...when they do bloom this 2009! Hurrray!!! how totally awesome and dddddelightful!!! You see your photos do true justice to the Gemini because you can see its high-petalled formation, especially! on the side view closeups.. You get full flawless, absolutely breathtaking creams and pinks so it is so nice to see this instead of constant scarring from thrips. My camera cannot get as close as yours because I don't have a super closeup lens yet! maybe for Christmas from my rich, overly generous doctor brother LOL!...but then again, I'd only get bigger and bolder Attack of the Thrips movie poster imaging, lol! Interestingly you are in NJ so it seems your Gemini is far more even in colorations than mine... Mine will undergo a lot of color fluctuations within its bloom life, maybe because we get baking intense, scorching sun in Kansas? as opposed to less direct Northern sun where you're at... What a joy to see your Gemini! perhaps we can rename this thread to Gemini in blooms (Part I)! hugs and cheers to your Gemini!

Nahema is NOT hardy in my zone 5 .. died after 2 winters as own-root from Roses Unlimited. I successfully rooted Nahema, but it died recently in my unheated garage with temp. at upper 20's. Annie L. McDowell survives 2 winters for me since I planted it right below the rain spout so it gets constant moisture. Winter here is -30 below zero with wind-chill factor, and Annie dies to the crown every year. For its 3rd winter, this year, I plan on watering Annie during the winter in case we don't get any snow. Zero winter-protection except for a thin layer of leaves, it's on a steep hill so I can't pile up winter-protection. I planted Annie in a deep hole with MG-potting soil and topped with dense clay to seal in the moisture. Let's see if Annie survives its 3rd winter.

Everyone thanks for chiming in on what this Mystery rose could be!!! I am looking into the Tiffany now. There are three different roses that were planted on the trellis. Two little climber varieties and 2 of these Hybrid Tea pink ones (as I get the same beautiful pink Hybrid Tea on each side). Here is a picture of the trellis and you can see how far it goes up. This was taken years ago and actually the bushes are much more established now and the little climber varieties are intertwined with this Hybrid Teas. I am thinking next year of taking it into the Rose Society here in Portland where there are some amazing Rosarians who love nothing more helping people figure out what they might be growing.

Me too, Nik; unfortunately I have jungle only right around the house; the big garden is very much the garrigue look, since that's all that will grow. I do what I can. Garrigue can be beautiful too, after all. Ingrid, I have another phlomis that has whiter leaves than this one: it may be your variety. I've never seen a photo of CdC that captured her color, and have been taking pictures myself without succeeding. She is an astonishingly beautiful rose, and even if the flowers usually burn after a few hours is well worth having in the garden. The only Tea I know that rivals her for vividness is her counterpart across the way, 'Clementina Carbonieri', who has more gold in her coloring. Jackie, I know we worship the same garden gods; and Sheila is apparently heading for the same altar. I value structure in a garden, but tidiness ranks low among my priorities. Carol, I've posted about "Miss Mystery" before, seeking an ID. She's a Tea I received as a cutting from a gardener in Genoa who didn't know her name, and which I've never identified, either, though I'm not knowledgeable about Teas. Her most notable characteristics are her large size and her tendency for her blooms to ball. She's about eight years old, and may only now be maturing--I do hope her blooms will open better as she gets older--and looks like she wants to climb, or at least, looks like I'll have to train her to climb if she's to have the room she requires.