Late to this thread but I have six Sugar Moons planted in a row a few feet apart. I have Pope John Paul II in a different bed. I live in Iowa, where one day it is a crisp 75 and the next day is 85 and hot in the shower humid and perhaps the next day could feel like fall. My SM's are not as fragrant as my Pope John Paul II. The blooms are not as big either. In fact, some of the blooms just outright refused to open. I was diligent this year and sprayed once a week with neem oil on the Sugar Moons completely ignoring my Pope John Paul II, Golden Shower climber and the mini generic grocery store roses and my trashy hot pink knock out in different sections of the yard (you can't have too many rose bushes). White Sugar Moon roses are beautiful IMO - It is why I snagged them all up at the local nursery. This year is my first year planting them. Japanese beetles love them. The buds are tiny. Like three to four peas big. They have black spot, also have pulled all the yellow leaves off. I have babied these Sugar Moons. I water early morning every few days, sprayed weekly, snipped any faulty looking foliage. The Japanese Beetles flocked to my Sugar Moons front and center. I pick them off and throw them in a soapy bucket of Dawn dish soap. Next morning is the same with Japanese beetles and the Sugar Moons. When I check in the morning and the evening, all the other cheapie roses, trashy Menards knock out, Golden Shower climber and my Pope John Paul II are fine. Not a single beetle. I planted my SM's so I could sit in my favorite chair and look out to the garden from my fireplace room and enjoy them. The real MVP for us this year are the David Austins I planted in front of them (Queen of Sweden). I prefer white roses too but it is hard to turn away gifts and there's always room for another rose.... I wish our weather wasn't so wishy washy this year. I am being frustratingly patient with my Sugar Moons. All of the other roses are fine, no beetles, no black spot, no yellow fungus.

It's been cold here in Orland. It hasn't hit the freezing point yet, it will soon. We bring our winter tomatoes into the garage every night to keep them warm and to make sure the deer don't get to them. I have all my pots gathered together next to the steps. I covered them up Friday night, but it didn't get that cold yet. I am planning to put christmas lights in my small citrus trees this year. I tried covering them up last yearand it was such a hassle to go out at night and cover them up and then to have to uncover them in the morning. I need to check on some of that "row cover" stuff to see if I can find some that is the right size. Donna

So so so sooooooooooooooooooooo glad that all is well with Baby! ((((Hugs)))) You sure have had a lot on your mind. I am glad you can relax now.

Great find - lucky you!!! Love those seltzer bottles too! I'm another eBay girl and have found some fab bargains here in the UK, such as a Smallbone of Devizes butcher's block for only £200, that retails for way more :) We've been buying (and selling) on eBay for about twelve years and most of our best furniture, antiques and decorative items have been found there. We also have a site called Preloved where we managed to pick up - literally, lol as DH had to drive miles into the darkest countryside - a Rangemaster all electric oven that retails for £2000........we paid £350 and it was barely used. We'd just sold the same oven (dual fuel - there was no mains gas at our onward purchase) with our previous house and were amazed to find a replacement in such great condition for such a good price!