You guys are so helpful. I wait until a rose has been around for years and then I break down and buy from the best supplier I know of. In the 6 years I've grown own-roots in the south I've shovel-pruned two-- both bad plants, one was replaced because I told Chamblees right away, the other not because I waited too long. In the 30 years I grew grafted roses (from what is now Palatine's mostly) I SP'd two-- both too tender for my climate. I take forever to decide on a rose-- and pay top dollar-- maybe I just have trouble admitting my mistakes??? But really even roses that are different than what I expected-- like Night Owl, the only new intro I've ever bought-- I'm able to love for what they ARE. YMMV! (Barbara, from 200 roses to 20, from 1978 to 2008!)

I did spray the pruners with Lysol spray between each plant. I don't know if that was enough. Perhaps you are right in that waiting till spring and just pulling them off then would keep the disease from spreading. I've never had a hosta with the disease yet that I know about. I never thought about the disease :O. I did purchase them at a reputable place though, Made in the Shade Gardens whom certify them to be HVX free at time of sale. My Rainforest Sunrises and Fragrant Blues have been in my garden for a couple of years and I haven't seen any signs of it though. I got those at Bloomin' Designs nursery.

I have done something similar for my wintersown seedlings. I have used newspaper pots and cardboard toilet paper rolls and paper towel rolls cut down to size to sow seeds of plants that don't transplant well. I can take the entire paper pot or tub pot and plant it out without disturbing any roots. Penny

Thanks Lily! I have Flamenico Rosita (I bought it as Sir Ivor's Rose) and it is clean and spectacular. I probably would have given up on roses after the teas all slowly wasted away if I hadn't had it around as an example that no spray blackspot free roses can actually exist here. Reve d'Or is resistant, beautiful and done well through the last 3 winters but may have suffered with this late freeze, we will see. This winter (even before the late cold snap) I lost Le Vesue, Mdm Antoine Mari and Mon Tillier. Mrs B.R. Cant is down to one cane after the late freeze so she's getting the shovel. All I have left is Duchess de B in an extremely protected spot, and of all things Mutiblis against a stone wall that must keep it warm--I love him but have always viewed him as temporary and am surprised every year when he leafs out! I've concluded that to grow teas and chinas around Nashville you need the urban heat island effect which I just don't have here in rural Franklin. But there is good news. Other than Sir Ivor/Flamenico, Pinkie is very good and Marianne (a Paul Barden once bloomer) is good but might drop off later in the summer but since I only see it when it blooms that works. I got Caldwell Pink last year and am optimistic about it after a year. I ordered Darlow's Enigma this year so am very happy to hear it works for you. Also this year I ordered Carmella Fairy Tale since poorbutroserich says it's one of her cleanest (I got Sir Ivor from her recommendation!) Clair Matin, Carefree Beauty and another Barden rose Incantation, plus Cecil Brunner and La Marne. I'm pretty much working my way through the Earthkind roselist--of the 21 they list I've grown or have ordered 16 of them over the last 5 years. The z7s don't make it through the winter but what does seems pretty good. I've now added your successes to my list. Here's Sir Ivor from late last year, you can see the clean leaves in the arrangement even though it's at the end of the season! Poorbutroserich once said if it had been given a sweet and charming name everyone would have it--I agree.