Well, I guess I will probably leave out the Iceberg! lol I had my doubts about that one. I have also bought ramblin red, and william baffin which I will stick to. I was trying to find a pure white rose, a climber, to go with the red and pink of the other two. I don't really care if they are fragrant, as I can't smell very good anyway (sinuses always clogged up lol). I have a 6 ft high, 20 ft long trellis that I will be planting these on. Or do you think just the ramblin red will fill it in enough? I hear that both ramblin red and william baffin can get pretty long. Thanks, kentstar

Rebecca, I've had Felix LeClerc for about 9 years and I echo the fantastic comments of everyone about him. He's among the first roses to bloom in late May here in zone 5, and he's totally cane hardy and pretty indestructible. It took about 4-5 years before he rebloomed very well, but now I get blooms pretty steadily into July, and scattered blooms off and on even into November. As for height, I think we'd be in the same boat being in close zones. Felix is hardy to zone 3 at least so I think you're still looking at cane hardiness. Mine is about 8' tall and he puts out laterals pretty well, so if you pull the main canes horizontally along your 8X4' trellis you should be able to get it fairly well covered after a while. Like all climbers, he takes a good 4 years to come into his own so be patient. Also, I find his canes to be pretty stiff so I wouldn't expect to do the zigzag canes you can do with more flexible climbers like Crown Princess Margaretha. You also want to make sure your trellis is pretty strong, given that those sturdy canes can pull down an average wood trellis in the wind. You didn't ask for pictures, but here's one of Felix trying (and not succeeding) to pull down a 6' fake iron (aluminum) fence. You can see that even 4' or so away from the fence he can easily reach the top. For years I didn't realize he was supposed to be a climber so I kept pruning him lower to keep him in line. Fortunately it made him bush out and he's forgiven me since. Mine was from HCR too and he's absolutely fine on his own roots. Have fun Cynthia

Hi all! Dani33, you asked for a follow up. Zepherine is now 2 years old and frankly just limping along. Doubtless my fault for planting her in partial shade to begin with (but it was the only location left to get a climber going around the front porch like I wanted) :-( Also we've had 2 frigid Chicago winters and no I didn't cover her or burlap her or even cover up her roots. I guess its amazing she's alive at all! So far no leaves so maybe she didn't make it? I'll try to remember to let u know when I see any activity on her. Angel Face remains happy as lark. She's planted right next to Zephy (also part shade) but I looove this plant for its unusal mauvey-blue color, *endless* blooms, and its amazing fragrance. It's just a wonderful thing to admire and sniff :) Was just thinking today of putting some new climbers on the VERY sunny south wall of our house which gets wonderful air flow and all day sunshine. Much more rose-friendly I think. Something that has some fragrance cuz that window is open a lot in summer and has fat rose hips for the birds in winter. Thorny but not insane (no more Josephs Coat or Pink Dawn). Reason for rose here? Its where our wild birds perch while waiting their turn at the feeder - and my cats love to watch their "bird tv" from that window! :) Currently there's a mulberry bush there but I'm getting rid of it bc I've never liked mulberry bushes (sorry mulberries!) Would only need to get as tall as the window maybe 9 -12'? Thought of putting a crabapple there so the birds could chow in berries all winter -- but then I'll have squirrels leaping from the branches, stealing all the birds' seed. So I think a climbing rose around that window is the way to go - squirrels don't like thorns or tiny branches that won't support them. You guys really are so smart and helpful!! I really have appreciated all the thoughtful feedback! Best ~Kelly (in Chicago, not Indiana now!)

Matt, Winter hardy to the cane tips for me without any protection, nothing: Quietness - very fragrant Aunt Honey - moderately fragrant, some say very Lady Ashe (climber) - very fragrant Earth Angel - very fragrant Pink Climbing Don Juan - very fragrant (You gotta' get this rose. It's better than Climbing Red Don Juan, all around, IMHO.) That's it so far for fragrant, to the cane tip hardy, and winter hardy in my garden. The following are expected to be equal to the above in my garden, but are too new to say 'yes', positively, yet: Scepter'd Isle - very fragrant Dee-Lish - very fragrant Quick Silver - moderately fragrant Milwaukee's Calatrava - very fragrant Everything else I grow, and I grow fragrant roses only, no deadbeats in my garden, needs protection over winter to thrive. I don't spare on the protection for those that need it. It's a small price to pay to be able to grow fragrant roses in this colder climate. Fragrant roses are the ones for me, roses that without protection would limp along needlessly. They thrive because I pile the medium to fine pine bark mulch (never large chunks), high over them for the winter to give them every advantage I can. Having a rose struggle simply because it did not get winter protection, and just come back every year, dying to or nearly to the ground, is not success to me. Having it thrive, and come back bigger every year until it reaches mature equilibrium is success to me. Moses