Here it's a dreary day, having poured down during the night. I've gotten bad about paying attention to the weather forecasts. All I know is that somehow by Friday we're squeezing in THREE cold fronts. I wonder how that will work out. My paths need blowing SO badly. I continually think to myself I'm going to get the blower, but ha! Saying the words doesn't get it done even though it's such an easy job. My red camelia japonica that grows in a pot due to my at best neutral soil has one flower on it. It bloomed in November. I didn't know it would bloom again. Yesterday I really admired my Duquesa bush. It is so lovely and shapely about six feet across and four feet tall, hugging the 90-degree turn in the front sidewalk perfectly with lots of pretty, fragrant light peachy flowers. She is such a winner! Alas, poor Le Vesuve is a ratty version of itself with one large (1" diameter) cane dead and not much happening elsewhere. Methinks he is saying goodbye. Dare I think of a possible replacement, a big one since it's in the round center front bed? I feel I'm on the razor's edge of being a gardener or not being a gardener, continuing the garden or not continuing the garden, not knowing how to proceed. On the walk to the mailbox Hermosa's bright pink flowers always catch my eye right before her rangy, nearly naked canes do. Poor Darcy Bussell and SDLM are surrounded by weeds, and the driveway bed which has not been tended at all since May is a foot high with Bermuda grass thanks to my semi-abandoned neighbor's yard. I was startled a couple of days ago when I saw that the grass was blooming big whitish single flowers. Ahha! It wasn't the grass but rather Souv de St Anne's, unseen except for her blooms. So pretty. I don't even go out for the mail every day, so I barely know what's going on out there. I do think if I could just get the litter blown off the paths in the back I'd be happier and more confident about the future of it all. Poof! All done. Sherry Here is a link that might be useful: If only sweat were irrigation...

Ann, this book was in our local library branch purchased from funds donated by our local gardening club. I hadn't ever looked at it, so was so happy to go and check it out this pm. Thanks for the rec! Since you listed the mosses, I'll list the teas. Incidentally, I'd looked up all the mosses recommended on HMF and noticed that all except the Luxembourg are shown as being offered by Vintage and in some cases other nurseries as well. I'd never thought I could grow a moss here, so was intrigued by that section too. But for the teas, listed are Abricote Adam Antherose Bon Silene Bougerie Clara Sylvain Devoniensis Gaubault Julie Mansars Lady Warrender (says it's 'very dwarfish' - am going to check on this one!) La Sylphide Madam Desprez, the one Ann mentioned Marechal Bugreaud Nyphetas Pauline Plantier Princess Maria Saffrano Triumph de Luxembourg Virginie I haven't checked these on Hmf to see where/if they're available. Some of the names I'm not familiar with. This is a really interesting book with some great illus and photos. The roses were referred to as 'stars of the earth.' I hadn't heard that phrase before and liked it. Gean

What fun to see all these! Of the new introductions, I think the hybrid rugosa 'Wild Spice' rates a mention! I once had a hedge of Rosarie de l'Hay, one of my earliest to bloom, and it also had a glorious clove-spiked fragrance. Most rugosas share a unique quality to their scent. Glad to see 'Parole' on the list--a Kordes also sold as Buxom Beauty, a rose which leaped onto my wish list the first I heard of it!

The link below will allow you to contact the luxembourgish rose's specialists, the Vions. "De Gaard um Tietzebierg" is a collection dedicated to the luxembourgish breeders's obtentions. "North western" says little, you need to know from local neighbourghs if your area belongs to the "Oesling" or the "Gutland", the two luxembourgish "terroirs". The Gutland belongs to the Lorraine, the Oesling to the Ardennes. The climates are not the same. Best wishes, Pete Here is a link that might be useful: De Gaard um Tietzebierg