I figured we'd have lots of company across the country with balling (aka botrytis petal blight - thanks Michael). We finally had a dry week and the buds with fried edges have opened relatively cleanly after that week. I hadn't thought of the wet being a reason for the shattering, Harry, but you're entirely right - they've lasted maybe a day if that. Unfortunately with all the rain and weak young canes from being pruned to the ground, all the longer canes are lying on the ground. I tried to move a few to upright but they snapped right off at the base, and I'm not risking those with only one or two canes. Too many times that has been the death of the rose, equivalent I guess to ripping off the rootstock at the base to kill it. I'm sort of hoping this will be a form of "pegging" so those canes lying on the ground sprout up laterals, but I've found most of my HTs and floris are reluctant to do this. Ah well, I'll prune them back when they're done blooming and we'll move on from there. Cynthia

I love your yellows and Miss Amber. Midas Touch is the best color at the rose park, it glows in gloomy weather.

EveryoneâÂÂs pictures are so cheerful lookingâ¦yellow roses always make me smile. A realtor friend once told me if you want to sell your house quickly to plant yellow flowers out frontâ¦that yellow sticks in buyers' minds, and at the end of the day, people always remember the house with the yellow flowers. I definitely believe that to be true. Sunsprite Eternal Flame (would grow this one for its fragrance alone) Gina Lollobrigida Easy Going (fades from apricot yellow to buff yellow) White Licorice (pastel yellow fading to white over time) And, of course, Julia Child: And a few blends having very yellow moments Peace Love & Peace Strike it Rich Rio Samba George Burns

Dear seil, thank you for reassuring me about my rose :) it's my first one and I bought it without knowing anything on growing roses, had to catch up quickly on the internet after the purchase) hopefully it will be fine (as I also have another one to repot after blooming). As for the water bulb, actually the rose hasn't touched it for 2 days (after I hosed it through), so it's just there in "emergency" case (is there such a case with roses?) as the temperatures really go high unexpectedly here during the day. But I will take it out tomorrow to see how it goes without it) The mesh is the remedy from my dogs - they think they are great gardeners and tend to dig out soil from the pots (they share the terrace with roses), so I try to discourage them from it for no one was hurt :) Do freshly replanted young plants need water-dilluted fertilising? Internet resources say contradictory things about it.. Help?