Thanks everybody for your input. I went ahead and ordered NILES COCHET along with two other Teas and a Bourbon. He is simply too handsome not to give him a try. The fragrance really doesn't have to be strong. It just has to be present. For example, BELINDA'S DREAM has a light fruity fragrance (almost like Celestial Seasons raspberry tea, but milder). Nothing to rave about but it is persistent and detectable under most conditions. That combined with gorgeous flowers, unbeatable repeat, and superb disease resistance makes her a keeper in mom's garden (I also planted a Belinda's Dream in my MIL's garden, but don't tell my mom). If Niles Cochet's blossoms live up to the images AND he has some fragrance AND his foliage is resistant to black spot in coastal Virginia, then he will be worth the effort/expense. I think I need to give my card a rest. Here is what I've ordered just within the last week or so: Clementina Carbonieri Climbing Radiance Climbing White Maman Cochet (2) Deuil du Dr. Reynaud (pour moi, j'adore Bourbons!) Niles Cochet Rock Hill Peach Tea Souvenir de Francis Gaulain Of course I still need 2 more shrub roses, 1 Floribunda, 1 Tea, 2 climbing Teas, 1 vintage Hybrid Tea, and a David Austin. Sigh, it never ends...

If you can't use anything with Deet I suggest you get the Avon Skin So Soft Repellant. I used up what I had and need to get more and that stuff really works. Plus it won't dry out your skin and smells nice. I have those Clip On Off fans but when the mosquitos are buzzing around they don't do much good. Good Luck and take it easy. West Nile I had it a couple of years ago. I try to keep sprayed when I venture outdoors.

Thank you Jim. YES, they are spraying the breeding areas, they fog from trucks all the time in the Dallas and surrounding areas. They fog with MALATHION, which is an organophosphate, way more dangerous than a pyrethroid. Which are broken down by sunlight, chlorine in the water, bacteria in streams and lakes. It has to TOUCH the insect, which is why they aerial sprya when the mosquitoes are most active. Bees are in their hives, wasps are in their nests, neither should be impacted to any degree. I spray my chicken coop with pyrethrins and you can use it on the birds. You don`t have to take off your shoes, wash your car, wash your patio furniture, it is not absorbed well by skin. You don`t have to turn off your ac or cover your house. The funniest thing I have seen yet was the lady screaming at city council that she DRENCHES her kids in DEET and is upset they are spraying this POISON on her kid. Though why her kid is out in the middle of the night I have no idea. Look up DEET you idiot! 3 deaths,worldwide from pyrethroids, all from extremely concentrated and lengthy exposures, deaths from organophosphates? Thousands if not hundreds of thousands. DEET? Thousands, plus seizures, other medical problems. They never should have told anyone. We are aerial sprayed and fogged all the time. I am here to tell you there is no impact here either. Lots of bees, wasps, aphids, whitefly, dragonflies, butterflies, moths, roaches.... I am surprised anyone in Dallas is still alive the way they have been carrying on, thought they all would have died by now. All we have been doing is fielding calls from angry Dallasites who don`t bother to find out the facts. My opinion of people living in Dallas has certainly dropped lately, one more person cusses at me for "dropping poison on me" I am going to SCREAM! Tally Ho!

Many of us agree with Sue, Nicki. We consider you rather an old friend that we've had little news of for some time, and we've been wondering how things have been going ... and concerned about you. Even if you may not be too proud of whatever news there may be ... many of us have been over a number of hills and around several corners during our lives, and it takes quite a lot to shock us. I hope that you're making a good start on the New Year: good wishes for a fine one ahead. ole joyful