Well crap. The long season of inactivity is NOT going to be good for my finances. I got Evelyn, Grace, Margaret Merrill and The Shepardess.

I have or have grown all the ones on your list but Sigrid, so here's my two cents. My Whiz Bang is only in its second year but it looks like it's likely to be relatively hardy even if it doesn't climb. I haven't found its photos yet from last year, but I remember being pleasantly surprised for a rose I hadn't heard much about. That one has my vote, as does the exquisite At Last. I finally got that one this spring and it has already put out the most lovely apricot colored fluffy blooms. I can't vouch for its hardiness but its blooms are wonderful. Mystic Fairy hasn't survived in a normal zone 5 spot so I'm trying it again in a more protected spot. RCT in my experience needs the most protected spot I can give it in zone 5 and even then it doesn't climb, though the blooms are lovely. Therese Bugnet is ridiculously hardy and gets to the size of a small sapling with multiple fanned out canes but for me it's a once bloomer. It only just blooms enough to warrant keeping it from getting pruned back in spring but it isn't usually a profuse bloomer in the way once-bloomers like Veilchenblau are. If you need to fill some space with a trouble free rose this fits the bill, but I don't find it very impressive in the long run. I have Kiss me Kate and it has survived fine but not bloomed yet in its second year. Rachel at Palatine talked me out of that rose three years ago and into Firebird Citiscape instead (she was sooooo right - that is one fantastic rose). She said KmK droops its blooms and isn't very enthusiastic about them. So my recommendations for what to add to Lunar Mist (great rose) and RCT would be Whiz Bang and At Last. Just my two cents though Cynthia

Oursteelers, how I wish I'd seen this thread sooner! I would love to have met you there! So happy you found some goodies. There are always lots more than what's posted in the online catalog. So much from the catalog is sold out this time of year, but Carol continues to get roses in all summer and so worth while to see the display gardens - though they are probably between flushes, and all the perennials, annuals, veggies and herbs, shrubs, ornamental trees, ironwork, pottery, and meet the staff. Carol is an incredibly knowledgable rosarian and one of the kindest people I know. She makes everyone feel like family. You got home with some great roses! I hope your family was able to get out and stretch their legs and the little ones could run around and expend some energy. I'm going out there this week. Tomorrow, we're taking our family to the airport (boo hoo), then seeing the vet, so Northland has to wait until Wednesday. Pippa, your Sydonie is so beautiful and is great confirmation to oursteelers that she made a wonderful choice.

Dirt Digger - re Desdemona, just a note that the bare root that DA sells & the retail nurseries usually have is grafted. In order to get own root, you have to order the 2 quart pot from DA, but they are unfortunately sold out for spring. (They’ll probably have it available again for the fall 2 qt pot shipment, but since you‘re in zone 6, that might not work for you.) I bought a couple of the 2 quart own root Desdemonas last year, and they were healthy & look good & have put out new canes, but they definitely grow more slowly than grafted - I‘m in zone 9, and the plants are still relatively small.