I have 2 CFT roses planted in pots and both of them turned out to be a climber. I've got them last year in June as barerooted, and now they've reached the height of our french doors. I'm thinking of getting rid of them. Don't get me wrong, the flowers do look pretty and the leaves are healthy, leathery and dark green - but I just couldn't smell anything. Well, the scent is very mild apple - nothing exciting to rave about. Secondly, the thorns are sharp, and I keep getting several scratches on my hands and face. Maybe if I have a large backyard I might keep both of them...see how it goes. Perhaps I'll give them another year.

If you google the Kordes Roses of Germany (you can choose an english version of their brochure) you will find great information about the newer roses. They rate most of the roses with a 4 star system for resistance to powdery mildew & downy mildew, and separately for blackspot. Also, they use a variety of bs strains to test their roses, so you are more likely to find it actually is resistant to your local strain. The fairytale roses are based on the same sort of breeding new-with-old-roses to produce more of an old type blossom and bushier plant that David Austin has done in England. So sizes vary. The brochure does list most of the Fairy Tale roses as floribundas. Kordes have breeding programs for cutting roses, disease resistant climbing roses, landscape roses and container roses as well as hybrid teas and shrubs, but all newer roses have a primary emphasis on disease resistance because of the new no-spray program of the nursery.

Susan, whack the rogue canes back to 3". You can let them bloom first or not. Then the cane makes 2 or 3 laterals; cut these back to 2 or 3 leaves each and you get more branches. Etc. Or, if the canes are flexible and 4-7' long, bend the cane in a hoop and tie it to its own base ("self-pegging"). It will make 3 or 4 laterals at the top of the arch. You can cut off the outer/downward section later if you want. Or, something that works with some varieties not others is to pinch out the growth tips of strong basals when they are about 14" long. Be sure you get the fleshy growth tip, not just leaves. Some roses will branch in response, others will make just one shoot and keep going up. Most shrub roses have an awkward adolescence. You have to be patient and work with them for a few years, just as you know your daughter won't be 13 forever.

Mama G, I noticed the blue bottles first thing. Also the plate rack cabinet which is different from most I've seen. I want one row for 11 inch plates vertical, one row for small plates, and then what is left over, maybe have that flat storage shelf at the bottom. I want to put my white stuff in those, and the colorful dishes in the glass door cabs in the dining room. Where there are open shelves, you need to use things frequently to keep dust to a minimum, or wash those items regularly anyway. Behind glass doors, displayed pretty dishes stay cleaner. I have my DH's family china he saved from his mama's house, something like American Limoge, creamy white with a gold band. I have a set of Sakura jungle animals and parrots that I'd like to keep visible but safe too. The cups and dessert plates have a gorgeous design. Has anyone heard from Springfield recently?