Merlot almost didn't make the cut this year. It was getting a lot of powdery mildew thru Spring and even mid-Summer. The growth was low and weak and the flowers were often disfigured. I pruned all the lower growth out and left just the larger, stronger canes. Voila! The two plants I had took off and have steadily gotten better into the Fall. The blooms still come in clusters but now with the cooler weather the intensity of color and bloom quality is stunning. From a distance the two Merlot plants in the same container are dazzling. profloran@adelphia.net