I saw that picture earlier on HMF (I enjoy looking at the new pics as they are posted!) and really like the rose. Was going to post a comment and ask where I could buy one. HP's tend to do well in my garden, and I have a whole slew of them from Eurodesert. Stephen's Big Purple has caught my attention before, so the pedigree piques my interest too. Sign me up for any trialling in California! Melissa

I have never grown a lilac or forsynthia myself. We do have lilacs on our property but they're about 12 feet tall and about that wide. I apologize if you feel that I'm unwarranted in worrying, but to each their own I guess. I understand that John Davis roses are extremely hardy, as I have read they are hardy to zone 2. But these are very small bands with very little root system. This is why I am concerned about them surviving the winter. When I said they were growing quite well, I probably should have given you more information. When I got these they were tiny, only had a few leaves, and a bloom on each. Now that I've seen some other bands, I realized that these were not very developed plants. I planted them directly into the ground. My dog trampled one of them and snapped the main cane clean off at the soil line, and a squirrel or some other critter dug both of them up. They went through a lot this summer and I realized that planting things directly into the ground at this size does not work well for me. After Max trampled one I put up the little mesh fence around them but something climbed in any way to dig them up. So when I said they were growing well, what I probably should have said is they look better now than they did when they arrived. They've put out new leaves and the one that was crushed by my dog has put out 3 tiny baby canes with lots of healthy leaves. For me, this was a success because I wasn't sure they'd grow at all since I heard not to expect ANY growth from them this year. I put them back in the band pots and fertilized them once a week and they've done wonderfully. Last weekend I transplanted them into big gallon pots and gave them some topsoil and mulch. I've been keeping them watered, and I the mulch has kept them from drying out. The patio they are on is shaded during the hotter parts of the day so I think that has helped them as well. They seem to be doing well in there so I'm not too worried about the extra attention it takes to grow them in pots. I understand if that's not everyone's cup of tea but I do not mind that at all. I'm more concerned w/ what will give me the best odds of overwintering them. I would rather spend more time keeping them alive in pots if that's going to be their best odds of surviving. I'd rather get these babies more developed before I plant them directly into the ground. Just trying to learn from my previous mistakes. I think I will try burying them in the pots as Seil suggested and hope that they make it through! Thank you all for your feedback! I appreciate the help.

Hi Everyone, I am looking for starting John Davis rose after I read how wonderful this rose does, and that too in northern winters. Is anyone interested in setting up a trade with me for this rose ? I have champlain, scarlet meidiland, red eden, charles albanel, and an OP seedling cutting of Ramblin' red I would love to have this John Davis rose. PLMK ! Thanks, Blossom

hi kylie, i'm new to the forum too, and live in WA. I have a small back yard and i try to sqeeze in as much roses as possible. Last year I bought some DA roses and now i'm hooked. I bought Graham thomas, golden celebration and jubilee celebration. My first two roses are doing wonderful but the last one is a bit slow in catching up may be because i planted in a bit of shade. This year i bought more DA rose here in perth from DAwson's garden world, they are Abraham Darby, Sarifa Asma,pat austin and falstaff. But they did not have two of my favourites, crown princess margareta and a shropshire lad. I haven't seen them in perth at all and i don't know wether the climate here will suit them. Sorry i haven't been answering your questions since i haven't bought anything from Treloar. But i'm sure you will love the DA roses they are very special. karima