Fig, I am so happy for you that you got Caramel Antique rose. Keep us posted with pictures, please!

Jim, I agree with Kentucky- what a hallelujah report! Did the word “ benign” ever look so good to you?

I just had my visit with my neurosurgeon today and he confirmed that I am needing a surgery for my Chiari. The date isn’t scheduled yet and I’m hoping it can be done during the winter when my garden isn’t needing much attention. It will be nice to get relief from the headaches and neck pain.

I’ve been busy getting ready for a bridal shower to be hosted in my yard next Wednesday as well as hosting a Boss’s supper tomorrow evening. I’m so glad that I was able to finish my pathway this week: 39 stepping stones ! It took 42 bags of concrete. :) Here’s the results: and here’s Renae in bloom and a photo of a bloom of WS2000 that wowed me this evening.

Judi -- Your completed path looks wonderful, and your photo perfectly captures how it draws one's eye into your garden. I bet that rust treatment will age nicely, too. Your WS2000 bloom is gorgeous.

Trish -- Your Lioness rose looks perfect in all ways, from those blooms that look like scoops of buttercream to the impeccable foliage. What a great rose. And Madame Delbard is a rose that I'm sure many of us covet! Bliss looks fabulous, too. I'm sorry only one of your dahlias survived, but the one that did make it is lovely. I loved hearing about Honey getting the zoomies on the sand! Yes, there is something that just make Penny go bonkers when she hits the sand.

Carol -- I love seeing the last gasp of your rose season before they all go to sleep in your garage. That photo of Life of the Party is beautiful. I know all the pruning and moving must be so much work, and I'd get tired of sanitizing the pruners, as well. That's wonderful you were able to get Chandos Beauty, and grafted, too! If it's the only one you used to cut off to smell as you walked around the garden, then it's definitely a must-have. Something to look forward to and help you get through the winter. I got my first bloom of Ambridge Rose and it does have a very strong myrrh scent, but it doesn't seem to have the odd astringent note of some other "myrrh" roses. It started out smelling a lot like Cathedral Bells and then just got stronger.

Susan -- That's good to know Jude can be stingy. I have one in a pot, and he just sits around and doesn't do anything for long periods of time. But, obviously, it's kind of ridiculous to try to have that particular variety indoors. Thanks about my Martha blooms! I hope things cool off for you, as well. My family is down in Huntington Beach, and my mom was really suffering in the heat. She's finally going to get some A/C units for the odd heat wave here and there. How do your Martha blooms hold up? I've read they are long-lasting, but mine tend to last only a couple days once they are 100% open (like in the photo below -- the last of my Martha "flush.") It's possible my indoor blooms are just weaker.

Otterbon -- Those vibrant Peach Swirl blooms are incredible! And I know the scent must be wonderful, as well.

Kentucky -- Love seeing those amazing Augusta Louise blooms. A few rose blooms in crystal bud vase is a look I can never grow tired of. I almost prefer it over a full bouquet.

Fig -- Glad you were able to get that Caramel Antike. A few times, I was lucky enough to find Caramel Antike for sale as a cut flower at the store, and I loved the scent, globular blooms, and unusual golden tone. I hope your baby plant does well through the winter!

Diane -- I know you are taking a break, but you'd asked about my hibiscus. Luckily it's one of my houseplants that has rebounded nicely. No more chlorosis, and it's starting to send out side branches and set buds again. And one just opened this morning, I think the best one I've gotten so far. I've always thought that Black Bat plant looks from Logee's looks wild, as well! I think I'm just going to leave the pots of some of my dearly departed houseplants open for now and will try to finally make it to Logee's over Christmas this year; it'd be so fun to finally explore their greenhouses and pick out plants in person. I do hope you get a Martha, and I know Edward's had a great price and would maybe carry her grafted. Selfishly, I just want to see all she can do in your garden! ;) I've ripped out my woody basil and planted the Bloody Mary nasturtium in that planter, and I threw in the last of my basil seeds to see if any will germinate. I'm not expecting a miracle as we head into shorter days, but we'll see what happens.

Kitty -- I'm glad you are following your dream, and I imagine the Finger Lakes region is a great area for attracting tourists to a B&B. My violist friend used to be involved with the music festival in Canandaigua. Your Fleur de Lumiere blooms are incredible! I wish I could smell them. I'd love to have that rose if I had space.

Jim/Moses -- I'm so glad you've both had good medical prognoses. There's really no better news one could hope for. Moses, I empathize with the situation you've described. I've seen treatment for metastatic melanoma brutally impact a family member, yet ultimately help him survive.