I grow lots of things for herbal teas, and I made a "to die for" tea blend last year that I've been enjoying all through the winter months. I classify things as those things that are tender that I grow in pots so I can move them in during the winter, things that I grow in pots outside because they are wildly invasive and I don't want them taking over my yard, perennials that I can keep under control, and annuals or things I grow from seed each year. So here is my list (with comments): Tender things: Lemon Verbena - an absolute essential for herbal teas - the very best lemony herb. It is a small shrub that does well in pots, but it will not survive anywhere that has cold winters. I move it in during winter. Stevia - I like it, my wife does not, but it has a similar growth habit as the Lemon Verbena, needing to be brought in during winter. Lemon Grass - I grow it in a pot, but each spring after last frost, I dump it out of its big pot, split the clump in half, put one half in the yard, and the other half back in the pot with some fresh potting mix. Both stay out all summer, but before it gets cold I move the pot in the house - the one in the ground dies. Works great for me. Pineapple Sage - I've had no luck keeping it alive outside in the winter, so I grow it in a pot and bring it in. Yerba Mate - Great stuff, but a tropical, so I'm keeping it under control, not to big in a pot, and moving it inside when cold. Some Mints - Although most mints are extremely hardy, I've had some Orange Mints and Apple Mints and other similar ones die completely in cold weather. Maybe a more sheltered location would be okay Things in Pots: Mints - Peppermint, Spearmint, Kentucky Gentleman, Orange Mint, Apple Mint, Chocolate Mint, Banana Mint, Candy Cane, Berries & Cream Mint, Ginger Mint. So far I have still not been able to stay ahead of our families' use of mints during the growing season to where we don't run out of dried long before the growing season starts up again - though I'm trying. Lemon Balm - because it spreads like mints. Perennials: Stinging Nettles - Extremely nutritious and makes a great addition to tea blends, but the stuff grows like mad and can be invasive. I have it planted in a raised bed, will kill anything that tries to peek out, and keep it cut back unmercifully in order to keep it from going to seed - because it really wants to. A great addition to things like soups and stews, adding a flavor and texture like spinach. Of course dealing with the "stinging" part.... Bee Balm (Bergomat) - A great tea herb and flowering perennial, though it can also be invasive. I cut a lot of it while young, no more than a foot tall, makes a great tea fresh or dried. Lemon Bergomat - see above. Anise Hyssop - Such a great tea herb, adds a sweetness really better than Stevia in my opinion. Tea - Camellia sinensis - my plants are still fairly young, but I was able to collect some leaf tips last year, and miraculously they made it through winter here.. I'm afraid that is the challenge. Lavender - I use it sparingly in my tea, but it is an interesting flavor in small amounts. Catnip - I really haven't been growing this much, but it is a great tea herb that can be invasive like lemon balm and other mints. Roses for Rose Hips - The best hips on any roses are on those in the Rugosa variety. Luckily this is a very old fashioned variety, resistant to many of the challenges of roses. I love them for tea, but in reality they are far harder to deal with than Roselle, which come off in buckets full. Annuals: Chamomile - A necessity, no question, though sometimes I've had a challenge getting it to germinate and get started - seems like it should even do a better job of reseeding!! Roselle - This is the hibiscus used for the best tea. If you've ever had Red Zinger, this is what makes it. Requires a very long growing season - even I start it inside here in Zone 7 to get it going sooner. I had nine plants last year, and once they started producing late August I was filling my dehydrator and teapot about every other day until frost. Besides mints and Anise Hyssop, I would say this is my favorite. Yes, I had to learn how to process them quickly and effectively, but once I did it was no problem. Far, far more productive than any roses, with a similar kind of contribution to the tea. Callendula - The bright yellow flowers make a wonderful addition to a pot of tea and they are extremely good for you in multiple ways. I'm sure there are some others I've got and am looking to grow, as I'm always looking for great additions. Culinary and medicinal herbs is something for an entirely different post!!

Debbie, when I asked about this rose (many years ago when I first bought it) I got very few replies. I believe there aren't many people who are growing Westside Road Cream Tea. It is a small rose and a slow grower. Mine does okay without spray. It loses some leaves to blackspot but keeps most of them. It is not a prolific bloomer for me but the blooms are pretty and it seems to always have a bloom or two. Smaller, light cream colored blooms that are double but not petal packed. When we visited Gregg's garden (Vintage's mother plants), I was able to see his plant and wouldn't have recognized it. His was much larger, probably about 3 feet and the blooms were larger than mine. Of course, his climate may explain that. Mine is still barely 18 inches tall after several years. Healthy, but small. I like this rose and have no inclination to dig it up, but it doesn't knock my socks off. Maybe someday mine will be as large and covered with blooms as Gregg's. :-) I have no idea if it would do okay in your zone. I just didn't want you to think you were being ignored! Carol

Re-reading this thread once again. I just thought I'd point out how much difference subtle climate variations can make in the health of roses. I'm not sure exactly where Luxrosa lives, but we are both in the general Bay Area, me in the South Bay. Celine Forestier was on her list of very healthy roses. It is one of my worst for PM, and its spot is going to be given to Bouquet d'Or when that rose arrives. My fingers are crossed that it will do well here. I fell in love with it from Paparoseman's pictures. Of course he lives up in the PNW, a climate completely different from anywhere in the sunny Bay Area. Rosefolly

Atreelady, something ALWAYS eats my seeds when I direct sow into the ground, and when I try to raise them in pots for transplanting later, I have problems with damping off and other, more mysterious, conditions. The seeds germinate just fine, but somewhere between popping up those first two leaves and being ready to go into the ground, I usually screw it up. (I'm quite sure it's ME. I mean plants have been growing from seeds forever, so it can't be THEM.) I still try them out from time to time, with occasional successes, but generally, I will buy the 4" pots of herbs and annuals instead. It's worth the 88 cents not to go through the aggravation. Plus, I really love the instant gratification of something full and green going into the ground. Marcia