Judith - I think Louise Odier would be a wonderful rose to have. As to your Therese Bugnet (Boonyea)(which is actually hybridized from around Edmonton where I am) - I had it while I lived in Fort McMurray and the flowers were blown away by the wind every time they bloomed. Granted we had stiff winds, but I cringe at the thought of getting it again, even though the smell is like heaven!! Do you have the same problem with wind and TB's flowers?? Donna - looking forward to pictures!!! Yes, I would definitely get Gilda if I see it here! Carol

Kuzariprincess - I just LOVE L.D. Braithwaite. What sumptuous roses!! Divine!! My 4 year old plant is about 2 feet X 2 feet and will grow taller. There are lots of buds on it! Souvenir de la Malmaison overwintered in your garden? Great!! I bought it this year. Really weird that it survived and your Morden didn't! Shazam - 50 buds!!! Wow!! I bought Bonica my first year growing roses and it died overwinter. I'm reluctant to try it again. Although it SHOULD survive winter here. Maybe I just didn't know what I was doing that first year. Janet - I wish we were at the "just enjoy it stage." We still have SOOOO much work to do. Oh well, it's fun! Well - BLANC DOUBLE de COUBERT won my first rose race!!!! Followed the next day by J.P. Connell!!! They both have around 50 buds each. Roses rule!! Carol

It's lovely, dog. But I'm a real sucker for yellow roses! Kate

Thank you for your replies Moses and Diane, Out here the humidity is around 60-80% at this time of year. I have been watering normally, which is about once a week these days, unless it rains, which still does happen occasionally in March. I've been fertilizing regularly and the foliage is perfectly healthy now except for the usual wind damage. I'm not seeing any signs of deficiencies. I threw out the split blooms in the pictures right after I deadheaded them, and now I wish I had examined them better before throwing them out. In the first pic, there seems to be some kind of green growth happening inside the bud.  I am wondering if perhaps a combination of balling and proliferation could be the cause: if the flower doesn't open while a vegetative growth starts inside, might the internal pressure cause the bud to burst open? If more split I will be sure to carry out a proper "autopsy".