Yeah the Growing Citrus and about another half dozen popular guides, coffee-table style booklets, etc are not in depth enough. I'm ready to order Biology of Citrus. I'm hoping it will answer all my *very specific* technical questions I have been unable to find in research articles ... of course I'm dreaming. At least I'm hoping it will fill the missing knowledge gaps and perhaps identify how citrus DIFFER from other foliage, especially other fruit trees. I'm hoping it's as technical as The Citrus Industry Volumes (of which the first two volumes are now free online at http://lib.ucr.edu/agnic/webber/). Every once in a while I do a search for the whole collection of the Citrus Industry, but it's just so darn expensive.

Florence, Your very kind words had such a calming soothing effect on me. I read your message and literally said out loud....awwwwwww....thank you so much for turning my day around. Sometimes all it takes is just a very small kindness. I promise I will pay it forward to someone else today. PLEASE please let me know if there are any get-togethers.The problem is I too have a very very busy summer myself tho. Can you believe 3 weddings, 3 engagement parties, 4 bridal showers and I'm a bridesmaid too?..whew...so I completely understand. I truly love reading your posts and seeing your lovely roses. I always know I'm gonna smile when I see you here or in the rose forum. Please have a blessed rosey day. Becky

Hi Kate, I've tried to think of a way to answer this since you posted it. Unfortunately it's as thou I were asked to pick my favorite child. I just can't do it. I'm lucky enough now to have some incredible roses. Healthy, vigorous, beautiful flowers of all different types and colors. Can't pick just one no matter what. Some wonderful choices in this thread.

Notice how everybody is suggesting different varieties? There are a lot of wonderful Teas. Currently competing for first place in my affections are 'Etoile de Lyon', 'Archduke Joseph', and 'Mme. Antoine Mari'. All are big, strong, healthy, frugal, elegant plants, with very beautiful flowers when conditions are favorable. MAM's last, abundant flowering looked more like a Polyantha's than a Tea's, the flowers, in corymbs, were so numerous and the blooms so small; but it was hot and droughty. In spring the blooms were large and luscious. She's gearing up for another flush now in spite of a month or so with no water. 'Etoile de Lyon' is, oh, just wonderful: I have a recent thread on her. I love yellow roses, and she is that, not one of the pink and lemon or natural-peach-ice-cream-colored types. 'Archduke Joseph' has achieved the feat of turning into a full-sized climber, currently about 15' x 10' x 10', still setting buds in spite of a month of drought. Shapely coppery-pink fragrant blooms and particularly excellent, clean foliage. All these varieties have at least some fragrance--least to most, EDL, MAM, AJ--and all have individually beautiful flowers, though perhaps EDL is the most stunning of them all--though MAM can compete there.