I ordered three GCs a couple weeks ago and can't wait to get them in the ground. I've been growing a few other Austins here in Michigan. Jude the Obscure, Pat Austin, Bishop's Castle, and William Shakespeare 2000. I'm quite a novice, but have had success in Michigan planting bare root with either Austin's Rootgrow that contains mycorrhizal fungi or Espoma's Bio-tone® Starter Plus which is an all natural plant food enhanced with biostimulants, beneficial bacteria and mycorrhizae. These must be in direct contact with the root to maximize effectiveness at planting. So planting bare root is a great way to go when using this approach. The theory is the fungi tap back into the soil to draw massive quantities of minerals and nutrients, mainly phosphorus, which a Rose desperately requires to bloom. I follow a regular schedule of Bayer All-in-One (3x per season), Rose Tone(3x per season), and Alaska® Fish Emulsion(4x per year). I know I contradict my otherwise organic approach by using the All-in-One, but I'm not a sprayer kind of guy. Someone told me that the Mycorrhizae improve plant growth and help the root system be more resistant to soil borne diseases. The roots give the Mycorrhizae sugars in exchange. They supposedly help improve performance for less-than-perfect soil, watering, and fertilizing. Again, I'm a novice. Very much so, but so far, this has worked for me.

This has got to be one of the weirdest posts I've ever read! Why would anyone in their right mind, offer a good price for a machine that isn't running? Especially for the 700 series, since they're really not worth that much to begin with, expecially a broken one. They have plastic parts, which is most of the problem. I'd probably recommend to sell it for parts.

I'm not sure what you've been reading but most sources state that it is exceptionally fragrant with a perfume that is a mix of tea rose and fruits like citrus, strawberry and lychee. Other sites call the fragrance "magnificent".

I loved my St Tropez when I first got it but no-- it rarely blooms. I have moved in ground it three times with no luck,  and I think I'm going to put it in a pot this winter to see if that helps Diane: Yes it has always puzzled me why your Julia Childs are always so beautiful and Sacramento's  always look so awful. But every time I go to the nursery in summer I make sure to take a picture of their Julia Child's to remind myself it's not just me! Carla in Sac