Wow! You guys provide better info than the Master Gardener did. I am glad I did not stop there just because her ID. It just didn't seem right. I am afraid ((sob)) it looks like Downy Mildew. All signs point to it, and that picture on the link Jim kindly provided looked just like mine. Except mine does not seem to have open lesions like that one. -Jim, you are wonderful! You provided such a wealth of information. Thank you for taking so much trouble to help me! I really was baffled by all the info I read on Downy Mildew. Most sites said it was rare to see it out side of a greenhouse situation, and really isn't a problem in gardens. A couple of sites also said that Downy Mildew will quickly defoliate a plant. My infected plants still have foliage, which I think is interesting. There are even some flowers on them. -greenhaven, what came first were green 'water spots'. You know how when water dries on a leaf it will sometimes leave a slight trace left of where it was? That is what it looked like but under the 'skin' of the cane. It was still green, but had a sort of outline. These irregular marks darkened into the reddish-brown in my pic. The marks were slightly tough, like scabs. No swells, lesions, sunken, or shriveled areas. I scratched this area with my nail once and the fiberous stuff under the skin looked okay. The first year it wasn't major, so I didn't stress over it (now I am, lol!). The second year was worse. I read up on it and started to look at it frequently in order to chart the growth/evolution of it. In the late fall the brown patches had white-gray fuzz on top, just like some sites said it would (in both Downy and Powdery Mildew cases). I probably should have done something when I first noticed it, because it has spread to other roses. My DA rose 'Carding Mill' was the fisrt to get it. It was a weak grower from the time I planted it. Maybe stress/dislike for this climate made it prone to disease? Could it have been infected when I bought it? It didn't seem to show any troubles for the first year or two; can Downy live dormant for long periods of time? Anyway, the next to show the marks (run! its the plague! lol) was a scrawney 'Gold Medal', and then a brand new 'Windermere'. 'The Dark Lady' also seems to have it, but (knock on wood) it hasn't spread much on her. She seems healthy, and put on a good show in the spring. None of the roses infected seem to want to put on new growth after the first spring flush of growth. Do you guys think I should try to save any or just trash them? I don't want it to spread, but I do hate to get rid of any. I don't know if it is going to be possible for me to do, but where does one go to have a sample examined under a microscope? Back to the County Extension? Do you happen to know if it costs much? I want to cry from frustration. This makes me want to give up on all roses... CMK

Michael, the perfrctly normal leaves are from the other branch and also from the mane cane. This is a side shoot and all leaves on it look abnormal. You are right that usually KvD prickels are not red. They can be pretty dense but look very different. I didn't take cane out yet, it is raining here now. I am plannig to do it tomorrow. Ann, thank you very much. I am not sure about internodal distances on normal canes. There is not much fresh grouth on this bush now, except this one. All the thorns are approx the same size. I looked at the normal canes and there is a lot of bigger hooked thorns mixed with smaller sise thorns on each cane. These big thorns are not present on this one. The leaf you are reffering to is not eaten, it is just like that, all deformed. And you are right about leaf margins. Oh, well, I gues this is confirmed :( I am not sure I will keep this rose. Actually several years ago I had another rose very close to this position (approx 15 feet from this spot) and it also got RRD and was removed. I guess this is a bad spot in my garden, probably due to the winds. I am actually surprised, because this is my front yard and the place is opened from all sides, no fence or other barrier around. I think I am going to put persimmon tree at this location. I was wondering where to plant it and this will solve it. I will order another KvD from Pickering for fall and find another place for it in my garden. Robert, I sure hope, you don't have RRD. Every time this is sickening experience. I still can't get over the case when I had to remove mature bush of MAC ( I didn't grow it as a climber) that was 10x10', due to RRD. It was one of my favorite roses in the whole garden. Thank you very much, everybody. Olga

Hi Duane, Awesome photos! I just wanted to add my two cents to the great comments above. 1) Congratulations for removing the original nursery stake that was tied to the trunk of your tree! (I'm assuming there was one). Most people don't know that it's best to remove it and, if necessary, use two wooden stakes placed outside the rootball to stabilize their tree. BTW, what is that slender pole/rod near your tree's basin?? 2) The best time to fertilize is in February/March so when the trees come out of dormancy there will be nutrients available. You can use an all-purpose fertilizer or something like ammonium sulfate. Follow package directions for your size tree and broadcast over the soil surface and water in well. 3) You may find that after you mulch your watering basin (taking care not to pile it against the trunk of your tree) that watering once per week in summer is adequate. To test, gently pull some mulch back and if the soil is moist underneath you can wait a day or so before applying more water. It's always better to water deeply but infrequently in our heavy clay soils. 4) Yes, leafcutter bees make those semi-circular or nearly circular 'holes'. They like the tender new leaves best and use the pieces to line their galleries where they raise their young. Best of luck with your tree. aztreelvr (certified arborist)

Buehl, Except for the corner sink you came up with exact scheme my house designer came up with months ago. Must be something good with that layout. I guess I nixed it early on cause I wanted to explore having the island oriented the other direction. I also didn't want the main sink in that location cause 1) its pretty close to the street and 2) directly west facing - too much sun. But I guess that is what window treatments are for. Am I making these issues too big a deal?