Thanks, Kim, for the confirmation. I checked on Chinese chives, it's the same as garlic chives mentioned in Field Roebuck's book. He stated, "In at least one controlled experiment, when planted underneath roses, garlic chives completely eliminated spider mites and reduced aphids." Rose magazine site stated that high-nitrogen chemical fertilizer does encourage aphids. The Canadian website that advocated fall fertilization, rather than spring, cited less insect problems with earlier nitrogen fertilization for wheat fields. Garlic chives have white flowers, it is listed among the invasive species. In my experience with invasive species, it's the least invasive, since it can be pulled up easily. It's a tiny bulb - rather than invasive roots. If you cut the flowering stem off before it becomes seeded, then you stop the growth. I was hoping it becomes invasive enough to gather a gallon for making pot stickers -but it did not spread fast enough in our 40" inch annual rain and high germination in magnesium rich soil. I also have the American chives with purple flowers, this is invasive since it spreads by roots. This chives is more drought-tolerant than Garlic, or Chinese chives. Calendula, or potted marigold, is just as pretty but more drought-tolerant than regular marigold. Calendula host many beneficial insects, especially green lacewings. These lacewings fly around and eat Calendula's pollens. But they give birth to larvae, named aphid lion. More info: "Each lacewing larva will devour 200 or more pests or pest eggs a week ... After this stage, the larvae pupate by spinning a cocoon with silken thread... the adult will live about four to six weeks...Each adult female may deposit more than 200 eggs. Nectar, pollen, and honeydew stimulate their reproductive process." What I like the most about garlic chives, or Chinese chives is its medicinal and anti-inflammation properties. It's especially yummy in potstickers, better than green onions. I like Calendula (comes in bright yellow and bright orange), since they are drought tolerant and still bloom during frost. Below is a picture of Calendula in my tomato garden:

I am out of state on vacation, but am thankful I checked gardenweb this morning with my laptop. Just got off the phone placing my order for this book with Ashdown. I'm thrilled to be getting this book earlier than I had anticipated, and at a price slightly lower than expected, even with shipping added. Hugs go to Jeri. And thank you Ashdown! Thank goodness for these tea lovers in Australia. Can we make Australia the 51st state? No, I don't suppose they'd be interested ... but I do love the folks down under! Randy

Cindy, what a great buy! Sounds like you found a good one. I can relate. Years ago, I found William C. Welch's "Antique Roses for the South" at the local Half Price Books store. It is in perfect condition. Inscribed inside the cover is: "Dec 1996, Julie, Kurt, knowing how much you love roses, thought you might enjoy this book. We love you, Uncle Ray & Aunt Delila." Julie & Kurt must have received the Christmas gift and promptly sold it. I, on the other hand, have enjoyed it for years, and continue to do so to this day. Uncle Ray & Aunt Delila ... I love you. Randy

Well, here are some more R. moyesii 'Geranium' This is the rose the highway department takes care of. It's a bit, upright shrub planted on the edge of wild woodland. It was quite overgrown with invasive honeysuckle, sumac and a few other things when the highway department decided to replace the culvert under the road. Without touching the rose, they cleared out everything between it and the road. Since then, every time they mow, the same thing happens. Since that is really the only help it needs, they take good care of it. Alain Blanchard We were warned this was a spreader, so it's planted between the vegetable garden and the yard, next to the horseradish. It looks like it is finally finding it feet, and will soon be a menace to vegetable society, but the lawn is safe. Jenny Duval The first time I read in Suzy Verrier's book that Jenny Duval and President de Seze were confused in commerce, it made no sense to me. It's like confusing Rosa Mundi and Felicite Parmentier. They don't look anything alike. This may be my best attempt at photographing Jenny to date. It's difficult because the flowers are a blend of pink, lilac, lavender and brown, and change over time and with the light. Not Reine de Violettes has the usual hybrid china collection of hooked thorns and short spines. It doesn't seem to be the same as other things people have acquired under that name, or I could reverse-engineer where it came from. It was the first time I ran into very fragrant, non-eglanteria foliage. Other people say they can smell the foliage on our Applejack. We do grow R. eglanteria, and that one is a true stinkbomb. I'm probably just spoiled. Pax Apollo is the rarest rose I grow. Years ago, there was a poster named Wendy who wandered the upper Plains looking for lost Hansen roses. All the experts agreed on this ID. It's an interesting rose. Like a lot of the American species hybrids, the petals don't have a lot of substance, and the flowers don't last long, but it is an attractive shrub out of flower. Thanks to all of you for the kind words.