I love to visit quiet places like that. Thank you for showing us the spring roses. The large plants in bloom and the beautiful monuments are grand and elegant and at the same time simple and peaceful. I'm glad they have let the plants remain large and not pruned them back. Have you ever started plants from cuttings from that garden?

ALAS, Ingrid -- I suspect Bright Red is what you get in a hotter climate. I suspect I might get that in a Really Bad Heatwave -- and one of these days, I'll probably find out. As for Heirloom and the virused roses ... I think the problem lies in the fact that they misunderstood how virus works. Sure, it IS spread in budding -- but you don't avoid it by taking cuttings from a virused plant. AND roses imported from Europe can't be considered virus-free -- because we kindly sent virused plants over there for years. So, the description should read "TESTED virus-free." (Unless, of course, it has not been tested, in which case they probably not ought to mention it at all, eh?) BTW, at one time, we had 3 plants of the HT, 'Secret.' One of the three was by far the most-vigorous. And yet, that was the only one of the three that periodically displayed signs of virus. We knew it was there, in the other two plants. We just couldn't SEE it. Jeri

On to the Qs and Queens. I'm starting to catch up. Those Quadra blooms are spectacular, Marina. I didn't know this rose could be so gorgeous. I love Queen of Hearts' unique coloring, another new one to me. And Queen of Sweden with the campanula makes me want to grow bellflowers again. Quietness is just luscious. I don't know how I'll find room for all these roses now on my wish list. More quintessential queenliness (sorry) with the photo of your lush Queen of Sweden, Kate. I'm impressed with your petal packed Queen of Hearts Fairy Tale, Tammy. Is this a different rose from Marina's Q of Hearts? Seil, more queenliness with your beauties. What a sweet rose Quietness is, so perfectly named. And finally, another Queen of Hearts with still another look, Beth. Must be several roses with this name. All are lovely. Thanks for posting all your queens and other lovelies.This alphabet continues to be so much fun to see--and certainly a learning experience for me about what roses are out there. Diane

Thank you ALL for looking and commenting on my latest obsessive activities ... LOL Yes Lisa, you're right, TGO! Bob painted the high part of the trim the first time around, but the color was too dark. So, he suggested that his TGO wife paint it the second time (and it was painted a third time which I didn't tell him). He did put the ladder up for me though while shaking his head .... :-) While I was up there I touched up the antiquing color on the big Roman faces plaque that's right under the peak even though nobody ever looks up there to see it..