Oh Carol, how lovely. But, Cambridsge botanics has a miserably neglected rose garden so I will have a think because there are much nicer fellows gardens in the colleges (and you are always welcome to come and visit my allotment). Nonetheless, Cambridge is a lovely town and worth a visit but gardenwise, I think you can do better than the botanics. Beth Chatto - well this is another garden I am familiar with but you will not be seeing many roses - gorgeous woodland and gravel gardens but roses, nada. However, if you are heading Eastwards, then Peter Beales at Attleborough is standoutand is in the same(ish) area as Bressingham (but again, grasses and perennials but not exactly roses. You absolutely have to take in Mottisfont though. Finally, Wisley, which does have a decent rose display, is absolutely fabulous, for just about the best in horticultural excellence. Are you planning on using public transport. Are you in a group? I will check in the yellow book (this is a list of local gardens open to the public and include some very grand gardens as well as entire villages, when a whole bunch of little private gardens are open on certain days). There are a couple of jewels near Cambridge (Docwras Manor springs to mind, in Shelford. Such a perfect time of year to visit the UK.

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.

If sight-seeing in Paris doesn't wear you out (or even if it does), it's great to pack a picnic lunch and go to the Bois de Vincennes and visit the Parc Floral, perhaps France's largest botanical garden. (they do sell food in the Parc) If you like dahlias, they have HUGE displays of them in September. (to others: if you're there in mid-late May, there are INCREDIBLE displays of iris, and the Pinède [pinetum] area is full of hostas and astilbes for late May through July) This is what Parisians do on the weekend! Very un-touristy, but very cool. Giverny is a half-day trip IF you take the earliest bus you can (even if you are on your honeymoon, wink wink). If you go later in the day, it can be so crowded it takes twice the time to see. Have a great trip. I'm sure we're all jealous.