I'm in zone 5 NW Indiana. I grow mostly all shrub roses plus a few hybrid teas and climbers. Mine all survive our winters with minimal protection, just oak leaves. Many do require severe pruning but all are blooming by late May/early June. The hybrid Rugosas are extremly hardy. Following is a list you can chose from that I've had for a number of years. The hybrid teas listed have proven hardy in my garden. All are own root. Polar Joy-tree rose Pat Austin-David Austin Jessica Lauren-hybrid rugosa Molineux-David Austin Marie Pavie-polyantha Buffalo Gal-hubrid rugosa Double Delight-hybrid tea Frau Dagmar Hastrup-hybrid rugosa Country Music-Griffith Buck shrub James Galway-David Austin Country Dancer-Griffith Buck shrub Pink Simplicity-Floribunda Charles Albanel-Canadian Explorer Permanent Wave-floribunda Prairie Star-Griffith Buck shrub Aunt Honey-Griffith Buck shrub Bugle Boy-floribunda Women in The Military-shrub Neue Revue-hybrid tea Gentle Giant-hybrid tea Autumn Dusk-Griffith Buck shrub Cape Diamond-shrub Prairie Sunset-Griffith Buck shrub George Burns-floribunda White Simplicity-shrub Hot Cocoa-floribunda Carolina Moon-hybrid tea Our Lady of Guadalupe-floribunda Pope John Paul II-hybrid tea Abbys Angel-miniflora Crystal Fairy-polyantha Autumn sunset-climber Touch of Class-hybrid tea Dream Come True-grandiflora Summer Snow-shrub Betty Boop-floribunda Lavaglut-floribunda Gene Boerner-floribunda Scentimental-floribunda Gold Badge-floribunda Happy Butt-hybrid tea Silver Shadow-Griffith Buck shrub Paul Neyron-hybrid perpetual Eureka-floribunda Chihuly-floribunda Hot Princess-hybrid tea Butterfly Kisses-floribunda Captain Samuel Holland-Canadian Explorer Georgette-shrub Lambert Closse-Canadian Explorer Stadt Den Helder-floribunda Schloss Balthazar-floribunda Robusta-hybrid rugosa Malaguena-Griffith Buck shrub Taboo-hybrid tea Nostalgie-hybrid tea Ebb Tide-floribunda Prairie Sunset-Griffith Buck shrub Carefree Celebration-shrub Dublin-hybrid tea Greetings-shrub Winter Sunset-Griffith Buck shrub Fimbriata-hybrid rugosa La Reine Victoria-Bourbon Watercolors-shrub Garden Party-hybrid tea Proud Land-htbrid tea Louise Odier-Bourbon Lancome-hybrid tea Rhapsody in Blue-shrub Barbra Streisand-hybrid tea Mojave-hybrid tea Falling in Love-hybrid tea Dr. Bill Chapman-hybrid tea Love and Peace-hybrid tea The Oregonian-hybrid tea Frederic Mistral-hybrid tea Lemon Spice-hybrid tea Sunset Celebration-hybrid tea Queen Nefertiti- David Austin shrub Ulmer Munster-shrub Ballerina-hybrid musk Love-grandiflora William Baffin-Canadian Explorer Roseraie de LÂHay-hybrid rugosa Rose de Rescht-Portland Blanc Double de Colbert-hybrid rugosa White Meidiland-shrub Popcorn-miniature Sunny Knock Out-shrub Knock Out-shrub Starry Night-shrub Rockin Robin-shrub Fourth of July-climber Rainbow Knock Out-shrub Home Run-shrub Firefighter-hybrid tea Honeysweet-Griffith Buck shrub Blushing Pink Knock Out-shrub Earthsong-Griffith Buck grandiflora Othello-David Austin shrub Robin Hood-hybrid musk Royal Edward-Canadian Explorer Arcanum-miniflora Conundrum-miniflora KathyÂs Find-shrub Aloha-climber JenÂs Munk-Canadian explorer Carefree Sunshine-shrub Morden Snowbeauty-shrub Garden Party-hybrid tea Stanwell Perpetual- Hybrid Spinosissima. Topaz Jewel-hybrid rugosa Minette- Alba, Centifolia Tradescant-David Austin shrub F J Grootendorst-hybrid rugosa Folk singer-Griffith Buck shrub Winnepeg Parks-Canadian Parkland shrub White Pavement (Snow Owl)- hybrid rugosa George Vancouver-Canadian Explorer Hannah Gordon-floribunda Sweet Juliet-David Austin shrub Sharifa Asma-David Austin shrub BelindaÂs Dream-shrub Prairie Valor-Griffith Buck shrub Carefree Delight-shrub Prairie Joy-Griffith Buck shrub Golden Wings- Hybrid Spinosissima, Shrub. Roselina-hybrid rugosa Nearly Wild-shrub Marie Bugnet-hybrid rugosa Magnifica-hybrid rugosa John Cabot-Canadian explorer John Davis-Canadian explorer Westerland-shrub/climber Rotes Meer (rugosa)-hubrid rugosa Henry Hudson-Cabadian explorer Morden Ruby-Canadian parkland shrub Zwerg-hybrid rugosa King Tut-miniature climber Mrs John Laing-hybrid perpetual J P Connell-Canadian explorer Morden Fireglow- Canadian parkland de Montarville-Canadian explorer Leda-damask Pax-hybrid musk Green Ice-miniature New Dawn-climber Schneezwerg-hybrid rugosa Red Cascade-miniature International Herald Tribune-floribunda Red Wand-miniature climber Morden Blush-Canadian Parkland Morden Centennial-Canadian parkland Lavender Lassie-hybrid musk Emily Carr-Canadian Artist series Crocus Rose-David Austin shrub Pink Pavement (Showy Pavement)-hybrid rugosa Berries & Cream-climber Smoky-hybrid tea Carefree Beauty-Griffith Buck shrub Handel=climber Nicolas-Canadian Explorer Champlain-Canadian explorer Simon Fraser-Canadian explorer Jeanne LaJoie-miniature climber Butterscotch-climber Comte de Chambord-portland Seven Sisters-old garden rose Rosalie Coral-climber Leverkusen-climber Compassion-climber Goldener Olymp-climber Coral Dawn-climber Berlin-climber Les Sjulin-Griffith Buck shrub Dortman-climber PaulÂs Himalayan Musk-Musk Jude the Obscure-David Austin shrub Viking Queen-climber Celsiana-damask Dublin Bay-climber Zephirine Drouhin Quadra-Canadian Exlorer climber Gartendirektor Otto Linne-polyantha shrub HarrisonÂs Yellow- Hybrid Foetida shrub Morden Amorette-shrub Escapade-floribunda Variegata di Bologna-Bourbon Serendipity-Griffith Buck hybrid tea/shrub General Jacqueminot-hybrid perpetual Black Jade-mimniature Sweet Cecilia-hybrid rugosa Orange Triumph-shrub DarlowÂs Enigma- climber Ramblin Red-climber BasyeÂs Purple-shrub Mm Pierre Oger-Bourbon City of York-climber Communis- Centifolia, Moss The Fairy-polyanyha Nashville-shrub Gourmet Popcorn-miniature Summer Wind-Griffith Buck shrub PeleÂ-climber Royal Sunset-limber EllenÂs Joy-shrub Hansa-hybrid rugosa Morden Sunrise-Canadian parkland Candy Oh-shrub Wee Butterflies-polyantha Morden Belle-Canadian parkland Konigin Von Danemark- Alba, Centifolia Frontenac-Canadian explorer Outta the Blue-shrub Livin Easy-floribunda Ivory Carpet-shrub Telluride-shrub, ground cover Rosa Rugosa white-rugosa Rosa Rugosa purple-rugosa Sunnyside Up-shrub

