ROTFL!!! No, you do not have Autumn Damask. You have here a modern rose. I've found, when this happens, that the incorrect rose is often one that sits on propagation benches right up against the correct one. In this case, checking Rose Fire's alpha list, the rose right next to Autumn Damask would be 'Autumn Sunset.' Check the link below, and I think there's a probability that's what you have. A tall Shrub Rose int. in the 1980's, which looks quite interesting -- unless you were counting on Autumn Damask! Jeri Here is a link that might be useful: 'Autumn Sunset' at Rose Fire

NJmomma - I used my husband's camera, a Nikon D90 with a Nikon zoom lens to take the photos. His camera focuses better than mine, and the zoom lens lets me photograph the butterflies from some distance so I don't scare them away. Rita - The first butterfly, the Pipevine Swallowtail, is a pretty one. I've had three of them here all week. I was really delighted to get the Giant Swallowtail in flight. I was trying to get a photo of it sitting on that daisy when it took flight. Maryl - The Swallowtail family is my favorite group of butterflies. I think they are parsley eaters. I don't plant parsley or milkweed, but the butterfly bushes, pentas, lantanas and petunias seem to draw them here. Andrea - Is Zephyr's Song crying, or was that my tear because it was the last bloom? Really, that was a dew drop. We've been having heavy dew here this week. Debra

Hi Sophia, I can give little input on repetition. I don't pay attention to that here in non-winter land. Poor Abraham Darby got suckers from his Dr. Huey root stock after 4 yrs. and I thought they were the octopus canes I'd read about. By the time I figured it out they had taken over. I battle them every year (difficult access). Poor Abe is now only 3 feet high but in my climate grows easily to 6 feet +. Dr Huey is stealing nutrients and water. Large petal packed wafting uber fragrant blooms. Some blackspot in a non-spray garden. Evelyn is in the path of the wind. She has a lovely spring flush (no winds) and sporadic bloom thereafter (regular winds). No blackspot this year on either as yet. Disease wise I'd say they're equal here (very little). Evelyn's blooms are probably the same diameter as Abe's but not as deep. I keep her under 5 feet with pruning. A 7 ft. arching cane appeared after 6 or 8 years. Colors - Abe is usually a pink fully infused with peach-yellow-mango. Full bodied oomphy color. Lasts no more than 3 days in a bouquet. In Sept. mine changes to a warm medium pink, not as peachy as spring but never bluey-pink. A boring everyday color. In Nov. it is back to a prettier peachy pink. Evelyn, ah Evelyn. The pink dawn touched by sunlight? Not pink, not peach, but a sophisticated blend on gossamer satin petals. I think it is the delicate iridescence that captivates. If I could only have one rose bloom a year it would be her. So you see I am terribly prejudiced and pay little attention to the bush.

Pretty petals...500 roses! I have en entire back yard that doesn't have a single flower/shrub, etc., ..but I'm pacing myself. :-) Rose_crazy - the soil is all that but there are still chunks of that deep red sticky clay. I can't recall any place that has yellow roses down here....but I have seen other bush roses (nothing this pretty I don't think!) Let's hope they adapt and I can keep the happy! Diane...thank you! The yellow/purple combo has become my favorite and my son had no idea when he bought the Get Mees. He just knew I needed plants and his "new tradition" he said was going to be to buy perennials each year. (I like that tradition!) Your Get Mees look great. Sylvia - we'll have to swap notes as we go. When did you plant yours? How's she doing? Sheila-I hope you do, too! :-) I hope I do, too! Thanks for the welcome, all!