Oh, dear, I just found this thread and I hope I'm in time to plead for a reprieve for Martha Gonzales! Here's my story: I have Martha Gonzales, Mrs. Dudley Cross, Belinda's Dream, an unknown apricot/cream Austin that came with the house, and Francis Dubrieul planted together. Francis got blackspot and dropped every leaf, with the Austin and (gasp!) Martha G. following suit almost immediately. MDC got a few spotted leaves on the side next to the defoliated plants, but on the opposite side she remained disease free! BD, on the other side, lost a few lower leaves but she's already regrown. But here's the kicker: I have a couple of other Martha G.s across the yard from the naked one, and they're both fine! Furthermore, my second MDC, about 15 feet away from the diseased roses, has no trace of disease. Another bed across the way has SDLM, SDSA, original Gruss, and Felicia. Gruss usually loses half his leaves, but he and all his bedmates have all their leaves. It seems to me that whatever Francis had this year was something abnormally bad that his neighboring roses, normally resistant, couldn't cope with. But the good news was that it spread only to immediate neighbors but went no further. Now Martha and UNK Austin are growing new leaves, but I think I have to get rid of Francis. He's still nothing but sticks.

Sorry to be away for a bit and get behind on the discussion. I'm so glad there are so many Bonica fans out there! I sometimes feel it doesn't get as much respect as deserved, since it's not flashy enough to get attention as a modern, and too new to be technically an OGR (though I agree Ingrid that it fits quite well among the OGRs with its lovely open style). Catspa - the reason mine doesn't keel over from the blooms is the handy fence that ended up next to this bush - not remotely planned of course, since Bonica considerably preceded the fence, but still a very handy thing. Malorena and Mariannese - your pictures are a great testament to why we love this rose, and anything that can tempt a non-gardener to take photos of a rose is something to be proud of (and of course, your daughter is a source of joy and pride in herself). Mariannese, I agree that it was sweet as well as a terrific opportunity to meet a keeper of the Meilland tradition and complement a rose that has more than stood the test of time. I agree with your sentiments and I'm glad you got the chance to share them (did he agree?). Kes - my Elizabeth of Goshen gets no more than 3 feet or maybe 3.5 feet in a season, but undoubtedly she'd be a bit taller with more sun or a longer growing season. Even during last summer's explosion of blooms with all that surviving cane, I don't remember her getting particularly large. As for problems, the main disease in my part of the world is blackspot, and we don't get it anything like as bad as you do on the East coast, since we tend to be dry here in the Plains. Even during our heavy rains in the last few months this fall, plenty of other plants started to blackspot quite a bit and I don't remember EofG being particularly bothered. That doesn't mean she wouldn't in your zone - witness the difference in Austin rose health between our zones - but I think she has a better chance than the average Austin at doing well for you. No guarantees of course, but I'm glad you have the chance to try and I suspect it'll do nicely for you. And bellegallica, there's nothing remotely to hesitate about for your plans for those pink and orange schemes. Nothing 60's about it - Marie Daly is such an understated pink that she needs a few gaudy marigolds to wake her up a bit. Put a few purple salvias to tie them together and you have a photo opportunity waiting to happen, not to mention bee paradise. Go ahead - do it and post us some pictures! Cynthia

Thanks again to all who replied. Everyone's thoughts (plus my own) were passed in unedited form to owner and I got some feedback. A lot of ideas that was expressed by you was accepted and we both, Jennifer and myself realy appreciate your help and welcome all comments and criticism for our future plans. Project most likely will be done in a two stages: -stage #1, fall'06. -stage #2, spring-summer-fall'07. stage #1. One large free form bed will be created on a right side at the curve of the driveway, which is coincidently at about middle of it, 90' from the road and 100' from the garage. Tentative lenght of this bed is 45' and at widest point it will be about 30' while majority of the planting area will be in 15-22' width range with 3' clearance (meaning no shrubs) from the edge of the driveway for the snowplowing provision. It will be slightly (6-8") raised bed with some medium to large size rocks incorporated mostly in the back side of it to serve practical purpose of sort of retaining wall and to match another 'rock composition' they already have there. Jen and her husband will start work on a bed preparation ASAP as time and weather permit and they hope to make it ready this fall. Then they'll plant some spring bulbs, namely daffs and tulips and call it a year. They (we?) will have a whole winter to plan and think of what they'll plant there next year during the stage #2. Also, they both (and me too) like the Martie's idea of planting one medium sized tree at the bottom of the driveway on a left side. I suggested something red/burgundy leaved and idea was accepted. What would you think would be better, Bloodgood maple or Prunus cerasifera (Purple-Leaved Plum, Cherry Plum) or something else? Tricia's idea about clump of the white birch to the right of the garage was met with a round of applause and despite birch borer potential problem it probably will be implemented this fall if they'll found decent speciman (I suggested Young's as a first place to look for it.) For the privacy in a backyard I suggested to plant 2-3 viburnums (V. tomentosum 'Shasta' or 'Mariesii') to the left of garage line to the woods leaving at least 8' space from the side of the house for the future gate or arbor to backyard. As those large viburnums will grow they'll provide protection from the westerly sun and in a future could be underplanted with hydrangeas from the backyard side. Any objections to this idea? stage #2. Despite runktrun's warning about avoiding temptation to use bold colors, I brought to them idea (and even named easy to find and care for plants for this sceme) of yellow-burgundy/purple bed and for now idea stands, but I could easily divert them from this direction. They still have the whole winter to think about. Meadow....I didn't mentioned that before, but on a left side of the driveway starting from the edge of the woods and going parallel to the driveway there is a huge NATURAL meadow though it's partially ruined by construction activity and need a restoration. Jen visited yesterday Whie Flowers Farm to see their C. Lloyd-inspired meadow border and came back with all inclinations to do 'the same thing or better'. LOL, she's a brave girl! One more time thanks to everyone and I'm looking forward for comments and criticism. TIA, George

Chris, you are welcome to send me the complete reorganization you have in mind. If you are concerned it might give Board members a coronary, then send it to me by email. My email address is available on this site. I promise you I won't have a coronary, even though I am on the Board. As to the three year terms of Board members, elections are expensive and time consuming. Holding them more often than every three years would mean we were spending an inordinate amount of time and effort on elections and less time on the business of the organization. I have to tell you I think such an approach would be counterproductive. However, I do agree the Board is too large and think we should have more effective limits on the number of consecutive years someone can serve on the Board. I am in my second term on the Board and it will be my last. If I can't get things done in six years, it's time for someone else to work on them. I'm not sure which big businesses you have dealt with, but I can tell you Boards of big businesses do not ask stockholders or anyone else for input before conducting the business of the company. I have seen them in action in their business meetings and they are less open than the ARS Board. Anyway, lay your suggestions on me and I will let you know what I think. The ARS is not perfect by any means and any ideas that will help will be welcomed.