"The new Abe., created by replacing its parent Yellow Cushion floribunda with Graham Thomas can have similar blooms like my short shrub Evelyn, but Abe. has taller & lanky growth & rounder & darker green leaves and less prickles on leaves. The confusion between the new Abe."

Please provide a citation that verifies that a "new" Abraham Darby was created using a different parent. I frankly do not believe a word of this. There is no evidence whatsoever that a "new Abe" has been bred and substituted for the original variety. You need to prove that this has happened or it's just conjecture.

@Rose Paris

Receiving the wrong rose when making a purchase is one thing. But "straw" is suggesting that a completely different variety with different parentage has been substituted for 'Abraham Darby' and distributed under the same name. That's a very different idea, and one that needs to be substantiated. I think that is — at best — a misinterpretation of what observations have been made.

Paul is an expert rosarian, Rose. One might have to speak up at times if misinformation is promulgated.

I live in North Tustin, Orange County and we have the large green fig eater beetles that most people call Japanese beetles. I think us Californian’s confuse these and call them Japanese beetles. I’ve only learned a few years ago myself that this was incorrect.

With Chili thrips, I’ve had them terribly every summer but ignored it until two years ago when I started spraying with conserve and another spray that I can’t think of right now. After spraying, I got rid of the chili thrips but then got other pests worse than before. I never get spider mites but I had such a bad case of it last year that the rose garden looked worse than before the thrips and my baby rooted cuttings died so quickly. I decided to officially stop all spraying started ordering in beneficial insects and already I’ve seen a huge difference! I would suggest going this route if possible. In Silverado Canyon, we run the PLNThouse nursery, and my roses there are totally pest free in which I’m assuming is thanks to being out in nature with tons of beneficial insects everywhere. We do no spraying here.

Diane, I'll have to scroll back up later to see your Orange Dude that windowsill raves about. I've only read from what appears today. Lovely photo of YL. That last photo of Tamora is ethereal.

Carol, I got that poem too. My parents smoked too, probably as a result of WWII when cigarettes were doled out free to Service men and women. My husband was in the Australian Air Force, and he used to say "Hat, coat, matches tobacco, undercarriage" when we got in the car. I've felt bad about the roses that I've got rid off too, but I counter it with thinking that I'm keeping the growers in funds.

Kitty, i don't understand about the teaser photo. I've clearly missed something. Is this a different house from the one you showed us earlier? Pretty bouquet. I had a lovely first bloom of the season on PCdM, but a possum nipped it off. Also ate the first bud of Candlelight, which was about to open. I'd been watching it for a month. And my first Showpiece Berry. I haven't had possums for years, and can only think it's because there's no dog patrolling the area now. My son's dog is too stiff to go down unless my son carries him. I've put his poo under the roses though and so far (only three days), no roses have been eaten since then. Fingers crossed.

kentucky, I like your POH and WOH.

Jim, nice to see Gracie soldiering on, and her little companion. Your OSO Easy Double Red is wonderfully healthy and vigorous. The Knockouts have just reached these shores. No Oso Easies yet.

windowsill, you've inspired me to try an abutilon inside. I could only get a red one that was small growing. It's tubestock size, so will take a while to look anything. All those photos are beautiful. I can't get over that you get such beautiful blooms inside. I now pronounce you King of the Windowsill.

Trish, wow, Chippendale. A Tantau I love. It's larger and more petal packed than Tamora. Lots of buds, too. It has the look of a bloom that will last a long time, even in heat......Your area is older, right? So I suppose people want to buy, tear down, then rebuild. Why can't they just repair and restore like Kitty did with her home? I'm sure there are reasons.......On to penstemon. Certain penstemon do much better than others here, so it took me and Edwards, too, several years to figure out the best varieties for this hot, dry climate. I don't know what's available down your way, but the Mexicali series of penstemon is by far the best here. These plants are a cross between Mexican penstemon and Colorado penstemon. They like it dry, but can tolerate moisture in a flower bed that's watered regularly by irrigation. If the spent stalks are removed, they bloom for months. And don't cut them back when winter arrives. Just let them be. My two favorites, and I've tried many, are Red Rocks and Pike's Peak Purple. I wonder if you can find them for your garden? Of course, they may not like your climate, so then you try other types. I grew at least 13 types of coreopsis and never found a really good type for this climate. So, I was happy to move on to penstemon. I suspect that the wretched quail liked to eat some types of coreopsis, too. Sorry, off topic. Hope you're doing well. I'm fine, I guess, for an old codger. Diane

Ashley

Somebody's happy.

