I'm wondering, Carol, how long you will have at each of the gardens - two days isn't much to do all four. We easily did both Sissinghurst and Great Dixter in a single day. We gave a day to Wisley. It's bit, and a terrific garden but we were unimpressed with their rather ordinary rose garden - the long, long, long border and rock garden were much better. We went to Mottisfont several different days, and I would think it needs at least half a day, if possible - hope you aren't too jet lagged on your first day in England. Mottisfont's rose gardens aren't huge, but there is so much to look at and it is so beautifully done that I couldn't stop looking! I think it might be open a bit later than usual in June, if you are staying nearby. Janelle and I did fine on our first day in the UK without a nap, and really adjusted without much jet lag. I slept in a bit later than usual the first few mornings - she didn't. When I went to London with my husband some years ago, I didn't do as well - literally fell asleep on my feet while visiting a museum. Maybe it was an advantage to be outside in fresh air, sunshine, and gardens rather than inside. I got sick on the trip to London, but was utterly healthy and thriving during the garden trip. In any case, your trip sounds wonderful. I think you've said that your husband isn't really a rose garden kind of guy, so how nice that you are getting these two days plus a day at Kew. My husband isn't much for gardens, but he was pretty enthusiastic about Kew. I still think that Kew is a great choice, but have to say that we heard good things about St. Albans from the people on Clair Martin's Great Rosarians trip last year. It wasn't open to the general public but was open to RNRS members and tour groups. We could always have joined the RNRS and gotten to see it, but we just didn't make the time. Anita

For sericia, next spring watch the color of the thorns; sericia ptericantha and R. pteragonis are two possibles. Then spend some time looking at many, many pictures of R. canina. In your part of the world it's a widely used rootstock and I'd guess that four or five of yours are slightly different caninas. (This fall they'll have good hips for making jelly). Something else to remember: the garden doubtless now has more shade than when it was first planted. This sort of situation may reduce or totally stifle rebloom, so when you label a rose a once bloomer, just remember that with more sun it might be a repeater.

Those are baby katydids. They very much enjoy eating plants, flowers and leaves. I usually have cicada killers that also eat katydids and grasshoppers. Praying mantis and large spiders will also get rid of them. Sawfly are a very large group. here is a photo of the slugs that feed on roses and pear trees Rose and pear slugs (sawflies) - Missouri Botanical Garden

Quick update: The chat feature on David Austin's website is the UK version. There is no longer an option to chat with a human due to the US center being understaffed. Also, they no longer accept add-ons to an existing order. So, if you don't want to pay double shipping, you may want to order all your roses at once. I think this is unfair towards their customers. Bluestone Perennials can combo ship, why can't DA? I have an unfulfilled bare root order from this Spring that never shipped and I was not able to add on to it. I also think David Austin US and UK employees are completely kept in the dark about everything. I have contacted both US and UK to ask if and when any of the new roses will be available and was told they will not be available for 2024 shipping, but Bring Me Sunshine is magically now available. I absolutely love DA roses, but their company practices leave much to be desired.