Hi, just wanted to be sure to thank everyone!!! for their time and thoughtfulness about alternate roses, vendors, etc. Curlydoc thanks very much for the extra effort and for your Hortico pics... If I was an experienced gardener, I'd rush out and get the Hortico, but am thinking that because I am a first-time gardener I really need to make sure I can do a decent job with my 2 tree roses, the 2 Lincolns and the 2 Special Occasion first so indeed 2010 I will be making a full blast to 3! Sutter's Gold roses to add to the collection for next year... Roses Unlimited says that indeed they can hold the order and since I have heard so many terrific things about them, I will go ahead and wait for the 3. If Special Occasion does indeed flourish I will update everyone on what I think about the fragrance. According to Heirloom rose and a few other American growers it is "one of the most fragrant hybrid teas" but a bit too belatedly I found some U.K. sites that only listed it as moderate so we shall wait and see. It's a Fryer rose...

I have to name several! Each, in its moment of perfection, is a rose to make one gasp and let the eye linger upon in pleasure. 'Better Times' is probably my favorite; the coloration and form of the flower, and the way the color of the foliage complements the flower's color, makes the opening of each blossom an event. Its sport-sibling 'Briarcliff' is splendid as well. The HMF photos don't really capture the purplish-blue tone of the magenta red of 'Better Times'; the wonderful moire effect of 'Briarcliff' can be detected in some of the HMF photos, though. 'Snowbird' is wonderful in every way. 'Peach Beauty' is impressively beautiful when opening and for a day or two after (it then gets forgivably blowsy). 'Marceline' has a perfection of form and elegance of coloration which is striking. The HMF pix don't quite capture it. 'Maman Lyly' is breathtaking in form, changing coloration, and fragrance. 'Chrysler Imperial' will always be my favorite red rose. The various Radiances, eh (shrugs), I used to be enthusiastic about them; now, not so much. I like them because they're tough, and because the various colors of the varieties complement each other beautifully (I have them all next to each other). The much-praised fragrance is rather too citrusy for me (same, to my nose, with 'La France'). For me, the best of them is the original, 'Radiance', with its attractive contrast of colors; and the color of 'Mrs. Charles J. Bell' is particularly beautiful when beside magenta and purplish-red roses (mine is near a 'Pergolese'). But, I ramble...

Lenie, I read your post and read your list of selections. I am a bit south of you, but I do grow all my roses without chemical support. I grow all the roses on your list except Eglantyne and Easy does it. From your list I would recommend the following: Charles de mills Belle amour Comte de chambord Felicite parmentier Fantin latour Tuscany superb Madame hardy Graham thomas Moinuex Pat Austin Sophy's rose Benjamin britten Belinda's dream Charles Darwin Tamora Charlotte I left all of the David Austins on your list because you indicated that you are willing to spray. I am not willing to spray. I do have a rather high tolerance for BS. There are some David Austins that seem to be doing rather well for me without spray: Sweet Juliet Alexandra Rose Comte des Champagnes Benjamin Britten Constance Spry Tess of the d'Urbevilles Teasing Georgia Queen of Sweeden Malvern Hills I'm sure there are more in the garden, but these seem to perform well enough. I would also recommend that you consider: Shailer's Provence The Bishop White Cap Darlow's Enigma Marcessa Bocella Jenny Duval Daybreak Salet I guess I could go on ad infinitum suggesting OGRs for a no spray garden. Good luck. Robert

I live in Mandeville,Louisiana and looking for antique garden roses. I have gardenias already rooted,tea hybrid already rooted(yellow and red)and pink knockouts to trade.