Max, I have your CdM sucker in container. It is just starting to show signs of life. I was thinking even that I killed it again. I will send it to you this week or next week. I have a really crazy time now with some big project at work and my cat being really sick. I will do it as soon as possible. Olga

Robert, I don't grow this one from Pickering, but it was discussed here many times in the past that Pickering's OdJ is not real OdJ. Rogue Valley roses has the real one to the best of my knowledge. I would appreciate if you post pictures of OdJ imposter, I am also interested in this one and was considering buying it. Thank you. Olga

I do a little shaping in most cases. Sometimes I do more then that. Basically for me, if I have to fit a roses to a certain space, I prune it more, if there is plenty of space - I don't prune, just shape after the bloom. Olga

Hello, for whatever it is worth, here is an update on the disease resistance factor on my roses. I was able to spend a lot of time in my gardens this weekend and here's what I found: Heritage does have BS, but much less than most other roses and is not defoliated at all. MIP and Zepherine Drouin also now have some minor BS. Clair Matin and Viking Queen completedly defoliated from BS. So has Frederic Mistral. Most all the roses look pretty bad. I felt discouraged and did not know where to start to make things look better. I think that next year i will just have to acquire more disease resistant roses to replace many of the ones i currently grow. That in itself feel pretty terrible since i'm so fond of my roses. It also feels overwhelming but if i do a little at a time, it shouldn't be so bad. One bright note: I checked a rose that is practically hidden in the garden (a Buck....Golden Unicorn) and was happy to see that it has no blackspot, the foliage looks great and it is getting ready to bloom again. This spring, Golden Unicorn will be relocated to a much better and more worthy space. And two of my chinas (Cramoisi S and Mme Franciska Kruger) have almost completely regrown their leaves after defoliating...they actually look pretty good right now. Also, for the first time i checked out all the knockout roses and plan to use a few next year for punches of reliable color. Thanks for listening, Shelley