Not long ago I wrote on here about passing a garden far removed from the urban area, with a "gold" looking rose bed. I stopped, almost throwing myself into the steering wheel at the beautiful roses. There were beds upon beds of roses and all of them had multiples of one rose. The bed that drew me in was full of Brass Band. There was another of Sutter's Gold, Granada, and on and on in the hot summer colors of golds and oranges. It was beautiful. I did knock on the door and they showed me their garden. They did not belong to any rose society or even know about Garden Web. There was a TV antenna on the TV in the front room. The house was very beautiful, recently built, with all the amenities but cable to accommodate a computer or a "real" TV family, but from the looks of the garden, most of their time was spent outside. The owners, retired college professors, the TV was for the infrequent visits from grandchildren. They had a real well for water and every time I hear about Brass Band, I recall that hot summer day when I found that house, that garden by sheer accident. They do not do organized tours, but should. It is for their pleasure and their recreation. Roses were but a small part of what they grow and vegetables were their main crop. I came right home and ordered 3 Brass Bands for fall delivery. Unfortunately, Brass Band did not play well for me, but I do love seeing it. IT's a honey!

Was yours a budded J&P or own root plant, Hoov? My sister has an own root plant which predated the rose's introduction. It is so-so and has been for the twenty-plus years she's had it. It's a two cane wonder, also as it's been most of its life, refusing to produce new basals. It flowers acceptably with average disease resistance in an area where only mildew is an issue and only early and late in the season. BB seems to very much enjoy mildew. She obtained it because she couldn't live without the color, which, I agree, can be remarkable. I've always wondered how easily "funny colors" might be mined from it but its growth and health own root have prevented me from doing anything with it. Where it is, it will probably endure for years more to come, but I wouldn't call it "great". The fresh flower color is all there is to really recommend it, IMO. Kim

hoovb, thanks so much for replying. I want to take cuttings & now can label it properly instead of calling it 'orange rose'. It's in my neighbors front yard & want to wait for spent blooms before taking cuttings. I've been waiting 2 weeks. Those flowers really last & every one is a different color. Really beautiful. Here in zone 6b, the summers are hot & humid. This rose came thru like a champ & still has lots of flowers. I really hope my cuttings take.

Maybe 'Elle'?