CI, TZ, SdlM all growing nicely now. I think this will be a good fragrance bed. I put Lion's rose in the back to add beauty and a good leafy background even though it isn't much on scent. I think if the base gets shaded by the others, it won't get disease. There's room to the right of Abe Darby for one more big rose. I think it's going to be Evelyn. Hopefully, it will work some magic for me. This is a good morning sun spot and gets shade in the hottest times of the day. My summer is a little hotter than Hoovb's but maybe it's close enough. I'm going to hope for the best. The only downside to this location is that it will take the full force of the Santa Ana wind from across the street. We are along the Santa Ana river channel and the wind blows strongly through the gap. It seems to be shifting later than Halloween now. I used to call it the Halloween Wind.

WOW!!! I have really injoyed this thread of all these beautiful roses.They are all so gorgeous,and I can't wait till spring flush time to see more.I was h oping some one would post a picture of Mon Cheri as I bought one a few weeks ago in a body bag and its growing gang busters at present and can't wait to see the first bloom.I am hoping it looks like the picture that was on the bag. Jean

I live in zone 5 a little west of Madison WI and have a "Blaze Improved" that has been in for over 8 years. I live in a valley so I get lots of wind and a little cooler climate than in town, my lilacs bloom 2 weeks after the ones there. I didn't do a very good job of taking care of Blaze (didn't prune, water regularly, or fertilize up till 2 years ago). The pictures below are from today, October 3rd, and it's still cranking out the 2.25" blooms on the 5-6 foot canes. It does get BS here but I don't care, this has got to be the bloomingist rose I have. The color is a true, rich, beautiful red that does not fade (picture color is pretty accurate). Little or no fragrance to me. I don't do anything special in the winter except dump a half bag of chip bark mulch on the base for winter and sometimes if I have extra oak leaves I use those instead. There is very little die back or pruning to do come spring. From what I've read, 'Blaze' is zone 6-10, blooms on old wood, and 'Blaze Improved' is zone 5-9 blooms on new and old wood, if that helps for pruning. Very consistent and dependable. This is a repost from the Blaze topic.

Your roses look great, Sara-Ann! Thanks for the cheer of your lovelies on a rainy late Winter day that has me itching for Spring. Agree more folks likely to see them here than the gallery. Couldn't hurt to double post there if you like. Longtime fan of America, too. Firefighter landed here last Summer as a band, sought for the positives you list & strong blackspot resistance in this no spray garden. Spent last season growing & branching out with foliage unmarred while I nipped the buds to encourage initial form. Thanks again for encouraging me to try this lovely rose!