Hi Peggy I love hearing from a FL zone 10 rose grower! It sounds like you had the summer we did, like walking on the surface of the sun...and it continues, 94 yesterday and 93 for today...non-stop heat and still we have no rain. I am considering containers but am trying to figure whether it is worth the effort to do it and have the roses die due to lack of rainfall (as yours did) when we are on a long vacation. DH has gotten involved and we are considering having the well investigated for potential deepening. Cost is an issue. I am considering not using the irrigation at all and mulching heavily, using drought resistant florida natives for the bulk of the landscaping and keeping the roses that have survived thus far. My thinking, which may be wrong, is that the irrigation did more harm than help with it's high salt content. I think that most of my plants might have survived the drought but that the saline water hurt them at a time that there was no rainfall. The baby roses would have been goners no matter what (drought, salty irrigation). That's a lesson learned the hard way. Water conservation is an issue, as you know, in Florida and I heartily support less use on yards. My dilemma is how to make the changes and keep my roses, that I so much love. Thanks for your comments. The endeavor continues.... Denise

I doubt if you have killed them. The roses in front of my home were deer pruned for years before I bought my home. The previous owner was in her 90s and had stopped protecting them every night as she had done for years. It was a while before I could install deer fencing up to protect the plants. The deer pruned them any time they wanted. Now, that they are protected, all have come surging back and are over 6' tall. Smiles, Lyn

I like that. The garbo one took me over an hour though so I'm all tutted out for the day. Sue :)

I grew roses in Central and S.E. Fl. from the mid 1970's till I moved in 2008 to N.E. GA. I went through a LOT of roses during that time. 99% were on fortuniana root stock. I sprayed for fungus that entire time. To me a healthy rose is a happy rose. Anyway, some of the best all around roses I ever grew were; Europeana, Charisma, Hannah Gordon, Lady of the Dawn, Hot Cocoa, Souv. de la Malmaison, The Fl Cracker Rose, Don Jaun, Louise Estes, Mavrik, Elizabeth Taylor, Uncle Joe, Kentucky Derby, Moonstone, Just about all the Austin Roses and all the mini's I put in 7 1/2 gal nursery pots and sunk them in the ground. I know I'm leaving out some great older rose. Check with Nelson's Roses. They carry a great selection of roses that have done great in Fl over the years.