john - April 26, 2004
Blackspot Heaven, or so I dub my rose plot. First Prize, Yves St. Laurent and especially Eureka have succumbed to BS. The Eureka, so much so, that I've removed it altogether. Luckily, the others appear quite resistant and are growing well. As far as fragrance is concerned, I'd give the highest marks to the Bella Roma and to Double Delight.
It's a good thing that rocks are tough, considering that my tumbler stopped tumbling twice in the last week. I'm STILL on the medium grind. It's my fault, really - neglected to oil one of the rods supporting the tumbler, and so it froze up. Makes a nice, gooey, gray mess inside - probably great as a mud facial, but a bit scratchy.
Been looking into ponds and waterfalls and such. Ordered away for a dvd on "how to". Have to question the wisdom of buying such guides from the merchants who sell them - I'm sure that everything is quite easy. But until you've shoveled Houston's thick gumbo excuse for soil, nothing is easy.
Alissa got a call from the Cy Falls College about her, and the entire family, trying out for Honk. As if I wasn't busy enough. And I'm still only halfway through Need for Speed - Underground. Bad thing about that is I'm developing a taste for rap music. That's the soundtrack. And at the same time I'm learning a French aria. Good thing I like variety
What about a site for 290 Park and Ride Riders? We have a unique institution, where strangers pick up other strangers and ... drive them to work. Very mysterious. You just never know who you will meet. Just today I rode in with a woman from the Greater Houston Partnership working on convincing Citgo to come to town ... and heard on the afternoon news that Citgo indeed will transfer. Life is interesting, if you move out of your comfort zone.
john - April 20, 2004
The new roses, especially the Eureka and to a lesser extent the First Prize, are quite vulnerable to black spot. Also, aphids are swarming on the new rosebuds. Ahh, spring in Houston. I am disappointed with the susceptibility of the Eureka, especially since I put it at the very front of the rose bed. I've removed the infected leaves, about half of what it had to begin with, so we shall see.
It has warmed up to about 85 in the afternoon, and 70's in the morning and it has become noticeably humid. The major news is that I've knocked the evergreens out of the other bed, and left in the Yaupon holly. Not quite sure what to plant instead. Diana and I are "discussing" the inclusion of a pond and a fountain. If I had my druthers, I would prefer a Spanish-like courtyard with a fountain in the back, with the pond for the garden. Trying to make a Houston backyard liveable is a challenge. Right now, one step at a time.
ON THE ROCK FRONT. Bottom line, I forgot to put water in the tumbler, so the rocks groud each other for 10 days. I wondered why I didn't have any leaks. Started over. Rats.
Starting to get the second bloom out of the roses. The blooms are smaller, but there are more of them. I am very happy with the Guinevere, prolific bloomer. It is a pleasure to wake up and see what bloomed overnight.
john - April 11, 2004
Last night was a real toad-choker of a storm, at least 4 inches, lots of thunder, we'll see how the roses do with having their feet wet. Hopefully it will dry off soon , so we'll see.
Also, on the rock tumbling front, the tumbler got stuck on the second coarse grind, so I went ahead and moved on to the medium grind. I've been toying with the idea of turning some of the best pieces into jewelry, or using them in a desktop fountain.
Speaking of fountains, Diana and I have been discussing building a backyard pond with a waterfall, as well as expanding the bed. I also bought a pressure sprayer and cleaned off the backyard patio. What a difference! I've been under the weather lately, so I haven't made any progress on front.
The news from Iraq has been very disturbing - I truly feel we've made some serious missteps in that country, and that we've seen mistake after mistake: No WMD, no links to Al-Queda, not enough troops to keep the country from looting itself to oblivion, no understanding of religious sensitivities, no understanding of Arab or Islamic realities. I am concerned that an oil-rich country will fall into the hands of a radical, factious, US-hating regime. Facing that, we will have no choice than to stay there until there is a government sympathetic to the US, which will simply further resentment. With all the resources of the US, why couldn't we be more enlightened in our approach? We are the world's first hyper-power, but it feels like a am watching a blind giant, knocking down anthills, not understanding why "they" can't be more like "us". Just had to get that off my chest. Happy Easter.
john - March 29th, 2004
Went back to RCW Nursery to pick up a few more roses, since there's room in the beds. Took Diana, and we picked out 3 new ones. She fancied a pink jasmine as well. Later, we picked up a small gardenia tree, with the largest blossoms I've ever seen. Here's a few more new opened roses:
The Glowing Peace (Alissa's)
The First Prize
The Double Delight (Genevieve's of course - and it has a beautiful fragrance)
The ones not yet opened are the Bella Roma, The Eureka (a floribunda) and Yves St. Laurent. We're looking at re-landscaping the back yard, so looks like my year ahead is starting to get full.
