Thank you, Sheila. We used to be able to post pictures to the ARF right from our Flickr accounts. But, of course, if you delete your photo storage account, any communication that might still exist between the two sites is lost! I still visit the "Antique Rose Forum" from time to time, esp. during the cold winter months when I need a pick me up. I don't post much any more. I do love my gardens and my roses and have had many triumphs as well as disasters over the past five years since I did these postings in 2013. Disaster 1: I now have numerous roses that are 15 feet tall/long. 20 feet tall. And even taller and even longer. And I now realize that, although the idea of giant roses seemed romantic when they were 3 feet tall, they have created a variety of problems in my garden and I am in the process of getting rid of all my monsters except a couple of my most favorite. Disaster 2: I have hundreds of roses. From almost every class. And I have lost track of what I have and what I have lost. Disaster 3: Invasive plants: Japanese anemones. Mexican primrose. Salvia. 4 o'clocks. Sweet violet. Blue globe flower. Black-eyed Susan. And even morning glory. I find poison ivy/oak sprouting in my pots, I invite you to imagine my garden plots. Disaster 4: Thrips. And, though, I love every single one of my roses, even those I am culling, I have found after growing so many, that above all, I love my David Austin roses most. Here are some photos from this year's garden. They may not be great since they were taken with my phone. Best of luck to you in your garden. May it bring you joy and very few disasters.

Greetings from an anxious North Dakota gardener. It got up in the 30s a few days ago; it felt so warm. I went out to top-off the bird feeders and wore my "light" jacket! I decided it must be spring so I tromped through the snow bank to the front garden. I just knew I'd find something. Silly girl. The tiny seeds and sprouts are still hidden and dormant. I'm sure they were laughing at me in their slumber. Today I had a flock of Cedar Waxwings and American Gold Finches show up. The crows are pairing up and "singing"...or making a joyful (?) noise. The squirrels are squirrelly; the coyotes are singing at noon, and the grouse are calling for mates. They know it's Spring, too! So what it there's two feet of snow on the ground? So what it it's below freezing. So what if there's not one sign of green live? It is Spring!

We have Whole Foods, the Fresh Market, and Trader Joe's in the area you mentioned - Winston-Salem, Greensboro, Chapel Hill/Raleigh. BTW, the Triangle consists of Raleigh/Durham/Chapel Hill and the Triad is Greensboro/High Point/ Winston-Salem. I might be prejudiced - ok, I know I'm prejudiced, but I love my home state of North Carolina. We have the Atlantic beaches about 3-4 hours away and the lovely NC mountains about 3-4 hours away in the other direction. We have mild winters, but still manage to get some snow and our ice storms, of course. Autumn and Spring is wonderful here, the summers warm and humid but bearable especially the last two years. Larger cities have many choices for the arts, sports, shopping, and higher education. Then, Washington DC and Atlanta are both only hours away too, if you want really big cities. I also recommend Greensboro and the surrounding area as I lived there for many years and now live just a few miles east in Burlington. I've heard of so many retirees from the north who planned to retire in Florida, but stopped in North Carolina and just stayed here instead. You would be very welcome here! Teresa

Agree with the blue, and leave the chimney. The brick is an attractive colour. You could consider a fun colour for the door - bright yellow? And repeat the colour with some yellow perennials or add bright yellow pots. Choose plants that don't need extra watering, especially if this is a weekend place. The first 2 in this link would be great for summer and fall blooms. The coreopsis (also called tickseed) has the added advantage that the seeds attracts birds. https://www.bhg.com/gardening/flowers/perennials/long-blooming-perennials/ Here's one. yellow ice plant, that blooms earlier in the summer, or late spring. Very hardy and low care, attracts butterflies. http://www.perennials.com/plants/delosperma-nubigenum.html