Sorry to be away for a bit and get behind on the discussion. I'm so glad there are so many Bonica fans out there! I sometimes feel it doesn't get as much respect as deserved, since it's not flashy enough to get attention as a modern, and too new to be technically an OGR (though I agree Ingrid that it fits quite well among the OGRs with its lovely open style). Catspa - the reason mine doesn't keel over from the blooms is the handy fence that ended up next to this bush - not remotely planned of course, since Bonica considerably preceded the fence, but still a very handy thing. Malorena and Mariannese - your pictures are a great testament to why we love this rose, and anything that can tempt a non-gardener to take photos of a rose is something to be proud of (and of course, your daughter is a source of joy and pride in herself). Mariannese, I agree that it was sweet as well as a terrific opportunity to meet a keeper of the Meilland tradition and complement a rose that has more than stood the test of time. I agree with your sentiments and I'm glad you got the chance to share them (did he agree?). Kes - my Elizabeth of Goshen gets no more than 3 feet or maybe 3.5 feet in a season, but undoubtedly she'd be a bit taller with more sun or a longer growing season. Even during last summer's explosion of blooms with all that surviving cane, I don't remember her getting particularly large. As for problems, the main disease in my part of the world is blackspot, and we don't get it anything like as bad as you do on the East coast, since we tend to be dry here in the Plains. Even during our heavy rains in the last few months this fall, plenty of other plants started to blackspot quite a bit and I don't remember EofG being particularly bothered. That doesn't mean she wouldn't in your zone - witness the difference in Austin rose health between our zones - but I think she has a better chance than the average Austin at doing well for you. No guarantees of course, but I'm glad you have the chance to try and I suspect it'll do nicely for you. And bellegallica, there's nothing remotely to hesitate about for your plans for those pink and orange schemes. Nothing 60's about it - Marie Daly is such an understated pink that she needs a few gaudy marigolds to wake her up a bit. Put a few purple salvias to tie them together and you have a photo opportunity waiting to happen, not to mention bee paradise. Go ahead - do it and post us some pictures! Cynthia

I keep pulling up the starts from that *^%*@+#&!@% tree all over my yard...front yard, side yard and back yard, and the tree isn't even in my yard! I got so sick of it's crap coming over my side of the fence that I cut a monster sized limb out of the tree this past Fall. Didn't want to risk a run-in with the #)%*()#^@! neighbor by using my gasoline powered pruning attachment, so I attacked it with my saw blade attachment on my 16 ft long pruning pole. Never have I had so much satisfaction with a saw before. Really worked out my frustration on that tree. Cut it in the most un-arborly fashion in hopes of killing the entire tree, but I doubt it will suffer that badly. Next I'm considering drilling a hole through the fence and into the tree and attaching a direct feed from a bottle of Round-Up, the really concentrated woody vine and brush killer kind. Yes, I'm that insane. Oh, and about the red bloated tick looking bugs that come with this tree...TonyK was right, you can't kill them with anything but soapy water and it has to be almost waterless soapy water or else they just keep on going. UGH!!!!!!!

I dont know if this is an issue in the UK, but here in Western Australia - what you are describing is generally caused by water repellent soil. Dusty sandy soil can prevent water from penetrating roots and deprive the plant of nutrients and water - even if you are flooding your plant. put a few drops of water into the soil. if it beads up then that is your problem. The solution is simple. buy a wetting agent and add a small amount every few months or so - via a watering can or spraying it. wetting agent is nothing more than a detergent which breaks down the surface tension of the water. You can use household dishwashing liquid but I dont recommend it for regular use as unlike commercially prepared wetting agent - dishwashing detergent will change the PH of your soil. Adding considerable organic content into your soil is also a good solution.

They weren't hardened off; set them out in the sunlight's beaming reach from the protected shelter of my house. They were recently potted into bigger pots from small pots. There is also a big greenfly/aphid invasion and they keep coming back after killing them. Is this a fungus? Thanks.