The idea of Tea roses being strong and resilent has always intrigued me. This one 'Francis Dubreuil' has shown those amazing Tea strengths and I have to thank Paul Zimmerman at Ashdown for sending them in place of some older climbing roses. I protect my roses in a fashion that keeps them like zone 5b or 6a not at all like the zone 4a I live in. In warmer winters, the protection can be similar to zone 7. I would not hesitate in those actual zones to increase my share of Teas with the choice of plants available so early in the season from the growers (my fear in Minnesota is that by the time the Teas can be shipped here in spring, they have pretty much been picked over). As you can see, the new growth on the Tea comes directly behind the last bloom and require little or no pruning. Also the rate at which they regenerate their bloom is so very impressive.

I didn't order anything this time around, though I was tempted by 'Aimee Vibert'. I ordered more than enough bands earlier this year to fill any site I can possibly consider. Amazingly, there still seem to be some good roses on Vintage's lists today. I got the rambler 'Mary Lovett', still listed, earlier this year and I am totally impressed by the fineness of the foliage and blooms (one parent is 'Kaiserin Auguste Viktoria', after all) and it does, indeed, rebloom (pretty good for a rambler). The blooms strike me as the essence of purity. And that legend of all time, "Vina Banks" was still listed (one glimpse of a photo of it at the Sac. Cemetery should seal the deal, and it has no prickles). Neither of these roses are, so far, listed as available from any other vendor in the U.S. on HMF. Judith, I got 'Bouquet Tout Fait' earlier this year and am totally smitten. Large blooms for a noisette, beautiful scent, and obviously a very willing bloomer; ethereal. Photo from today:

Gifts of homegrown oranges and Black Plums received so I made 50 half-pint jars of Plum Orange Jam from http://www.thatsmyhome.com/general/plum-orange-jam.htm - doubled and then more. I did not use the peel from the plums since they were not grown organically. The color of the jam is golden, the taste is very orange-y tart. Sorta marmalade, but refined. Gift of Chiogga beets for pickling 8 quarts - not very pretty canned because they are not rich red - kinda sickly pink and the design is OK for fresh but lost in translation. Taste is much more sweet than regular Detroit Dark Red. So -- I have to wait 3 weeks for melding to be sure. My homegrown figs are abundant now - 60 more half-pint jars of jam yesterday. Tried the low sugar/macerate version for 40 jars and love that version more than the pectin high sugar version. Gives a much more intense fig flavor. Coyote Juice - Tiny grape-sized golden heirloom Coyote tomatoes that grow in clusters -- prolifically to the max. 30 half-pints - and at least another zillion jars to fill from the rest of the harvest season to come. Anyone want seeds for next year? Nancy

Thanks for your feedback -- Linda - The necklace may have been dipped, since my mom was fond of silver dip... But there's some tarnish in the stamping grooves and on the back sides of the links. Nothing that looks like plating wearing off or peeling, so whatever metal it is, it looks full-depth. Maybe nickel silver? The metal color is very similar to some of my old sterling jewelry, but there is no sterling stamp. (Unless it was on the now-gone clasp.) I have looked very closely for markings. Unless it's practically worn off, there's nothing on the back, first or last links. Don't suppose they'd bury it in the middle? I'll see if good outdoor light reveals anything, but I doubt I'll be able to get better pictures. Is there something specific you's like to see LG? Something tells me this piece is older than the 1970's. 70's peices had a kind of hippie/druggie/earth shoes look that I remember well ;-) I'm with LazyGardens in thinking it looks '40's or 50's-ish -- which was probably why it took me so long to warm to the piece.