The azaleas have bloomed ... I like the constrast with the Blue Daze.
john - March 27th, 2004
Found the roses pretty droopy this afternoon - it only got into the 80's, but it has been pretty muggy, and I suppose I kept expecting rain, but nontheless, no rain means I gotta water. At this point they're perking up quite well. A few more rosebuds opened up ...
The Chicago Peace (Julie's)
The Diana, Princess of Wales (Diana's)
The Peace (mine)
The Ingrid Bergman
As for NATS, I entered the advanced adult, and did not make it. I was personally proud that I hit an A natural at 9:30 in the morning, but when the accompanist makes more mistakes that I do, it simply is not a good thing. Alissa was a finalist in musical theater, and Adam a semi-finalist in both classical and musical theater. I think we're all happy that it is over, and so on the the next challenge.
Another one of my hobbies is tumbling rock. So, I'll keep track of progress there, too. Here is a picture of this batch of rocks after I took a hatchet to them.
These are the "fancy" brand. I have a previous batch of mostly petrified wood that didn't turn out too well. It probably didn't help to have the tumbler break down twice - the rocks didn't shine up all that well, and they're kind of not too smooth. Oh well, as they say - "Try, and try again, then give up. Don't be a damn fool about it." I suppose if I start adding rocks to this site, I'll have to call it "Rocks in my Head"
john - March 24th, 2004
Diana found out the real name of the "mystery" rose - Guinevere English Rose, a new variety from Jackson and Perkins. Unfortunately, it does appear susceptible to bs. Other good news is the Brandy has opened up, but I get home too late to get a good picture, will have to wait until this weekend - after my ordeal at NATS. Singing an "A" at 9:30 in the morning ... don't these people know I'm a TENOR, for pity's sake!
john - March 21st, 2004OK, we're back from Sping Break in Galveston, and we've got roses blooming. Love and Peace, Henry Fonda first. I think the Ingrid Bergman will be next, although it is the first one with blackspot. I'm concerned about the Princess Diana - the single bloom is drooping on the stem, and not a lot of growth. Too wet, perhaps? The Guinevere also bloomed, and now I'm not sure it is a miniature or not.
Love and Peace:
Henry Fonda:
Guenivere:
Also last weekend, added in an "Ingrid Bergman (red)" and a "Henry Fonda (yellow)". Had to have at least one red rose. Wonder if Fonda and Bergman ever worked together ... Found first insects on the roses - it was the small itty-bitty green ones underneath a leaf. I had already bought a 2 gallon sprayer and some Orthonex, so I'm out there spraying for bugs after the sun went down. Oh well, I am sure that if I don't spray early, I'll regret it later. Orthene sure smells, though. Have a number of buds on all bushes, but it looks like Love and Peace will be first. Making progress on Ave Maria. I have the recording by Ellie Ameling - it is divine to hear. It works on so many levels - rhythmically, dynamically, etc. We have NATS up on the 27th, and we're taking some time off for Spring Break this weekend.
john - March 6th, 2004OK, finally had good enough weather to plant the remaining rose bushes. Had to turn the soil, add more black humus, plant Love and Peace, Double Delight (after moving Guinevere), and the Bella'Roma, them move all the rocks back. I'm still sore. Of course, my plan of catching this on camera failed since all of a sudden, the camera batteries don't work, and no one around here sells this model anymore. However, my youngest daughter has a cheap digital that I can use. Also, I've found a bargain-basement price online for a new battery and charger, although I have my doubts - the site kept asking me for a username and password for hong kong something, so Lord knows what will happen now. Anyway, lovely weather, I'm bushed, need to study for NATS - the German version of Ave Maria is beautiful, but memorizing this language takes concentration.
john - March 4th, 2004