Thank you everyone! I know these took awhile to type up but I really do appreciate the feedback! Nanadoll, glad someone is growing Ascot! Definitely will have to give mine some more space than planned as I have it against the house where it stays quite warm. Also, Do you grow your Golden Celebration on a trellis or self standing? Seil, you are the reason I have ordered Angel Face. The photos of yours are just wonderful! You say yours is very hardy, thus can I expect little cane dieback? The space I have it planned for gets quite windy. Secondly, I will definitely need to find a new place for Memorial Day if it gets 6-8 feet so I am glad you mentioned it. Also, I was under the impression that Cherry Parfait and Fire & Ice are the same rose (HMF has the names linked I believe). Are the two you mention very different? I currently have Fire & Ice ordered and I see Regan lists them seperately. Odd. Thank you for the tip of Dublin Bay! I might plant a low one in front of it to cover the bottom. Kate, Regarding my list, I am sure I will be on here complaining after spring planting but the catalogs kept on coming! Thankfully I started digging holes in the fall and got through some, now just need to watch the dogs out in the yard with the snow cover so they don't accidently fall in! Thank you for the thorn tip on Elina, will need to stick her in the back so I can prune things in front without getting stuck. Also glad you mentioned WS2000 - I definitely did not have it planned for a 6ft wide spot! Doodles, I tried to stagger all of my deliveries (I have ordered from Palatine, Regan, DA, Chamblees, RVR, Heirloom, and RU) and pretty much don't plan on sleeping, eating, or bathing until I am done (although if this goes like my 2013 resolution, I am in trouble..). You and I both have a lot of work to do! Michael, I was way off for Tess. I assumed the HMF listing of 3'-8' would mean it would be closer to 3' in my zone so it definitely gets moved! Thank you! I was spacing 36" on average so most of these plans should work Lsst, when you say C.Marlowe has a delicate look does that mean you would suggest moving it toward the front of a bed to enjoy it versus further back? I had it spaced further back since the flower color is so "pow!" Thank you again everyone!

If you look at the description of the rose in Edmunds catalog you will note that they mention the nodding blooms. It's just the nature of this rose to have large blooms and weak stems. Some might find a certain charm in that.....Lovely picture Mossy......Maryl Here is a link that might be useful: Edmunds-Grande Dame description

Bump up this thread to see Carol's favorites: Paradise Found Pink Peace Jubilee Celebration Zaide Soeur Emmanuelle - bare root last year ... but the fragrance and flowers were fabulous!! Buxom Beauty Grande Dame Bishop's Castle Chicago Peace Valencia Chandos Beauty Tiffany" Carol From Straw, below are my most favorites among 140+ own-root varieties in dense & black heavy & alkaline clay (poor drainage). Below can take tons of acidic rain plus vigorous roots that go through thick & hard clay when dry. Below also take shade well, 4 hours of sun. Sweet M. is 3rd-year own-root, gets huge 3' x 4', with 40+ blooms per flush: I have 2 Dee-lish, one in full sun, the 2nd one below is in 4 hrs. of sun, pic. taken this July 12. One in full sun is 7th-year old, below 2nd one in partial shade is 6th-year-own-root: Crown Princess in only 4 hours of sun, 10th-year own root: Below Poseidon is a CONTINUOUS bloomer as 7th-year own-root. Zeph. Drouhin is another fav. 6th-year-own-root (pink bush in front). 10th-year-own-root favorites: Evelyn, Lynnie, Carding Mill, Comte de Chambord, Barcelona, Old Port, CPM. 11th-year own-root favorites: Golden Cel., Christopher Marlowe, Pat Austin, Radio Times, W.S. 2000. 5+ year-old own-root favorites: Big Purple, Wise Portia, Sonia Rykiel, Bolero, Double Delight, Pink Peace, La Reine, Gene Boerner, Tchaikosky, Dee-lish, Princess Charlene de Monaco, Twilight zone, Princess Anne, Savannah. Cornelia, Excellenz von Schubert, Marie Pavie, Prairie harvest, Lagerfeld, Mirandy. Favorites but die through zone 5 winter after 2 years: Firefighter, Versigny. I'll buy more Kordes and Austin roses since they are vigorous and live long in zone 5.

Another fun comparison: Left: RU, Distant Thunder, Own Root, I’ve had it about 1 month. This plant had the thinnest stems of the three, also had smaller root ball than the K&M. Very healthy, put out a lot of new growth Middle: Wayside, Molineaux, Bare Root, Dr Huey, also had it about a month. By far the thickest stems, but of course being bare root had to grow new feeder roots. Good progress, there’s even a bud. Right: K&M, Buxom Beauty ,Fortuniana, just arrived today. Thicker stems than the RU rose, also had a very dense rootball. Was trimmed short significantly to fit in packing box so most of the mature foliage is gone, but lots of new growth remains, even 2 buds. I’m very happy with all three providers, and thankful that I’m able to get hard-to-find varities in mid summer in great health!