I don't know about your climate, but my absolute favorite rambler is 'Lady Banks Lutea.' It was the first rose I fell in love with. Driving around town in the spring I would see these clouds of butter yellow flowers mounding over arbors or fences and I said "I NEED one of those!" I learned that it was a thornless, once blooming rose and I've yet to get one because I don't have a large enough spot yet. But I will, someday, and I will plant my Lady Banks and love it.

Thanks for the suggestion. Its a beautiful rose and I especially love yellow roses, but its Zn 6 at the coldest.

Zaphod,
During beetlemania, they infest my once-blooming Mme Hardy as much as the other roses. They simply choose to eat her foliage since there aren't any blooms. I have to say, though, that it's much easier to pick the beetles from the leaves than it is to fish them out of blooms.
---Laura

Here at least this season, the JB's came much later than the once bloomers. Even for Baltimore Belle that blooms some what later than many once bloomers. It is a great rose opening literally hundreds of flowers.

Ahhh, you are talking my language! Ramblers are some of myy very favorite roses. Since you mentioned yellow, I'll start with yellow ones that I grow and love:

Aviateur Bleriot (orange buds, yellow flowers)
Alberic Barbier (yellow buds, creamy white flowers)
Ghislaine de Feligonde
Francois Poisson (formerly thought to be Renee Danielle)
Gardenia (yellow buds, white flowers)

Going into the pink/salmon range, I can suggest:
Leontine Gervais (I love this one above most of the others)
Paul Transon
Auguste Gervais
Albertine
Francois Juranville
Arcata Pink Globe (in a tie for first with Leontine Gervais)
Felicite Perpetue (pink buds, white flowers)
Geschwind's Nordlandrose (the best of the Geschwind roses for me)

And I can't possibly forget the fabulous 'Dr. W. Van Fleet', the rambler that started it all for me.

My understanding is that most of these should be fine in Zone 5. Maybe someone closer to your zone can correct me if I'm mistaken.

HTH,
Connie

You have a lot to learn about the Japanese beetle.
Growing once blooming ramblers won't do that much to minimize their presence in your garden. The only way to do that is to have no garden. I'll not give up my fragrant repeat blooming roses and let the beetles win.
One, I don't let them frustrate me. They get the roses for the few weeks they're bad, then they're mine again to enjoy the rest of the season. Even when they're present, I can enjoy the roses. I don't spray or do anything to prevent them other than treat the lawn in mid August each year to kill newly hatched beele larva. I also provide lots of nesting area for birds and other natural preditors. While few like beetles, for some reason, I don't get overwhelmed like others seem to.
Regardless, I'm able to enjoy roses all season. I just ignore the beetles. It's hard at first but over time you learn to do it. The more you ignore, the less of a problem they seem to be and with my 400 roses, you'd think they'd be one heck of a problem.

Okay, so no avoiding them. I started a new thread regarding companion plants that deter beetles if anyone has ever tread that path.

Regarding ramblers, I'm still interested whether once-blooming or repeat-blooming. Connie, thanks for the list. There look to be some good options. I guess I get a bit confused on the climbing versus rambling habit. I had originally wanted 'Constance Spry' but someone in a post told me that its more upward growing and works better on a trellis or arbor. Some of the ramblers are described as more upright in form. What do I need to look for in order to pick something pliable that will run along a 4' fence. I planted a 'Henry Kelsy' this year that seems pliable and sticky. The description calls it a 'climbing shrub with a trailing habit.' Is that what I'm looking for - a trailing habit?

My idea is to mix four or five different roses along this fence.

Connie-
I went through your list. My favorites were Alberic Barbier, Gardenia, Leontine Gervais. I also liked the Francois Juranville but that was a zone 6.

Thoughts about Zephirine Droughin, anyone?

Regarding ramblers, the one is see missing from the list above that would have been my first thought would be American Pillar (see link below).

Zephirine Droughin is a great rose, hardy in Zone 5, but mine doesn't go much above 7 feet tall. Advantage though, it's almost thornless and it's scented, where American Pillar is a thorny monster.

Here is a link that might be useful: American Pillar blog on Garden Musings