Oh, I forgot Clotilde Soupert is fragrant and beautiful - not wafting but definitely smelly - and not big, stays about 3-1/2 x 3-1/2. Really, she's very fragrant. Heavy bloomer, repeats fast and healthy. She's also my only rose that gets spider mites - both bushes and the climber. I've learned to recognize the pale leaves and hit them hard with the hose several days in a row. i believe she's due to get them now that it's the dry spring - except that we've just received a lot of rain so maybe this year the mites won't come. Young roses in our sandy soil need daily watering in the heat. It's not the sun. They need the sun, but they need water, too. Mine suffered badly their first year before I figured that out. You don't have to drown them. Watering even lightly but thoroughly everyday keeps the soil evenly moist at all levels as the water drains down - and away! A nice thick mulch is a must, too. Interestingly, last year I didn't replace the mulch in early spring, only applied a few inches of composted horse manure. One day in the summer when I got home at 5 o'clock for the heck of it I stuck my fingers down under the compost. It was still moist!! Even in the blow-torch sun all day (I water at 6:30 AM.) I was amazed. So use something - mulch or good compost. It does wonders. Sherry Here is a link that might be useful: If only sweat were irrigation...

Good one. I didn't look at this before. "Then we're not fully hardy either. Maybe those of us who enjoy "exotics" are demonstrating our shared African origins more than those who only plant things like arborvitaes and hardy hybrid rhododendrons" Are you insinuating that I think like an Australopithecine? Homo erectus? I would say Neandertal, but we all know he is not a common ancestor!LOL. What you don't know is how good I am at cave drawings! "Quite an improvement. Good time to think about doing some serious watering" Good to know. My yard is like sand. If I am home so I can water, it becomes expensive with the sprinkler system and all. I usually just let the lawn turn brown every summer, but I still need to water the plants. Take care. -Brian

norizam, I will have to look for Clothilde Soupert. Every picture I've seen of her is just beautiful! You know that's when you must have that rose lol. floridarose, We get into the 20's here once in a while. Seems we had quite a few freezes this year. I have a greenhouse for some things. The good thing about growing roses is they don't have to go in the greenhouse. I keep mine in pots for now so maybe that's why I don't get as good of winter bloom. I am starting over with roses here in FL. I had tons where I used to live but it was a very different growing experience there. I am learning how to grow them here in FL and its all different . Nematodes, sandy soil, tons and tons of bugs, humidity, you name it lol. Which dahlias will do well here? I saw some in bags at Lowes- Dinnerplate Dahlias, I think. Would those work? I had no clue Poppies would grow here I thought it was too hot. WOW! I would probably have to stake dahlias like i do the sunflowers, I bet so they don't fall over. SoFL Rose, I just got a bunch of different zinnia seeds. Do you just plant the seeds straight in the ground or start them indoors first? kingcobb, The curly willow branches do look interesting! I think I saw some of those at Michael's (craft store). How large do those trees get (total mature size)? Ingrid, Are you talking about the Buddleja davidii types of butterfly bushes? Yes we can grow those here. I had never thought of using their foilage. I think that would be a great filler. I can always use more butterfly and bee attractants in our yard. They are the reason that I really try not to spray anything...that and being on well water lol. *Beautiful bouquets!!

Wow he's quite lovely! I have him in a shady spot and he's rarely bloomed. But if my husband can ever finish up digging out the two tree stumps from our septic tank dig-up ordeal, I'm planning to put the apricot/orange/yellow DAs in a bed there and will be digging him up. He'll have lots of sun there and hopefully bloom as beautifully as yours!!