My roses are leafing out beautifully, in spite of many leaves on new shoots all dried up from frostburn, but the warm stable spring seems to be here. The roses sure loves temps between 60 and 70 degrees F and it rained all night and day and we are going to get more during the week. and then it is going to be warmer and sunnier again. I can litterally hear everything grow ... everything is getting greener every day. Of course I shop like crazy these days. I have almost run out of space, but I am potting all the new roses I buy. The new Meilland roses roses arrived from France in the usually very poor condition (all roots chopped off). I potted them in big pots with 3-5 roses in each and hope that they grow better roots during the season so I can plant them in the fall. Also some new Tantau roses are being potted I just want to see the flowers and smell them before I decide whether I like them or not. I have bought a lot more companian plants (Perennials and herbs) and have planted most of them this saturday. The Iris I planted this spring are shooting new leaves and I look forward getting more during the summer and again in the fall. I have also gotten some ornamental grasses I look forward seeing this year. I sowed more foxgloves, salvias and real opium poppies this weekend. I constantly need many foxglowes seedlings since they do not flower the first year. I have also gotten a few more clematis. Some of the climbers really surprises me by the impressive new growth they put out, they are going to look great in 5 or 6 weeks from now when they start blooming. Tomorrow I have to go buy a lot of plants for my clients gardens and plenty of containers. Off course I am buying lots of roses (for one big garden I need many white roses) and they also need to have the presummer pots arranged. I also got a new client today ... he has a neglected garden with bad weeds that needs spraying with herbicides. I hate that! But in this case it is called for, because of very obnoxius perenial weeds. His wife had a stroke and he has not had time to do any gardening since she needs so much care, so he has hired me to improve and replant, and maintain their garden. I can not take any more clients since I have all the work I can handle ... but I made an exception in his case. I will have to hire another gardener to help out if I am going to expand my business more. So I just have to fertilize the roses in 2 weeks from now and then wait and hope we are going to have very good first flush of roses with warm dry conditions for some weeks. Oh and Btw one of my roses have canker really bad ... I am not quite sure If I must cut the infected parts away or if I shall wait until the first flush. And one rose against a wall (Gruss an Teplitz) has the worst case of BS I have ever seen this early in the season. Strange since no other roses have it and I did spray it once already. Every season is so unique and have different challenges.

I was just posting about the growth in one month. I was suprised when I saw that picture from June so I went out and took another one to match up. I will post some closer up pictures. Are there any paticular plants you would like to see? They are all doing pretty well and I have the people on this forum to thank because I mixed and matched the methods that I thought would be best for my situation.

Ditto in Brooklyn, I thought the snow wasn't starting 'til this morning. Got home 6 last night; it hadn't snowed yet, couple hrs. later I looked out the window & it was aleady solidly covered in white. Am in apmt bldg so shoveling isn't on me. Am getting a bit antsy but put it to good use cleaning & organizing some of my (indoor) gardening areas & supplies. Recycled some mixes & sifted out the fines for the first time. I'll see if the Hoyas & Sans like that better. My concern is coastal flooding, there's a bay of water across the street from my bldg. Gotta bring my bicycle up from the Basement. So Jeff, just where is that enchanting balcony that's looking so good to me right now? Be well Folks, Lena

Too soon to say for me. As usual I was way behind on moving everything in and just dumped everything in the sun room, still have a few outside. I'm pretty sure I will have some cold damage but it will take a little while to show up. Getting everything watered now is the issue, they are all getting a dry winter rest like it or not.