I vote for Hansa as well. Mine came from my grandparents' farm in rural western Mass, on land they bought and built on during WW I. Hansa was introduced in 1905; one of my aunts remembers my grandmother saying it was a special gift to her as a new neighbor. I also have Roseraie de l'haye, and I think it is a blowsier, more loosely extravagent bloom than Hansa. Is it very fragrant, with a clove=y edge? R de l'haye is fragrant, but sweeter.

No, I am telling you to take 2 feet off the top now. Others are saying cut it back to 2 feet in spring. I don't do that. I never cut my roses back that far. I cut dead growth off in late winter and shape the bush and usually need to take off 2-3 feet. I think you need to take some off now because it is growing leggy and scrawny, barren of foliage and bloom. Now, take 2 feet off the top, fertilize it, water it, mulch a bit (but not too close to the trunk). Then you can continue to care for it and then around Labor Day, give it some organic fertilizer or 8-8-8 and see your fall flush. You may/may not want to cut it back to 2 feet in late winter/early spring as suggested. I don't but some of my fellow rosarian friends do and their roses are prettier than mine. I just cannot stand to butcher that much at once. My husband has done that to some of our roses, and they looked great and got new basal breaks; the roses were gorgeous. Me, not so much of a cutter and wish perhaps I was. ;-) Ryan, just water now and take some top growth off, wait for some new reddish growth, give it some organic fertilizer or 8-8-8, keep watering and give it some fertilizer again around Labor Day and watch for your blooms to be more than you expect and larger in mid to late October. Then come back next February/March with a picture of the rose at that point and let someone direct you about pruning. You might get addicted to this stuff. I hope so. I think you will love it. P.S. I love your corner of the world. My family is originally from Richmond. This post was edited by patricia43 on Sat, Jul 26, 14 at 17:41

Leo, I believe that is a Salt Marsh moth caterpillar. I've attached a link to images of the caterpillar and adult. They are gorgeous! Susan Here is a link that might be useful: Salt Marsh Moth Caterpillar

I will take pics...Been sick for a few days... I am beginning to think that for some of us growing 'roses' is an ALL season project..Not only do I have to protect them but I also have to watch out they don't desiccate in the winter too..If the snow should not fall and the bare ground is exposed to sub 0 temps or higher with whipping winds, the ground can go bone dry even in winter..So here I am watering all my roses deeply on the first given warm day above 40.....I know that many die just to a lack of moisture in the dead of winter... Thanks for the encouragement.. It does fell like I want to garden out there too since my temp is a balmy 60 degrees right now! Back to the low 20's by day and single digits by Saturday night with a bare ground again..My bulbs are starting to pop up...lol