Floridarose: You asked why I removed 'Crepuscule' and its supporting pergola . . . When, almost 18 yrs ago, we selected a site to build this home, the agent asserted that the towering pines on one side of the property were "mature". I assumed that meant they would grow no taller. What a naïve assumption THAT proved to be. We planted other trees, as did a neighbor. Portions of the property that once were very sunny gradually became shaded during much of the day -- ie, increasingly inhospitable to the roses that once grew so happily in those areas. So there you have it . . . 'Crepuscule' wasn't the only casualty, but it certainly was the most prominent one. Come spring, the side garden where the pergola stood will be planted with Southern Indica azaleas ('George L Taber' and/or 'Mrs GG Gerbing'), and probably a few other shade-tolerant plants. Nearby, beds behind a stone retaining wall will be home to a mass planting of Camellia sasanqua 'Marge Miller', the first-ever trailing camellia discovered in Australia that, at long last, is now available to American gardeners. Several years ago, a group of local water colorists came here on a spring weekend to paint 'Crepuscule' doing her riotous thing on her pergola. I hounded one of those artists mercilessly until he finally caved-in and sold his painting to me. Now that my 'Crepuscule' exists only as a fond memory, and as the subject of that wonderful water color painting, I'm more glad than ever that I was such a persistent nudge. PS: LOL -- You're right, Carol. Sure didn't anticipate such a lively exchange among rose folk regarding social mores and taboos vis-à-vis incest.

YOU BET THERE IS!!! This is the book we needed, and waited for for years. TEA ROSES Old Roses for Warm Gardens Lynne Chapman, Noelene Drage, Di Durston, Jenny Jones, Hillary Merrifield, and Billy West -- (A team of Australian ladies most commonly referred to as "The Tea Bags") They're the nicest people in the world, and their book is an essential for warm-climate lovers of Old Roses. ======================= I would also recommend the older books: LANDSCAPING WITH ANTIQUE ROSES (Shoup/Druitt) and ANTIQUE ROSES FOR THE SOUTH (Welsh) Shoup's NEW book, EMPRESS OF THE GARDEN is also good, but both of his books DO touch on some roses for colder climates. If you are a bit more adventurous -- and ready to step off into something without pictures -- look on line for EVERBLOOMING ROSES by Georgia Torrey Drennan. She wrote of the roses of the South at the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th Centuries. I think the book is available via Print On Demand service. Then, there is ROSES by Ethelyn Emory Keyes -- the FIRST "Rose Rustler." I recommend this because Mrs. Keyes also knew the roses of the South, and knew the ones that had survived to be rescued. (That's what you want, you know. Roses that are so tough that, once established, they will make it on their own.) Lastly, I hope you will visit the websites of the Heritage Roses Group: http://www.theheritagerosesgroup.org/ and Gold Coast Heritage Roses Group http://www.goldcoastrose.org/ (Or find them via Facebook) There, you'll find images and articles on roses that succeed in California -- including many of California's Found Roses. That should get you started. :-) Jeri

Annabeth, scent detection varies tremendously from person to person. The way I understand it is that we each start out with a set chemical receptors and we don't all have the same ones. (That's what the sense of smell is, the detection of chemicals.) In addition, experiences such as smoking, illness, or plain old age can decrease the strength of the receptors we have. That is apparently why some people can detect scents that others cannot. A person with a superior sense of smell might end up as a perfume expert or wine expert. I would never be able to do either job. As for me, I simply cannot detect much of the tea scent in true tea roses. On the other hand, I pick up distinctly unpleasant notes in some beloved fragrant flowers when they are brought indoors and the concentration builds up. Paperwhites are one such flower. I love them outdoors and in the house find them unendurable. Roses said to have powerful scents are presumably pumping out lots of chemicals that lots of people are able to detect. It may well be this is simply a scent that doesn't work for you. Rosefolly

Hi nik, I was thinking of Mrs B R Cant which is a tea. She gets big and has nice medium pink double flowers and is not a climber but she would still work. I may get her for another spot. Jasmina does look beautiful I like the full shape of her flowers. I will have to research on if she would do well here. I found these photos of Jasmina paired with Laguna...WOW!! http://www.mein-schoener-garten.de/experten/blog/rosen_und_mehr/2012/07/07/laguna-und-jasmina-kletterrosen Teas are new to me and I got a bunch of them this year :) I hope they work out for me here. We are hot and humid but drier in the late fall winter and early spring (unless it is a wet year like the last couple lol). We have a rainy season in the summer where it can rain almost every day at least a little, just enough to steam it up and make it miserable. ~sjn