In my garden this morning

Planted on the fence and clambering through the creekside oak trees, the old climbing Tea-Rose "Sombreuil" opens its flat-faced, quartered flowers.

The deep rich crimson blossoms of the low shrub "Eugene de Beauharnais" last only a day before they darken and bruise almost purple, but their scent is heavenly.

the back flower beds are becoming increasingly more shaded as the oak trees grow taller, and flowers planted there have dwindled for lack of light.

But in the lower garden, the roses are covered with promising buds, and the big showy bearded iris is blooming.

The delicate single blossoms of rose "Darlow's Enigma" festoon the lower yard. Cut back over the winter, this vigorous shrub will overrun the lower pavilion, which is already canting at an angle from the twining vines - they'll soon pull it down if we don't save it.