A VERY SPECIAL "THANK YOU" to all the forum members who helped me so much; I have gone completely out of my mind and will have a boatload of roses to plant this year. My new FINAL final list is as follows: Ducher Lyda Rose Gruss an Aachen Moonlight Clytemnestra Mystic Beauty Abraham Darby Mons. Tillier Robin Hood Baron Prevost Mrs. Dudley Cross Eutin Duchesse de Brabant SDLM Lovers Delite Frances Dubreiul Cornelia Buff Beauty Versigny Generosa Westerland Comtesse du Cayla G. Nabonnand and Nur Mahal are out of stock, but will be sent in the fall. Climbing Pinkie, MAC, Perle d'Or and Marie Daly have been in the ground for four years and are all thriving. It looks like I may finally have some roses in my garden! Thank you all again - you are wonderful.

'Henry Kelsey' has been a tough and reliable rose for me for the last 15 years in zone 4. I have two of them. One is on a south wall and easily romps with stiff upright canes to 10' and more, blooming several times throughout the summer with vivid red flowers on huge sprays of over a couple dozen flowers each. The second plant of 'Henry Kelsey' is on a pasture fence where it is subject to all the vagaries of the elements and browsing animals with which nature can assault it. It maintains a height of about 5' in a stiff and upright bush. There are several more cold hardy roses that I grow, but none has been subject to the test of time that 'Henry Kelsey' has. These other cold hardy red roses to consider are: 'Geschwind's Schonste,' 'Quadra,' 'Ramblin' Red,' and 'John Franklin.'

Connie, I think the fact that the yellow one is non fading is a very important trait. Most yellows fade to an off white. Non fading is recessive to fading. I almost bought a Julia Child until I wondered what the white roe next to it was and it was another JC with an old bloom that had faded to white. Needless to say I didn't buy it. That is my only complaint about Ghislaine de Feligonde; the beautiful apricot buds and flowers quickly fade to white. I realized some like this feature but its not for me. Keep up with the seedlings! You are doing great. Jim

A pH value of 5.0-5.5 is suitable for most violas. Your light conditions sounds a bit dark as although violas are better than most, it is not exactly a 'shade' shade plant.. at least not in our zone6. Most violas need a cool period to induce flowering, but I have had no problems germinating the seeds (stratification not required). I know a lot of references state so, but I have not found it necerssary (percentage 65-70%). Also, darkness is often said to be required which I have also not found to be necerssary. In fact I usually get better results germinated as surface sown with full light 24/7.