I've grown two of the Vigorosa series from Kordes, Innocencia and Emely. Both were short, very disease resistant and bloomed a great deal. This was in the southeastern US - it's rated to 6b by default on hmf, but may well withstand colder temps, being Kordes. Emely is one, I think that Pickering is phasing out, but I think it's still available from there. I grow Kordes' Cream Veranda and have found it to be very bs and mildew resistant here; very pretty bloom. hmf rates it to 6b but I notice that Celeste in New Hampshire grows it. New to me this summer, but I really like Tantau's Sweet Haze, which has a very pretty single pinkish bloom; Heirloom rates it to zone 5. I think hmf zone rating is in error, 8 to 9. What colors are you wanting?

Funny, but I think I can smell it just by looking at your photo! Beautiful. I have never grown it, but I do have one once blooming rose, Canary Island. which is very well scented also and never ever gets a spot of any kind of disease on the foliage. It's been said that once bloomers are more healthy foliage wise. Yes, worth the wait. Thank you for the photo.

Oh I just love your Beary Berry Iris!!!! I would buy that in an instant if I could find it and if it grew here. What a stunner!!! Shockwave is such an intense yellow!!! Love it!! Shadow Dancer is so unique for a striped. Lovely!! Perfume Tiger reminds me of my Julio Iglesias - same shade of pink. Again, lovely!! :) I love Smokin Hot - I've come to realize that I really like the lighter reverse roses. Brooks Red is my fav of your roses!!! Oh my!!! The color is similar to Chicago Peace. Oh my!!! Carol

Henry, A dead rat looks realistic for the condition it is in, too. Many of the Earth-Kind roses are, and this is my OPINION only (please don't beat me over the head with a rose cane as Chris, from New Flora, likes to do when I express my opinion/personal experience), not very disease resistant, and certainly not in the least winter hardy in Portland, Maine. Any novice rose gardener would know about winter hardiness, especially in Portland, ME. Where is/was the local ARS Chapter/ Rose Club to help out? Who ever was in charge of the whole idea of devoting an entire public rose garden, capable of holding 600 roses, to a years long test of just 61 bushes (3 each of 21 Earth-Kind varieties), did not make a wise move. Test the E-K roses in a secluded spot, and plant annuals in the rose beds for the duration of the test. At least the public will have something beautiful to stroll through. The Karl Switzer Rose Circle, I am certain, used to be a magnificent sight. Now look at it, pitiful. I think it has fallen victim to one or all of the following: political correctness, green-earthers, decision by committee, or the creeping laziness many Americans are exhibiting more and more. Expecting even tough roses to thrive and flourish with no: dead heading, annual pruning, watering, fertilizing, etc., is a Utopian's dream, not reality. When you give little, get get little. I am approaching the Karl Switzer Rose Circle from the standpoint of a visitor to the garden today. I am willing to bet that 99 visitors out of 100 visitors to the garden would call it, "dismal," too. The one visitor who would have no negative comment to voice would be someone's Poodle, on a leash, of course. Moses