also have a sombreuil which isn't doing good at all...any one have any comments on it?? I just got it last year as well. *** You can't judge a climber on its performance in one year. Climbers require even longer to mature than bush roses do, and those should be given at least 3 years. Remember: "First they sleep. Then they creep. Then, they LEAP." With Climbers (yes, including Sombreuil -- which I have grown for decades) you should consider its performance after 2-3 more years. At present, your climbers are just beginning to put out significant roots, so that they can grow significant canes, so that they can bloom in quantity. Remove the possible QueenE (I agree with Paul on that completely). Then, I would look for something else for that spot. We love the Tea-Noisettes with a climbing habit. And Weeks has put out some nifty climbers. I wouldn't be without Fourth of July, or Berries and Cream. I personally badly crave 'Noëlla Nabonnand.' I also want 'White Maman Cochet.' But really, DON'T give up on a climber until it's had 3 years minimum. 4 is better. (Unless, of course, the bloom just makes you ill at first glance.) Then you should just shovel prune it, and not have to look at it again. :-) Jeri

If it's possible to propagate some of Frances Grate's Tea for Kippy to try, that would be the best thing, then she can how it does in her setting. I have a similar dilemma with Homere. I really don't like its little flowers and the way that they ball, but it's a gorgeous healthy plant and there are very few sources in the US. Take it out of my home garden or not? Every year, I consider doing it, and don't. The cemetery specializes in found roses, and I bought this from Paul Barden years ago. If it weren't a commercial rose, I'd dig it up, plant it in the cemetery and be glad that it's gone! (Peggy Martin said that she once saw a Homere that had huge flowers and she's coveted it ever since - mine are about the size of Mlle Cecile Brunner. Since Homere was another popular buttonhole rose, I think that my blooms are the right size...) Anita

For someone in zone 10, there probably is very little chance of mosaic type virus spread as the rose's immune system is effective at high temperatures. ----------------------------------------- Concerning Davis's indexed roses. Davis has recently published a paper where they announced that they found an aphid spread virus in their indexed rose plantings (see page 511): "In this test, RSDaV was detected in many different rose species and cultivars from the Foundation Rose Collection at FPS. In all, 129 plants in this collection were tested, and 77 were positive for RSDaV. Some of the hybrid rose cultivars tested positive for RSDaV included Queen Elizabeth, China Doll, Heirloom, Lowell Thomas, Jack Frost, New Dawn, Uncle Joe, Bridal White, Butterscotch, and Cynthia. It is interesting that the virus was detected in more than 69 plants in two rows (total number of plants in these rows was 89) of the collection which were planted in the mid 1990s. In all, 162 samples of R. multiflora from the virusindexing rose blocks also were assayed in the spring and RSDaV was found in 94 plants. The majority of RT-PCR-positive R. multiflora plants were symptomatic. Another 40 additional plants from the same virus-indexing blocks were tested in the summer and 6 were positive." Here is a link that might be useful: link for above.

I have a beautiful old fashioned rose bush that loves to sucker. I usually shovel prune. The bush is over 6' tall (I like to prune) and has clusters of small white flowers. They start out with a pinkish tinge, but once they're open, they're whiter, with a yellow center. Very fragrant. I'd be happy to let you have them, the only thing I'm worried about is getting them to you. Do you have any suggestions? The USPS has flat rate boxes for $8.95. I thought I might be able to use that. Let me know your thoughts.