I forgot to mention that the leaves are very small and the blossom isn't too big either - diameter is probably about 3 inches. I know it doesn't look like one cane in this picture, but the cane is very long and has curved around. It almost looks to me like it wants to be a climber the way it is throwing that cane out, but perhaps it is because it is growing away from the shade. When it was planted, the tree was either not there or significantly smaller.

It is probably Harison's Yellow. It blooms once, just before the main rose season, and is notorious for an awkward growth habit. The best way to grow it is in the middle of the lawn, allowing it to spread out to a decent size. It isn't particularly fond of being moved, so try to get as much root as possible, and keep it well watered afterwards. If it doesn't completely die, it will be back.

Oh, this looks very like Harison's yellow - a lovely (and tough) old semi-wildling. You can remove it with some sturdy digging tools (fencehole spades are brilliant for this). If you have somewhere you wish to transplant to, have the hole ready and to move it to its new home, a good piece of hessian or burlap is useful.

Water well the evening before you dig - this will soften the soil and enable the rootball to stay together). Cut back as much as half of the top growth (in your case, leaving a 2foot cane ). Dig a deep trench around the perimetre of the rose, as big as you think 2 people can manage to lift with forks or spades). Slice horizontally, as deep as you can, freeing the taproot then using 2 spades, lift the rootball onto the burlap, wrap well, pour a can of water on the whole wrapped rootball and transfer to new home.
New hole. A nice deep hole, with, if possible, some good garden compost added to the soil taken out of the hole. Puddle in the new rose (add water to the hole and allow it to drain away), plant and backfill, throwing in the drier soil first to ensure it settles between the rose roots. Tread the backfilled soil in firmly with heel of boot.
If the rose starts to look a bit wilty, try covering with an umbrella or parasol or other shade material. You will need to deep water (at least2 gallons every week or so) for the rest of the season, by which time the rose will have made new root growth and be able to survive with only minimal (if any) extra irrigation in following years.

Wow! Thanks to both of you for your quick response! That looks exactly like the rose!! I am so excited. I appreciate all your specific transplanting advice, Campanula! My husband's mother always loved this rose because it was in bloom in time for her birthday in early June. His great aunt never identified it other than to say it was a wild rose. I will ask his other great aunt, her sister (age 85) if she remembers when it was planted. I'll keep you updated on how the transplanting goes. Again, thanks for your help!

Surprising news! I called my husband's other aunt (sorry for referring to her as a great aunt before - my mistake - she is my children's great aunt and I am so used to referring to her that way) to find out more about the history of this rose. As I said before, my husband said the rose has been there as long as he can remember, and he is 57. So I asked his other aunt, age 85, if she remembers when the rose was planted. She said that her mother MOVED it to its current location in about 1950. Before that, it was across the street at her grandfather's house, and it had been THERE as long as SHE could remember!! She remembers seeing that rose from the time she was a small child!! So, I am dealing with a rose that is at least 70-80 years old, and possibly older than that if her grandparents (my husband's great grandparents) planted it before she was born. Wow!

this is a lovely story, thank you for sharing. I so hope that the transplanting works out, what a treasure to keep this rose in the family. Best of luck on moving it.

Bonny46, how wonderful! Your rose is following in the tradition of the many Harison's Yellows that came before. Harison's Yellow has traveled from place to place across the U.S. over centuries along with its pioneering rose lovers. (I, too, think you've got a Harison's in your garden.) Congratulations on a wonderful, historical passalong! A beautiful, tough and very special rose. Carol

I finally have an update about my transplant of this antique rose from my husband's family! Last year it didn't even bloom, and I was getting a little discouraged, but I chalked it up to the transplant and the heavy pruning. This is what it looked like after transplant - just one measly cane:

That is a beautiful rose! I love that shade of yellow. I enjoyed reading your story and I am so happy it survived the transplant and is happy and thriving in your yard!

It is so great that you have saved it - and you know that this rose is a clone of a very very old rose! HMF says that Harison's Yellow was bred in 1824, but that "there are several different clones in commerce". So nice to know that yours is way closer to the original than what you might get if you tried to purchase it today. Also, you have planted it in a perfect place for it - it will gradually get bigger and fuller.

Please post another pic soon when all of those buds open!

Jackie

I love this story. You must be a wonderful person to go through the effort to save this rose. Perhaps in the future, you could root a cutting for the new owners, so they can continue the tradition if they like. It's very beautiful.