I don't think 8 roses are too many to start with. That's how many I started with two years ago now. Last year I added about 30 more. This year I'm adding another 30 (I think, not sure what it was on the last count). Peace does fine here in Wisconsin, it will die to the ground but it comes back and was three to four feet tall by fall. It does get blackspot but I use that Bayer Garden Disease Control stuff and it is very simple and works well. I'd recommend leaving some room in your rose garden so you can add to it. You'll want to do some research on this forum for good cut roses once you've had more experience with roses. A good cut rose is more than just a pretty bloom - other factors to consider are how long it lasts in a vase (some very pretty roses only last a few hours) or how well it perfumes a room (some of the cut roses have very little scent). Check out Palatine roses as they have a great selection of beautiful cut roses. For other nurseries, be sure to check Dave's Garden Watchdog for feedback from gardeners. Some of those pretty catalogs look good but don't deliver what they promise. When you get your roses in the spring be sure to plant them deep. Don't over-do the fertilizer as they won't need any right away. And if they don't turn out well then don't give up. One of the roses I thought would be great turned out not to do very well for me, it was a different color than I thought it would be and didn't bloom much. It died over the winter and I replaced it this year with a different rose that was much closer to the color I really wanted and that rose has done much better. I hope they all survive the winter, but if they don't it means an open spot that I can get another rose to fill.

i completely sympathize w/ all of you. august is the one month that i am really NOT proud of our gardens. there is a famous garden designer/gardener in Vancouver, Pam Frost, who will not let anyone visit her garden in August. 'blousy' is her term for it, but then Pam's english, and the english are so lovely with their euphamisms.i think the use of 'scruffy' in one of the above posts- is far more appropriate. I myself call it 'the jungle', when the plants on our narrow paths really take the term 'touchy feely' to new heights. whacking and pruning are great for purging and purifying. as we are in our houses, when the chaos gets out of control, we can get quite uncomfortable. So Ms. Snippy if on the prowl, feeling better every hour.... best, mindy

Tym, As Pirate Girl said, you're too concerned about watering these. They'll be fine. They are drawing resources from their lower leaves in order to live, but this takes months. As the resources are depleted, the lower leaves dry up. You can remove or not. This is a natural process, especially when they're in growth - as new growth appears, old growth dies. As you note, until there are roots there is no reason to water them. The only condition where you would is one you can't supply right now - lots of sun and warmth, a broad expanse of sidewalk or a heating mat, and the plant sitting in pure pumice in a pot that will warm easily. Until you have those conditions when an Aloe is rootless, watering is fruitless - or rather it's worse than fruitless, because it will kill the plant. Just be kickin' it with the Aloe - stand it up in a nice sturdy vase/container (a 155mm shell casing works great), or leave it potted in dry soil, and spritz as needed. It will be fine until growing time. I hope this has convinced you, because frankly I'm out of words.

Jeanie - my screens are fiberglass too, but I've seen them eat thru the aluminum as well. You can buy a screen patch kit if you want to take the time and have the patience to sew a patch over the hole. I don't have either of those, but I can focus long enough to cut a nice square of duct tape for both side of the holes! LOL!!! Duct tape fixes anything. DH came home from work the other day with a blow-out on the heel of his work-boot. Yep, he had it strapped with duct tape. My oldest DD got a tear in her dress at Senior Prom many years ago. Fixed it with corsage pins and duct tape. That's my girl!!! True story. Larry - I vote with Dawn to just go ahead can kill the blister beetles. I physically moved a few to another area and now they've disappeared. My fear is that there out exploring and will soon find my Original Gargen out in the front part of our land, which is where the okra and beans are. I got all excited this morning when you said you were planting southern peas on another thread! I still have some space and finally, a little more time ....but now I'm afraid it would be pointless. Carol - THAT'S JUST WRONG! I think Larry's got a great idea on the rebar. Gonna file that one away for future use myself. Wish you were closer, we've got lots. We planted late too and are just now getting blooms on the melons, okra and green beans. Paula