Jess, are you looking for a short climber that would share the same support, or are you going to grow Night Owl free-standing? That clear pink would be wonderful with Night Owl. Down here in the heat Night Owl is deep purple in spring & fall, and various shades of fuschia/deep pink/rose in the heat. What about the hybrid musk Bubble Bath? Better be a BIG trellis...! Or put the bush form of Cecile Brunner at Night Owl's feet..?

Rebecca, I've had Felix LeClerc for about 9 years and I echo the fantastic comments of everyone about him. He's among the first roses to bloom in late May here in zone 5, and he's totally cane hardy and pretty indestructible. It took about 4-5 years before he rebloomed very well, but now I get blooms pretty steadily into July, and scattered blooms off and on even into November. As for height, I think we'd be in the same boat being in close zones. Felix is hardy to zone 3 at least so I think you're still looking at cane hardiness. Mine is about 8' tall and he puts out laterals pretty well, so if you pull the main canes horizontally along your 8X4' trellis you should be able to get it fairly well covered after a while. Like all climbers, he takes a good 4 years to come into his own so be patient. Also, I find his canes to be pretty stiff so I wouldn't expect to do the zigzag canes you can do with more flexible climbers like Crown Princess Margaretha. You also want to make sure your trellis is pretty strong, given that those sturdy canes can pull down an average wood trellis in the wind. You didn't ask for pictures, but here's one of Felix trying (and not succeeding) to pull down a 6' fake iron (aluminum) fence. You can see that even 4' or so away from the fence he can easily reach the top. For years I didn't realize he was supposed to be a climber so I kept pruning him lower to keep him in line. Fortunately it made him bush out and he's forgiven me since. Mine was from HCR too and he's absolutely fine on his own roots. Have fun Cynthia

You could bring a couple of blooms to the Asheville Blue Ridge Rose Society rose exhibition next weekend ((May 30-31) at the Western North Carolina arboreteum and compare it with some of the blooms there. We're also going to have talks on Rose culture, and late Sat Afternoon, I'm talking about what makes a rose a rose, what a rose wants to do. I've grown America, and I'd rather see the blooms than declare a name based on some of the colors that come through computer moniters.

Great picture! What a beautiful scene! I totally agree on the pot! I have 9 (i think, might be missing one by memory... way too many) still in pots to be planted! I never rooted roses before that bunch two winters ago and had almost all root, so I had a bunch of plants. Some doubles. I rooted them in the late summer/fall and grew them under lights all winter, then set them out in the spring into gallon pots. All grew. I potted them into bigger pots to overwinter as I had no place to put them anyway. All lived. Then last summer I hoped to see at least one bloom on something, but not a one!! They were all marked, but some I was not so sure on. This year, every one of them finally bloomed!! (I have a couple more to id, BTW.) I have put a couple in the ground and have arranged places for others and I totally agree they need to be put in asap. I was not ready for all the new growth, way more growth than the first summer. I should have been as I know they put down great root systems, but was not thinking straight and was sure they would have been in by now. Part of the problem is me having to be very strategic on placement due to sun, living in a rental space, and having to arrange pillars. Exactly what you suggested, Jacqueline, the pillar is what I need to work out for this one. The yard has some existing "pillars" old fence posts from long gone fences, I assume. There are two square shaped holes in the existing stone wall bordering a walkway, which in my rampant imagination like to think held 4x4's that once were pillars of an arbor. Getting new 4x4's in there would be perfect, except for the existing plantings nearby, and the cost. Mainly the cost, and how to get it done right. I think it looks easier said than done, and I am doing this by myself, mostly, and have not really figured out a way to do it. Especially the cost to me being as I don't even own the place! I am always freaking about about where to plant stuff as I am never sure if a new tree is going to be cut down, or if I trellis something on the fence or house if some dudes will show up in a big truck marked "new fence guys" or "gutter install". Maybe not likely but has happened and never ends up well for whatever is planted nearby. Nobody working here seems to give a crap if nobody is watching them who they are actually paid by, I don't think. You can not imagine how many damn branches the cable and phone guys have ripped off the holly tree. You would think by now they could reach the damn pole with one side being bare! But, no! Every time, they find the need to tear off another branch. WTF? Drives me insane!! Earlier this season I went out front after roofers were here to find a big hatchet in the garden bed out front. Thrown from the roof! Right thru the main arm of a low growing conifer I had just moved there trying to save it from an ivy ridden spot. Chopped it right off. Pretty much a goner now, it is. They even left the hatchet behind! They threw it so far away they must have forgotten about it. Brand new, it was, too. Aside from a little tar, perfect condition. Um, and sharp! I added it to my garden tools and used it a week later to chop out two stumps, so something good came of it. Sort of. Oh well, that is the chance I take gardening here. Either way, I agree they need to get out of the pots asap! Working on that today, along with the long list of other chores in the garden. I have a spot that could be great for this climber, unfortunately I designated it as the one spot for the trash cans dedicated to the downstairs neighbors compost leaves. I got tired of them on the patio so moved them behind the fireplace by an existing pillar. The area needs some serious work, but it can be done. Hopefully in time to get this in the ground and running really soon!