Hmm, worse than a drummer next door? Someone I know had a bagpipe player next door. Now I happen to like bagpipe music but it's not everyone's cup of tea. And even I would not like to hear it next door in a close-built neighborhood. My own experience is that rust is a problem that is worse in spring and fall. In the midst of summer only susceptible roses seem to suffer from it. I do remember though that on the El Niño year about 10-12 years ago, all the roses had it, pretty much all summer long. It may just be that you are experiencing a local pocket of rust-inducing conditions this year. Someone twenty miles away may not have the same things going on that you are. Rosefolly

Checklist shows SEA POWER to be registered at 38". Now that is some stalk. Anybody every see it that tall? People keep saying 18". MIAH JANE from Tom Parkhill is similar to SP. It has all of the bells and whistles and gets up to the registered 36" height when it is in bloom. It has 'killer' branching. Another not quite so ruffled as SP but just as good also comes from Tom. It is called PURE SAPPHIRE. It is the most carefree grower and bloomer of the blues in this color range. These were in bloom at the Memphis convention but were probably not rated so highly because people don't know Tom Parkhill. He has produced some phenominal irises. MIAH JANE was a runner up to the President's Cup at Memphis. He should have won, but another plant won on a sympathy vote. MIAH JANE was the best iris at the Memphis convention. I think it won an HM but has been quietly forgotten, which is sad. He has ads in the AIS Bulletin but like many others is ignored because he is not one of the big boys. A finer, more iris knowledgeable man you'll never meet. The most recent issue of TALL TALK had an article on lesser known hybridizers. Of course, Tom, even with his near win in Memphis, was not mentioned, but some who have been introducing before Tom were listed. Walter Moores

Thank you all for your support it means the world to me. I've always been the type to beat myself up for not knowing how to do the things just right. It would not be so bad if dad's mind wasn't clear as a bell right now. His abuse of his medicine is a real concern for me. I got a call from him today saying he needs his antibiotic for his sinus, well he'll only take one or two and he says it cures his sinus. You and I know this isn't so and even if it does help it's short term, taking the antibiotics like that can cause harm but no one can get this through to my dad. I have had so many problems with doctors in my past that I don't trust them easily. It was me that saved my husband from a possible stroke, his blood pressure was high and I could tell when it was up but with the sleep apne he had to take showed how bad it was. They could not get it down all night so I marched into our dr.'s and told them about this and they looked back at his chart and seen that it was high everytime he went in for a check up. Now why don't they pay more attention to this? This is why I fear looking for yet another doctor. I have no luck with them. Only once did I have a wonderful doctor and within a year my insurance changed and he didn't take it :( He was the one that listen to me about my weight and took test finding that my thyroid was bad. I went through years with a sore throat and my throat closing up at night in my sleep, waking up unable to breath for 10 or so seconds but felt longer and didn't know if I'd get my breath. If it's wasn't for y'all I don't know if I'd be able to be strong for my dad. I never knew it could be so hard. I look at pictures of my grandparents, dads parents and talk to them and wishing they were here. They had a hard life and I can just image that they went through just what I am now. They took care of my great grandmother for 17 years then told my grandmothers brother it was time for him to care for his mother and give them a break. Great grandmother was called little granny and I never seen pictures of her but heard great stories about her, I found a picture of her the other day and I'm so happy to finally seen her, she past away a few years before I was born. Sorry for being long winded. Barbara

I agree with Brittie that the flowers flatten and lose petals in the heat. But I cut Babs in tight buds in Summer and she will slowly open in the vase and retain that classic high centered HT shape. She also flowers a lot in Summer. Wonderful! She is one of the few roses that I can actually smell any fragrance at all in high heat.