I realize this discussion is from nearly a year ago and is about 2023 roses, but does anyone know anything about Princess Buttercup (LUDbeachdarby)? Supposedly released in 2022, but I don't know if that's the South Africa release or the USA release. I can't find information about this in the USA other than Heirloom Roses: https://heirloomroses.com/collections/ludwigs-roses/products/princess-buttercup Even HelpMeFind comes up with no results. I just submitted this to HelpMeFind, but I don't know how long before it will show up. I ordered this and it arrived today. Looks like it might be low thorn, but that's all I can see for now (other than the description on Heirloom Roses). I read that it is normal for a company to remove the leaves for summer shipping to reduce stress on the plant; it's 100+F here continuously. This is the largest specimen with the most canes that I have ever received from Heirloom so maybe not many people are buying it.

I'm glad you're finding your eggs, Kim. I need to find sweet potatoes, Larry. I'll do a few again in the mineral tubs. My low was 39 around 7 am. We have the SG planted! Rick did the beans and we both got the tomatoes planted. 53, I think. We've been working hard after our paying jobs. We'll probably be very sore by Monday morning when we start the work week again. He's going to plant at Okmulgee tomorrow and I've got events (that I'm in charge of) all weekend and then try to cook, shop, and work in the garden in-between stuff. The only things that remain are okra and cowpeas. I was also able to get the Dr. Wyche and Sungold in. And the eggplant. There's not a lot of those--just 3 Dr. Wyche and 2 Sungold and 6 eggplant. They are in the back garden that I call Charlotte's Garden. There's also a few onions back there and the garlic. I put in several calendula tonight as well. And a couple of chamomile. When it warms up, Seminole pumpkins will go on the trellises. In June, the onions and garlic will come out and hopefully the seminole will sprawl. It has the potential to look really pretty. A couple of years ago, I had flowers, peppers in the raised beds, and noodle beans on the trellis. It was quite lovely until the aphids found the noodle beans. I am hoping to squeeze in some time after Easter lunch to get the remaining heirloom tomatoes planted. And maybe the herbs and flowers. Unfortunately, I have not had the time to finish the herb spiral. There's gobs of henbit in and around it and needs to be filled with soil. It's the time of year for the 1000's of little tree sprouts. So annoying. It would be nice to have a week off from work. Especially next week. The weather looks great. I'm rambling. So tired. Hope everyone is enjoying the decent weather.

Larry, it would be so nice to go into November without a frost. It's very, very chilly out there right now but that's mostly the wind. We have outside chores to do so I'm hoping the wind dies back this afternoon. We've been busy this morning, but with indoor tasks like installing towels bars, etc. As you can see in Rick's picture above, I was able to get a colander of fresh green beans. There's more out there that will be ready today or tomorrow. The wind knocked several green tomatoes from the vines, so I grabbed those up and brought indoors. Rick's plants in the SG look really good. Last night there were only 4 remaining monarch caterpillars on milkweed and one of them was very small and looked like it was dying. It might have been one I moved from an empty milkweed. I wonder if I hurt it or it was already sickly. There were 12 that I could see when I left for work. So, the other 8 must have moved on with the others. There have been several dozen over the past couple of weeks. I can't find any more chrysalises though. I read that the caterpillars can travel up to 30 feet to form the chrysalis. I really hope it doesn't freeze until the butterflies emerge and can get on with their trip to Mexico. The caterpillars like the showy or common (I can't remember which I have and they sorta look alike) milkweed best. I have one orange milkweed, but the remaining ones only went to that plant once the others were all eaten up. I don't have a lot of garden stuff to do this week or talk about really. I'm going to start filling up the Vego beds this week. Just with compost and stuff as we go through the winter. Just as soon as I can get those potatoes out of Ethan's room and use that cardboard to put at the bottom of the Vego bed. Does anyone watch Living Traditions Homestead? They're doing their large garden with beds similar to the Vego ones. They're in Missouri and their ground is hard and rocky at their new place and they decided to go with the raised beds, rather than spend 10 years amending their soil. They're not spring chickens, so I can appreciate that. Mostly we're just trying to get ready to go to Oregon next week. What is everyone up to this weekend? edited to say that my Dixondale catalog arrived today.

Oh I haven't had spaghetti squash in ages. I never quite embraced it. I like it ok but I never loved it. I should try it again. I have been slipping on my veggie intake lately. I have also heard the lentil pastas are pretty good -- specifically the one at Trader Joe's. I also really like the Bio Naturae whole wheat pasta. It isnt gummy and doesn't have the flour taste that a lot of whole wheat pastas do. I don't have pasta often either but every couple of months, I really enjoy it. I didn't weigh this morning but I am feeling better about myself knowing I am at/around my lowest weight. I am still not eating normally-- sticking to soup, eggs and toast for now but I am thinking about some healthy "date night" meals for next week. It is funny how just a little progress gives me so much more resolve and motivation! Speaking of motivation-- I need to get moving!