The following comment was made in an earlier non garden.web thread: "Joann Woy • a year ago I have observed that rose canes growing thru galvanized wire fence do not seem to be badly affected by RRV. Using that as my starting point, I drove zinc galvanized nails into the base of each major stem of my roses. I saw a substantial improvement. Roses that were not affected did not get RRV; roses that were in the earliest stages were in many cases able to fight off the RRV. I have no scientific proof this works, but it might be worth a try. Zinc is known to inhibit some viruses; I think it works in this case. I would welcome some controlled experiments testing this theory." http://www.finegardening.com/rose-rosette-disease-what-do-when-you-get-it ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ H. Kuska comment: What first came to my mind was that there are some reports that zinc helps with the cold virus. http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/common-cold/expert-answers/zinc-for-colds/faq-20057769 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I looked for scientific papers that support the suggestion. This is one: Title: "The ameliorating effect of zinc on symptoms of phyllody virus (strawberry green-petal) in white clover" http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1744-7348.1963.tb03693.x/full ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ AND one that is so - so. Title: "Heavy metal soil contamination delays the appearance of virus-induced symptoms on potato but favours virus accumulation" http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/03235400600627791 ----------------------------------------------------------------------- And an explanation of what may be happening. Title: "COMPLEMENTARY RESULTS OF LUMINESCENT AND TRANSMISSION ELECTRON MICROSCOPY PROVIDE STRIKING EVIDENCE OF HEAVY METAL IONS' EFFECT ON THE FORMATION OF AGGREGATES OF TOBACCO MOSAIC VIRUS VIRIONS BOTH IN VITRO AND IN VIVO." https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=%22COMPLEMENTARY+RESULTS+OF+LUMINESCENT+AND+TRANSMISSION+ELECTRON+MICROSCOPY+PROVIDE+STRIKING+EVIDENCE+OF+HEAVY+METAL+IONS%27+EFFECT+ON+THE+FORMATION+OF+AGGREGATES+OF+TOBACCO+MOSAIC+VIRUS+VIRIONS+BOTH+IN+VITRO+AND+IN+VIVO.%22&btnG=&hl=en&as_sdt=0%2C36 H. Kuska comment: The small +2 zinc ion may be forming a dimer by combining with 2 units of virus with each contributing a +1 hydrogen ion position.

Lol! I have pink drift, that came from a grower, but pulled out the coral drift because it was competing with roses I liked better. I am practical about my garden. If it works, I keep it, I really don't care about its "common-ness." I have a Prosperity "tree" that I have espaliered to the north side my wall, and I wanted a tiered effect, so I have Pink Drift, Golden Buddha, International Herald tribune, and Natchitoches Noisette under the tree for filler. It works. I suspect you are in good company Sheri. In the heat of summer Drift keeps going. It is like an Ever-ready bunny! My pink drift is quite short and is three years old about 18" x 24" But I know what you mean about its lack of perceived value. I feel that way about a lot of my roses. Many of my roses are earthkind OGRs, which makes them the common roses of the OGR world. But they are beautiful and reliable. Like Pink drift. Only more special.

So I went by Lowes today and saw a couple of Hibiscus I could't live without. They are 2 small plants, but they were $4 each. They are a bright fuscia color. I didn't know Hibiscus was such a pretty flower....so much to learn! So I brought them home. I should of bought some pots too, but afraid hubby will notice a major charge on the debit card. LOL I figure if I keep frequent low charges, they aren't as alarming...LMAO! Yes, I am planning on attending the plant swap. I do need to print up the directions and all. As far as Salvia goes, not sure what kind I have, I'll have to pull up the tag and read it when I get home. I didn't put the seeds far in the dirt. I just sprinkled the seeds on top of the soil and put about 1/8 of an inch of soil spread on top. So they are very lightly in there. Hopefully they'll still be okay. Ooo, yes, I looked up the pics of the Salvia, and I like. And I'll have to look up what the Texas Star Hibiscus looks like, but I know I'll probably like those too if I like the ones I bought already. Thanks so much for your help! I can't tell you how much it's appreciated!

Below is what I notice in my garden of 150+ fragrant own root roses: 1) Own roots that can take high humidity with healthy leaves in my rooting bin, even with constant condensation (water) on leaves & stems. These can take extreme humidity yet have 100% healthy leaves, even with poor drainage if the soil is NOT acidic. Evelyn, W.S. 2000, Mary Magdalene, Christopher Marlowe, Pat Austin, Queen of Sweden, James Galway, Dee-lish, the Dark Lady, Spirit of Freedom, Tchaikovsky, Purple Lodge. 2) Own roots with healthy leaves with humidity, if the drainage is fast, plus liming on top to neutralize acidic rain: Abraham Darby, Crown princess Magareta, Tess of d'Ubervilles, A Shopshire Lad, Radio times, Well Being, Augusta Luis, Sonia Rykiel, Yves Piaget child. 3) Own roots that blackspots with high humidity despite fast draining or liming, and need constant potassium fertilizer to stay healthy: Golden Celebration, Carding Mill, the Squire, Gertrude Jekyll, St. Cecilia, Firefighter, Comte de Chambord. 4) Own roots with THICK LEAVES which rabbits don't eat: Evelyn leaves are thicker than Abe. Tchaikosky leaves are thick like Augusta Luis, Christopher Malowe leaves are thick like James Galway and Purple Lodge. Crown Princess Mag, Strike it Rich and About Face have thicker leaves than Cading Mill. Never see blackspots on Chris, Evelyn, Tchaikosky nor James Galway. 5) Own roots with THIN LEAVES which rabbits devour: Abe. Darby, Munstead Wood, W.S. 2000, Sonia Rykiel, Well Being Golden Cel., Firefighter, Boscobel, and Comte de Chambord. The above are my observation with own-roots in my garden plus rootings in humid bins of Evelyn, Dee-lish, W.S. 2000, Spirit of Freedom, Christopher Marlowe, The Dark Lady, The Squire, Augusta Luis, James Galway, Mary Magdalene, Abraham Darby, Sonia Rykiel, Dee-lish, Golden Celebration, Gertrude Jekyll, Radio Times, Pat Austin, Well Being, Tchaikovsky, Crown Princess Mag., Purple Lodge, thornless Yves Piaget child. *** Princess Anne is touted as very healthy, but as its roots mature in its 5th-year, it's prone to blackspots in my poor drainage clay. Some Austins have chunky & woody root that rot fast in standing acidic rain water like Princess Anne. Some own-root starts out as healthy cluster roots, then matures to chunky & woody (like Dr.Huey-rootstock) and become more Blackspot-prone in later years like Princess Anne. Other Austins like W.S. 2000 have cluster-root (similar to multiflora) that does not rot in acidic rain, thus zero blackspots even as 12th-year-own-root. Leaves of W.S. 2000 and Evelyn have NO blackspots in high humidity rooting bin. Evelyn can take high rain and poor drainage clay better than Abraham Darby (best bloomer for hot & dry and alkaline climate). A Abe. Darby & Sonia Rykiel & Well-Being need a higher pH and all 3 bloom well with my alkaline tap water at pH 9, thus best for hot & dry climate. Below are pics. of W.S. 2000 being healthy, it's right next to the rainspout dumping tons of acidic rain at pH 4.5, note the pale leaves: Below pic. of Evely was taken July 24, after week-long rain, I never see blackspots on it in its 12 years as own-root, if biochar at pH 8.6 is given before a rainy month. Note Evelyn's paler leaves than Abe. Darby: