Well, first of all, I want to thank you folks for urging me to have
patience with Zepherine Drouhin. I planted two in April 2000 next to a
south-facing wall; not a sign of flower buds until...this year. Hooray!

They really do leap, eventually.

However, Zepherine did not win the first-blossom award this year (though
she has color in her buds now). Of all my roses pruned on Dec. 15 in my So.
Cal. Zone 10b location, three looked like they were running neck-and-neck
to have the first open bud of the season: Reine Victoria, Eugene de
Beauharnais and Mrs. Oakley Fisher.

The winner is: Mrs. Oakley Fisher with her golden apricot glow.

Eugene is close behind. Those who have noted that Eugene likes to live in
pots are correct, at least in my experience. Eugene has produced gorgeous
foliage in the past two months and has seventeen ready buds ready to unfurl
on a plant that's not much more than 18" high. Quite a productive fellow.

I wish warmer weather for our snowed-in and shivering compatriots...of
course you folks probably have the advantage of a more glorious springtime,
when it finally arrives. :-)

----