Hi Strawberryhill: I wonder where Khalid is??? It seems slightly cooler than here but close. I attempted Abbaye de Cluny about 8 years ago; she always looked ivory, and then burned horribly in late May. Instead I grew Brandy and Just Joey, which did not have the attributes of ADC, but they held color and did not burn. I usually look to the Phoenix gardeners to see if something can take the heat because I have found that 105 degrees is very different than 115, or 121, and AZ is one place I have found that deals with extreme heat and even more persistent high temperatures that relentlessly delve near or into the 120's. July and August are our brutal months. It hit 122 in the city yesterday and it is still June. It is often in the 100's beyond midnight, was already 95 at 7 a.m. Wednesday, but all of this is coupled with drought conditions. The one hundred teens to 120's are the norm for 2+ months straight; it is dreadful. It would be great to discover other specific places that also deal with the heat and drought as we do because their plant selections could be more suitable for my area. This is an odd place to garden. Unlike Phoenix, it gets too cold to grow cactus without winter protection. Las Vegas could be a top contender for the "where not to live" places if you are an avid gardener and want to grow a wide range of annuals, perennials, roses and other plants in a garden. I read the thread, and saw the lovely photos and am eyeing Excellenz von Schubert... again... that is if we move. The Marie Pave took my breath away. There is also an abundance of information that I really need to siphon through and decipher in terms of my situation; especially related to the horse manure and termites. We do not have big termite issues here; unlike California, a termite inspection with a home purchase was standard protocol, but we could be moving my newly purchased and potted roses to the PNW, and that changes things. I really appreciate your advice because it is fundamental and I believe wise as the focus should also be the biological environment inclusive of soil and its components. I have a hunch that your input and advice may prove to be invaluable for me. This post was edited by desertgarden561 on Sun, Jun 30, 13 at 16:18

Hope for Humanity is very good, vigourous, healthy, and continiuosly blooming. It does want to get taller than it is, and has absolutely no fragrance. It was completely hardy outside, in a pot, with no shelter or protection all winter--hardy to the tips. I am considering giving it away to a good home, though, because it would really be happier in a larger size, and fragrance is really important to me. I must warn you not to be seduced by Soleil d'Or's beauty, however. It is very unhealthily susseptible to blackspot and is generally considered a right dog of a rose. For that reason I would never give her away, so I guess I'm stuck with her.. Historical significance is important to me, and she is the ancestor of just about all modern roses with a trace of yellow or orange in them.

Well, as a little update, I think I figured out what my NOT 'Mme Platz' actually is. The blooms opened white, and looked a lot like those on the baby 'Mme Hardy' I got for the cemetery. But the rest of the plant was totally different. I checked alphabetically, and I'm almost certain that what I got is 'Mme Plantier'. And that's a good thing, because I was considering it for the cemetery, anyway, but didn't order it. So one less for me, one more for them. I'm not contacting RVR about a replacement, since the error is something I'd have wanted, anyway. On a related note, the second error from RVR arrived with the tag 'Duchesse de Rohan', but the plant looked a bit odd, being rather stiffly upright and showing China-influenced-but-still-OGR foliage. Then it sent forth flower buds, which began a deep dark purple-tinged red, opening "old rose red". Looking through the alphabetical list again, I think it's 'Duchesse d'Ossuna', which was another I was eyeing but didn't actually order. So, again, since the error turned out in my favor, I'm keeping it, and will re-order the other eventually without mentioning the mix-up. :-) ~Christopher

Jo Malone is one of my favorites also. Chispa, I read the other day some perfume/makeup counters are getting rid of the ladies who work there. Oly, I know where you're coming from. I'm asthamatic so I only wear a light dose of spray. One time in my 40's a friend and I were going shopping. While in her car I was coughing non-stop. I even had my cough medicine with codeine with me. I took a swig and the cough still didn't stop. When we got to the mall and got out of the car, the coughing stopped. It wasn't even bad on our way home either. It took me years to figure out it was the cologne we were both wearing with the windows up! lol. I always make sure no one can smell what I'm wearing unless they're about a foot from me. My favorites are light florals.