Sammy, sadly, the Rose Forum is highly ignorant of no-spray policies especially with regard to fungicide. And many have no inkling about ancient roses too. All they know about are hybrid teas, floribundas and Austins. Only the rose aficianados and rosarians know about the ancient roses. If it hadn't been for my friends Krista and Karen I would have been totally clueless myself. I so regret my choices of roses now... My local nurseries refuse to carry old ancient romantic roses, they will only carry Austins, they love their Austins, LOL! Sadly Sammy I have only the "boring roses". All of my resistant roses were resistant until September, with just a little blackspot here and there. Now when it gets cold however, the blackspot doesn't like it and will go away (which was in October). Sammy I am first posting photos of my beautiful Gemini, the rose that is now deeply struggling. But it is truly a fighter rose and has sent up multiple new baby stems and clean baby leaves. It caught severe blackspot basically overnight, with no warning after weeks of endless rains. It used to be such a healthy, vibrant and strong rose! Look how clean and beautiful the foliage used to be!! This may help explain why I hate and dread and blame the rain. Now here are the photos of the resistant roses that I have: Climbing America: Penny Lane Climbing Rose Tiffany: Special Occasion: Lincoln is very resistant, only one or 2 blackspot leaves in the worst of seasons-the fall. It has very cute lively big blooms but doesn't have enough maturity yet to have its classical blooms except for 3 blooms. Here is Aromatherapy: Fragrant Cloud is indeed resistant. LOL! I love the taste of her rose petals (I make rose petal jam) but it is no beauty. It is just a cheery lively flower, but I often hide her because her blooms are not exactly the most beautiful.

Here's a quick blurb from the Greenmantle Nursery web site... I didn't know there were two 'Laxa's'?: Rosa canina 'LAXA' - A peerless form of the native European Dog Brier which has the fantastic quality of near thornlessness .........because it was originally selected and introduced in 1890 by Otto Froebelli of Zurich for use as an understock. As such, it is extremely hardy, tough, disease-resistant and prone to spread by rootsuckers and seeds. The flowers are completely unnoticeable - palest pink and five-petaled - fleeting for a month or so in late Spring. But each one becames an inch long oval Hip of deep crimson: these have good flavor - and most importantly will last far into real winter without deteriorating at all on the bush. Very handy for spur-of-the-moment harvest. This rose should NOT to be confused with Rosa laxa (Retzius).... Rosa laxa (Retzius) - This rather rare species from Turkestan was first described by the Swedish botanist Anders Johan Retzius (1742-1821). The true Rosa laxa came to us from a Canadian correspondent twenty years ago and we are extremely grateful to have been able to obtain it... This tough hardy shrub has greyish-green leaves and five-petaled white flowers - followed by curvaceous deep red Rose Hips. Research has shown that this Species offers one of the highest vitamin C levels of any Hip. http://www.greenmantlenursery.com/2008revision/roses2008/La%20Vie%20en%20Rose.htm I hope this is helpful, Virginia

My friend (who's also in the Rose Society) had (she moved) a fabulous rose garden filled with peonies and old garden roses (OGRs) from before 1867. She had the most bees I've ever seen in a garden. Amazing! This will show you the size of the pots I use. I also have a routine for waking them up in the summer and putting them in the garage in the winter. I got my pots from Costco, but they don't sell this type anymore. They're resin pots and very light, but with the soil in (big yellow bag potting soil delivery) they become heavy and my husband uses a dolly to get them to and from the garage. I usually have around 50 roses in pots. Yes, John Davis is capable of climbing...but it's canes aren't long and supple, so it was beyond me (maybe not you) to get it to climb. :) Ann - That sounds wonderful!! And bees love rugosa roses the best!! Carol

I use Mancozeb but only in Feb and if I have an outbreak during cloudy rainy days. It stops but does not prevent BSpot right? Luckily Dallas rain usually travels with sun. I spray every 14-16 days in spring and early fall alternating between Banner Max and Heritage, both preventatives but neither kills existing, as I understand it. I stop spraying in summer unless lot if rain damp then shoot with Mancozab before going back to one doze of the systemics. This keeps me clean all summer but it may all change by replacing the Austins with floribundas. My understanding is that Austins are far from disease free. My schedule does absolutely work with not a lot if spraying bit I only have about 69 bushes. FYI: no more Banner Max in smaller size I was told today when ordering.