Hi, Pierre, I live in Rome and confirm the gardens already suggested in this thread are all worthwile to visit, the gardens "Della Landriana" included. Over the last decade I went there twice a year for the spring and fall horticultural show that has become a classic among Italian garden lovers. The Landriana gardens extend over an area of more than 10 hectares, tended throughout the year by a host of dedicated gardeners and I never ever detected signs of "bad neglect" as stated by Maurizio. I'm wondering what he might be up to, anyway, this forum is there for everyone to express their opinions and I wanted to give you mine. If anyone was looking for further evidence, just take a look at the photo gallery telling their own story. http://www.aldobrandini.it/sito/giardi/galleria.php Wishing you a nice time over here elkey

Cedar Hill all the way across Dallas? Hey, I had to go to North Haven before I knew Petal Pusher's (formerly Kings Creek and Redentas) carried antique roses. If formerly Redentas in Cedar Hill didn't carry the roses I like, then I treaked to the Redentas near Parkland Hospital. Carol is responsible for the great variety of roses in the Dallas store. I did all this driving when I lived outside of Midlothian.

I've been there too. The plants are nice, but the prices are pretty high.

Portland has a few nice gardens. One, not too dramatic in the flower catergory, is the Japanese Garden just on the edge of the city center. The Rose Garden is across the parking from the entrance to the Japanese Garden. One garden (you should keep these streets on record) is on a section of Military Lane off Macadam Avenue, overlooking the Willamette River about 2 miles south of downtown, it's called the Garden of the Bishop's Close. The natural scenery is fairly impressive around here for the wild areas. Mt. Hood National Forest is about 1 hour east of Portland. One way to go there, is to drive east through the Columbia River Gorge to Hood River city, and go south behind Mt. Hood, tallest peak in Oregon, only all year skiing in the USA I recall. That's lost lake at the base of Mt. Hood. With the gorge route, it's possible to stop at Mulnomah falls which is 20 minutes from the east side of Portland: It's about 3 hours to see Crater Lake far down south, but I'm not sure if it's worth the drive unless you plan to see more of the state.That's a lake in the top of a volcanic crater, with a small volcanic cone in the center. Portland is nice to visit, but if you come to Portland, it's Oregon that make the visit. This is a state to visit from May to September to really enjoy the green and get some warm weather. The coast is famous for scenery - here's one beach in Seaside, about 1 hour west. And on the way there, about 7 miles shy of Seaside, is this largest Sitka spruce in the USA, there is a sign. The tree is maybe 300 feet off the highway. On the way there, try eating at Camp 18 restaurant, a logging museum style restaurant - largest ridge pole in US. It has old machinery outside in the parking lot, and inside. Huge meals. It's in a forest community next to a small river. Before I forget, there is a very large new garden - the OREGON GARDEN, in Silverton, about 1.5 hours south of Portland. It is the new major garden of the state. Young, but nice. You can find it on www.google.com for sure. Some people like to "hop" north into Washington to see Mt. St. Helens which blew it's top about 1980. Visible from Portland. If you have children with you, look up on the internet APE CAVE or...