For weeks, Munstead Wood has been nearly black, far darker than The Prince. I just dumped these photos into my computer, and it's the first I've seen them. They are totally disorganized.

This shot is The Prince.

Back to Munstead

The photos all probably need some trimming. Diane

Ashley

Rouge Royale

Tamora

Golden Celebration

Angel Face

They were probably cooked in shipment and went into shock and died. That's why I will not order any roses during the summer. Heirloom will sell anyone any rose during the summer. They know at least 75% of the costumors will not complane. That is easy$$$ in their pocket. The other 25%, they will tell them it was their fault. Another 75% of them will give up. More easy $$$ in their pockets. The few that are left, will either get new roses (that will probably die), or a refund. Heirloom has made their $$$.

Hi all, I have not posted for the last few weeks as my roses are languishing in the recurrent heatwaves. Moreover, with the ongoing hosepipe ban, I've been watering only with the grey water from the kitchen, which is obviously inadequate. I'm really thinking of downsizing the potted roses.

Those in the ground are faring better, though they haven't had any substantial rain for the past 8 weeks.

Here are a few photos taken today:

Red Abundance

Our Beth

Thomas a Beckett

Emma Bridgewater

Lady Emma Hamilton

I daresay that the veggies - chillies, tomatoes, cucumber, runner beans, aubergines etc. are doing okay.

Grapes are doing okay, though they are smaller than usual. Apples and pears have been dropping, most of them scorched/cooked in the hot sun. Hoping for more rains and a better growing season next year.

My last picture post for this year, and I shall be away, so maybe see you again next Spring.. here or somewhere else perhaps.. my garden has been depleted with the drought and despite thunderstorms up country, very little here so far, just an odd shower.

'Forever Royal' such a wonderful rose for me, disease free, gorgeous foliage, scented flowers of clove, and blooming well without any irrigation all summer. A simply amazing floribunda, a seedling of 'International Herald Tribune' but I bet it's better than that one.

..take care and all the best for now xx

La Bourbonnaise - despite being a random ’wild card’ purchase and not really to my taste, is strangely growing on me! I’m still not convinced by the pink fade but it’s a healthy, cheerful little rose popular with pollinators. I will keep it as a pot pet for now and see how I feel about it next season..

William Shakespeare is the only one of my Austins giving me full-sized and fully fragrant blooms at the moment:

In contrast with Darcy Bussell’s pathetic efforts:

I forgot to mention, every three or four weeks I gently pull the pots out of their holes and gently put them back. This way any roots that might come out of the drain holes don't have a chance to get established in the soil. When I pull them out for the winter, I set them on a good thick layor of oak tree foliage. I keep everything watered good as long as it isn't below a hard freeze. In the spring, I make sure my planting hole is plenty large enough and the soil in the bottom of the hole is loosened up real good. I gently remove my rose from it's pot ant set it gently in the hole. This way any roots that do come through the drain holes aren't ripped up and the bush USUALLY takes off like nothing has ever happened. Yes, it's a little bit of work, but I'm not getting any younger (like 79, pushing 80 REAL hard). I can't take a chance on messing up a rose I really want and and having to start all over again. It's taken a few years to get this method down for where it actually works for me. I havent lost a single rose over the past several years with this method. Every garden is different, so you might have to adjust a little in your own garden.

Enough said, Ben! Where's my shovel?

Moses.

Ben, I know I heard that story before, but to read it again was frustrating and funny all over again. I think you need to dub it the Velcro rose, since it looks like you’re stuck with always having one. ;)