ooooh yes, Marianne, anyone could make room for an auricula, even the common old border ones. Sympathies, though, I know how hard it is to feel responsible for someone else's treasures. But hey, you must have given lots of stuff away - I know I have....and always, in my mind, is a clear hope that my enjoyment gets shared - absolutely not a test of someone's gardening skills. I shouldn't be speaking for your friend but even so, I would be really surprised if he was likely to come back and check - not least because you are so obviously a good and conscientious gardener. How long have you had the martagons? It is my understanding that they can take at least a couple of seasons before they bother to send out a flowering stem as they have a protracted sulk at being disturbed. Be kind to yourself, Marianne, and give the lilies more time too. If not an auricula, get him some trillium seeds, that should keep him on his toes.

Thank you for your response hoovb, yes I went and checked and it does have a typical 'rose' fragrance; subtle but not strong. I'm not good at comparing and isolating scents but I can say it is not of the David Austin 'Tea' variety; typical, delicate, rose 'nose', I'd describe it. As for repeat flowering capability: I really don't know yet as this is its first season, but as the flowers seem to be developing in cluster formation, I suspect it's a once a year spring-time showoff. By the way, I've had a good browse through Botanica's Pocket Roses book and so far (there's thousands of roses in that) have not located it. Regards Bill

You could well be correct Nadia. 90 cms does not make a weeper. If you want a feature, get a Std.Seduction, but don't let anything grow taller, else it will no longer be a feature. Go to 1.2M Iceberg for a good result. Weepers were meant to be on 1.8M understock. GENUINE weepers will grow maybe 30 cms higher than that, and trail long tendrils to the ground. The Wichuriana hybrids were used for this purpose, not repeat bloomers. The demand for repeat bloomers has caused some growers to put what are really shrubs on 1.5/1.8M stock. In the case of Iceberg, these end up looking like pins. Extending to the likes of Sea Foam, Crepuscule, is a partial remedy, but these are really shrubs, so what I have described as the "weeping" effect is lost. These cultivars want to grow up, not hang down. They are not as naturally lax as the Wichurianas. It's a bit like calling the procumbent shrubs "groundcovers". For genuine groundcovers, we need again the Wichurianas. Renae makes a good groundcover as does any rambling rose, such as Immensee, Weisse Immensee, Repandia, Heidekonigen, otherwise known as Partridge, Grouse, Pheasaant, and some forgotten name of a game bird. I have tried Heideschnee and Heidesommer on standard. Not vigorous enough. Don't know Diamant. I regularly use Hybrid Musks on 1.5M sticks. Kathleen, Cornelia, Penelope, Buff Beauty. Still not weepers, but fragrant reliable repeaters. Renae makes a good weeper on 1.5M stocks. A problem for the public is that they see what is being mass produced and sold in the market place. Roses that sell themselves, like Iceberg, and Crepuscule. I never try and match these growers. With a little imagination, and dare I say experience, one can offer excellent alternatives, if the public only see our list. Hard to compete with the price-takers and the mass exposure of the chains. But we get by on quality and innovation.

Thanks Chas, I suspect it's more an old variety than a new one. It has a scent, which I'd describe, I think, as slightly 'fruity' but whether or not it is a repeat flowerer I'll just have to wait and see. It growing in with the deep blue clematis 'Polish Spirit' and if they do put out flowers at the same time, i think it'll be a nice show. It is now bearing heaps of buds. Bill