>And I've heard that sometimes Ghislaine de Feligonde needs spraying in certain areas. But I still think it's really pretty. I still haven't ruled it out for another empty spot in the yard. Do you grow it? Is it doing well for you? Thanks Mary. I think it would be good for your other spot too. I've been growing it (still in its original pot) for the longest time... almost 2 months now. So I'm really an expert on that rose!!! :D But anyway, so far it's absolutely perfectly healthy in maybe four or four and a half hours of midday sun here on hold awaiting planting. Perfectly healthy, in spite of the times when I've watered too late and in spite of some bits of rainfall lasting off and on all night or most of the night (like last night). It's a vigorous grower (similar to Fortuniana here bought at the same time--both in 2-gallon pots) and needs to go into the ground, but I'm not planting any of the new ones in the new spot until I'm fairly certain that the spread of RRD among the pot ghetto of new roses has stopped... and unfortunately I'm not at all certain of that at this point. My book by Barbara Wilde speculates that more people would have heard of and tried this rose if it just had some more prosiac name like "Carefree Garland." Peter Beales says "I can't think of a good reason why this rose has not gained the popularity it deserves." Beales lists it as shade tolerant enough to be planted on a north wall or northerly aspect. For me, one of the attractions for this rose is its appeal as a shrub/climber in the landscape. Fragrant prolific blooms that are cuttable are a plus. As far as no-spray goes, I'd think that the most pertinent experience would be from someone in your own area who has tried it, even though I'm seeing writers from widely different areas who think it's strongly disease-resistant. I'd also think that if someone trying it does use chemicals on other nearby plants, that that practice might have an effect on the overall health of the healthy soil balance of micro organisms that the plant depends on to make its own disease-protection systems work. Judging from the information I've seen from Paul Zimmerman, a more pertinent question for local rosarians might be about the disease-resistant conditions of the plant in year three or four of growing in a no disease spray yard, not in year one. If plants are left alone in a no-spray yard to develop their own disease resistance, it might take 1-3 years to accomplish that. But by year four, if the grower isn't feeling comfortable that its looks/health are acceptable and an asset to the yard, then you might chalk it up to a rose that doesn't meet your standards for good disease resistance and not try it, or get rid of it if you've had it that long. That said, sometimes a rose is just so disease resistant that it seems healthy from day one in an organically oriented yard. Like Mortimer Sackler, this rose might be one of those kinds. Anyway, I'm thrilled to have a Ghislaine De Feligonde and if it goes to RRD, I'll for sure be ordering it again. Best wishes, Mary

Sharon: Thanks to your rose list, I remember how impressive that Easy Elegance which I bought at HomeDepot ... there was more blooms than leaves. The pot had large chunk composted pine-bark mixed with soil, well-drained. It also had Osmocote-like blue round tiny pellets mixed in. I suspect those blue-round-pellets have acid (sulfur) to neutralize alkaline tap. I once did a research on trace elements in chemical fertilizers, and Osmocote was the only one THAT DID NOT RESULT IN ANY NUTRIENT DEFICIENCY whatsoever. I didn't recommend Osmocote, since those brown granules didn't work on my herbs in pots. However, that type was discontinued, and there's improved formula in the Osmocote for flowers, NPK 14-14-14, it has a perfect rating on Amazon, can't find a negative review. I tested many chemicals vs. organics in pots. Organics work best for the ground, given microorganism and earthworms to break it down. Chemicals isn't best for clay soil, which retains salt well. Chemicals is instant-food, and work immediately in pots, or well-drained loamy soil. The danger of chemicals is salt-accumulation in pots, esp. with soluble fertilizer. After seeing those blue-round slow-released granules, and tons of blooms on Easy Elegance "Grandma's Blesisng" in a pot ... I'm sold on such, if I can find it. I'm going to test the perfect-rating Oscomote and compare that with organics for pots. I still remember how Sonia Rykiel gave me 15 blooms in a pot, fertilized with MG soluble, plus organics (alfalfa mixed in potting soil). The question is: Are oscomote pH-dependent? Does it require neutral tap, or acidic rain water to break down? The old brown Oscomote that was discontinued, it could not even dissolve in rain water !! I gave MG-soluble to Frederic Mistral in the ground, and he was still stingy. But when I brought the pH of my tap water down with sulfate of potash, plus trace elements in molasses, I got 40+ buds/blooms. My tap water is so alkaline, that MG soluble crystallized at the bottom ... It worked only when I put used lemon to help it dissolve. Below is Liv Tyler in my pH 7.7 clay, mulched with cocoa mulch at pH 5.4, plus horse manure (pH 8), and with rain water (pH 6):

Dingo , I love your photos ! The obelisk is perfect. What I like about this one is how it looks like ghislane de feligonde . But it's also a once bloomer so I'll have to pass . If this one repeated Iike a shrub I would jump on board for sure. Judith I'm glad yours is doing so well for you too !! It's one I haven't heard of so I'm glad to see photos

The rose sold as Sombreuil is hardy in my zone 5 and not particularly disease ridden with blackspot, but our pressures are not as bad as the east coast. You're close enough to our region in Indiana that I think the same would apply for you, and the extra zone will make a difference in it climbing. White Cap has been hardy but a very slow grower for me, and sadly White Dawn wasn't hardy. The Generous Gardener wants to climb but it's a blush more than white, and for me is mostly a once-bloomer. Crown Princess Margaretha is supposed to be fragrant and it's nothing but a climber with extremely long lanky thin canes. It is mostly white for me whatever color it's supposed to be. I agree that Darlow's Enigma is more of a freestanding shrub than climber, though it does get big. You could also try some hybrid Musks, since there are several of them that are mostly white. Cornelia is one that does pretty well for me, but there are a good dozen that will stretch out to climb better in zone 6. Cynthia