I'm putting together mixed pots for some roses this year -- my little collection of crimson and dark-red fragrant hybrid teas. I'm using only annuals as companions in these pots because I don't want anything "taking over". The roses will be the "thrillers" and I'll pick tame annuals for the "fillers and spillers." I found faux barrel planters (made of resin) at Home Depot for $20 each. They're 22 1/2 inches across at the top and about the same height, narrowing at the base to about 12 inches diameter. If you go to their website you can see what I mean. :-) ~Christopher

Jeri, before reading further, please please go to page 4 of this site, & scroll to the thread "Monster Roses of any Class". At about the 15th post you will see a picture of my Le Vesuve that Greta kindly posted for me. I would really like to know what you think of it! The picture is all of one plant, which is, as far as we can tell, at least 80 years old. We are 4 blocks from the Bay, but nowhere near the ocean, and we don't get the summer fog that I think you do. It mildews a tiny bit, but barely enough to notice. It blooms 10-11 months of the year. I think I will keep it, but I did add Mme Berkely to my list, and I was able to get Vintage on the phone this morning to make my order. Thanks for all of your helpful suggestions, as usual. Jackie

"Schmidt's Buff Giant" came from my garden. The original cultivar is still going strong and re-blooming in medium shade. We figure it is at least 80 years old. It is about 7-8 feet tall, and 15 feet across, and is growing inside a thicket, under several large trees. I agree with Vintage Gardens that it is Anna Olivier. I took it to the HRF meeting in CA in 2005, and the Tea ladies from Australia all identified it as Anna Olivier. Also, it agrees with every written description of that rose I have seen. It is, however, VERY mutable depending on the weather. Most of the time the blossoms are buff with a brick red reverse on the outside, as per the written descriptions I have seen. However, at certain times of year I have seen my bushes in full bloom with EVERY flower a uniform pale pink. At a different time of year, they have bloomed with EVERY flower a uniform pale yellow. However, I have never seen them look like the pictures from Sangerhausen, with a darker yellow in the middle and pale yellow/white on the outside. But, they have very different weather there than we do here, so who knows what this sneaky rose might get up to?

Thank you, Leo. I am thrilled that you have joined the forum. We actually met a couple of years ago and you graciously gave my friend and me a tour of this fantastic rose garden. You are not only a knowledgable and dedicated curator but also a gracious person. I mentioned you in my comment up on this thread. I posted the photo of this gorgeous rose on helpmefind.com and a couple of rosarians, as it were from Australia, contested that it's Mme de Watteville. I eventually had to remove the photo I posted there because I didn't want to cause any controversy and one HMF member felt very strongly that it was not Mme de Watteville. Either way it's gorgeous. I was so excited about the incredible roses you grow there that I enthusiastically posted on my visit to this garden twice on this forum: https://www.houzz.com/discussions/4807667/visit-to-armstrong-park-rose-garden-nola https://www.houzz.com/discussions/4965219/new-orleans-rose-gardens-update-generals-noisettes-fairies BTW, I initiated that Louis Armstrong Rose Garden is included among the public gardens on helpmefind.com and provided them with the list as I saw them on tags during my visits in 2017 and 2018. If and when you have time, please take a look at that list and correct if any need be added or removed. The link is here: https://www.helpmefind.com/gardening/l.php?l=3.25191&tab=32 Based on that list, a dedicated administrator provided the links for each rose in the garden: https://www.helpmefind.com/gardening/l.php?l=3.25191&tab=2 General information with your name as the curator is here: https://www.helpmefind.com/gardening/l.php?l=3.25191&tab=1 I will be in New Orleans later this summer and hope we'll have a chance to meet again. Thank you for the wonderful work you are doing preserving the roses.