In my experience some of the early "English Roses" exhibit a growth habit very similar to what we associate with the Hybrid Perpetuals; i.e. long lanky canes that only bloom at the tips. However, the English Roses are in all actuality a very mixed bag when it comes to growth habits and remontancy. For example, my favorite English Rose MOLINUEX exhibits a growth habit and repeat bloom similar to a Floribunda. HERITAGE has always reminded me of the Bourbons (although the pale warm pink color is more on par with the Alba MAIDEN'S BLUSH) and THE PILGRIM looks like a Tea-Noisette (the light green foliage, climbing canes, delicate yellow flowers and Tea Rose fragrance are the selling points). Then there is WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE 2000, which has flowers that are dead ringers for a highly developed Gallica combined with a short, spreading shrub. It is of my opinion that what David Austin is really trying to achieve is a class of remontant Centifolias. These are the "Old Rose Hybrids" he seems to favor. The flower form is more globular (i.e. cabbage like) than the quartered, cupped or semi-double formation found with so many of the Old Garden Roses. Growth habit is medium in height and bushy to slightly spreading in habit. Remontancy is continuous, similar to a Floribunda or a shrub rose like BELINDA'S DREAM. Disease resistance is steadily improving, with THE MAYFLOWER representing a true success in this area. Fragrance is strong and intense. Among his "Old Rose Hybrids" he seems to favor bouquets dominated by the classic Damask scent, but as we've seen isn't adverse to putting out a myrrh scented rose. All these factors add up to what I think David Austin is trying to achieve in his breeding programs. BTW, speaking of Myrrh - I hate it. The scent first appeared among David Austin's roses with the once blooming CONSTANCE SPRY, which is the result of a cross between BELLE ISIS (Gallica) x DAINTY MAID (Floribunda). I've been told it's strong myrrh fragrance is sweeter than most, but I really can't say for sure because I don't grow once bloomers. I do have a few of his other myrrh scented roses and can report with a degree of certainty that the fragrance mix varies considerably. For example, I really like TAMORA's fragrance, which is a blend of fruit and myrrh. Others not-so-much. Frankly I won't buy a myrrh scented "Austin" until I get a chance to smell it first. Just my 2 cents worth. Best wishes, Patrick

My neighborhood is brand new with the oldest parts being about two years old and the youngest still being built (annoying!), and it's absolutely filled the the brim with outside people of all ages. Lots of dog walkers and thin, jogging women in the morning. Stay at home moms with their strollers in the afternoons and early evenings and kids everywhere. Oh, the kids! Seriously, we had so many trick or treaters last year that the ten huge bags of candy I bought for them was gone in two hours. (My husband was a bit generous in handing it out though... "when we run out, we can turn off the light." lol) Not a whole lot of gardening though, we have mostly landscaped yards, but more and more you see new odds and ends making their way into people's yards. There's one man around the corner from me who has a giant yellow austin rose in his front garden that is just magnificent. He prunes it down after every flush and when it blooms... WOW! I'm not totally sure which yellow austin that it is, because I haven't had the guts to walk up and ask yet. I'd be shocked if it were something else. There are a couple of other roses in the neighborhood, hybrid teas, I'd guess. Most people take good care of them, but a couple don't prune and those suckers and clearly eight feet tall and very thin. Eh. My yard is ridiculous. lol. I'm surprised the yard police haven't gotten on to me yet about my cottage-y garden in the front where everyone can see it. Ha! I got out there a little early to prune and tidy everything up so it's looking pretty good now. I am happy to report though, that after I did SEVERAL of my neighbors were out the very next day working on their own front gardens. Yay!

Fortunately last sat's weather was great since a neighbor threw a pig roast with a wonderful bluegrass band. I enjoyed inspecting her new garden esp the whimsies and the birds visiting her feeders. We took our feeders in April 1 due to bears. I weeded in the morning because the pigweed in one veggie patch is way ahead of me. Sunday was drizzly so I wrapped my head in a scarf, turned the compost and weeded some more. Plants from swap at Annie's are still alive but not planted. (was away for a week) We're headed to Maine and Camden's House and Garden tour on July 16. Discussed with DH cleaning out a shady spot next to a tiny brook. Stood on location of future porch. Ogled newly cleared spot on north side of rickety old barn. DH had cleaned out years of debris and weeds. Good thick stand of ferns along the barn but plenty of room for other things. Need to research. Have to weed new area between garage and barn, part shade garden. DH built steps down steep slope and top half is terraced with stone, planted ... and needs weeding. Yellow climbing nasturtiums are beginning to think about climbing part of an old apple picking ladder tacked to the barn. DH did not know value of antique ladder before he cut it in half. Top half is in a sunnier location next to the door waiting for scarlet runner bean to climb. Almost there. White and pink impatiens in old wash tub next to granite step and rhody beginning to look good. A terra cotta planter needs to be planted. An assortment of potted plants, mostly scented geraniums are still by the kitchen porch so DH could water them (ha!) while I was away. Plucked 3 stems of variegated ivy to put in small green bottles in kitchen window over the sink. Put tomato cages on and swore that next year I would put them on SOONER. Harvested some lettuce, sugar snap peas and giant mustard. DH did not care for mustard greens stir fry but I thought it was yummy. Nobody cared for last night's yellow split pea and mustard green soup so I'll have it for lunch today and the next day and ... Harvested garlic scapes in mid-June. Made wonderful hummus. Thrilled to see volunteer pot marigolds/calendula blooming in the tomato patch. DH helped me build a bean teepee for yard long beans. Planted beans. Flunked rustic weaving. Next year need longer branches and need to use while still supple. Trying to decide if I should prune the bush planted last summer. It has about 5 branches that around getting much taller than all the others. Admired planter containing flowering lemon thyme and lemon verbena. Made note to self that I need to start taking some pictures. Surveyed holding bed from 2007 frantic move. Trying to keep a good record of what's in bloom, what color, when for future landscaping around future porch. Picked mint for spiced zucchini couscous. Looking forward to having our own zucchini. DIL brought over a gorgeous concrete leaf bird bath she made from a huge rhubarb leaf. Her aunt taught her. It still needs to be water-sealed and needs a place of honor in the garden. I missed her Wed night get together to make more bird baths with squash leaves. Despite the rain, a big huge feeling of contentment fills my chest when I spend a few moments in the garden or just looking from the porch. But time is passing so quickly. Massive renovations to first floor of house are completed. DH is taking care of heavy outdoor work. We have plenty of sun but not a lilac or rose planted yet.

Our Austrian friends had remote control roller blinds :) Joanie, I like my not-self-defrost freezer because it stays 0 all the time. When I take something out, it is frozzzen. I only defrost it every 3 years or so; I think since it lives in the basement, constant temperature/low humidity environment, and we don't open it every single day, it doesn't get so much moisture inside. People are going into your minifridge all day, stealing your yogurt, etc, it has to work hard to stay cold. So my freezer is for long-term storage, not the things I'm using in the next month.