The bloom opened. Pretty flower: loosely quartered (similar to Comte de Chambord), lightly fragrant, and clear lilac*. Good, strong stem. The color and fragance was disappointing but this is a first year own root plant. I'll give it another year or two for the plant to mature before making a final judgment. The plant itself is still tiny, but bigger than four other own roots in the same pot ghetto. Only the Bourbon DUEL DE DR. REYNAUD is bigger, and it is a climber. It is also one of the few babies that has foliage. I don't spray the roses in my pot ghetto because I want to be able to accurately access their black spot resistance before planting. You'd be surprised at how many of the babies never make it into the beds. * I define lilac as lavender with a noticeable pink undertone.

I collect Old Garden Tea roses and I rarely see any rose in a different class that has the same degree of "exquisite delicacy" that is shown in a Tea rose blossom. The few roses that I do grow with my Tea roses that are suitable for a colder climate include: Tea Hybrids: which have one Tea rose parent; Souvenir de la Malmaison' which although is sold as a Bourbon is fully 1/2 a Tea class rose. Divine pink-flushed creamy blooms, the plant is floriferous. I planted 3 of these in a triangle at a local public Old Rose garden, which makes a mass of fragrant roses. One of the very best of the Old Garden Roses in my opinion.. Mrs. Herbert Stevens, is very lovely; the climbing form can be grown as a self standing "tree rose", c. 6-7 feet tall, with one thick central trunk, the delicate blossoms have the natural artlessness of a true Tea. Mlle. Cecille Brunner' a Polyantha-Tea with dainty blossoms and a great fragrance, Spray Cecille Brunner is an excellent plant that can be grown as a hedge, or as a self standing "Tree rose" . Early Hybrid Teas that retain some Tea rose character; Kaiserin Auguste Viktoria' a white rose with a sweet graceful bloom style. Not pure white, it has some lemon tints to it according to conditions. 'La France' 'Snowbird' nice fragrance and a lovely bloom shape. Mrs. Jules Bouche' is as floriferous as a Tea rose and has a nice mixed floral scent. The Pernetiana class has a few roses that would mingle well with Tea roses. Duquesa de Pernananda' (sp?) reminds me of the Tea, Anna Olivier', but with richer hues. If I could not grow my beloved Tea roses, I would grow the roses listed above. Good luck on your quest to find cold climate Tea like roses.

I filled out the online contact form for Hopewell nursery and received an e-mail back, so I sent pictures of the rose. The grower said it looked like Pink Enchantment. (AKA Souvenir de Baden Baden.) So it looks like greenburgroses and Beth were right! Chris--could Hopewell have gotten a trial under the Pink Enchantment name? I really appreciate everyone's efforts!

How could I forget Wedding Bells? Its great..healthiest bush I have, not a speck of BS or mildew on it, although it might not be as upright as you want...mine seems to want to be more shrubby and spread out a bit. Sadly I don't get any smell out of it so far. ( two years old here, grafted). Deelish seems to be pretty healthy and a good grower so far (only bought it last year) The colour is a bit bright and garish if you really want the mid to light pink, but I took one sniff of a potted one and snapped it up immediately, because it smells wonderful; was happy to see it does fade off a bit (here at least) to quite a pretty colour after a couple of days as it opens up. I will put Mrs John on the list for next year then!