Two very different roses that look nothing alike (other than being pink). In Maryland, USDA Zone 6b, with red clay acidic soil: BELINDA'S DREAM (Shrub, 1988) is a big rose with disease resistant soft blue-green foliage. Growth habit is bushy and full to 5 feet unless pruned twice a year. Canes have some thorns but is still easily handled without having to worry about pricking yourself. High centered buds open into very full (40+ petals) medium warm (Pepto-Bismal) pink blossoms that smell like carnations, and last a long time in a vase. Grows great on its own roots in a wide climatic range but is especially suited for warm climates like Southern Texas. IMHO best pink rose for the beginner. PRETTY JESSICA (English, 1983) is much more petite with the plant topping out at 3 feet. Foliage isn't as disease resistant to black spot. Canes are nearly thornless; a smooth lady. Blossoms are drop dead gorgeous and sinfully fragrant. Buds are very full and round opening into quartered flowers with perfect petal placement. Outer petals are lavender blushed a rich lilac pink in the center. Needs a little coddling to get established own root, but once it gets going can be one of the most beautiful roses in the garden. A top notch rose for containers or the front of flower borders. Grows especially well in the Mid-Atlantic and northwards. Image of Belinda's Dream posted by april-h-o-z6-Nashville at the Clematis combos thread. Image of Pretty Jessica posted by kristin-flower-4a at the Favorite David Austin roses thread.

Ingrid, I was just deadheading and tidying Mme. Joseph Schwartz a week ago (in the Sac Cemetery), and she has, to my nose, more of a Bourbon fragrance than a Tea fragrance. And the Duchesse has always smelled like a Bourbon to me. I love the Tea fragrance, but the Bourbon one has always been too much for my poor, put-upon nose, so I don't last very long working on them. Another rose, right next to MJS, is Mistress Bosanquet, and it smells like a Bourbon also. I wonder if these roses have Bourbon roses in their ancestry? Of course, it may just be a particular Old Rose fragrance, and not Bourbon at all - I'm no expert. Laura

Belinda's Dream did not do well for me in my zone 5/6, W. PA garden. I went full steam ahead responding to all its good press, and planted 4, one gallon size, four years ago. Four years later, a more than fair trial period, and nothing. BD died to the ground every winter, got to 14" by seasons end with very weak, puny growth. However, it made every effort to bloom but balled badly and its thin stems could not support the flowers. It also black spotted which surprised me in light of its Earthkind designation. I believe BD is a warm climate rose. It apparently does very well from zone 7 and higher.

So romantic, the story and the rose! Your wife is a very lucky lady, a sweet husband who is also into gardening, can't beat that. This is my first year with a Belinda's Dream and I hope my blooms are as pretty as yours!