I'm still kicking myself that I couldn't convince the taxi driver to take us down to BaoSheng when we visited Penang. We did visit the Tropical Spice farm and Tropical Fruit farm and ate a couple of durians from a local stand. Definitely different from the Thai durians. Much smaller. Closer to a personal sized durian than the bigger Thai varieties that get shipped here. Interesting that the variety listed as the one that they want to replace is the Chanee. Note the mark on this shipping box. Monthong (or Golden Pillow) is still the favourite, but Chanee and Kradum still do a brisk business, especially in the early season (like right now).

One thing we learned about IHT is -- it has very long spaces between leaves, for the length of the cane. Therefore, there are few places for new growth to emerge from the cane. So, for the first few years, it really shouldn't be conventionally pruned AT ALL. Just cut the blooms away, and let it find its own path. Given that treatment, it finally builds up to a substantial plant of less than 3-ft in height. (I know someone who said she got it to 4-ft., but we have not seen that.) Eventually, you just remove entire aged canes. It is happy to grow new ones. I don't know how it is elsewhere, but in our area, this rose is completely free of disease. I think that is at least in part BECAUSE of the amount of R. californica in its pedigree. Tom Carruth used IHT to establish a handsome like of purple roses. Those were all good roses here. But in the end, it is IHT that we still grow -- and we grow many plants of it -- because it's tough, drought-tolerant, and disease-free HERE. (I am not making claims for other sorts of climates or conditions.) It repeats like mad for us, and most of the sprays are massive.

monarda.. ..thanks so much for that interesting link, I did enjoy reading that article from the NY Times... the part I found most enlightening was that in 1947 they had a black lady win the Miss Subways contest, - a Brooklyn College student,... because in the BBC Proms production this year which I so enjoyed and mentioned upthread, - about the best thing I've seen on t.v. all year - they had a black actress play the role of 'Miss Turnstiles'... I admit to questioning how realistic that may have been in the 1940's, and this does take place during wartime, but this has answered my question... ..in fact, they had a number of ethnic actors in this performance amongst the ensemble cast, all of whom were quite excellent and as a group almost stole the show for me.. I loved all the songs, but perhaps 'I Can Cook Too' is my favourite and actress Louise Dearman just sang and acted it to perfection... I almost learnt the words off by heart..

I remember Ingrid love this rose also so it must do well in various places in California. I've been thinking of getting it but was not sure how it would do here. You give me hope doctor manners.