Hi, Sherry. You have probably already given up this post, but I thought I'd share my experience anyway. I have several Austins. Molineux is about 3+ years old. It stays fairly small, being upright and narrow. It really blooms a lot, almost as much as a tea. It is in a raised bed with 3-4 hours of full sun daily. It does always have some blackspot, any where from mild to 50% defoliation, but still it keeps on flowering. Spring 2009 was quite long for Houston, with no really hot weather until June. Molineux's flowers were quite large and a deeper yellow for the first time. Usually, they are smaller and in the summer the petals get brushed with pink, giving a more apricot color. Lilian Austin is next to Molineux, but only about 1.5 years old. It doesn't blackspot nearly as much, but can have brief periods with more blackspot. So far it has not been a heavy bloomer. Tradescant is 3+ years old. It gets a bit more sun. It blooms in regular cycles. Everyone who sees the cut flowers loves its dark color and wonderful fragrance. It would like to be a wide sprawling bush. I have to cut it back quite far after each bloom cycle to keep it contained in its allotted space. It also gets some blackspot, but far less than Molineux. I also have Scepter'd Isle, about 3-4 years old. I kept it in a small pot for too long before planting it, and then it has not grown or flowered much since planting it. It is by far the healthiest, with a lovely fragrance, but flowers that blow quickly. I was considering shovel pruning it this spring, but it now has two new canes starting from the soil. Those new canes don't just shoot up like a tea rose would, but seem to be barely growing at all. Still, the new growth has given me new hope for this one. Last year, I broke down and purchased a grafted Lady Emma Hamilton locally, as I had been wanting it ever since I first saw it. It is in a large pot. It blooms quite regularly, with a nice fragrance and beautiful changing colors. It looks nice at all stages of the flower(even when it fades). And yes, it does get some blackspot. Not too badly (by my standards), except when we get those prolonged periods of really humid, rainy weather - then she can defoliate. Lastly, I ordered a Cordelia from David Austin last month. It is also planted in a large pot. There is only one photo on HMF, posted by a man from Houston. His recommendation counted for a lot since he lives in my area. Also, its official name is AUSbottle, and I know it is supposed to make hips (I adore rose hips)- thus I am hoping that the hips are supposed to be bottle shaped. Also, it is supposed to be healthy (only time will tell). It is part of David Austin's alba group, so I was hoping for an alba looking rose since I can't grow alba roses here. Kathy

I'm not as experienced as anyone else on here, but for me (so far)-the insects seem to have a special appreciation for the hybrid musk roses (i.e.-lavender lassie, buff beauty). Westerland is, so far, holding up on that end better than Autumn Sunset but is not impervious. Sombreuil has fragrance, but not impervious. Darlow's Enigma so far impervious but no fragrance. Impervious large (well, will be large at some point) to this point are: Compassion (good fragrance) Illusion (little fragrance) I understand that Compassion, although noted at the Kordes website, is a Harkness rose; however, it appears Kordes roses (especially of late) have an edge in disease resistance; therefore next year Kordes climbers I intend to try are Moonlight, Aloha, Laguna and Morgengruss.

well of course because while you're looking at fragrance and rebloom, etc you wander across these other lovely roses, but honestly have no idea how they'll grow for you, unless you ask - here's what's "left" of my original list - sort of in order the top ones are the most wanted 1- PJP 2- Gabriel Noyelle 3- Madame Isaac Periere (it's on my list every year) 4- buff beauty 5- sov de la malmaison 6- ebb tide 7-golden buddha/ardestiny 8-earth song 9-silver shadows 10-lady of the mist 11-bolero 12-intrigue 13-sharifa asma (also on my list every year, but never seem to buy) 14-francis debreuil 15-quietness 16-rosa rugosa de l'hay 17-souvenir de st anne's 18-moondance 19-tradescent 20-annie laurie mcdowell 21-desiree 22-dagmar hartopp 23-rose de rescht 24-sweetness 25-jacob's robe 26-autumn dusk 27-blue skies 28-enchanted autumn 29-musicale 30-prairie sunrise 31-wild ginger 32-winter susnet 33-alec's red 34-armotherapy 35-sammy 36-roberto capucci 37-callista 38-generosity 39-dignity 40-(any ever heard of "country time"?) 41-honey perfume 42-victorian memory/isabella skinner 43-lady angela 44-lady of the mist 45-margaret fuchs 46-night 'n' day 47-red tropicana 48-september morn 49-seventh heaven 50-sunburst 51-tropical fragrance 52-neptune 53-april in paris 54-picccolo pete 55-salet my list more than doubled! so if you could pick 10 from the list which would you pick and which 10 would you definately not pick?

Linda Erasmus, blushing I was alluding to Ronda's Mountain Laurel, I think it is called--always loved it as well as your Rosette Delizy which doesn't look a thing like mine but quite a bit like "The Rose of Tralee". It is a lucky rose for me too. John please come back and tell me I'm so stinking funney--this is embarrassing, but I never weary of that and I love you dearly as always. Jean kisses to all the pups and how fine to see you cruising the forum once more. You've been missed. Thank you. Melva, just today I was telling your turtle storey and it made me smile just like your post on my bd. Thanks sweetie. Patricia, no shame and no blame. You are a perennial in the ffavorites garden. Thank you for your much treasured friendship. Randy I do love that rose--makes me laugh every time I think of you naming it Norman. I was hoping you'd show up, it wouldn't be my birthday thread without you--despite the advanced hat size with all your kind remarks. Now that Jean, Patricia,you, and Melva have shown up, my birthday is a smashing success. I so appreciate all this love. Right back atcha. la