"Mike" casually told us that
..
Of course, it stormed late in the afternoon. I'll just have to be
surprised
when they pop up all over the lawn. My Dad called and asked me to come
over
and clean out his gutters. I was on his roof when the deluge began. I
slipped coming off the ladder and gave my spine a good jolt trying to grab
onto the ladder as I fell. I'm so sore right now. I know I'm going to be a
shambling mess tomorrow morning.

Oh jeez, that reminds me that it's trash night. I better shut up now and
get it together so I can go to bed. So I shall take your advice and say
Good night, Mike.

Good night!

Goodness me! are you all right? My BH gasped when he read about your
fall, and I couldn't believe you would go up a ladder with a storm brewing.
What is it with you guys? Is it something in the male DNA that still alive
and well from the hunting and gathering days that makes a man believe
that neither rain, nor snow, nor lightning is going to touch them when they
are on the roof? I swear I have heard more stories like this from friends
than them slipping on the soap in the bathtub! I hope you are fine and
what your father needs is rain gutter guards. There are some great ones
here in Oregon and we are having ours installed this summer in this house.

We had them in the old house and they were wonderful, never had to
deal with anything but water. And since our house is three story high I
don't want BH to go up any ladder, because like you he believes that
the hunting and gathering days may be just around the corner and one
must keep those nice skills like climbing up a mountain while raining,
in working order. OK, no more lecturing. Back to roses.

Of course you can pick my brains, that is why they are there for.
I pick everyone else's brain when I try to find out something so it
would be nothing if not fair play to offer the same. But fair warning,
when it comes to roses all the experience in the world seems to
apply to where you are planted, which presumes it is also where
your roses are. And where you bought your roses. I know, I know
but I have yet to find a boxed rose that responds the same as an
own root and that shows gratitude for all the lavished attention
and devotion. The poor things mostly put out for a season or two
and they are toast after that. In my grandmother's house in Provence
some of the roses were there since the early 1800s and I took cuts
with me before they sold the place in the early 80s. Betcha they
didn't come in any boxes.

I hope you are not in too much pain. I am off in a business trip until
next week, so don't plant anything until I get back ;) and about Mermaid,
she of the golden talons, just pray that you are never within her reach.
Experience speaking here. Stay well and I hope your roses come to
bloom before you know it.

Allegra