Frankly, I can do without the cold weather, and I am jealous of you, fragrance. This chill was the worst in twenty some years of rose growing because it came on Nov 15, 2014, when all the roses were not dormant, and things still looked quite nice. Temps hit about zero for three days and just messed up the roses. Didn't trouble much else. It's always the roses--what prima donnas. Anyway, there was a clear demarcation between which plants can take the cold and had no damage, or very little, and those that don't do well at all dealing with this strange, unexpected kind of cold. I've concluded that it's genetics, pure and simple. Didn't matter what part of the garden they were located in, or even how young they were. I hope this doesn't happen again, but two years ago, we had something similar, too, so an awful pattern may be emerging. Diane

Hi everyone! HalloBlondie, thanks! It's nice to hear how they do in our general area! I've got teasing Georgia on the list for spring next year too :) I don't mind printing them down in spring, so long as they survive, and it sure sounds like they do! And don't worry, I won't compare between Nanadolls roses and mine, I can only dream of huge Austin's! Wouldn't that be something though? Berrypie, so long as they come back I sure don't mind small! Small actually works better for me, since I can squeeze more into the beds then! (Always the optimist here) Nanadoll, I sure try to be brave lol. But you're right, I'll never know unless I try ...so I'll give Jude a shot! ...as to the difference between USDA/Can zones, one of the nurseries here explained that the way Canada "forms" the zones is different than how the US does it. So, since I'm a Canadian zone 5b/6a that would make me a USDA zone 4b/5a. Correct me here if I'm wrong anyone, I'm new, so I'm just going by what I've been told :) I can't actually understand the difference, when I look at the temps, I seem to be the same as a USDA zone 5b-5a, somewhere in there. Heavy winter protection might help, I got Blossomtime through the winter heavily covering her, but it was a mild winter by our standards, so I'm not sure :) Rebecca! Thank you! I'm glad someone else feels like Winnie the Pooh with their roses! (Hahaha!) I don't have a place near the house I can plant, unless it can handle only 3-4hrs of sun...so my beds are right out in the elements. They get some wind block by older trees facing north so that helps :) Gotta be tough here, or babied...I'll baby them. I don't mind! The one I'm getting is grafted so I hope that helps...and all your styles & likes are wonderful! But you know that already :) Rideauroselad, thank you! You give me hope! I don't mind work in the least, so long as it gets them through winter. Jude will be grafted, and slow growing is fine too, so long as I don't kill the poor thing with vicious winters :) I always bury the graft/bud union 5-6inches below, I'm paranoid :) So looks like I'll try Jude! Thank you all, very much :)

Jude is worth buying for the fragrance alone! Strong even in freezing late autumn rains and great as a cut flower. Here in England it buds out later than other roses and so only seems capable of 2 flushes (a third one usually fails as we reach late October/November). But when it does bloom it goes absolutely crazy with just how many flowers it pushes out. As for balling, I can't say i've noticed it much, and let me tell you it's rainy in England. Olivia Rose Austin is a much more guilty culprit, to the point where I might just shovel prune the whole thing next year if it doesn't step up it's game this summer.

Magpie .. my expierience so far ( this will be its second season ) is just ok . it only gave me a few blooms last year in the spring only . this yesr it grew to 6 ft high and has given a very small flush , maybe 4 clusters of these bloooms snd not showing signs of more being formed. most day sun , water and fertilzer of course . i heard from a friend in england his became amazing after its first year. Im holding on but it will be watched carefully . pleasant fragrance too . in my opinion moonlight in paris is similar color wise and much better