That is wonderful, Melissa. I hope there is some blooming left in Ninfa in a month. I am scheduled to go May 5th. The weather constantly surprises.

Also Melissa, you might need to get your photographer over to your home pronto.

Sheila, Ninfa should be fine. The usual flowering season is end of April through mid-June, the hardy once bloomers mostly running later than the warm climate roses. We just started early because our spring started two months early, but you know Teas and Co.: they bloom whenever conditions are favorable. I think the roses will be in great shape. I'm looking forward to your report.

My photographer lives on another continent, unfortunately. How about if you paid a visit here? We have a guest room, and a visitor would force us to undertake some desperately needed cleaning. The garden is worth it, I think.

Melissa, that is wonderful news to have some rain. Even better when more rain is predicted. That is such a relief !
Best photographer would definitely be Shiela :)
I love B. R Can't and I think you might be right. It smells like a bourbon.
I took a few pics yesterday of Maggie. It has such a strong scent. I am absolutely enjoying Spring.
jin

Melissa, I would love nothing better. This trip I'm dragging 5 friends and leaving my husband home with the dog. I've already booked in Rome for the week. That would be wonderful to make another trip someday further North to see your garden. You could return the favor here too. It is amazing that we all work so hard on our wonderful gardens, and no one gets to see them. If I visited, I would take oodles of photos you are absolutely right.

Sheila, good! Keep it in mind! You are so right about our wonderful gardens that no one ever sees.

Jin, Maggie looks wonderful. I'm glad you have such a flowerful rose and are enjoying spring and your garden. I love scent, too.

Yes, I know "flowerful" isn't a word. But it ought to be.

We got rain, too, for which i am enormously grateful. February and march were both way too dry...

So happy for you too, bart. It will make your spring bloom so much better and any work you have to do much easier when the soil is moist. Hope you're feeling fine.

Hoorah for Italian rain! Here’s hoping it’s just the beginning! :-)

O, thank you both for sharing my joy! And I, too, am so hoping...

Yesterday I went out there and spent the day putting down cardboard-luckily I made a good score the previous Tuesday, which is the night people put out their paper recycle. It took a long time but I got almost all of this year's new implants done. I just used pulled weeds as the organic stuff on top that serves to anchor the cardboard and make it safer to walk on (it is so slippery when dry on my sloped land). Eventually I will have to call these people that reportedly sell hay, because I so need organic matter that will be light-weight and relatively easy to distribute,but I have yet to finish my pruning/clean-up. it's hard to have to work in such a scattered way; i.e., interrupt the clean-up in order, first, to water because it was so dry, and then,second, have to take time out to do the cardboarding that will help conserve the precious dampness of the soil.But that's part of gardening...

Sounds like a good day at work. I always feel happy when I work at soil improvement, knowing how important it is.

It rained again today, lightly, but just gray skies and dampness and vernally cool weather were so pleasant, after moving in February from winter straight into what felt like May. Finally the weather is aligned with the date. There's more rain in the forecast: I hope it comes! For you, too, Bart!