Aha WS2K. The trick is to grow him in dappled shade intermingled with small bushes or other plants to provide him with some shade in a mixed border or informal hedge. Works perfectly in that way since its growth pattern is a bit strange to readily make a proper standalone bush, especially in a warmer climate. He would grow through the greens to show spots of burgundy. He is quite shade tolerant. As I said above, when given lemons make lemonade. Mine is growing betwen mahonias and carissa macrocarpas (natal plum) and together create a quite impenetratable barrier under an acacia tree. Strange mix but it works for me and the blooms are never fried.

Gosh, what great suggestions! I have a Mrs. Oakley Fisher in a pot. I'm wondering if because she is an older hybrid tea she just might do O.K. on her own roots. Actually, if a rose can't hack the own root thing, there are plenty of others that can. Kronprincessin is planted by Cramoisi in another bed. It's a very small baby but looks so pretty with the red. I do have a band of Souvenir de St. Annes, so when it blooms I'll see what I think. I was discouraged today and was going to plop Louis in a pot until I figured out what to do, but my husband said that he liked him where he was, and that he would be striking against the white house. Right now he is only at the toddler stage-if that. I hope he is a fast grower. I'm trying to plant STURDY, but pretty roses on the west side of my house, because I've learned the hard way that what goes there will have to have the ability to withstand whatever our hurricaine seasons dish out. It seems the twiggy bushes let most of the wind go through without whipping them around too much. I put Madame Lombard on the corner of the house near Louis, because the other one I had never had a problem with wind. Probably because she is built like a tank. I like to mix colors, prettier that way IMO, as long as they don't jar each other. I wonder if Hollyhocks will do well here. I'm planning on researching companion plants so that once all the roses are in place I can tuck a few here and there. If any of you know where I can start my research let me know, hopefully with a place that knows Florida. It's too bad all you ladies don't live closer. It would be so great if we could actually look at each others gardens. Sandy

Nat, I am really concerned that you are going to kill your roses by constantly doing something to them. All they need is the correct amount of water and control of blackspot if it appears (I haven't seen it in your pictures). If you added manure to the soil, then you have fertilized for the season. Look online at pictures of rose blackspot. Notice the shape of the spots and the fuzzy margins. If you find this on your plants, you can stop its spread with a fungicide containing only tebuconazole or propiconazole every 2-4 weeks. Blackspot will spread in summer after overnight wetting, or on drippy days in spring or fall. It requires long wetting with temperatures in the 60s and 70s.

Lisa, fun post and gorgeous blooms! (in January!) (Congratulations to Nik and all players) Sheila, I was interested in the DA own-root RMV question, too. Last spring I called their Customer Service who said they’d research the source of own-root cuttings and got back shortly to say they’re all from back home in the UK. They believed the mother plants there were grafted, but that doesn’t sound like a problem, does it, since they apparently aren’t plagued with the virus there, fortunately. (Nice, husky own-roots from what I’ve seen.) Not too late to say “Happy New Year!” to all! Linda