Gotcha, Mad gallica, on the shrubby thing. I don't want shrubby. The area is about a ten foot privacy wall between our driveway and our neighbor's property. There is only about two feet of clearance between the fence and the driveway, so shrubby definitely won't do it. At our old home I grew several of the David Austin roses with great success. I remember one of them, Abraham Darby--that is the type of graceful, arching aspect I am thinking of. Canes would get to be about 7-8 feet long, as I recall. I remember severely pruning it at the end of the season and then mounding some hay over it--i.e., no dramatic protection--and each year it bloomed just as beautifully. That is kind of what I am thinking of. I am also beginning to think that I am going to have to deal with mulch if I want to grow something really beautiful. Also--just for my own understanding: Climbers don't necessarily have to grow on old wood, correct? If I don't need to preserve the canes, then I could use any long-caned rose in that location, right? That's kind of where I am leaning. Sorry for all of the questions. Thank you again! philosopher

Based on what I've read about Austin's here I have to say that perhaps they grow best in England? I saw a garden there recently of almost all Austins and Port Sunlight blew my socks off. It was a "must order". They other thing I noticed was that they were growing, as Austin suggests, in groups of three. Makes a big difference is size of bush--but the blooms were HUGE. Maybe they don't like the heat? I don't have my catalog handy but I know he makes recs for climate. Port Sunlight, Grace and Lady of Megginch were showstoppers. And Litchfield Angel was another stunner. I think they just grow slowly. My Jude has been around 3 years and he is still just waist high and starting to put out some big blooms. Like Jeri said, it takes time. Don't give up on these roses they are so pretty. I will post some pictures soon in the gallery. And I am generous with the water for the Austins...That seems to make a huge difference too. Susan

Some roses can take part shade, I have some that gets sun from 7-8 am to 2-3 in the afternoon.. but thats still direct sun.. You look like you have alot of shade there.. do you know the total amount of sun your roses are getting? Is it full shade there or dappled? This all can make a difference.. The shot you provided looks very shady, but it could be the time of day.. My advice is to get a chain saw =).. or grow more shade tolerant plants =).. With the amount of room you appear to have you could do both!!! Silverkelt

If you want bullet-proof disease resistance in a climber, the once-blooming ramblers are the best way to go. No repeat bloomer I have can compete with the number of flowers (and the fragrance!) that I get with Leontine Gervais, or Alberic Barbier, or Paul Transon ... I couldn't possibly forget Arcata Pink Globe (stunning!) ... I could go on and on. There are SOOO many to choose from. Since you want repeat, chemical-free maintenance, and Zone 6 hardiness, your choices diminish considerably. Let me suggest Climbing Pinkie as one alternative. In the garden here, the foliage has above average disease resistance, few thorns, lovely pink flowers in a huge spring flush, with scattered summer bloom and a moderate fall flush. Do not plant Zephirine Drouhin if you have any sort of blackspot pressure. She will be completely naked by July. Peggy Martin is another rose that I really like. My PM is 4 years old and I get a huge spring flush and, in the last two years, scattered flowers throughout most of the year. The foliage is very disease resistant. Peggy Martin and Climbing Pinkie want to make mounds, so growing them on a stone wall may be perfect. A more mannerly, stiff climber that hasn't been mentioned here, that may do well without fungicide, is Compassion. It was a star in my fall garden, with huge clusters of flowers and healthy, dark green leaves. I'm on the colder end of Zone 7a, and Compassion does well for me ... so does Parade, for that matter. One more suggestion that just came to mind is White Cap. Good disease resistance, beautiful white flowers, sweet scent, and not too rampant in its habit. It's a great rose. HTH, Connie