'Pretty Jessica" is a really lovely rose, with a strong old-rose/damask scent. It starts small, and stays small...and because of that, it probably isn't great in an area with really cold winters, but here it seems fine, so far. I planted two bands of PJ straight into the ground last June, and they stayed there all winter, and while small, they are both putting out a great deal of new growth. ONE bloom in a vase perfumed an entire room of my house. If these two do well this summer, I'll probably get more. BTW...that photograph of 'Cressida' is swoon-making.

Melissa'a comment makes me wonder about a couple of things. First, about Alchymist. Is it considered an early, normal or late bloomer? And secondly, I'm sure that climate affects blooming period for once bloomers also, I'm just wondering to what extent. I live in a climate with much milder winters than N. Italy (much more different than the slight difference in latitude would explain) but with summers of more or less similar fierceness and I've seen Alchymist blooming in April / May without particular problems as the one's Melissa is describing. Maybe it is much more of an issue in a climate where the winter is harsher causing the plant to bloom later when the harsh Med summer has already arrived? Having said this, I'm sure that this particular rose can be a good candidate for a NE facing wall in a warm climate. Nik This post was edited by nikthegreek on Sat, Feb 15, 14 at 1:15

You and everyone else on the forum knows all about my structures and statues so I won't bore you with them too much. I do love arches and they don't have to be elaborate. Changing the elevation in a garden really makes it more satisfying and interesting. I love to create a vignette. Flora sits beneath her pergola/temple the vision of the goddess of flowers and the beds surround her in circles. It's just the way I look at things. I guess most of the statuary has a classical look that fits with what I consider a romantic garden. I would very much like to recreate that circle of arches that is in Mottisfont. We saw it this past June. There is no more room within the garden proper. We have a very ambitious plan of planting ramblers to tumble down a bank above the road to our water tank. There is a spot in that area where we could perhaps do it.

I know the landscaper who designed and installed Steve Job's Woodside, CA garden back in the mid-late '90s, and although I can't verify Steve Job's exact literal "favorite" rose, I do know that my friend Chip said he planted a large # of the beautiful Graham Thomas roses on his property. My friend (and former landscaping boss) Chip now lives in Scotland; but we still keep in touch, so I'll try to remember to ask him your question the next time I e-mail him. Here is a link that might be useful: Ken's Virtual Garden