We have a contemporary home and are doing color blocks just as you are. Therefore, I have (4) roses in each color. I chose fragrant roses with the best vase - these are incompatible traits, which is why it is not easy to find (and the reason why florist roses don't have scent). The Reds: Lasting Love (not as fragrant to my nose, but other people smell its fragrance more than I do) Oklahoma - As someone wrote above...shame on me. Not the best for a cut rose, but I couldn't help myself - the fragrance is heavenly. The Garden Center told me that if I kept it well pruned so that the stems are thicker it will last better in a vase so I thought I would try it. Mr. Lincoln - Not the best leaves as it is susceptible to powdery mildew, but I will be proactive with the Neem oil and baking soda. Velvet Fragrance - I have no experience with this one and took a chance because it is a very fragrant English HT. The Whites: Sugar Moon - I caved I got (2) of these bushes because it has everything. Pope John Paul II Secret's Out The Yellows: Midas Touch Valencia Golden Celebration - HT yellow roses have the worst vase life of any of the colors, therefore, I chose this category to enjoy a couple Austins that are known for their vase life. Teasing Georgia The Lavenders: Neptune - I got (2) of these bushes because it has everything. Stainless Steel - I got (2) of these bushes because it has everything. The Pinks: Elle Memorial Day Sweet Surrender Chandos Beauty As for your list...there are some roses that have an excellent reputation for scent that I can barely smell, and I have an excellent sense of smell so go figure....it's a mystery to me. Instead of beating myself up about it I just steered clear of Fragrant Cloud and Bellaroma because they appear to my nose to have a subtle fragrance. Bewitched has an amazing fragrance, but I chose lighter pinks. New Zealand and Secret are great also, but I ran out of room for pinks. I happen to love Veterans Honor and it has an amazing vase life, but they were out of it at the garden center so I chose Lasting Love instead, which has beautiful glossy foliage.

No, I haven't made any decisions. I don't know how anyone makes a decision about these things - there are just soooooo many varieties to choose from, it's sort of overwhelming. I have, however, been having a good look around my suburb at what my neighbours are up to in terms of rose growing, trying to see what does well and what does not so well. So within a few streets of my house Crepuscule, Renae, Pinkie and Ballerina are all doing exceptionally well. There are a couple of Pierre de Ronsard's doing ok, the blooms are looking lovely but they're not growing very much and they have very little foliage, so I guess they're not exactly vigorous. All of the hybrid tea varieties, however, and not doing too well - they have a few scattered blooms but the bushes are looking very leggy. I don't think they get enough sun up here to become bushy and healthy.

Those plug wraps are that material (liners) that large perennial growers and obviously some commercial rose growers start their plants in. I've lost more perennials since they started using them than ever in my life. Some perennials just won't grow out of them into the soil. Just like peat pots and coir pots. The only reason for these things is to hold moisture and makes for success for the wholesalers. I happened to be talking to Chris from Hallson Gardens and mentioned what I thought of those liners. I hit a nerve. He has been fighting distributors over their use for a long time. Not only does is cause trouble for home growers but significant loses for plant farms like his. grumble grumble Kentucky Rose, I'm not sure about a cut flower. It has petals with good substance and lasts about 2 weeks on the bush. It always blooms as multiples so in order to use a vase you need to take them all. I bring some in so I can stair at them longer. They lasted about five days and that was cutting them after they had been open for a while. Thank you for that laugh Seil. Thats my reason for refusing pain killers for this crippling arthritis. It takes your smile away and replaces it with a frown. They need a new class of pain killers. Oops got off track there.

Thanks for digging up those photos, Curdle. I think I am gong to be very happy with my CdP. I'm happy to hear your comparison to Yves P. I think they will look lovely together, with Souvenir de la M between them. They sound alike enough to look nice near each other, while different enough to look like two distinct roses. I soooo can't wait for some blooms. It sounds like she is an eager bloomer, so I'm guessing I will have flowers by May. CdP and Sonia Rykiel will be arriving in March, and roses usually get going very quickly here (with a couple of exceptions). I still kind of think of Versigny as "one that got away", but I only have so much space. When/if Augusta Louise becomes available in the US, I will find the space for her. The photos posted on this forum have been incredible! Thanks again. Lisa