Eric, Well, there are too many to name, but some that come to me at once are 'Common Moss'--lanky, derived from 'Centifolia', fragrant, fascinating buds 'Crested Moss' (aka 'Chapeau de Napoleon')--another Centifolia sport, with charming cocked hat buds and all the fragrance, fullness, and old rose color of its parent 'Mme. Zoetmans'--white with slight blush, shortish Gallica habit (forms a thicket of upright stems and suckers), extremely rich fragrance 'Alain Blanchard'--red, shortish Gallica, not as much fragrance as some but it has delightful freckles 'De la Maitre-Ecole' (there are several variants of this name), Gallica, medium height, vigorous, large double fragrant pink-mauve-lilac blooms, gets mildew in summer but is totally untroubled by it 'Belle sans Flatterie'--double pink refined Gallica, low suckering habit, robust, fragrant 'Belle Amour'--thorny lanky plant of uncertain derivation, charming peach-tinted pink semi-double blooms with a boss of golden stamens, myrrh-scented 'Fantin-Latour'--big shrub probably with some China in its ancestry, smallish double light pink very fragrant blooms, smooth stems and few thorns, gets summer mildew but isn't bothered by it; the whole plant is so robust and healthy and RIGHT that it's a pleasure to work with it 'Ypsilante'--big flat pink-mauve-gray fragrant blooms like velvet powderpuffs 'Tuscany Superb'--extremely deep rich wine-red, double flowers, suckering Gallica habit, not too tall, foliage colors in fall 'Capitain John Ingram'--Moss with small fragrant double blooms with a button eye, deep lilac to purple and velvety above, smooth and lighter before, to be studied up close 'Juno'-- beautiful large double pale blooms, fragrant, lax rather thorny growth, tough plant, not too large in my garden Well, I could go on and on, these are just off the top of my head. VERY IMPORTANT: just because a rose isn't on this list doesn't mean it's not as good as, or even better, than the ones I've listed. All the Albas are good. Among Damaks I didn't list 'Leda' and 'Pink Leda', among others. And there many, many wonderful Gallicas, which had a period of glory in the first part of the 19th century that resulted in many fine varieties. And the Mosses are fascinating. Then there are the Scots roses derived from R. spinosissima (=R. pimpinellifolia), which I don't grow because they don't like my conditions, but I would if they did better for me. 'Stanwell Perpetual' that you list is a Spinosissima cross. Have you had a chance to look at once-blooming old roses in a garden? Because the flowers are only a small part of the story. I like the range of habits and variety of growth of the old roses, some making a thicket of upright stems, others sending out lanky long canes; some thorny, some bristly; most with more or less rough-textured growth; many with fragrant, slightly sticky buds; showing a wide variety of hips; many coloring in fall. These roses that I love look, to my eyes, wilder than their Oriental cousins the Teas and Chinas, and they have in bloom an opulence all their own. Melissa

I have several in my collection. The beaches around Lake Superior have been fairly well stripped of agates - from so many folks of like mind - over these many years. The large ones I have are all OLD, and were given to me - the largest I've ever found, and this was 12 years ago, was only the size of my thumbnail. They are GORGEOUS, but they seriously discourage rock hounds out for agates up there now on public sites. If you REALLY want to do some beach hunting, you'll need to stay at a place with their own private beach and get permission to "look around" for them. The further north you go the better luck you'll likely have. -Marie

I don't know the timing for bloom in Duluth, but there is a way to preserve peonies. Pick them at golfball stage, before blossom break. When you need them, snip the ends and put in water, strip the leaves, dip the cut ends in melted candle wax, wrap the stems in damp newspaper, put in plastic bags and refrigerate. They can hold for maybe 4 months. I believe there should be no fruits in the fridge with them. I also don't remember if the buds should be wrapped in damp paper. It's been a while since I had enough flowers to do this. A web search might give you more information.

Have you thought of providing cover for game birds? There are seed mixes that can be sown on recently tilled or disturbed soil. They are of annual plants. Contact Wildlife Nurseries Inc. in Oshkosh, WI Phone 1-920-231-3780 for information and to get a current price list. Looking at the 2008 price list they have quite a variety of plants and seeds available that may be quite suited to your needs.