Thanks Sherrycola. Seminole Springs is a wonderful place to get roses. In fact, that is where I got this one. I was just curipous because there seems to be some different versions of Louis out there. What nursery is the one only carrying Knockouts? Is it Taylor Gardens? That is where I got my three Double Knockouts. She had told me the old garden roses didn't sell well, which really surprised me. Carol, they sure can look alike! It sounds like some of the differences may show up at maturity, but my Cramoisi looks a lot like my Louis also. What tea roses do you think would look nice next to him? Any suggestions? Sandy

Gosh, what great suggestions! I have a Mrs. Oakley Fisher in a pot. I'm wondering if because she is an older hybrid tea she just might do O.K. on her own roots. Actually, if a rose can't hack the own root thing, there are plenty of others that can. Kronprincessin is planted by Cramoisi in another bed. It's a very small baby but looks so pretty with the red. I do have a band of Souvenir de St. Annes, so when it blooms I'll see what I think. I was discouraged today and was going to plop Louis in a pot until I figured out what to do, but my husband said that he liked him where he was, and that he would be striking against the white house. Right now he is only at the toddler stage-if that. I hope he is a fast grower. I'm trying to plant STURDY, but pretty roses on the west side of my house, because I've learned the hard way that what goes there will have to have the ability to withstand whatever our hurricaine seasons dish out. It seems the twiggy bushes let most of the wind go through without whipping them around too much. I put Madame Lombard on the corner of the house near Louis, because the other one I had never had a problem with wind. Probably because she is built like a tank. I like to mix colors, prettier that way IMO, as long as they don't jar each other. I wonder if Hollyhocks will do well here. I'm planning on researching companion plants so that once all the roses are in place I can tuck a few here and there. If any of you know where I can start my research let me know, hopefully with a place that knows Florida. It's too bad all you ladies don't live closer. It would be so great if we could actually look at each others gardens. Sandy

Hi Connie, Wish I had known you were there; I was in the library from 10-1 cataloging some new books. Went early so could have a look see before my library duties. Lovely booths with lots and lots of lovely things. Bought 2 bearded iris from the Iris Society (a tall and a border) and spotted lilacs in the Louis Ginter Tent so bought one for my sister for the NY house. I considered myself very good and very disciplined today LOL but lots of temptations were to be seen. Jim

It's good to hear from all you other chaos-tamers. We've been working on our garden for about fourteen years now; another decade or two should do it, except for maintenance, but we don't have that much time given DH's age. Every bit of beauty, wealth, and order gained makes me happy. By "wealth" I mean fertile soil and a great variety and number of healthy plants. Today I'm hoping to transplant a puny 'Clair Matin' into a better spot and better ground, and perhaps dig another hole for a 'Blush Noisette' that will keep 'Cl. Mme. Caroline Testout' company on a pergola. And we have a hole mostly dug for a second hazelnut nearby. All this is in the garden area bounded by the bed I've been working on, so the influence of order and beauty continues to spread outward. Oh, yes, and we did find a place for another Tea rose, and the hole has been dug. I think I'm going to put 'Souv. de Auguste Legros' there, just because I have a plant of it. I hope it gets big.