I agree with you, Diane. I know when the neighbors' gardeners will be there and make sure all of my north facing windows are closed when they are expected. I have nearly given up washing my truck. I have to park on the street because the street is collapsing and needs re engineering. Instead, the City keeps adding more pavement to the surface so when it rains, the water overflows the curb and runs down the drive, through the garage, work room and once, into the kitchen. So, to prevent the issue, there is a HUGE mounded "speed bump" of concrete which has to be traversed at a sharp, 45 degree angle to get IN to the drive. My truck won't fit. The car does. I wash the truck, some blower jockey blows the street and my truck is trashed. It's almost just not worth it. Kim

bump to sink

If we're lucky I may be your neighbor duluthinbloomz4 :) We really do love the place, but it needs some bucks put into it to be worth what she'd like for it unfortunately. We had great hope to raise our son and future child there and still do if it's priced fairly. I guess we'll see. There are good quality private schools in Duluth, and we'd probably go that route. We met with the golf club (a fabulous course) and absolutely loved it. I hear that the gardens at French house are currently quite lovely (I understand that the current owner is devoted to them) but not original. While DH's idea of wanting to see them restored is quite wonderful (he's learned so much about that houses history and features he probably knows more than the owner LOL) he really dosen't realize the unbelievable amount of work that would be required to complete that awesome task. I think it would actually be two or three life's work heh heh but wow would it be wonderful when complete ;) I only have those pictures unless we buy the house. I believe that when printed out I could see the LA's name...so let me see if I can do that again. As to a plant list...I'll try that after I get a food list done for another poster with a stuborn baby LOL

I have three SdlM, and no place to shoehorn in another rose. I've only recently become aware of Tipsy Imperial Concubine as something special, and didn't realize what a beauty it is. If its blooms are larger than SdlM then it must really be something. The good spots in my garden are all taken, as well as some not so good ones, and I had to get rid of Souvenir de St. Anne's to accommodate William R. Smith, although the spot will turn out to be too small in the end. St. Anne's shrivels here with just a little bit of sun, which is a pity. I can't bear to plant any more teas in Tea Rose Row, especially since my last WRS bit the dust there. nippstress, Krista, bpncrow, rosefolly, fduk, thanks so much for your wonderful words. Praise from my fellow rosarians here has real meaning for me. rosefolly, I love taking pictures, and my problem is rather that I tend to focus on the problems in my garden rather than enjoying the beauty that's also there. I'm working on that, though. Melissa, you've found a jewel of a helper and I'm really happy for you. The chances of finding someone like that here are very slim. Truth be told, loner that I am I prefer to have the garden all to myself except of course my DH.