Wow--your post sounds like I wrote it. I just decided this week that Blanc Double de Coubert may have a future in my garden--after 3.5 years, she is beginning to bloom decently and really fill out. I'm actually beginning to like her. She seems to like more water than some of my other roses, I discovered, and responds really well to Plant-Tone. And guess what I did 2 weeks ago--spaded my 10 year old Gerty. I was tired of waiting for her to look like some of the pics I see posted here. She never even got close! Small world, huh? Kate

I have absolutely nothing to contribute to this discussion other than the fact that the only roses I have ever purchased have been rugosas - one pink, one fuscia - and I simply love the fragrance. I ignore them until they begin to block the path to the field when I cut them back and they continue to do wonderfully well. Again - oh, the fragrance! There was an interesting article by Ken Druse in the NY Times last Thursday on flowers and fragrance and how fragrance had been bred out of flowers but is coming back. I find that I grow only flowers that have fragrance, which I'll take over form, color, fashion, whatever any day.

Molie, I really like those 'Percy Wiseman'. I like that your pic shows the color evolution of the shrubs as they go from bud to bloom. If I didn't have a constant war with deer and Rhodies, I'd love to plant one. LOL!! I always dream of winning the lottery! Not for plants, but for a deer fence, another well, a long fence along the side..... We didn't do any of the rock work ourselves. We were VERY lucky in that our piece of property had all the rock buried on it from when they blasted through the road. As they dug the foundation, well and gas lines, all the rock was coming up. We saved it in a corner of the yard and a couple years after the house was done we brought someone in to put it all to good use. One of my favorite things he did was make us a stone staircase. Pixielou, I would love to see a broad pic of all those iris in bloom. It looks like you have a beautiful collection. You also just ID'd my clematis. My mom gave it to me and probably told me the name which I promptly forgot. I do have a bad habit of not keeping track of the names of things I have planted. Steve, that Itoh is KILLER!!! I'll definitely have to keep my eyes peeled for that one. I just picked up 'Bartzella' but I think that one is going to be so "common" when it's all said and done. Did you get that one locally, or mail order? Some of them can break the bank! Kpaquette, I love your garden. You have a beautiful house. I agree with Nhbabs about moving the urns just into the garden to widen your entryway. I love those urns by the way. Do you have to repaint them often? Do you keep them out all winter? I really like the way you used foliage in the garden for a lot of interest. Which baptisia is that? It is so healthy and huge. Can you get us a pic of the entire front yard? It looks like you really have some great curb appeal. The slate path is beautiful.

Thank you Ingrid! Yes I am always amazed that these roses continue to survive and thrive on a busy, industrial street. During snowy winters we and our neighbors have to use salt to reduce the ice on the sidewalks and streets. and still the roses pull through. You are right on the money Melissa! I think the warehouse workers and artists who rent studio spaces around here do appreciate them! I'd like to think they help the wildlife as well. ;))