Outside

Reply to: This looks like mottling from rose mosaic virus to me. It shows up in one small section in spring and is often covered up by other healthy looking leaves as the season progresses. I regard it as a cosmetic problem. Austin roses seem particularly affected. Google rose mosaic virus, and the top listing is New Mexico University's article on RMV. Scroll down a ways in the article and you will see leaves with the mottling effect in a photo. Also appearing frequently are lightening, ring spotting, and other discoloration. Diane

Q

Reply to: Oh, I just went to the Hummingbird site - looks fantastic! I think I'll be ordering from them. Lilyfinch, I am a rotten photographer, so I really don't have any great pictures, and very few of roses and clematis together. (Most of my photos are either blunked out from bad light, or so blurry they don't even make sense). I'll try to share what I have, though. First is a shot of my front arbor. John Cabot is the deep pink, Complicata is on top, and the lighter double pink is John Davis, who is accompanied by Betty Corning clematis. You can sort of make out the little blue bells of Betty: This is a shot of my front garden: at the very back on the left side you can maybe make out the large flowered blue clematis. I think it's Will Goodwin, but I'm not positive. The pink rose he's climbing on is The Herbalist. This is an older photo; we unfortunately lost the Oklame Cherry on the left (we have a new one on the other side, though). I replaced it with an obelisk that grows Climbing Pinkie and Venosa Violacea clematis. Below is MIP with Viola clematis. Not an ideal photo but I hope you can sort of get the idea. When spring comes I'll really try to get some more and better photos! DH is actually a really good photographer, but I hate to bug him about taking pictures!

Q