along with an LSU purple and an LSU gold fig. If you want cuttings of my "New Dawn", "Gloire de Dijon", "Ballerina", or my various minis (or other stuff; some suitable for bonsai use) email me. You have to come n' get it, though (or else tempt me with a swap).

Carol- it smells just divine. I open the four windows of the living room and just breathe it in. Ingrid, I think it might be fortuniana but HMF says it is nearly thornless, and this little white rose is a terror. Thanks for your kind words. I wish my camera would do better. I'll try to get a photo of the banks roses down the street covering my neighbor's post fence. He has the prettiest house on the block, and the yard is filled with white banks and Iceberg roses. Renee

I am building a picket fence with a pegola over the gate, and of course I just have to complete it with a climbing rose. I am looking for one suitable for the Brisbane climate in mid to pale pink and thornless if possible. Any suggestions and any tips for growing in this climate would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you very much to all the responders to my questions :-))) My question really revolved around *making the roses resist diseases and pests* rather than actual treatments. That's my understanding of the philosophy behind "organic" gardening. I'm aware that everything is a chemical and it's not a term I use in the context that some people use "chemical" and "non-chemical" - as though something could be a "non-chemical"! It wouldn't be anything at all! Regardless, it was an interesting exercise and I am grateful to the folk who answered - I was not able to answer personally as no email addresses are available. I'm still at the beginning of my quest for some cultural changes I could make to help the roses *resist* disease and pests. I have squashed regiments of aphids and have heard of the milk spray - regardless of the benign nature of these treatments, they are still *treatments* and not ways to make the roses intrinsically healthier which is what I still want to do. I should live so long! This form of communication is complex so I'll sign off from this forum. In the meantime ... Happy gardening and thank you again for your responses :-))) Elaine