Jim, I don't think American Pillar would die from too little water. My garden has been in drought for the past two years. I have two large American Pillars. One is along a fence line and only gets rainwater. The other is in a potentially worse situation; it grows at the base of a mature walnut and up into that walnut about 35'. That walnut takes up available moisture. Last summer my place was in the exceptional drought catagory from July through October. Both American Pillars came through last summer with no cane loss. Verticillium wilt can kill roses quickly. If the rose appears not to have rotted in place (and that would bring in a whole lot of different saprophytic fungi), if I were you, I'd contact Cornell and ask if they could check for fungal or bacterial problems on both roots and stems.

Steve - I can't remember if it was Greenland Nurseries - outside of Sherwood Park, Alberta or if it was Holes Greenhouse in St. Alberta, Alberta. Well, if it can be said to be on steroids and bloomed well without disease, then, for sure I'm going to keep it!! It really is beautiful. Carol

Have a 2013 Ford Escape, Eco Boost (love it), actually love the entire vehicle. Formerly purchased a first year of the Ford Explorer model (was pregnant with DD), lived rurally and have always had labradors. Was a great SUV for loading lots of kids, dogs, luggage, etc. Good for running around town, long drives, or for vacation destinations that didn't require air travel. For OBX & other similar beach locations, 4WD is great since you can take your vehicle onto the beach. Taking small children to the beach takes alot of effort, along with many cumbersome necessities that are easier driven to the beach, than hauled over large dunes wilst walking with the little ones. I do not have the 4WD on my new Escape. Don't currently have the need for off road driving, although I considered continuing with the 4WD option for driving in the snow. Depends on your lifestyle. I've had 2 Explorers, then went with the "mini van". HATED every minute of driving that, and returned to the Escape, purchased the hybrid model which I loved, and is currently driven by my college-aged DD. When DD went off to college, I purchased the Ford Edge, Loved it, but DH hated it and never drove it because there were alot of blind spots. I adjusted to the blind spots, but not DH. It had a big (by today's standards) engine, but I liked the pick-up. I don't like 4 cylinder (the smallest?) engine vehicles since I just feel like they take too long to get from 0-60 mph. FF to January, 2013, and I am back to an Escape. Looked around from October 2012 until January, and nothing else really thrilled me among my options. So, once again I am driving the Ford Escape. I would suggest purchasing the Eco Boost if your budge allows. An absolute pleasure to drive. Haven't calculated the mileage, but I believe it is on par with the Honda CRV (DH vehicle). Seems that all of the new model vehicles offer the computer screen which I thought would be hard for me to get used to, but in reality, it took all of a week to have it down pat. I opted for leather interior (dogs) and remote start (love getting into a warm car when it's cold outside). The model is a bit smaller than the other Escapes I've owned. Less cargo space, etc., but from what I looked at over a few months before deciding on the Escape, the cargo area isn't any smaller than the back of the CRV or other manufacturers' comps. I am completely satisfied. Until I buy my BMW 7 series, I will continue to be a loyal Ford customer, lol. Happy shopping!

Your Bolero is doing great! Am I correct in assuming that it is own root? This is my first year growing Bolero, own root, and I call it, "the little rose that could". Not little flower size or little production of blooms, but little of stature. Bolero looks like it could be a better candidate than the current miniature roses at the front of my rose bed that function as 'naked knee coverers' for the floribundas behind them. Unfortunately, the minis are extremely black spot and spider mite prone. They torture me with their constant, intense management issues. Moses