>And I've heard that sometimes Ghislaine de Feligonde needs spraying in certain areas. But I still think it's really pretty. I still haven't ruled it out for another empty spot in the yard. Do you grow it? Is it doing well for you? Thanks Mary. I think it would be good for your other spot too. I've been growing it (still in its original pot) for the longest time... almost 2 months now. So I'm really an expert on that rose!!! :D But anyway, so far it's absolutely perfectly healthy in maybe four or four and a half hours of midday sun here on hold awaiting planting. Perfectly healthy, in spite of the times when I've watered too late and in spite of some bits of rainfall lasting off and on all night or most of the night (like last night). It's a vigorous grower (similar to Fortuniana here bought at the same time--both in 2-gallon pots) and needs to go into the ground, but I'm not planting any of the new ones in the new spot until I'm fairly certain that the spread of RRD among the pot ghetto of new roses has stopped... and unfortunately I'm not at all certain of that at this point. My book by Barbara Wilde speculates that more people would have heard of and tried this rose if it just had some more prosiac name like "Carefree Garland." Peter Beales says "I can't think of a good reason why this rose has not gained the popularity it deserves." Beales lists it as shade tolerant enough to be planted on a north wall or northerly aspect. For me, one of the attractions for this rose is its appeal as a shrub/climber in the landscape. Fragrant prolific blooms that are cuttable are a plus. As far as no-spray goes, I'd think that the most pertinent experience would be from someone in your own area who has tried it, even though I'm seeing writers from widely different areas who think it's strongly disease-resistant. I'd also think that if someone trying it does use chemicals on other nearby plants, that that practice might have an effect on the overall health of the healthy soil balance of micro organisms that the plant depends on to make its own disease-protection systems work. Judging from the information I've seen from Paul Zimmerman, a more pertinent question for local rosarians might be about the disease-resistant conditions of the plant in year three or four of growing in a no disease spray yard, not in year one. If plants are left alone in a no-spray yard to develop their own disease resistance, it might take 1-3 years to accomplish that. But by year four, if the grower isn't feeling comfortable that its looks/health are acceptable and an asset to the yard, then you might chalk it up to a rose that doesn't meet your standards for good disease resistance and not try it, or get rid of it if you've had it that long. That said, sometimes a rose is just so disease resistant that it seems healthy from day one in an organically oriented yard. Like Mortimer Sackler, this rose might be one of those kinds. Anyway, I'm thrilled to have a Ghislaine De Feligonde and if it goes to RRD, I'll for sure be ordering it again. Best wishes, Mary

Hi - What era is your cemetery? Is it still active? I volunteer in the Sacramento City Cemetery, active in 1850-1915. We try to focus on roses from that era. Georgia Drennan wrote about "Everblooming Roses" to be planted in southern cemeteries in 1910. I think she was in New Orleans. I would be tempted to follow her suggestions, to a large degree. The book is not readily available, although you can purchase a CD of it through Heritage Rose Foundation. I ran a copy of the section about the cemeteries, and if you (or anyone else) would like for me to copy and mail it, I'd be glad to do so. It may be possible to scan it in, too, but my scanner isn't great. Drennan's point was that you should plant roses that are repeat-blooming, rather than ones that bloom once, such as Mme Plantier or wichurana, which was touted as the "Memorial Rose" and planted widely as a ground-covering rose. She lists a lot of this forum's favorites. I wouldn't go for Lavender Lassie because it's way too modern. Some of the HMs may fit your time period. You probably would be wise to start with a definition of "antique" rose, as it pertains to your site. Lamarque was really popular back then, but Mme Alfred Carriere is wonderful, so I'm not recommending that you grow Lamarque instead. I'm not so sure about pink climbers - if Maman Cochet works for you, that's a good choice. How does New Dawn do in your area? It's 1930, so again, may not be "antique" enough. Cornelia is 1925. Lady Waterlow is a very popular rose in our cemetery, and is 1902. However, don't know how it would perform in the south. For your large spot, another thought would be a banksiae. We often find them in our old cemeteries, grown in a heap, with the added advantage of no prickles. Fortune's Double Yellow is a prickly beast, if you ever need to trim it. Some of the teas get very big, if you let them build on themselves. Blush Noisette would be lovely, too - we have one that is ten feet around and seven feet tall, and the constant bloom and lovely fragrance is a great advantage. We find it in old cemeteries everywhere, along with "St. Leonard's" and others. As for the height - I'm assuming it's a rail fence - the one in Wooster's Roses of Legend and Romance garden has two heights of fence. The bigger one is about 4 1/2 feet high, with four rails, and goes along the garden perimeter. Interior fences have three rails, about 3 1/2 feet high. Here are some photos to help you visualize. I don't think you'd want to go higher, because it's better not to have to go onto a ladder to reach the top of the fence. New Dawn on fence Lower fence Anita

Joanna, My tolerance for BS and leaf loss may be higher than yours, but, I'll say what I've seen so far... The wichuriannas are near perfect...Paul Transon repeats a little. Blush Noisette is not looking good...spotty and leafloss, but, I believe it will take time to get going. Lamarque- some mildew, slow to get going, no bs MAC-some bs, some leafloss (30%) Crepuscule - succumbed to the goats...will get another Reve D'Or- may be mislabled, no diseases on what i've got Mme. G. Staechlin- no diseases, vigorous, once bloomer Blush Noisette- yucky so far Celine Forrestier- slow to get going, no problems yet Ghislaine de Feligonde-near perfect...heavy first flush and flowers the rest of the year off an on.. Aimee Vibert-don't have Gloire de Dijon-some spots, 50% leaf loss, succombed to goats, it has been replaced Souvenir de Mme. Leonie Viennot (not sure about this one)died after being moved...no problems when I had it SDLM (worried this may ball in my humid/hot climate)- so far so good, no major problems William A. Richardson -just starting to take off, no sign of disease Desprez a Fleurs Jaunes-just starting out, too soon to comment Duchesse D'Auerstadt-same as Jaune Desprez Sombreuil-some spots, 30% leaf loss Lady Hillingdon, cl- don't have it yet Paul Lede (disease?) don't have it yet Cramoisi Superieur, cl -no disease yet plus: Clair Matin some spots, 10% leaf loss, blooms constantly...a must have rose I hope this helps some. I'm really finding out that you've got to try the roses for yourself and see what you're willing to tolerate and what you're unwilling to tolerate. If a rose is vigorous and blooms and loses some leaves, I'm thrilled. I'm growing clematis through all these roses, so if they lose 50% of the leaves, and it doesn't slow the rose down, I'm fine with it. I will NOT spray. Robert

I adore my Clair Matin! During our "snowmageddon" this winter, I lost most of Cornelia - a little bit is still hanging on but if it dies, I dont care. Not a great bloomer. Clair, on the other hand, survived the arctic blast like a champ! It blooms its head off, way more than Cornelia, and has the sweetest, light scent. Love the color - love everything about it. I dont think the canes are that stiff. I can do pretty much whatever I want with them - they arent floppy.......but are easy for me to bend back to put on my long trellis where I have Clair. It is quite big but doesnt take over. I do keep it trimmed, get off the dead wood, to keep it neat. I can fertilize, and here it comes again with a fresh set of blooms. I highly recommend it!! I am in east Texas, 2 hours from Houston. I dont know how hardy it would be up north.......... Judith