Well, I'm not in the south but In New England we have stretches of summer weather that are hot and sweltering. This summer has been particularly hot and wet and many of my roses are balling. Bosocbel has been excellent under these conditions, never balling, holding up to the downpours, looking fine and fresh in the heatwaves. They make a great low hedge. I have mine planted close together bordering a circle garden. As for blackpot, I do spray but BS is so persistent here that the more BS prone roses reveal their tendency despite spray. Boscobel is perfectly healthy under these conditions.

Putting in my plug for a little research before you buy. There are "sterile" varieties now that will save you a lifetime of weeding the all buggering babies they make. It is either the Chiffon or Satin series. You have no idea how prolific the fertile ones and how time consuming it is pulling the thousands of seedlings. The sterile ones are as lovely as any of the other ones. I'm going to look them up now so I can be more assertive in the next recommendation I make. Not the ones I was thinkiing of but here's a start: "Four of them are U.S. National Arboretum introductions: 'Diana' (white), 'Aphrodite' (pink with a red eye), 'Minerva' (pale lavender) and 'Helena' (white with a red eye). You might also run across a new Proven Winners variety called 'Sugar Tip,' which is pale pink with variegated leaves. That one doesn't produce seed." and "Blue Satin" (from Mobot), there is also Rose, Azure, Culture "Easily grown in average, medium moisture, well-drained soils in full sun to part shade. Best flowering occurs in full sun. Prefers moist, organically rich soils, but tolerates poor soils and some drought. Very tolerant of summer heat and humidity. Generally tolerant of urban conditions. Flowers appear on new growth, so plants may be pruned to shape in late winter to early spring. Pruning back to 2-3 buds may produce larger blooms. Easily propagated by stem cuttings. This is a sterile cultivar that does not produce viable seed."

WEDDING BELLSSSSSSS! (Imaging that sung out like a happy and fat opera singer). I love love love this rose and I know you will to. I think it may be the perfect rose. I told Chris from New Flora that it should be added to the Sunbelt collection along with Beverly since both performed so well for me here in South Florida, but I'm sure there is more to it than just Florida heat. My Savannah is still small and has only bloomed twice. Its not in the most perfect location. Right now it doesn't get much sun and will only start getting ideal sun once it grows a little taller. It had pretty good disease resistance however and the bloom is very pretty. Its only been in the ground a couple of months though. I love Plum Perfect. Cream Veranda is also a wonderful rose you may want to try. It stays very compact and the blooms are quite large considering the plant stays so small. Solero Vigorosa is in the same boat as Cream Veranda. Its not quite as disease resistant, but its not bad and it too has large blooms in comparison to its size. I really like Roxy vigorosa. Its pretty much a miniature though. But the little blooms look like miniature versions of Fallstaff or Rouge Royal blooms and its just too cute. It blooms a bunch. I also really like Lavendar Veranda. Its a little taller than Cream Veranda growing to about 2.5 feet and a very prolific bloomer. Not quite as deep in color as Plum Perfect. One that has not done well for me is Summer Romance. No blooms. None! Its been there for 2 years without a single bloom. Just lots and lots and lots of healthy foliage. Another one that's still up in the air is Raspberry Vigorosa. Its extremely resistant to disease and has bloomed some. But so far its much more plant than flower. I havent given up on it yet though because its only been in the garden about 6 months. One that puzzles me is Earth Angel. Its first few months it gave me about 6 gorgeous blooms that were to die for. Then it stopped blooming and had just shot out new shoot after shoot after shoot. I've never seen such a vigorous rose. Its the bushiest thing ever, but no buds. Its not tall per say, just really really bushy. Its about 2x2. I cut it back about 2 months ago, hoping to git it to bloom but I think I just angered it because it shot out 7 (count em, 7!) new basal canes after i pruned it, and still no buds. Again, I'm not giving up on it, because it was just a little one gallon thing when I planted it last fall but if it sends out any more shoots, I don't know where its gonna put them. Its so friggin' bushy! I'm so impressed with many of my new Kordes that I just put in an order for a bunch more. I'm getting: Florentina, Jasmina, Honeymoon, (all climbers) from Edmunds. Then, Lemon Fizz Kolorscape, Rose of hope, Dark Desire, Soul Sister and Poseidon.

Except I'm not sure freezing to the ground can truthfully be said to = "I'm happy here!" David Crompton, Ornamental Bamboos (2006, Timber Press, Portland): Originally thought to be tender, it has proved to be surprisingly cold-tolerant. Hardiness -10 C to -20 C (14 F to -4 F)