Marvelous -- I get the sense the first garden in this series is a "young" garden where the garden writer is still working on the bones, yet it will be mag one day. The 2nd one is obviously more mature and what I might imagine of a CA garden w/ a mix of "English" plants w/ the more exotic Z9 plantings.... sheesh, what an idea to put a water wheel in one's backyard! Lorepetalum Ch. is marginal here; I'd love to try it but doubt its winter ability -- farther south in VA it's no problem. These gardens are scrumptious. --cindy

Ronda One of my favourite rose books was recommended by Rosebud, a former forum enabler, I'm not sure of the name of the book, it's at home in Oz and overseas so this is guess work ....Landscaping with Roses and I think the author's last name is Cox ???? I like it because it has lots of ideas for how to use roses rather than just describing individual blooms and bushes. The Tea Rose book is very good, it has quite a lot of technical information for the identification of varieties and as Jon said tries to explain some of the common mis-identification of roses. The whole thing about the Duchess being called Countess something or other makes me want to sulk though!!

I think the whole problem here is that we are trying to compare apples to oranges. HT's and Shrub roses are two different classes for a reason. If you are expecting HTs to grow and bloom in the same manner as Shrub roses then you surely will be disappointed. Same is true the other way around. If you are expecting Shrub roses to give you the large beautifully formed blooms of an HT you'll be disappointed too. You can not compare them to each other. That's unfair to both classes. In my experience if you try to even compare one HT against another you come up perplexed. EVERY variety of rose is DIFFERENT. They each have their own habits and no two are alike. You need to just enjoy and appreciate each one for it's own unique characteristics.

Hi Everyone! I know I've been missing in action lately. Sorry about that but I am slowly coming back from a major surgery I had back in February. One more surgery to go this year and if that goes well I am good to go. Enough of that. I've missed you all but have peeked in here and there, to see what you are all up to. I haven't done much in the garden this year, but am finally able to get out and at least smell the roses, literally, so am happy about that. The sun has been shining on and off, but we are expecting some rain needed this coming weekend. Today I managed to make some fragrant Vanilla Chai tea this afternoon that is so good with sugar and a spot of cream--yum! Have any of you ladies tried it? It's made by Bigelow and is my new favorite tea!!! Also made some individual shortcakes using a package of Hostess shortcakes that I filled with fresh fruits and drizzled a little cassis over them........ so yummy!! Hugs to all my cottage garden friends. XX Becky