Thank you Robert for such wonderful photos and for sharing your technique in using re-bar. We've grown a Rambler on re-bar for years and kept it to c. 8 feet tall. Luxrosa

Carrie, you hit the nail squarely on the head -- some days the enormity of planting my roses can get to me. Most days, though, I'm really excited about setting them free from their pot prisons. Our property has been farm land for its entire history, so our soil is not the usual rocky Virginia clay that I'm used to. In most places, I can easily sink a shovel its entire depth, and the soil that comes up is varying shades of brown. My pH is a little low, but I'll be able to work with that. Since you asked, here are a couple of 'before' photos of the area by the barn that I see as becoming a killer rose garden. The soil there is even better than I've seen anywhere else -- I guess it was all those cows and stuff milling around for so many years that did the trick. Under this mound of honeysuckle is an old cattle chute. During the first day of barn renovation a few weeks ago, I had the equipment operator clear out all the rotten fencing and overgrowth while he was waiting to work on the building. Here's the equipment doing its thing: The south side of the barn, after the cattle chute was removed. We've owned this place for 5 years (though we've only lived here for 5 months) and I had never seen this view because of all the overgrowth. I left the gate that had been at the end of the cattle chute because I liked it and I thought I could use it in the garden. I see it with smallish climbers at each corner. Here's the barn progress as of a few days ago. I think it will be a wonderful backdrop to a country rose garden. BTW, it IS all Robert's fault. Without his example, I would probably have gone about all of this in a much more controlled manner. Seeing what he has created in his garden gives me the encouragement to do roses on a much broader scale, and the courage to try things without the fear of making mistakes. Thank you, my friend. Connie

Oh yum, Jackie! Dang - I woke up this morning and Marji had already ordered Quietness from Chamblees. Your roses are beautiful. Do you spray? I can't remember. Marji's mom is a complete novice with roses and although she likes to putter around with her only other rose, Cherry Parfait, she's not likely to go beyond a Messenger spray now and then. Thank you all, once again, for your suggestions. I'm so happy to have such a resource! Happy Mother's Day! Sue

Hi I am posting the pictures and I hope I do this right. I just wish I had taken more pictures at Connie's, but it started to rain. I know others took pictures so I hope more will post as I totaly forgot to take pictures of her fantastic front yard rose beds. Enjoy Liz Here is a link that might be useful: Memorial Day Open Houses in Virginia