Now, does anyone know the tree that was blooming about a week ago that has drooping clusters of white flowers, sort of like small wisteria clumps under the leaves? It's not grandfather's beard- this is much more defined and larger trees. I notice them every spring , esp along hammond rd, but don't know what they are. Not sure if they are still in bloom or not since i haven't ventured up that way this week.

In the past two years, my mom's yard lost a lot of trees in drought, the neighbors put up a fence, the shed came down...so, to ease stress on my shade garden, now in full sun, and to soften the character of the yard before my mom moves out in a few years, I'm looking for native woody plants that fit the following character: 1) Fast-growing, shade-providing tree to replace a red Norway Maple. Platanus occidentalis or Fagus grandifolia would be beautiful here. 2) Ornamental flowering or fruiting shrubs for a border. 3) Small flowering tree for partial shade to replace a crabapple (would love an Aesculus for this spot). 4) Shade-tolerant specimen shrub to replace an Illicium floridanum...I would really love another Illicium. 5) Dense, medium-to-fine textured shrub to screen/soften a hideous 8' fence. E.g Rhus typhina 'Laciniata' 6) Small but fast-growing shade trees with a high canopy and attractive habit/character...to bring the "wood" back into my woodland garden. I'd be more than happy to dig your offerings up myself, assuming they're young enough that all the work can be accomplished by hand. Natives I can divide/propagate are: *Anemone canadensis (careful, goes fast) *Asimina triloba (seed) *Aster novae-angliae *Aristolochia durior (would have to take cuttings) *Aruncus dioicus (I think it's large enough to divide) *Asarum canadense *Camassia - leichtlinii, I think, and loads of it *Carex - one of the native species *Celtis occidentalis (need to take cuttings) *Cercis canadensis *Chasmanthium latifolium (another quick spreader) *Chelone lyonii 'Hot Lips' *Eupatorium maculatum *Helenium flexuosum (should be large enough to divide) *Magnolia virginica (cuttings/seeds) *Spigelia marilandica (seed...need to find where I put it) *I'm sure this isn't a comprehensive list. If you think we can work something out, post or send me an email and I'll look through your trade list, and let you know what I've forgotten from this list.

We have a blanket of white this AM, but like was mentioned it probably will not stick around...supposed to warm up later in the week and this kind of snow will insulate until then, "hopefully", LOL. davej_07, I too wonder why I visit this site or offer up any "voice" because if it is not the way of the "experts" you get shot down, LOL. But then I remind myself that we have the right to do things differently then the next person...knowing and believing that our way works just fine for us. I too live with oak leaves and unless you have the ability to grind them up, they would not break down in what is left of my life time! So yes, I too rake them off my beds and my husband burns them...I do get ground up leaves and grass from the neighbor (who has totally different trees then I do), compost them and add that to my soil...my hostas do well and this WORKS FOR ME!! But then I do not profess to be an expert just someone who has gardened for years and loves it. Have a good summer, Vicki