IMO, 'Peace, Cl.' is magnificent -- superior in every way to the bush form. I've always been mystified by the fact that the bush form was always a BS magnet in my garden, while its climbing sport remains healthy and largely disease free all season. I know a couple of other gardeners here in coastal Carolina who've made the same observation. It seems to me that when 'Peace' produced this sport, more was gained than simply a propensity to climb. I was surprised (and envious) to read above about a 'Peace, Cl' that blooms prolifically all season long. My plant blooms heavily in the spring and (sometimes) throws a moderate number of blooms in early to mid autumn. The climbing form of 'Peace' is indeed a rampant grower -- which, I think, has contributed to its less than stellar reputation. Some gardeners try to keep it in bounds by pruning it heavily, then complain bitterly because it doesn't produce. 'Peace, Cl' blooms only on old wood. Prune it heavily and regularly and you're guaranteed a bloom-free plant. If you don't have room for a magnificent (albeit essentially once-blooming), very rampant climber, forget about 'Peace, Cl'. Another climbing HT sport that I've been very impressed with is 'Gruss an Aachen, Cl'. Roses Unlimited is now the only U.S. source for that one.

Well, bluegirl, I am a heretic. I don't feed...anything. The soil and water are already too salty, so I don't use inorganic food. There are too many moles and gophers. I haven't amended and the only "mulch" is what I shred from the other trees and shrubbery (mostly creeping fig, bamboo and bougainvillea). The soil has been fallow for thirty-plus years and I'm not doing anything to increase earthworms so I don't use any organics to provide the moles more of them to burrow for. There are many rabbits, squirrels, chaparral rats, coyotes and probably a stray bob cat or two, so I'm not using anything they can consider "food". I let the weeds grow because they literally mask the new rose shoots from the vermin who are determined to eat them. The hill is mostly natural, though cleared for fire and we back up to native chaparral hillsides, so preventing the "wild life" is virtually impossible. The roses which perform well with these conditions have earned their places here. Those which don't, go away. I agree with you, though. Blue for You is drop dead gorgeous, healthy, vigorous and intensely fragrant. Because it is patented, I presume Heirloom obtained it in the batch of Euro Desert stock they received from Vintage, and is working on licensing. Though, I have no first hand information to that effect, it seems the most logical to me. I hope someone finally releases it again. It is head and shoulders better than Rhapsody in Blue in my climate. Kim

Hi redsox Here Ophelia is still popular among those who are interested in roses. I don't have it but it grows as well as any modern, and with the finest fragrance. I grow Etoile de Hollande both the bush and the climber. Very large, very fragrant flowers. I really like them both, but here it is as a climber it is spectacular. I don't know if Peace counts, it is so common and not so old, officially introduced in 1942 as Gloria Dei. I have had some conflicting stories about this rose, but I believe Meilland propagated and grew it in the mid 1930's. I have Gruss an Archen and really like it. I am looking for a grafted Amelia Earhart, I cannot have HT ownroot. If any one have this plant I am very much in need of some budwood :-)

Thank you, everyone, for your nice comments! Juliet, I have never met Comtesse de Provence (or Liv Tyler) in person:-). The rose is vigorous for me, and a good bloomer, as you can see she likes to bloom in clusters. The fragrance is great, I can always detect it, morning or evening, dry or humid, really one of the best roses for fragrance. Disease resistance is average, the foliage is never great. She is in my cutting garden, mostly out of sight. Odyssey, I can't comment on blackspot as it is not a widespread issue around here. Jeffcat, that's interesting. Most of the blooms on my AD start out cup-shaped but then open almost flat. Some canes break off from time to time because the blooms are so huge. Masha