Hi Bart Having asked similar questions myself (Darlow's Enigma.....want, want) I think there are ways and means. The most fruitful source is, I think, through Bierkreek nurseries (Gods, hope I am not pre-empting Kim Rupert here) as they have an informal relationship through Kim who sends budwood over to Hans at Bierkreek. Try them - they are lovely and helpful (and have got Darlows on hold for me, yay)It may take a little time as they will want to build up nursery stocks but I think this is a good source for certain roses from across the pond. Kim (Roseseek) may well weigh in with more suggestions - Rose people are nothing if not generous with time and advice, I find. Cheers, Suzy

Aw, thanks, you guys. The weather here has really been cooperative. This has convinced me to get more roses, which means a five-year heat spell and drought is in order. Pippi, the peachy-apricot flowers are nasturtiums, either Apricot Trifle or Creamsicle. The pinkish flowers in the second to the last photo are Martha Washington pelargoniums in a barrel. Jenn, the chartreuse plant behind Cajun Rhythm is Golden Feverfew. Easy to grow from seed. I am not sure how tall it gets, but it's scaring me already. It gets little white daisy flowers. I am so pleased with the Showbiz bed- it's the first time I ever had an idea that worked out right, where the plants bloomed together and were the right height. And I'm so glad they didn't die when the irrigation system broke last year and I didn't notice for two months! Renee

My Climbing Pinkies are pretty healthy. I can't guarantee that they never get BS, but they certainly don't have major issues with it. But then, my standards are probably low as far as BS is concerned (I don't spray either) so you might want to wait and hear from others.

Well, all I can say is that my oldest Cl. Pinkie I have had since at least 2012, and we have certainly had some hard winters. So I would (cautiously, because of course you never know) say that Cl. Pinkie is safe in zone 6, once established. Renae, on the other hand, did die, although she made it through several winters just fine. It was this past winter that she didn't survive, and I don't think it was particularly harsh, though it was quite wet. So who knows. Vaporvac, the longest canes on my Cl. Pinkie are probably about 10 feet. I had a previous Cl. Pinkie, that I sadly lost to rrd, that was probably 13 feet. I also have another, younger Cl. Pinkie that's still only about 6 ft. As to how I protect: for those first 2 winters, I use my leaf bag trick. Get one of those big paper leaf bags (available at THD, or even your grocery store). Cut out the bottom, so you have a long paper tube open on both ends. Slide the tube over the rose. Drive a few stakes through the base of the bag to attach it to the ground, and tie it around the rose with twine, all to keep it from blowing away. That's it. It protects the bottom of the rose, allows in light, air, and water, and even if you lose the exposed tops of the canes, the bases are ok. You can fill the bag in with straw or leaves if you like, though I'm not sure how important that is. I remember Paul Zimmerman saying that the real winter danger is cold winds drying out the canes, and the bag protects them from this.