It is August 2010 and we have been propagating new plants from semi-mature cuttings, re-potting old rooted cuttings into 7 gallon pots and over-writing our "growing crop" pictures on the web site.

These growing crop pictures allow potential customers to see current pictures of all the plants of each single variety gathered together in a group. A sign is stuck in a pot near the center of the group that shows the crop number and the date the picture was taken. Clicking the picture opens a larger version where its easy to read the date and count how many plants of that variety I had in stock as of that date. Some growing crop pictures are over-written with new pictures once a month while others are over-written only twice a year. Because we don't sell plants until they bloom proving the variety people can still watch them grow by revisiting once in a while. If you find a plant in the site that doesn't have a growing crop picture you should email me so that I can add one.

The seven gallon potted plants are grown pot-in-pot outdoors in winter rather than being protected in a cold frame or greenhouse. Only rooted cuttings in pots smaller than the seven gallon are kept in a cold frame during cold weather.

In winter I update many pages on my web site and place pictures of our over wintering plants on my picture newsletter available at www.floweringshrubfarm.com/garden.htm

Next month I'll be transplanting dormant plants into 7 gallon pots. Those that flower will be for sale during our Plant Sale May 15 through July 4 10 AM to 2 PM.

I plan someday to take all the pictures and information on my web site and publish them in a book (probably through lulu.com).

As of August 15 (6 weeks until frost) we have stopped all pruning, cutting back or removal of faded flowers. We may continue to fertilize with liquefied seaweed as research has shown that it can increase hardiness. I am mulching the pots with one inch of finished compost as well.

Today I started repotting 1400 2.5 inch rooted cuttings into 4 inch pots. These are roses we will sell in 3 gallon pots after growing them for 3 or 4 years.

Among the rooted cuttings are; 29 Complicata, 45 Old Damask roses (probably Leda), 98 Sir Thomas Lipton, 36 Magnifica, 56 New Dawn, 23 Parade, 70 Fantin Latour, 32 Stanwell Perpetual, 16 Camaieux, 42 Delicata, 20 Alex Mackenzie, 48 Fru Dagmar Hastrup, 19 Mrs Anthony Waterer, 77 Fimbriata, 120 Cardinal de Richelieu, 57 Konigin von Danemark, 36 Rosa mundi, 27 Altissimo, 94 Tuscany Superb, 3 Seven Sisters, 4 Sarah Van Fleet, 22 Kazanlik, 31 Madame de la Roche-Lambert, 12 Celestial and more.

Most of the 4 inch pots will be planted in Nursery beds later in the summer.