I grow many of the older Austins. In fact, I find myself to have an affinity with, if not a prefernce for some of the earlier English roses. My rose garden is just starting to bloom in the past two days. Many of the earliest blooming roses are the older English roses. The reds seem to be all opening, including; The Squire, Prospero, Wenlock, William Shakespear (Original) and William Shakespear 2000. Here are some images of some of the older English roses I grow and love: [IMG]http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa146/rideauroselad/Roses07/DSCF0031.jpg[/IMG] English Garden is vigorous healthy and has good rebloom in my garden. [IMG]http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa146/rideauroselad/Roses07/DSCF0030-2.jpg[/IMG] A close up of a bloom of English Garden. [IMG]http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa146/rideauroselad/Roses07/P6160049.jpg[/IMG] Pegasus is gorgeous, fragrant, healthy and prolific in my garden. My two plants are covered in buds and opening now. Less of an old rose character and more musk like though with large blooms. [IMG]http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa146/rideauroselad/Roses07/SUMMER015.jpg[/IMG] The Squire, a bit fussy, I grow him in a pot. But when he blooms, he's worth the trouble, 5 inch dark crimson blooms that take your breath away. [IMG]http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa146/rideauroselad/Roses07/P6160050.jpg[/IMG] The Pilgrim, powerful Tea Rose fragrance, intricate old fashioned flowers, the most gorgeous yellow flowers and healthy to boot. There are more, but one mustn't go on too long. Cheers, Rideau Rose Lad

Hi Kris: Thank you for the info., I agree with you on giving what the plants actually need, rather than what we think the plants need. My minor in college was chemistry ... I took both biochemistry and microbiology, so I lean toward understanding what the plants need, rather than just the soil test alone. My soil test recommends HIGH addition of Phosphorus, then calcium, and last potassium. I used to pay attention to that, now I ignore it. There's a process called "Acid phosphatase" that cluster roots perform. Some roots are better in secreting acids to release phosphorus tie-up in soil. A good example is Dr. Huey ... he can dig through my rock-hard limestone clay better than my shovel. At first I poured vinegar to soften my clay ... Now I use gypsum (17% sulfur) to soften the bottom of the hole. Some roots don't secret much acid. Jude the Obscure as own-root is very wimpy, can't extract nutrients. I have to spoon-feed that one with soluble phosphorus, before it blooms. Folks complain that Jude gives 2 blooms for the 1st year. My answer is it depends on the root system. Dr. Huey can handle soil pH 8 very well ... my neighbor have roses grafted on Dr. Huey that bloom like crazy, zero diseases in alkaline soil. Multiflora own-root HATES my alkaline soil ... I have to make my soil acidic. French Romantica roses, bred in more alkaline France, LOVE my clay soil. Austin roses, bred in acidic & rainy climate bloom only in my rainy season ... pH of rain is 5.6, versus my pH 8 tap water. I lean toward SOLUBLE phosphorus from organics, rather than bring my pH 7.7 down. When I bring my soil pH down, more fungal germination, to be splashed up to leaves. I induced mildew one year with acidic NPK 10-5-4 fertilizer. I induced black spots many times with: cocoa mulch (pH 5.6), alfalfa meal (pH 5.8), gypsum (17% sulfur), rotten tomatoes, and acidic leaves (pH 5 to 7). As the pH becomes acidic, less earthworms, and less beneficial bacteria. Less beneficial bacteria means less nitrogen-fixation, and more fungi. Both mycorrhyzal types, endo- and ecto needs pH below 7. Pathogenic fungi thrives when the pH neutral to slightly acidic. At pH 4, all microbial activities lessen. Keep surface dry and alkaline is the key to combat fungal diseases. Baking soda pH is 8.3, my soil pH is 7.7 ... both are very good in suppressing fungi. Here is a link that might be useful: Wikipedia on Acid Phosphatase of cluster roots This post was edited by Strawberryhill on Tue, Jan 21, 14 at 0:05

Racy exercise clips from guru Denise Austin become a YouTube sensation. 'Austin says she's not aware she's become the object of so much perversion. "Now I'm worried!" she says with a giggle. "I went to YouTube to see that autistic kid playing basketball in New York. That was wonderful. But that's about it."' "Stretch Comedy: Exercise guru gets indecent exposure.," Dave McKenna, Washington City Paper, April 20, 2007 Link: http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/articles/1275/stretch-comedy "YouTube Workout Videos, Is it Porn?," Emily McCombs, Asylum.com, July 29, 2008 Link: http://www.asylum.com/2008/07/29/youtube-workout-videos-is-it-porn/ "The Denise Austin Phenomenon," Allen, Laguna Beach Bikini, April 12, 2010 Link: http://www.lagunabeachbikini.com/index.php/2010/04/12/denise-austin-phenomenon/ "Denise Austin Soft Porn Queen Video," jus1gear, eBaum's World, September 6, 2010 Link: http://www.ebaumsworld.com/video/watch/81090512/ "Denise Austin in cameltoe action!," Girls Camel Toe, Thursday, March 29, 2007 Link: http://girlcameltoe.net/239/denise-austin-in-cameltoe-action.html "Denise Austin cameltoe - Acquarium Show," Girls Camel Toe, Thursday December 13, 2007 Link: http://girlcameltoe.net/942/denise-austin-cameltoe-acquarium-show.html Here is a link that might be useful: Stretch Comedy: Exercise guru gets indecent exposure. - Washington City Paper

You've probably already made up your mind, but I thought I'd share my pictures of Claire Austin. She starts off with pale lemon buds which open up to the most beautiful creamy white blooms. I only half agree with other posters when they say CA shatters too easily....her blooms can last on the plant for about 5ish days. As the blooms get older, more than a week, they'll shatter in a stiff wind but quite frankly the white petals strewn across my balcony look rather beautiful and romantic and she always has new blooms and buds waiting in the wings. At the moment, CA is still very young and tends to "nod" but I've seen photos of more mature CA shrubs with blooms that are upright. She'll get better every year :) She's currently in a container next to Munstead Wood. But I also have Lichfield Angel and Olivia Rose Austin in pots...they're new. No blooms to compare right now but when they do, I'd be happy to update you.