My Mortimer Sackler has a very informal look in that the blooms do not hold their shape--very lax bloom, but charmingly casual. Mine is in full sun on the south side of the house--Mortimer blooms definitely crisp up during really hot weather. But I have no place to move it to, so I guess I'll have to live with that problem. Mine is now about 4 years old (or maybe 5?)--getting to be quite a big and full bush--moreso than I expected from the Austin description. But it is in a spot where that doesn't pose a problem. It just surprises me every time I look at it--bigger and wider than I expected. Aimee--your roses look so good! And three of my favorites! Kate

My experience is that the color of Munstead Wood is deeper and darker. The main difference I'm seeing so far is that MW has a very different bush shape--it is much shorter than WS2000 and never has that awkward sideways spread that WS2000 specializes in. In fact, MW tends to form a most shapely and graceful bush so far--but mine is still relatively new, so we'll see in another year or two. I do like both--and I grow both. Given their differences in size and shape, they serve somewhat different functions in a garden. I think, if I had to make a choice, I like the MW bloom best, but that is not meant as a put-down of WS2000's beautiful quartered blooms. Both are beautiful. Kate

Wow, Kate - that just goes to show how much of a difference one state and zone's difference can make! Just north of you in Nebraska, I was shocked to see some very tight buds already forming on the early bloomers in my yard (Reine des Violette and Felix Leclerc usually vie for first place), but absolutely nothing rose-related is blooming. In fact, I still have tulips going strong and just fading in the warmer areas of the yard. This has been a weird weather year, and everything seems to be compressing into May that is normally stretched out over 2 months. In the meantime, I'm sure your garden club will be suitably amazed and impressed at your yard, even if they don't see it in its full glory. Our role as rose enthusiasts is to always see beyond the present situation to what could be grown, but you will most definitely demonstrate how very well you can grow 70 roses in your most capable hands. We of course welcome pictures. Cynthia

WOW!! Thanks a bunch Celeste. Those are the best pics I have ever seen of Mayor of Casterbridge to date.....The blooms are amazing.....a very strongly supported cup with tufts of exterior petals outside the cup and moderately and artistically packed interior petals. The contrasting button eye fits it well. My one question about MOC was whether or not the blooms were large enough, but going from the proportion of the blooms in comparison to your hand, they look HUGE. How large would you say MOC's blooms are? I have only heard a few vague reports that they were small, although like yourself, I have heard so little about Mayor of Casterbridge. I was only going to get 1 pink.....but now I have to kill one of the children and choose between Pretty Jessica, Mayor of Casterbridge, and the other pinks. I have a feeling I might end up getting 2 of the pinks....which would still make the decision terribly difficult. After 3 days of viewing and researching, I have only decided on a white in winchester cathedral. :) I'm still looking over yellows at the moment and my top 2 so far are Golden Celebration and Charlotte, although I would have probably chosen Charles Darwin as it has big cup shaped blooms, but it doesn't look as if Roses Unlimited carries him. That is going to be a toughy decision there. Happy Child is still a possibility as well, although it's a little more lemony color rather than a yellow that I am leaning more towards at the moment. Grace is a unique Austin. The bloom form is unique from the others. I havn't looked at the apricots much yet, so it's hard saying off hand which ones I am seriously considering. I know I saw Carding Mill and really enjoyed it's appearance or substituting it for an orange blend like Lady Emma Hamilton.....or going off the wall and choosing The Alnwick Rose...although I've heard the blooms are quite small. Still have a lot of research to do on Apricots, Oranges, and Alnwick itself. I still have to choose on one of the "reds" too yet. :) At least I have Evelyn and Winchester Cathedral down though....assuming they still have them in stock.