Cynthia: you are my savior many times !! THANK YOU. In June you saved me from killing Firefighter the 4th time. Thanks to you, I took that off from my buy-list, and Roses Unlimited gave me Pretty Lady Rose instead (bunnies killed that along with acidic grass clippings in 2020). I thought about buying Firefighter as grafted since I killed the own-root 3 times, then thanks to your post, I won't attempt it as grafted. Here's how I killed Firefighter as own-root 3 times: 1) 2014 tree-root invaded the 3rd-year own-root Firefighter. I should had moved it, but left it there, so it died when cane-borers took over due to lack of calcium (trees steal lots of calcium and water). 2) Bought 2nd gallon-size Firefighter. Since it's low-thorn waterhog, I experimented planting it next to a rainspout. It died from freezing rain in winter. 3) Bought 3rd band-size Firefighter. I don't trust my zone 5a winter, so I potted it inside my unheated garage. In Feb. the temp. inside my garage was freezing single-digit. My refrigerator broke down, and I was busy storing food inside the garage and I forgot to cover Firefighter with a thermal blanket.

'Pretty Jessica" is a really lovely rose, with a strong old-rose/damask scent. It starts small, and stays small...and because of that, it probably isn't great in an area with really cold winters, but here it seems fine, so far. I planted two bands of PJ straight into the ground last June, and they stayed there all winter, and while small, they are both putting out a great deal of new growth. ONE bloom in a vase perfumed an entire room of my house. If these two do well this summer, I'll probably get more. BTW...that photograph of 'Cressida' is swoon-making.

Hi Robert: I love that peaceful picture that you posted, it does look like an oasis as Seil described. I have the herb rosemary here but my cooking is so bad that I need some tips on how to use rosemary in cooking (I tried on steamed salmon and it wasn't that good). I'm temped by Louis Odier, it's hardy to zone 5a - I'm too lazy to peg and wonder if Krista grows it as a free standing shrub, or does it need pegging on a trellis or wall in zone 5a? Hi lizalily in PNW: I took own-root Firefighter from my Rose Unlimited since I want to get it grafted instead. Hot Cocoa is always in bloom at the rose park nearby, zone 5a. This winter is mild, and I'm hoping for another mild winter. The last 2 winters were brutal, my Knock-outs died back to the crown. Does anyone know if winter 2012-2013 will be mild like this year? If so, then I'll add more Meilland roses like Pink Peace, Peter Mayle along with Melody Perfume and Firefigher (I believe these 2 are low-in-thorns?) Thank you.

Hi Lynn: Burlington roses in Southern CA has Annie L. McDowell and many Old Garden Roses like Excellenz von Schubert ... which I like just as much as Annie. She has 380+ big roses for $11 per band, and 160+ mini-roses for $7.50 per band. The shipping to my Chicagoland was cheap: $20 for 14 roses last year, but the postage went up this year. She has a big selection of Old Garden Roses that smell great, like Comte de Chambord. She has 2 Austins: Benjamin Britten and Ab. Darby. She has many lavender (Veichenblau) and thornless roses (Pink gruss, Gruss, Marie Pavie & Daly). Burling is honest and gives prompt service. She will email you the list of roses she has if you request at: BurlingtonRoses@aol.com It's best to order in advance, the popular ones are sold out fast. I really miss thornless mini-rose Norwich Sweetheart (smells wonderful !!), Sweet Arlene (thornless), Comte de Chambord, Rose du Roi, La Reine, and Louis Odier were all sold out by Christmas. There's already a long waiting list for Annie from last year, so the sooner you order, the better your chance. If you ask her the types you want, she will recommend for you. I asked her for the most-blooming polyantha in her nursery, she gave me the list. Any questions you ask, she will answer promptly ... Burling is a very knowledgeable rosarian. This post was edited by Strawberryhill on Fri, Jun 28, 13 at 22:33