There is a LOT of information left out in your description which is necessary to make any suggestions. How do they look "paltry"? Did the foliage on the plants begin to show diseases and fall early (summer)? I know the weather across much of Texas has been Hades on earth for the past few years and rain hasn't come in sufficient or even near normal quantities. Have you supplied enough water to supplement the lack of rainfall? Are the plants growing near walls, patios, concrete side walks or a drive way where they will receive a lot of reflected, radiated heat? Might you be able to photograph them to show the conditions in which they grow and what they look like? They could be severely water stressed. They could be severely heat stressed. They could have been accidentally exposed to chemicals like weed killers. You could have insect issues which are causing them to suffer to the point of looking awful. They could be suffering from disease issues which also could cause the problems. It's also possible someone has damaged them with a string trimmer while edging the garden. Hopefully, photos will help. Kim

I am located in the Kansas City, MO area, not exactly California. I have grown Kordes' Brilliant in the Pacific Northwest and here in the midwest. It gets about 4 - 5 feet tall, has reasonably good disease resistance, but does benefit from a regular spray program. It is one of my first to flower and last to quit. Its growth habit is straight up, almost cylindrical, but spreading a bit. Its flowering habit is what you would expect as a grandiflora which would be a good class for this rose, but that class is not used in Europe. It blooms singly and in trusses as shown. The color in the photograph is quite close to real and is quite stable from beginning to end and through cool and heat. It does not have much of a problem with our winters here either with the multiple freeze-thaw cycles. It is fairly sturdy. It is one of the few that I have more than one of in the garden. It is available from Hortico and Vintage Gardens. I would put it as one of my better oranges.

Hi Jackie, Well, it's a Watsonia. Cal-IPC list one invasive species with orange flowers, Watsonia meriana (http://www.cal-ipc.org/ip/management/plant_profiles/Watsonia_meriana.php), the bulbil watsonia, which spreads by bulbils (tiny bulbs) produced on the inflorescence. But, I don't see bulbils (yet!) in your photos There is also Watsonia fulgens which makes it onto other agencies' invasives lists and is one I have seen completely taking over abandoned yards. Probably like Croscosmia, Gladiolus, etc. -- produces tons of really tiny bulbs in the ground, are easily distributed around, and are the devil to get rid of. I take the siege warfare approach: dig out as much as I can, first pass, then persistently, immediately, and diligently (over many years....) remove new sprouters. And, heaven forbid, never let them go to seed.

I'm out early to knock the Japanese beetles into a Mason jar filled with soapy water. I repeat the hunt in late afternoon but at that time of day they seem to have faster reflexes and many escape.. Nothing but the best for my JB's; they get Ivory Liquid. Seems to work best if I just squirt enough to create a good layer on the surface of the water. I don't mix the soap in. Brittanys are SUCH cool dogs. Loved seeing the photos of yours. And you are off to a spectacular start with your roses. Your husband should be very impressed!