Yes, mum's roses have been blooming extensively. That's going to get awkward with a hard freeze on the way tonight. Hopefully, you and your rose bush will get some stability soon and she will feel even better.

Oof, yes, landscaping of any sort in summer is such a misery. How large of a space are you dealing with? When we first moved here, we had someone flatten a couple pads for the horse corrals, sea containers, and the path leading to all that. We don't get a lot of rain here (*hollow Californian laughter*). When we do, though, the mud could take a leg off you, so having well-draining areas saves a lot of grief.