Paul! You always sound sad when I come across your thoughts (the end of your blog, some of your thoughts here). You have given wonderful gifts to humanity that will extend well beyond your lifetime. Vocation and career/financial compensation do not always coincide (nor are they meant to), and vocations also have seasons; it's okay to rest. I am a 35-year-old who has recently become possessed by growing roses, specifically the old fragrant ones, especially cream colors. I will help carry the torch until the flames of popularity are fanned again. I have an inkling the young ones ("crystal children") just coming of age who love the old clothes and hairstyles will bring about a rose renaissance in their 40s, but that's just my guess. (I had NO IDEA the English and old garden roses I was in love with all over Pinterest for my wedding could actually be grown in my garden, for instance.) Take heart! All is not lost.

Hi Phyl.... I only grow Irish Hope & Victorian Spice. Do you have a problem w/ the Japanese Beetles there? If you do, I have to warn you that the beautiful Irish Hope is their #1 favorite feast here....out of over 200 other luscious choices the beetles consistently choose Irish Hope as their main course. Because the beetles are such an issue here (from early July and still going strong into September) I rarely get to see an untouched bloom. All summer I have looked at unopened yellow buds so drilled through with beetle holes that they look like Swiss cheese! That being said, Irish Hope is lovely. It has a nice light scent, healthy glossy leaves and beautiful, ruffled blooms. It does die back quite far each winter even with protection, but grows back quickly & blooms well. L'Aimant (Victorian Spice) is new this year but is troubled by blackspot. However, I don't judge a rose until it has had a couple (or more) years to grow up. It is a very fragrant rose so I planted it where it could be smelled often....now if it could just stop blackspotting! Maybe next year it will show off its glossy foliage to better advantage. Celeste Photo of the ONE opening bud of IRISH HOPE that the beetles didn't ravage...... VICTORIAN SPICE

are morsag roses considered as baby roses,or they are roses similar to europeana roses,what are the diferences and similarities

@Barrie it's not any particular conditions I'm anticipating. They are shifted into the future because I am limiting myself to a certain number of tomato plants per season. The slots are reserved for favorites as well as a third left open for new varieties to try. As the years progress, I plan to whittle the list down to favorites only and rotating the varieties by growing a third of the list any given year. I shifted Paul Robeson to 2019 because I prefer Brad's Black Heart and felt it was redundant to have two blacks with similar characteristics. However, PR is a better grower with more beautiful looking fruit and would be a good alternative in case BBH suddenly decides to hate my conditions. Rotating the growlist also keeps my seed stock fresher for better germination. @Dave thanks for a differing perspective. At this point, high production is not a priority for me because I have no space or market constraints. Last year I trialed 50 tomato plants and gave away 85% of the crop because I couldn't eat it all. If I were to sell them at a market stand, it would be different. However, I do expect at least 25 fruits from even the stingiest vine, or it's a waste of effort. Having grown Brandywine for four years now, its flavor profile has been consistent for me with my growing conditions. What has differed is the productivity and vigor of individual plants. I've noticed that if the start doesn't take off and form a large vine quickly, it's a dud and won't fruit in that location. It is better to plant a new one than nurse the runt. Since we're dealing with open pollinated seeds, there is still a chance of variability. I have grown it own root & grafted, as well as labeled Sudduth's or generic pink potato leaved BW. I will no longer pay $10 for a grafted Sudduth's start because I get acceptable performance from an own root plant. The graft's increased vigor and 15% higher productivity isn't worth the extra money to me. I like the sweet flavor and fragrance of Brandywine, I just wish it was more concentrated. My fertile clay fields have lain fallow for ten years, and my tomatoes barely get watered, if any, so it's not that. I'm not a huge fan of BW's creamy texture, I prefer a meatier flesh. The size of the fruits are too big, any bigger than 14oz and it's wasted on me or the sandwich. In terms of flavor, I don't think it's really fair to compare blacks and reds to pinks. Last year Rose de Berne edged out BW in flavor and texture, so I'm growing it again to make sure it wasn't a fluke. Caspian Pink, Pruden's Purple, and Eva Purple Ball were very bland & disappointing growers. But then again, maybe those varieties hated being dry-cultured? I was looking forward to comparing German Pink, German Head, and Marianna's Peace to BW, but they either had bland winter fruits or gophers ate the entire plant. I have a nagging suspicion that all these big late heirloom pinks are basically the same thing with slightly different flavor due to human selection. I just have to find the one I like best.