Do you ever have times when there is so much to say, you don't know where to begin? After visiting Asheville and the Garden Bloggers Fling, I am without words. I could expound upon the food . . . . Okay, for a moment, I will. The gluten and dairy free food in Asheville rivals any I've eaten anywhere. Bill and I haunted the Green Sage Coffeehouse and Cafe every morning when we broke our fast, and we had a wonderful dinner at Posana Cafe (which was completely gluten free), but that's not all. I also had beautiful, healthy food at every fling event. My friends took such good care of me and the other flingers who had food and other issues. They were gracious and kind, and kindness means so much when you have a food allergy or intolerance. A special thank you to Christopher, Annie, Frances and the wonderful...

A few years ago, three probably, I began adding red roses to the spring symphony. I also added several yellow. I like red and yellow in the garden, and honestly, in roses, these two colors have become my favorites in our sunlight--with the exception of Pink Knockout®. I do love that hot pink of single Pink Knockout®, but I felt like the garden needed more depth of color, and red roses provide it. Rosa 'Cramoisi Superieur' which has taken a slow road to China in growth. This is its third summer.   Until recently, you hardly find decent yellow roses in the marketplace which could withstand Oklahoma's fickle forecast, but, lately, there's been a change in the wind. I have an older shrub from 1984 named 'April Moon' by Dr. Griffith Buck, one of my favorite hybridizers. It makes me sad I never met Dr. Buck. I would have loved...

I travel to other gardens every time I get the chance, and there's a method to my madness. At the first Garden2Blog, I came back with the inspiration to paint one of the arbors. Last spring, I noted Allen's tuteurs in the borders were a lovely, soft green so this year, when faced with my tired and rusty arbor, I grabbed the spray paint and did something similar, yet different. Different garden structure, different plants, but still inspired by Moss Mountain Farm. This year, I was wowed by Allen's rose garden, and I hope to see it when the allee of  trees matures. It won't be long before it is fully established, and it is already beautiful due to its great bone structure. I was also inspired by how Allen and his staff designed the long borders differently this year, and how they used Proven Winners® plants. On the second...

P. Allen Smith's new rose garden at Moss Mountain Farm. Last week, when I was at the second annual Garden2Blog, I asked Allen if he's seen any Rose Rosette Disease in Little Rock. He knew immediately what I was talking about, and he said he hadn't seen "witch's broom," the more common name for what is currently being classified as a rose virus. As we sat in Allen's new and exquisite rose garden, I thought . . . No, I hoped RRD wouldn't touch his peaceful valley dedicated to Lady Elizabeth Ashbrook, his friend and mentor. One of the reasons I attended Garden2Blog this year was to see the new rose garden at Moss Mountain Farm. Bloggers saw plans last spring, but now the garden is a reality. I love to see things come to fruition. Rose bed at Moss Mountain Farm. It's a new garden, but one day, those...