Today I received a message on "the other site" from Repeat_Bloomer. Many of you will remember him from the rose forum and other forums there. He hasn't posted there in a while because he was working on a second master's degree. His name is Mike, he lives in New York, and we all saw wonderful photos of his garden, his pets, his home, his furniture restoration projects, and his whimsical sense of humor. Who can ever forget the picture of him wearing a tiara?

Anyway, he's coming here to a Bluegrass music camp for adults and he's going to come over and visit me on the 19th. I'm delighted!

That's great Zuzu! So push those roses to an early bloom!

Right! How much pushing do you suppose it will take to get them to bloom in two weeks? I haven't even finished pruning some of them yet.

My pruning was coming along quite nicely, but then we had more days of rain and cold, and there's this Brave New World that's taking up a big chunk of my time. I can't wait to tell Mike all of the gossip.

Mills Mix... Mills Mix... Mills Mix!

Cold? It's cold there? Every single one of my rose is still black & purple and my front yard is a frozen brick!

But that's really cool that someone from here is gonna visit! I-friends are usually really super nice people.. rarely does an I-friend not end up what you think they are (trust me).

And yet, it can be one of the worst experiences of your life (trust me).

zuzu - Yea, I know. been there, done that, outgrew the T-shirt.

i was wondering where he went.. the last time he posted he was having a battle with midge, they took out like 60 % of his blooms.

Yes, I remember his problems with pests a couple of years ago, although I'd forgotten they were midges. It was so sad to read about all that he'd lost.

I miss Mike! Glad he's hooking up with you.

I'd be happy to relay any messages you have for him.

Just tell I've missed him alot and best wishes with his Masters degree.

Will do.

Hey everybody, it's been a long time since I've had the pleasure of your virtual company! I'm so glad to see old friends in a new medium. Zuzu, thanks so much for inviting me to join in the fun! Dana - it's nice to be remembered. And Cottage Rose, how the heck are you and the Sebastopol geese? I hear Michigan got hit hard with snow today! We're going to get about a foot of snow tomorrow with blizzard force winds. It's just starting now, but is suppose to be in full force by morning. It will be a good day to stay home! Hopefully the weather will calm down for my cross-country trip to Zuzu's part of the world. I'm going to the California Bluegrass Association's winter camp (primarily for adults) on Sunday, and will be there till Thursday. Then I'll finally get to meet Zuzu in person after years of swapping notes and photos of roses - what a treat! Sue, can you come out and join us for the day? What fun it will be!

HI MIKE!
So glad you are here!
The geese are doing fine and breeding season is about to start.
Actually this winter we're below average snowfall.
It seems that the areas around us have been a lot worse off than us this winter.
Its even been unseasonably cold and snowy in the south for much of the winter.
Well its almost over.
Counting the days until the crocus & daffs start to pop up.
Again, glad you've joined us.

Hey, Mike, Sebastopol's Bluegrass Festival is March 13th, so will you be coming back here for that or will you camp out here on the screened porch with the cats until then?

Here's some exciting news: Sir John Betjeman, the new Austin rose you posted photos of in your threads from the Chelsea Flower Show, is being carried by Garden Valley Ranch this season and I ordered it. I've wanted that rose ever since I saw your pictures of it and it's taken so long to get here. Most places in the United States still aren't carrying it.

oh my, just looked on HMF that Sir John Betjeman.. WOW o WOW! What a gorgeous rose!

Isn't it amazing! I had pretty much stopped buying Austins because the new ones were starting to look like repetitions of earlier ones, but Sir John and The Endeavor are moving into my garden this month.

Zuzu,

Isn't that a most beautiful rose? Here's the photo I took of it at the 2008 Chelsea Flower Show. I came home so excited to order it, only to discover it wasn't available in the US. I'm awfully glad to know it's here on this side of the pond now.

As for camping out with the cats, will I get my own scratching post, or do I have to share???

Ohhh, you had to post a picture, didn't you?! I had planned on being good this year and not adding more roses to the menagerie, but I feel that enabling switch being turned to the "on" position with this post. That one is just too pretty to pass up!