Hi Jay -- Here's the reality . . . Gallicas, Damasks, Albas, Mosses . . . The lovely old Northern European roses . . . will not flourish along the Southern California coast. God knows, you can buy them and plant them, but they will not flourish. They will bloom sparingly for one year and less with each succeeding year, and the plants will dwindle. They will suffer from fungal disease. These roses were bred, and evolved, to enjoy a period of winter dormancy, and to pop up in the spring with a huge flush of bloom. Unless you can in some fashion simulate a cold, snowy winter in your garden, you won't do well. (If you would like to re-locate to property about 75 miles inland, now . . . ) One rose, absolutely correct for the period of significance you are aiming for is 'Autumn Damask.' It was the Roman's "Twice-Blooming Rose of Paestum." Roses that were bred to LOOK like the things you like . . . David Austin's Shrub Roses do this. Some do well in Southern California. Many do not. My garden is coastal, and I can give you the names of the Austin roses which have been successful here. The best roses for your location are those with a high level of Asian breeding -- roses that evolved for warm climates, and mild winters. They do not experience winter dormancy (and in fact may bloom most heartily in that season). They will become semi-dormant in a hot, dry season. I've never seen Angel Face really flourish here. I was really charmed a couple of weeks ago by this 'Burgundy Iceberg,' (photographed at a local Convalescent Home, where we were doing a Therapy Dog visit). It seems to be just as happy here as the original 'Iceberg.' If you want to contact me privately for coastal specifics, feel free. Jeri Jennings The Heritage Roses Group Coastal Ventura County, SoCal

Jeanne, Freckles and the other cirrhosas can get quite large. Mine has not however since I did not know whether it would be winter hardy here and therefore planted it in a pot and placed it against a south facing brick wall to serve as a heat sink for it. Works great in the cooler months but wreaks havoc in the summer. Sachow, don't worry about not being clear. I just wanted to make sure that I was understanding what you were trying to explain. As I said previously, I am no rose experts so didn't know about climbing roses and their pruning habits. In that venue, I am a newbie! :) As for Allanah, it is listed as a type II on COTW (linked below) and as a type II on Chalk Hill's website, and to be quite honest I have treated mine as a type III in my garden. In our zones, we could probably treat it as either and still not have an issue with it. As for your pillar, I think either Allanah or Solina would look great and contrast with the purple one you have already on it. Huldine would also contrast nicely with it so the choices are yours. As far as having a third one on the pillar, you are definitely talking to the wrong person since I tend to cram as many plants together as possible! Here is a picture of Allanah in my garden and the color in the picture is pretty true to its color. It is in a westerly exposure and doesn't seem to fade for me. I also have Solina but last year was its first summer in the garden so my experience with it and fading is limited. Here is a link that might be useful: Allanah

Lozza, wow, you make it sound so possible. I was thinking arches until I saw how effective that pillars could be, even on a small scale. Your garden sounds truly wonderful and yes I would love to see a pic. I kinda got lost with the imperial measurements, that's in feet I suspect. Now I've seen the rose pillars made out of metal that are readily available but they don't look sturdy and likely to snap at the solder points - what do you suggest as something to train them up and how sturdy does that need to be? I gather you hammered up your own, but I'm not talented in that department. I have seen the simple poles used. I'm thinking ready made.If any in Bris have read this perhaps they can indicate a supplier who makes something a little more sturdy. Darn, I'll just post the pic of what I thought was nice and perhaps with your knowledge you may be able to tell me how this was done. I'm glad you explained the pruning to me or I would have just struggled along. Is the training of the roses as complicated as getting them to train along a wall? I thought you would underplant them with groundcover roses...can I trouble you to also suggest an interplanting species? I'm thinking 1.5 m width beds by 5 m with 2 to 3 rose pillars. The vision is having this as a center bed with two sidelong beds of standards. Er yes, but I think I'll eventually get there...even if it takes a while.

The reason I have not used these is because 1. the one is gigantic and the 2. I have these all over the place. I grow roses and clematis on them. I'll just do as you suggest and find them a home. Maybe I need to dig those new gardens...