I was also looking for SUMMER SONG last year. I was surprised that it was not in the Austin catalogue given its release date in the UK and was only available in North America through Pickering and Palantine. Pickering and Palantine had both sold out early. I tried to ordred this rose from Pickering on the first day they were taking orders and was told that they could not sell it to those in the US. I called the Austin headquarters in Tyler, TX and was told that this rose does NOT perform well in the US and that they had made the business decision NOT to introduce it here. I found this very odd and disppointing. I am aware that a few decades ago, they almost discarded some of the earlier Austin varieties (Tamora comes to mind) because they did not perform well in the UK and perhaps other European trial locations. Fortunately, they were planted at the Huntington Library gardens in southern CA, where they performed very well and these varieties are now available to us to grow. I was able to obtain a SUMMER SONG plant from someone in the midwest who had ordered it from one of the Canadian suppliers. It is now planted in my garden and it is already starting to show signs of growth. I am glad to hear that it is doing well for you, Beth. I am very much looking forward to seeing how it does well in central CA.

Please use latest list, Thank you, Ron

Please use latest post, Thank you. Ron S

Please use latest post. Ron