Hello Karima and mistymorn. I found this site, yes! Did I post to the American equivalent Mistymorn? I guess I did. On David Austin's, Graham Thomas: I've grown it twice, once in Sydney, where it is cooler than where I am now, and here. It failed here, just west of Tweed Heads, NSW; too hot, I'd say, afterall, it is an English rose. Graham Thomas is a nice strong rose but really more suitable to cooler climates than where I am or further north. Ok, as far north as Sydney it's fine but doubtful it would/will succeed in the sub-tropics. David himself once said he was surprised when commenting on a specimen growing in South Africa that it was so big it assumed climbing proportions. On blackspot: Am I a sinner? I have to admit I use a systemic fungicide, Triphorine, and I very much doubt it has any effect on frogs, bees, or any other native creature (if it killed cane-toads though, I wouldn't complain). Blackspot is a fungus, and Triphorine is a fungicide and ladies (seems only ladies talk about roses) if you want roses, or azaleas, in the warmer climates you have to use fungicides/insecticides or don't bother growing them at all, and hey, today's deterents - fungicides and (selected) insecticides are a hell of a lot safer than than the old DDTs, whatever. Look, if you 'spray-can' a recommended lime-sulphur mix - both natural products - over your roses in mid winter after you prune you'll rarely need to use a fungicide. Insecticides - really, to minimise aphid attack, and blackspot plant your roses into the wind and space them a metre apart - I use maybe only 2, 3 or 4 times a year, that's all I need. If I can't use them I'll dig up my rose garden and abandon roses and azaleas altogether (what looks more ugly than an azalea's leaves grey from azalea lace-bug?) By the way, many of the the old heritage roses are more beautiful than the hyrids and are immune from aphids, fungus deseases, etc. The picture attached is of the gorgeous climber, Dublin Bay, a McReady rose from New Zealand, daughter of Altissimo and the full pink, Galway Bay. It's a thriving here and is fairly desease free.

What I like about Olivia Rose is : --she is very disease-resistant. Many of Austin's earlier pinks were not. --her blooms have a lovely shape and appealing pastel color and good fragrance--very different than many of the earlier short pinks which may have 1 or 2 of those traits, but often do not have all 3. --she is a smaller bush than many Austins--which is what I need since I am nearly out of space. Therefore, I think Olivia Rose fits in well with my needs and expectations. But until I get one and actually grow it in my garden, I'm not going to know for sure, am I! LOL. David Austin--get me my rose! Kate

"Propagation: Rosa Damascena is propagated through one year old stem cuttings. It can also be propagated through the divisions of old plant, lateral sprouts with roots and seeds. Stem cuttings are collected at the time of pruning in mid October to end of December; 20 cm long, 0.75-1.50 cm thick cuttings are planted in nursery; 2/3 of the stem length is inserted into soil. IB A @ 200-250 ppm is given to induce rooting. These cuttings are ready after one year for transplanting into main field." http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.2478/V10133-010-0032-4 ---------------------------------------------- " The cultivars and ecotype of Rosa damascena Mill. have been grown by using cutting or two old-suckers for many years" "Stem cuttings are collected at the time of pruning in mid October to end of December; 20 cm long, 0.75-1.50 cm thick cuttings are planted in nursery; 2/3 of the stem length is inserted into soil. IB A @ 200-250 ppm is given to induce rooting. These cuttings are ready after one year for transplanting into main field." "Rooted stem cuttings are taken out from nursery and put in the pits." "The best time of transplanting of rooted cuttings in the field is mid of November to mid January. " http://www.plantsrescue.com/tag/damask-rose/

They look beautiful Sean !! It’ll be a while before we get them here. This year I ordered Imogene , Dame Judi , Charles Austin and Vanessa bell. I hope you share photos with us if you get one! :)