In the afternoon, this little niche goes into shade. But to be frank, in the worst of the heat, I don't expect my roses to remain dewy and perfect. EYE don't remain dewy and fresh in real heat -- much less my roses. :-)

we camped there arbout 4 or 6 yrs back in august. it's quite nice. cools down at night, and does get hot during the day, but not terrible. be sure to ck out dupont forest, which is very close by and is free. it has gotten very busy on the weekends, so try and go during the week for some peace. has some 8 or more waterfalls. nice paths, and 4 of them are in an easy walking distance of the parking lot. if yo're willing to hike more, be sure to ck out bridal veil falls- you can walk behind it, and it's on a huge slab of rock you walk up to get to it. you have to see it to understand. some are from the last of the mohicans movie (bridal veil and triple falls). also be sure to ck out 'pretty place'. it's an open air stone & wood chapel at the top of a nearby mountain right on a cliff face. just beyond a ymca camp- ask anyone local and they can tell you. stunning. ceasar's head park in sc is very nice, too. have fun! we love that area.

Hi Papa Jim! I am glad to know that your banana is productive and getting a persimmon tree is always a good idea. I finally got a picture of a National hummingbird while I was away. Back at home, Cheryl went to Tarpon Springs and got me some sponges and a lot of air plants, I put them mostly by the avocado tree and they are doing well. Today I had to keep up with the harvest, my 3 eggplants are producing heavily, almost every day pickings. Did you start your tomato seedlings? Mine were started at the same time and they all look different in size.:) Silvia

Thank you all for your kind remarks. I do find these Tea roses fascinating. Alana, with us both in z 8a, I do not understand why mine have made it this far. I remember being worried it would be too rough for them here. We also have the Spring freeze thaw problem and it did kill Jesse Hildreth # 1 & 2, but #3 is doing fine. Arcadia Louisiana Tea band #1 died with wet Spring weather in a pot, but I got a second one a week ago and I am really hopeful. I bet if you just got them past that annoying baby phase, they would do well. John, your GG is such an inspiration! Mine is surprising me already with how interesting it looks. It sat there last year, but this year has really taken hold. Comtesse Festectics Hamilton, OTOH is a lot slower as is Comtesse Emmeline de Guigne. Emmeline is bred from Papa Gontier (a fast grower) and Festectics (slower), so I guess she didn't take after Papa. I pinched buds on Emmeline this Summer but she is still short. Lisa, you'd love BHdS. The Tea ladies say the bush is a beast, but I think it looks really attractive so far. Maybe it looks rougher older. Well, don't we all? My SdlM is so different from Ingrid's but the blooms are gorgeous. Maybe in time it can take hold. It might be a bit too cold here. Ingrid, yes you deserve all the blame, and it has given me so much joy. These Teas are so mysterious. They look different every day. They sit there, then they shoot up. I have more that eventually can warrant a photo if they do something. We'll see, Ingrid, how La France feels with the Teas over time size wise. Knowing me, I'll just leave it there if it seems happy even if the sizes are disparate. It is a treasure. I wish Jeri would say why she she got rid of Emmeline, and I wish Carol would report on Comtesse de Leusse. Again, happy Fall.