that was within our budget and didn't have to go out and buy things at full price. So it works out pretty good for us that way. BJ