If it does not make your heart sing, your feet will not dance. I am thinking the same thing about MFK and Homere. Why should I let these two dominate my life from worrying about their ugliness, when others rave about them, but they leave me wishing I could "Fix 'em" and that is not fair to me. Yes, mine will be gone from its current location come winter. I will move two Delbards there and relegate these two to the back 40, sotaspeak.

I gave up. The colors are lovely, once every other year. I fire up the chipper, Freddie is compost.

Why dont you try another place in your garden? even a little place and wait to see what happens!
I did so for a number of roses doing bad and they are so nice now! pity to give up!

I have a baby MFK and so far it's been ok. She has a lot of buds on her right now. I haven't seen any vegetative centers.

Mine's underwhelming. Only in the second year, so I'll give 'er to next year--maybe.

Barbara

I feel that way about Mons. Tillier. My Franziska was a tiny thing when I planted her so I will give her a chance. She has put out blooms with her growth. Mons. Tillier sits there all smug and stingy. There was a time when I was shy with the shovel but now I'm thinking about Maman Cochet going bye bye too. Your garden is too pretty to house a loser Hoov.

Carla

Hoov, it's been my experience that MFK likes pure hot sun. The hotter the weather, the better for her. Mine balls every year in spring. Every single bud/bloom will ball and rot but once it gets hot she is beautiful and all the blooms open. Mine is planted in full sun. Maybe you should try her in full sun before axing her? Having said that, my space is too limited to keep a rose that I don't love. I usually try to give them some time, move them around, and if they still don't make me happy, they have to find another home.

Carol

I have mine in full, blazing sun with Southern exposure and reflected heat from the garage, and it's a beaut. Lovely reddish emerging foliage, dirty peach kleenex looking blooms that straighten out and look ethereal once the weather gets hot (it's liking this hot and dry Spring we're having) and non-stop blooming. I was thinking the same kind of thoughts last Spring, but all is forgiven now.

Mine is in full blazing sun from dawn to about 5pm. I thought the full blazing sun was possibly the problem. I guess it gets a reprieve for the rest of spring and summer, but when the pot-ghetto babies are big enough in fall, if MFK hasn't improved, it's going to either a shadier spot or the compost pile.

Thanks to all for your comments, I do appreciate them a lot. There's no substitute for real garden experience.

If it has been three years and your love has withered on the vine then it is time to put the lass out of her misery. Life is too short to suffer disappointing roses.

La Madame de Shovel demands satisfaction!

I'm glad to hear Mlle likes it hot. I have plenty of sun for her. I'm doing my 'English Tea' bed this weekend. A combo of teas and Austins that I have. Mlle is included in this bunch.

I was always disappointed in mine too, and I had 2 of them for 2 or 3 years. Lovely foliage, and beautiful buds that always opened to shriveled-looking flowers. I figured it was thrips.

I just recently shovel pruned two roses I will not admit to having shovel pruned...because of the howls of outrage it will provoke from devotees...but they were awful in the garden here. (SdlM and Mme. Isaac Pereire) I got rid of them because the mildew was so bad that I never got an unspoilt flower in 3 years. (For those of you who've been here...I don't mean the Mme. Isaac that is climbing up the staircase...that one does well and stayed).

There have been plants that I moved that did 180's for the better. We have a bed that faces south-east, and everything does better there, because ther is plenty of air circulation and a little bit of filtered afternoon shade.

If I were in your shoes, I don't know what I'd do...because Franziska is a nicely shaped, nicely foliaged plant. But those "veggie centers" are not lovely, for sure.

Sorry for rambling; I'd probably get rid of it. I am getting bolder about easing out plants that don't really contribute to the greater whole in some way.

Jerome

I had her sport Blumenschmidt and I didn't care for the vegatitive centers either. I grew it in a container up north so maybe it needed more heat than I could give it. I don't plan on getting it or MFK any time soon...

Wow what is this thread doing back from the dusty obscurity of 2007? Sure don't miss MFK, not one bit. Long gone is she. I would think pansy or nasturtium flowers would be a prettier addition to a salad, and more edible, too.

I'm hoping it turns out as I'm imagining... but years from now I may post the exact same thing hoovb. With a little rose vinaigrette salad dressing, a few rose petals, home grown lettuce, herbs and strawberries thrown in... and a funky vegetative MFK... it could be a pretty spectacular looking salad! ;) I will post some pics if it comes to fruition.