There is no rose whose differnt names have more sexual innuendo than "Maiden's Blush". That name seems appropriate enough, as the large petal starts very pale in the periphery, and intensifies to a pale flesh pink. However, it is said that the "blush" was not originally intended for the maiden's face but other parts of the anatomy............ You only need to consider the other names this rose is known by to understand that the sight of this rose's blooms all lead the mind in the same direction of thought. Names like "La Virginale", "Incarnata" and "La Seduisante". And may be, someone might wish to translate it's more explicit name of "Cuisse de Nymphe Emue".

Thank you all for sharing your experiences with Buck roses and enticing me to other varieties. You, evil rose people, you! I am very pleased to hear about PS. As I mentioned, it was an impulse buy and never thought about it or never paid any attention to it. I was so fascinated with the large 4 inch bloom with intoxicatingly sweet fragrance. The bush was in a 2 gallon container and about 1 ft tall. When I go back to the nursery and see the roses, I have a better idea about how they are. My garden contains some Buck roses also - Carefree Beauty, Earth Song, Aunt Honey, and Blue Skies. All the roses are indeed carefree except BS. BS had very strong citrus fragrance and acted like HT, but he decided to not grow.

Maybe it just does well in my climate, but I adore Dorcas. Bucks dont have much scent, but I dont care - this one is out in full hot Texas sun, is a big huge strong bush with well shaped blooms that stay on the bush a long time - I just finished deadheading another flush - and great disease resistance. I think the "dorky" name has hurt it - it is anything but dorky! Maybe not much is heard about it because it isnt grown much. Mine is in the middle of Sally Holmes and Chuckles on the other side [another fabulous, heavy blooming, beautiful rose, much underused!] and they are along a front fencline in the all day sun. They bloom all the time - the 3 of them are always putting on a show. I decided I wanted Dorcas near the house to enjoy and it was very hard to find. I get most of my Bucks at Chamblees but they didnt have it anymore. Got mine from Hortico, they are being shipped right now, so should get them in a few days. I will be sure to put my 2 Dorcas roses in a prime spot so I can enjoy their beauty. For me, this is one of Dr. Bucks very best! Give it a try! I have some photos someplace on my memory stick, but finding them is another matter. If I have time to look, in between putting up Christmas, I will post some photos. Dont overlook Bright Melody either, and you should see Barn Dance today! Covered in lovely pink blooms, big strong bush....I would like another of this. Dorcas's blooms are more well formed or "finished" - they arent loose and floppy and they remain on the bush a long time. Tough as boot leather, as we say in Texas.

Royal Sunset is a wonderful rose. Fragrant, disease-resistant and vigorous. I planted one on a trellis in the shade to climb about 10 feet up to a sunny deck, and sold the house 6 years later. It was all over the deck rails and I'd had to trim it back to control it the last 3 years I lived there. (This was in the Bay Area, zone 9, foggy summers.) May I add a suggestion for Buff Beauty? This is a semi-older rose. :) Also climbs or can be pruned into a shrub. Fragrant, disease-resistant, extremely easy to grow. Pale apricot. Looks gorgeous in the vase with darker apricots and blends. This one, I replanted when I moved to Portland, OR, and it is starting to fill in on the fence. Portland has a shorter growing season with winter dieback, so it hasn't filled in as fast, but it's doing fine. Both of these are VERY fragrant, by the way. I basically don't spray and am a very inconsistent gardener, so if it can live through me it can probably live through most people on this forum. -Greta