I think I got a poor bareroot Teeny Bopper. This rose has been a flop for me for 2 years. Poor bloom and very weak. This is its last year if no improvement. It is in a good location and the roses around it do well. Just my experience, sorry I could not speak higher of it. It came from Rosemania.

Liezel: I've also read some bad reviews about Claire Austin, but the one we planted at Humpty Dumpty House has been our best performing rose this year. It's planted in a very well amended bed, gets underground drip irrigation as well as a hose blasting once in a while, and is spiraled around a pillar. I've only fed it once so far, for lack of time. Unfortunately, most of the roses here get morning shade and blazing afternoon sun, and our summers are very hot and dry. Claire was always blanketed in a dozen or more elegant blooms till early autumn when her blooms got smaller and eventually decreased in number as well. Since blooms decreased on all the other roses in the same garden, I'm guessing that shade was the culprit. With the autumn sun lower in the sky, tall hedges, and overgrown trees, the roses were pretty much in bright shade all day long. We're chipping away at the trees and hedges to bring in a bit of sunshine, and I'm curious to see what happens to the roses next. By the way, another elegant climber that's ecru with the slightest blush of apricot is Wollerton Old Hall, in case you have access to that one and don't need a pure white. Wooly has a deeper cup than Claire, and holds its blooms even in strong winds. Have fun with your choices! I am so happy with our new David Austin roses, and hope you will be too. Our Claire is shown below. jannike

I've got a more-than-a-coincidence story about cats! This happened four years ago. I had a pair of elderly cats which I had had since they were kittens. An out of town friend came to visit and brought me, as a house gift, a beautiful stained glass museum-art quality placque of two cats, a standing black cat and an orange tabby squatting at its side. (It is a famous painting; I just can't remember right now who did it). I hung it in the window and it catches light beautifully. Four months later, quite unexpectedly, one of my elderly cats died. I grieved for awhile, but then started looking for two new young kittens/cats (I always like to have at least two). I started searching the websites of several no-kill groups in my area and I found a pair, posted that very day, of orphans who matched the pictures exactly--a lanky black male and his much more roundish orange tabby sister. Needless to say they are the loves of my life. I adore it when they pose under the picture exactly like the "famous" cats!

I have John Clare and Charlotte, both grafted. Charlotte is well established, JC is one yr old. My Charlottes are reliably hardy. They are close to 4' tall, tidy growth with good foliage. I lose only a few inches of cane per winter. They have no protection, live near the edge of the road so are subjected to snow plow abuse and road salt. So for a rose that can stand up to that, they deserve a place, otoh, they are kind of boring - average and well behaved, no drama. First flush is perfectly adequate, color is a nice light yellow that doesn't turn pink and fades only slightly. the blooms have nice form and keep their shape for a reasonable time. Rain and sun tolerance is good. Repeat is about average, scattered flushes. I got John Clare because it's often praised as Austin's best bloomer. I can't argue with that. Constant color, but not my favorite color, and a bit of a plain looking bloom. I think I'm going to move them and contrast them with white. I was pleasantly surprised by the growth, which was vigorous. Mine hit almost 5', with long upright branches, bushy and even, not the well known unbalanced octopus growth. This winter was mild, and they have very little damage.