Unfortunately this was a one time visit as I was traveling back from VA and reside in upstate NY, so I have no idea what the blooms looked like. It must be a spring or early summer bloomer; these photos were taken the first week of Sept. I did snag a few of the seeds, but have not cleaned them from the chaff/pulp yet (was waiting for them to dry, but they haven't actually changed much visibly even now, months later). Should help confirm ID in the long run, however. If you notice, it does appear there is a wider set of leaves emerging from the grassy clump. I do think there are two different plants here.

Jennifer We must live near each other because we are in the same zone and state. IÂve had my Jude for 5 years and to me it is a sparse bloomer. The roses on either side bloom fine so I guess it gets full sun. ItÂs in an east-west hedge; Lillian Austin and Crimson Bouquet to the west and Traviata, The Squier, and Fragrant Cloud to the east and all are good to near constant bloomers. I get a good spring and modest fall flush. Care: I cut back only in winter, I do not dead head (maybe I should try, but it doesnÂt set hips so IÂm not sure what the point would be), the bed is well amended and raised about 8 ", bone meal, packaged manure/humus from Lowes and maybe rose tone at planting. I only use rose tone, I have no time for Miracle Gro. Once each in spring and summer I put a 3 month application (3x the dose), I have about 30 roses and donÂt have time to coddle them every month like the pkgs say. IÂm weeding out the most BS prone for this reason, too. I spray for BS about every 10 days. I keep it because: 1 Â I like the color, itÂs somewhat unique 2 Â I need a tall one in that spot, mineÂs about 7-8Â. So I would say itÂs a vigorous grower. 3 - It is getting better with age (may be by the time I retire IÂll know what everyone else is talking about). ItÂs BS resistance is about average for most modern hybrids from my experience. Mine is grafted from David Austin, Tyler Tx. I have a mixture of own root and grafted in my yard and IÂd say the grafted may do a little better but not enough to say for sure. My Abe Darby is own root and is a really good bloomer. I have 3 TraviataÂs, 1 grafted and 2 own root and the own rootÂs are smaller but bloom just as well and are just as healthy. They are also 1 year younger from the original one I bought locally. Since all the roses around yours is healthy, I would either order a new one from a different vendor or root a cutting from your present bush and see what happens. What do you have to loose? Now is a good time for rooting (may be a little late, but with global warming it may not be so). IÂm doing that with my Mr. Lincoln because it has done really poorly for me since we moved here in 2001. It is my only JP box rose (what was I thinking). Dennis

Ingrid, I should have known that Vintage would be the one that would carry both Pink Gruss & Pretty Jessica! What would we do without those guys? I also highly admire what I have seen of their 'White Pearl in Red Dragon's Mouth'. But I am trying to just appreciate the roses that I have right now. I'm glad you're getting Pink Gruss this December. Each fall, including right now, the blooms on my Pink Gruss roses have a look that is the epitome of the reproduction "old rose" bloom to me. And although certainly not an OGR, Pink Gruss is actually an "old" rose. David Austin, eat your heart out :-) And yes, I have some of my Pink Gruss roses in partial sun and they do fine (they are just not as full of a plant as the ones in full sun). Elaine, yep, I've heard that all 'Irene Watts' sold in this country are actually 'Pink Gruss'. Seems like I also read that the true 'Irene Watts' may actually be extinct. Randy

Carolyn, you posted the Chocolate Chess Pie one time and I remarked on that half eggshell of milk. Let me tell you: I made that pie, very carefully measuring the milk in the eggshell -- my older son, who is an excellent cook, observed this and thought I was bonkers -- but it worked beautifully. It's soooo good! I love your raisin pie recipe too. Granjan, another Iowan here. My grandparents, both sets, always put everything on the table, except the desserts (there was never just one) -- those were on the sideboard. My mother, however, decided to serve three courses: soup or salad as the starter; then the main dish, starch, vegetable (with bread); and dessert. I think she got the idea from the "gracious living" thing that was popular in the late 1950s. She even did the tablecloth, cloth napkins, candles and flowers bit for a while -- can't remember why it ultimately fizzled, though. As a child I was a notoriously picky eater and only gradually did I learn to like a lot of different foods. I had to adjust or otherwise I would've starved, being a journalist and constantly in places where most of the food was completely unfamiliar to me. But when I did become a more adventurous eater, I thought wowee! this is life. Unfortunately that only lasted about ten years, and now I mostly get my food kicks vicariously, by reading cookbooks and lingering over descriptions of food -- notice above how I had to copy Vee's lovely roast lamb menu. Food threads are always such a pleasure.