Wellrounded, Early on you asked about Noisettes. FWIW my experiences in a zone6-7 growing environment is that the simpler noisettes (as opposed to the tea noisettes) are stronger through winter than HTs. I grow Chinas and Rosa moschata. The chinas have little winter damage; R. moschata likes the warmer area (up by the house) and tolerates with slow growth the bottom of the hill which I've measured as five to seven degrees colder in difficult winters. The smaller blooming single and semidouble and double noisettes put on good size in my gardens. They keep their older canes through winter although they will loose canes put out in late fall. In a warmer area downstream, down the river in Knoxville, with some kind of heat island from the city plus many, many cars going by each day, a tea noisette (Duch. de Auerstadt) had great growth and bloom. Mine from the same source struggles. If you grow Chinas easily, it's worth trying the simpler noisettes as well as R. moschata (for its fragrance and elegance). If you're in an area with great heat (for your zone) and most of your HT canes make it through almostall winters, try a tea noisette or two. Much luck, they are worth the effort.

Thanks for the comments everyone! Happy, yes the glass was a lot of work! Some of the pieces were so tiny that by the time I got them wrapped with copper foil you could barely see the glass so I would have to use an exacto knife and trim the copper. I'm happy with how it turned out though. Lynne, are you asking about the plants the butterflies are on? If so, the Gulf Frit is on pink penta "Starburst" and there are dune sunflowers in the background. The zebra longwing is on purple porterweed. ~Betsy

You really got some good shots! That spider has doubled in size since y'all were here. It's doing a great job catching the insects in my garden. I'm glad you made it to Tyler. I've wanted Auguste Renoir ever since I saw it there last August. Thanks for the visit. I really enjoyed it. I live so far out in the boonies that it's rare that I get a chance for garden visitors. Carrie

Hi Rosemary, I am sorry that you are feeling rather isolated from your young ones. It sounds as though they are either in process of, or on the verge of, getting more and varied responsibilities. As you realize, and a number have said, even the nearby ones sometimes don't visit a lot, though there are more opportunities of seeing the grands (even if for babysitting). And one can get a fleeting glimpse of them from time to time. Rosemary, do you find that you sit at home quite a lot? Don't sort of stew in your own juice, I hope. Have you found some social, church, sport, community, etc. functions where you can meet new friends? How about some volunteer activities? There are many people who find it hard to get around, or are lonely, who would apprciate a friend. In our area they have organized a goup of younger seniors who help some older ones do chores in their home, to permit them to live there longer. There's Meals on Wheels in a number of areas, and driving people dealing with cancer for treatment, etc. We've heard of Big Brothers and Big Sisters but I haven't heard of Big Grannies (Oh! Oh! I think I made a boo-boo!) but many families with children have the Grands at a long distance, so could use some substitutes. When we were in Korea, our children used to call a number of the other unrelated adults Aunt Helen and Uncle Frank. Our chilfren's mother was head of food service in major hosp. for 20 years and I overseas missionary for several years, parish clergyperson, liberal protestant, for a number of years, then a personal financial advisor for several. Our children were taught by both parents to choose their own way, and I've often said that it seems to me that one of my main jobs as a parent is to help my offspring prepare themselves for independence. Two children, both in their 40s, no grands. My daughter is rather footloose. She spent a year in Hamburg near the end of H.S. (2nd last?) and later a recent German immigrant, initially speaking German to me, thought that daughter spoke it so well that she'd learned it at home. She spent a few years in AZ a few years ago, then was connected to a S O 120 mi. away for several years, but now breaking up and she's moving to back to AZ - planning to buy a place and taking her stuff with her. So helping her move the last of it to storage on Sunday was rather bittersweet. Serious business. Bachelor son lived in Toronto, 120 miles away, for several years, and here in London for a number of years recently, and we have spent quite a lot of time together. He hasn't had a driving licence and I've driven him around quite a bit in rcent years. He'll be getting his licence back soon. Their mother died in this city about three years ago and they were busy for some time disposing of her assets and selling her home. I've always felt rather close to daughter (her mother and I parted when she was 6, son was 9). AZ is a long way away. I've done some long distance driving, going 1,600 mi. from here through U.S. to Sask. several times. But I'm nearing 80, and my son is making objecting noises about my idea of driving 1,600 mi. out there for family reunion at brother's farm in July. Would also like to visit former colleagues in British Columbia, and son doesn't like that idea. Also have some idea of visiting NC (former overseas workers' reunion) and GA (niece's family) at the end of July. Daughter is thinking of attending family reunion at my brother's in Saskatchewan in early July, I said maybe get one way ticket, we drive her home to AZ, then I head for NC. Son doesn't like that idea, either. This business of his vetoing my major travel is a new thing. So I am feeling rather bereft at the idea of "losing" daughter. We call back and forth and send emails. I have an old computer but may upgrade to one that will allow me to have a mike and webcam. But, living in the country and unwilling to use satellite, I am confined to landline and am not sure whether webcam works on that. M a y be sl o w m o t i o n! Rosemary, I hope that you find ways to alleviate some of the sadness and emptiness (empty nest syndrome?) that have been part of your experience lately. And not just some sort of stop-gap alleviation, but some ways of operation which will prove increasingly satisfactory over the long term. ((((((Rosemary)))))) ole joyful