Ingrid, I am so glad your friend had a camera! This brought back memories of when I was in Strasburg, the Black Forest, Austria and up in the Alps, etc. They do have tons of mums and geraniums all over the place. Seemed like everyone had beautiful window boxes or poles with hanging baskets full of flowers! We have similar plantings/displays here in the States as well. I saw lots of humongous hanging baskets and window boxes, and rocks with mums spilling over when I was back east. Can't tell you now exactly where (would have to check out my photos) because we did like five states going to different gardens, both private and public. They were so beautiful!

Thank you all for your comments. I enjoyed them. I know this is totally OT, but in answer to Lucy's question I have to say this: This probably was my last trip to Germany. My sister came here and stayed 6 months each year for 10-12 years, and when she turned 80 she said:"now its YOUR turn." So I went each year for the last 6 years, until she got Alzheimers. That was last year, I took care of her for 8 months and finally put her in a home. I couldn't do it anymore. Then she passed away. This last trip was a working trip to settle my sister's affairs. I have no relatives left there, just a few friends. And I said my good-byes. My love for Brugs originated with my sister, who had a couple. It was in her memory that I purchased one here, my one and only Angel - (for lack of space to put more!) I've lived in the USA for 45 years, and this is my home by choice. I love this country, I became a citizen, and raised my kids here. GOD BLESS AMERICA! Ingrid.

Multiflora generally does not like high heat, high aridity, highly alkaline conditions. Of course, your mileage may vary. I didn't have a lot of luck with multiflora budded plants in Newhall over the 18 year life of that garden. Multiflora enjoys a more acidic root run, so if the area is prepared as you would for azaleas, camellias, blueberries, etc. and mulched with an acidic type mulch (oak leaves, camellia mix, etc.) perhaps it might work? It appears there is enough China in Pink Clouds to mitigate the multiflora requirements as I've not had the same issues from its roots as I did with multiflora and its hybrids. They were chronically chlorotic due to the high alkalinity and many (including early hybrid musks) just failed to thrive.

Hello, all you dear and wonderful rose friends! Lisa told me you were asking about me, and I'm so touched that you remember me kindly after all this time. Compared to dear Lisa, I really have no complaints except for an ever-increasing weakness which is now slowing down my mind also. Everything has become a huge effort, even writing, and I also haven't been on the Point of View forum for months now; incidentally it's an offshoot of Hot Topics which was one of the forums here and which Houzz shut down. My garden is basically gone except for a few stalwart large bushes which I hoped would recover in the rainy season. Unfortunately there has been little rain so that nothing has recovered so far. The wildlife is so stressed that they are even eating the junipers and have killed most of my large rosemary bushes. Melissa, Sheila, Trish, Kristine, John, KS and everyone else, please know that the memories of you and your roses will never leave me. I hope that Jeri will soon be among you again also. Thank you again for thinking of me.