I dug up this thread as I have been very impressed by Rugelda so far. I planted it in September last year. It had died back completely to the ground from the winter. This year it has grown almost four feet high and has lovely double blooms that go start from yellow and fade to creamy yellow with hints of pink. Faint fruity scent. Buds are tinged bright red. I did feed it alfalfa tea, which seems to encourage growth. It did not like chemical fertilizers as I watered a diluted 20-20-20 in and the veins showed yellowing immediately the day after. I flushed the soil, and it's doing better. Otherwise, foliage is very shiny and healthy for me so far. Branches are upright, but I chose to stake it to shape the growth in the direction I want. Overall bush shot: This is it's first flower, the same flower over a few days: I have Bill Reid and Morden Sunrise beside it, planted this year. Bill Reid has been going good, although I wish I had the subtle peachy pink ruffled edges that I've seen on some. Morden Sunrise is doing good very well - vigorous for me, plenty of blooms with peachy tones, and no black spot.

moccasin - those are some nice lights! i can see why you like them. I bet they're more than 20-30 $s each tho... I loved that the globes come in colors... I'd stay away from the red tho. OTOH that could be good for an emergency signal to a neighbor. I'm too poor to pay much for the lights - even if I find a SWern one i like it's sure to be more than 30.00 and I think I should limit it to that. I need 3 - plus a few (plus) inside need replaced based on they are UGLY. I found these 2 at lowe's. both plain but would do the job - cheaply. it'll probably be the first one unless I find something better for the price in the store. around 25.00 with clean lines. I'd have to see how my chubby little fingers fit for changing the bulb. it's better I don't have to mess with those little screws and chance dropping the globe since things seems to jump out of my hands. I remember changing bulbs in the screw on globe type yrs ago. max wattage is 100w this one is about 21.00. I like it, again clean, simple lines - this one has a frosted globe. has the little screws tho and max wattage is 60w.

Your potting soil could have a slow release fertilizer in it. I would make sure it does not before considering fertilization of a young plant. Also, because your Claire is a young plant, I would fertilize with something organic like fish emulsion at a very diluted dose when the time comes. If you are only keeping it in the pot for a year or less, that should be fine. If your Abe is not doing much, I would examine its environment ( is it getting enough sun, water, have the soil tested and adjust according).

It's a tough one to pick if you ask me ! Eden ( Is it grafted ? ) looks beautiful but no fragrance. I think Zd is the lesser healthy if the two . I think you are fine to plant now , no need to wait on anything ( are you using cement for posts ? Then when it's dry ). And since the Both are mainly spring bloomers with some little fall repeat I would add a type 3 clematis to go with. Like blue angel for Eden or a white for zd like huldine just to extend your blooms . I think within a foot of the posts should be fine . How many posts does the pergola have ? 4? If so why not use 4 roses instead of two ? So you don't have to pick .