Here we are, at the end of another year. Was it a good year for you? Was it just an average year? Or was it so disappointing that you have plans for big changes next year?

For some reason, December is known as Bingo Month, so the thumbnail rose for this month is Bingo, aka Carefree Delight.

Great images, Zuzu and for starting the December thread!


The online news magazine Quartz has declared today "International Not a Remotely Special Day" Day! to protest all the newly invented special days, many of which are designed purely to make us buy stuff. They go on to say: "To commemorate, we're not going to try to sell you anything."

Here is something else you cannot buy:

Refreshing .

My first day of pruning was a big success. I filled two big waste cans and now I feel quite virtuous. I hope to continue doing this every day that it doesn't rain.

Wanted: suggestions for supporting Fairy Tale series roses (Pomponella, Caramella, Cinderella, Kosmos and Golden on order from Palatine, April 2018). I understand from others in this forum that Fairy Tale roses are hefty and need support. I have absolutely no experience with supporting roses. Please share suggestions from your personal experience! Photos would be great too.

I don't use supports for most of these because they have such thick canes that they really don't need support. Pomponella, however, tends to block a pathway, so I had to put a section of fencing next to it.



Here's a closer look at the way the bush cascades. The second picture was taken about a week after the first.

Zuzu,
I like your fence. How long is it? A fence might work in the situation I am tentatively planning for Pompanella: next to a walkway. How is the fence supported and stabilized? My only experience with fences is 10' split rail (too long). Did your fence come with posts that go 2 feet in the ground?

It's just a 4-foot section of fencing with a piece of a trellis added in the center. I think it's about 4 or 5 feet tall. I don't know how much of it is underground because I didn't do it. I just asked my handyman Jose to come up with a solution to the blocked pathway.

I can't believe how big those roses are! Looks great!


Today is International Day for the Abolition of Slavery

(aka AUSbite)

I used a square shaped thick wooden stake 1" x 6' or 7' to support and protect from wind damage on Brothers Grimm as well as some others like Mandarin Ice etc. If I have to do it again... I would insert the stake into the ground before planting the rose. I did not find it necessary to stake Golden Fairy Tale.

Today in 1894, the Scottish novelist and poet Robert Louis Stevenson, best known for 'Treasure Island' and 'Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde', died in Samoa, 44 years old.

(aka Ardrum)

Today is National Cookie Day:

(Aka 'SAVacook')

Fact of the day: Fortune cookies were invented in the US, not in China.

I will definitely plan an appropriate celebration.

Always wise to warm up the old cookie muscles in preparation for Christmas!

Today in 1901, Walt Disney was born:


(aka JACmouse, Litl Romeo)

Amazing color! Well captured by Sue's great photography.

It is a great shot!

Today is St. Nicholas Day and we have an entry for the rose Santa Claus in the NGA database, but no picture, so today you'll have to do a bit of hard work and click the link below for a picture of our rose of the day:

https://www.helpmefind.com/ros...

(aka POUlclaus)