Just thought I'd respond to your wish list from another zone 5 roseaholic. I doubt that Duquesa de Peñaranda or Angèle Pernet would survive well in your yard, as I've had bad hardiness from the Pernetianas and Dot roses in my zone. I also have had Belle Epoque die on me, but only once so far (which means it has two more tries) and since Mike grows it in his Michigan yard it should be fine. Jocelyn's another notorious wimp that isn't likely to get another chance with me. Among the other ones, Black Lady is a sturdy rose that mostly laughs at winter - the blooms are small but that elusive dark red I seek out. Peggy Rockefeller doesn't bloom as often but her blooms are delicious dark red and larger, and she survives in my zone 4 pocket. Aloha is tall and narrow and just in its fourth year growing beyond the 6' pillar it has been - reliably hardy, healthy and well formed blooms. I have both Polarstern and Paloma Blanca in the same bed, and Polarstern is definitely hardier and taller. I'll have to try Paloma Blanca on a warmer side of the house. Savoy Hotel has been a reliable tall bloomer, very healthy, though not as much rebloom as I'd like. Scarlet Velvet blooms off and on in my HT back bed and isn't particularly memorable for me, but that also means it's trouble free. Chic is a nice blend of colors and relatively modest grower so far in its 3rd year. Roberto Capucci is just in his second year, but a friend in my zone swears by him for regular fragrant double blooms. I'll bet no one in your neighborhood but the rest of the rose fanatics has heard of any of these roses, so in that sense they all are "rare" roses, and worth bringing to broader circulation. The more we grow these roses, the more excitement we hope to build in your average gardener to try them for themselves. Cynthia

THANKS, Jodi and Elizabeth! I have the surgery scheduled for Feb 4. They try to get their patients out within 48 hours so they do not pick up infection in the hospital. To get out, I will need to be able to walk across the room with a walker or crutches and go up 2 steps. Having been through cartilege removal surgeries a couple of times, I have heard that the total replacement is not much worse. They will call me on Friday to tell me what time to show up in the morning. My girlfriend and I are going to a big Garden show In Tacoma the day before, then out to lunch for a blow out, LOL. After that they may as well put me to sleep and get it over with! I will be confined to home for the next month of so, as long as I need any help with housekeeping, or my own care. If I leave home for other then Dr my help will be cut off, so I will count on you guys to keep me entertained. The surgeon is extremely good, and I have talked to a number of people who have done really well under him and see it as a very positive experience. We are starting with the left knee, and will leave the more complicated right knee until fall so I can get my gardening in. Dr says I should be back in the garden by early MArch, so that is a goal I can work toward. This is a new improved form of the surgery where they do not cut through the quad muscle but go in from the side under it, so it heals much faster and without as much pain. I am really looking forward to being able to work without pain in my garden and business...it has been 28 years since this started with tearing the cartilege in my right knee. Tore the left one 7 years ago just walking across flat ground! So I hope to be home to my laptop computer and recliner and have some time between pain med sleepiness, and therapy, by Wed or Thurdays after the surgery. And yes, I am excited about the possibilites of being able to work without pain before long! A goal worth working toward!

Thanks rococogurl, I hope I get a good price too! Trailgirl, I will let you know since I will be hunting - look for messages under "found EVE, yay!" Davidro, super great info on swapping out the handle, that's the piece that made it tough for my husband to love on the ONO (happy happy Hawaiian in that name) Katyde, thanks for that info, I hope to add a couple things and did not think that was a possibility but if I can add to the faucet I would like to truly consider it. MarcyDC and Pixley: I just told him that group consensus is brushed nickel and stainless go together well... Thanks all! If I can swing it I will. I love the support of the GW community!!! This makes the remodel process so much less stressful and isolating.

the trees around us are changing from green to brown and dead! Losing one of my big old oaks that shades my house is just heart breaking, even watering is not helping. The temps have been so high, over 100, for so many days it has basically cooked the trees from the inside. They had a special on the news about it and warning if any trees appear to be brown and dead not to wait to cut them down because the ones they are seeing are very weak and the middle of them is turning to a mush. The heat is cooking the tree sap. Never seen anything like it before.