Beth.......... You have my greatest sympathies. Gardening on multiple levels has felt totally impossible from the beginning. When I am working on one level, the weeds are thriving on the other levels. Argggggggh. Hauling mulch up from the street level to the gardening levels is hard labor, too. I thought it was my time management that was the problem. The problem is that it is incredibly difficult for one person to manage all of that work. Then add the heat we both experience and it just gets overwhelming. I did check with the lady who runs our local garden center and she did say that Preen will not harm the roses. I may not like using chemicals to control weeds, but I have had to give up and use some. You have so many beautiful roses, I know this must be very distressing for you. All you can do is keep at it one day at a time. Smiles, Lyn

I don't make mistakes! I just make commitments which go terribly wrong. I was at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens almost 20 years ago. They were putting some Dutch iris in the trash and a worker asked if I would like some. As I left, I picked up a few pieces and brought them home. I planted them without removing the soil around the roots. Well I brought home some pennywort roots and they are impossible to eradicate. BTW, I made another commitment yesterday. I committed to have some tree limbs removed which reached over the roof. The guys came today to do the work. I had them sign a liability release. They had not been working more than 30 minutes when one guy fell out off the ladder with a running chainsaw. He is OK. Newer chainsaws have a clutch which stops the chain from turning. The guy had a few bumps, bruises and a few bleeding scratches but otherwise he is fine. They continued to work another 2 hours.

My last iris to bloom is the Japanese iris, Picotee Wonder. Each year it has one or two blooms. This year only one, but, it is well worth waiting for. It is planted on the south side of my house, over top of the cistern and gets lots of snow cover in the wintertime. I bought it in 2003 and it seems to like it there, although it is a slow increaser of fans for me. Brenda

Lisa wow- thsoe iris orientialis are very beautiful. You were right- the first photo didnt do them justice!! How does one beg you for seeds on those most effectively? LOL Now that copper one Susan posted.. now that is stunning too! Nice color and shape there. very unique.. must one be in the south for that one? Memo- score again!! send pics when those "townies" bloom :) I'm in "iris anticipation" right now totally! This year I have SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO many buds.. over the years i have taken irises from here and there and planted them here and there in my large yard and this year i think all but one or two little clumps are not budding yet. I have irises that have been in the same spot for 4 years now without blooming and they are finally budding up now.. Ofcourse all this rain is scaring me.. i hoep they dont open for all this rain to crush them! GRRRR beautiful pics everyone. Loved this post.