Spider mites are taking over!!!! It's been very dry here and these little guys are thriving. I only had one bush that was afflicted last year, but these little varmits are everywhere now. I blasted them with one of the Bayer products. We'll see what happens.
My Drop Dead Red, Montezuma, Gold Glow, and Easy Does It, and Cinco de Mayo are now blooming.
Jude the Obscure still has not budged. :-(

I got my first open bloom of the year a few days ago (3/12) on my new Arizona bush. I have to say that the petal substance was not what I was hoping for. It is very soft and silky, so I'm afraid it's going to burn pretty bad during the summer. Maybe my neighbor's peach tree will provide it enough afternoon shade to keep me from moving it. The bloom is beautiful however, and smells like Tropicana.

Hmm. Some of my bareroots are suffering cane dieback already. It was in the seventies last week. Maybe it's been to hot for them? Maybe i should have put them in pots first? I need to talk to someone. >:-(

Two of my charismas are already growing buds. The other two are much behind and are just starting to leaf out. I think Mon Cheri has a bud on it too.
Colorific is still in the middle of it's first flush. What a glorious color! Peach that blushes to watermelon-red. I think this will quickly become one of my favorites once it gets a little larger.