My roses are beautiful, but last year we had a very early freeze, and it hurt many bushes. These were hurt, so I did not cut them at all, but tried to allow them to get as much sun and water as they could. I think that Mr Bayse was the predecessor to Dr. Stephen George, and Dr. Stephen George's facilities (school, agriculture projects) are in Dallas, right where you are, Randy. So they should grow better for you, and possibly for me than in other places. Before I spoke with Dr. George I thought that everything was in Texas A&M in Austin or somewhere else. But he lived and worked in Dallas. He said that when they first developed the Earth kind roses, that Bayse's Blueberry was about the last to go. It made it until the final cut. That suits me just fine because my big complaint with the Earth kind roses is that you should not water them. When our summers in Tulsa are dry, they are very very dry, and I simply don't think that the water qualification to the Earth kind roses is fair. I think it is unreasonable to expect a rose to live without water in an area that might go 2 months with temps near or over 100, and never get water. Sammy

This past spring, when much of my garden was mildew city for the first time ever, Basye's Purple had no mildew. When a cluster of blooms blooms one at a time, when that one is velvet deep purple, one is enough. And here, as the blooms age, the petals drop off. leaving red-purple stems supporting the yellow anthers. Different fungi, apparently, in different parts of the rose world. (John W, I still can't get any rebloom on Apple Blossom, although yours reblooms with greatness.)

Sarah, you beat me to it! But thanks for posting it because I've been so busy. I must say I prefer the title you originally posted under: " I want pink thingies in the middle of the bloom! WAAAAH!" You must of matured since then, which may be good for you but not as entertaining for us! Stamens are composed of two parts: filaments (the stem-like parts that holds up the anthers ) and anthers (the balls containing pollen). Red anthers is what I want...WAAAAH! Here's a rose that puts most of its energy into the red stamens filaments and anthers, and not much into petals: http://sproulrosesbydesign.com/H69_GEBLminiroseredanthers.htm Ahhh. it's a mini. My preference is for fragrant roses that have more petals. I wonder which of these wonderful suggestions fit the bill: fragrant, red (or anything but yellow) anthers, and fuller rather than single. I read that Red Letter Day is a beautiful rose, I would love to have one! But it is very rare. As far as Lavender Simplex goes, you might try to track thru Trish at Ashdown roses. Heres the link re: breeder Sean McCann's roses http://www.ashdownlibrary.com/Library/Hybridizers/HYSeanMcCann.htm -Gala

Celeste, Absolutely stunning flowers...all of them! Thanks so much! I've always thought Bayses's Purple was interesting, and have never seen Japanese iris in real life. Beautiful. My 2 Intrigues rarely bloom, and so far neither does Neptune (year 2-3, own root). Heirloom does, but it's the first to get BS really badly. :0( Wm. Shakespeare 2000 and Falstaff (close to purple) bloom well though. I would LOVE some other nice purples for the vase. Phyl