Yes, 'Casimir Moullé' is prominent in my garden, one reason being that it's planted in the middle of a fifty-foot fence, and its "whips" (it's hard to call those long slender things "canes") reach from one end to the other. The foliage is clean, glossy, and a cheerful grass-green, completely disease-free for me. Demonstrating why one shouldn't be too quick about things: It didn't bloom at all for the first couple of years after being planted; then it had one sole cluster of deformed blossoms the next year; the next year, it had a good number of clusters of proper flowers; and subsequently it has bloomed well. I bought it, having been attracted by its color being called "purple"--which it isn't. Under ideal circumstances (evenly cool to moderate conditions in the lead-up to bloom), they're a very attractive "imperial pink" to cerise. Unfortunately for me, it tends to have its mass bloom just when the year's first heat wave comes, so the blossoms under those conditions open too quickly and come out very pale. I don't believe I've ever detected any scent. The leaves are shed in the winter, having first turned a pleasant yellow. The thorns are tenacious and cruel. There has been absolutely no re-bloom on mine, and I've had it something like seven years now. To me, the flowers are just an extra; the pretty foliage and delicate-looking drapery of the plant on the fence more than justify its presence. Though I have to keep an eye out for its whips wandering where I don't want them, and though its thorns are merciless if they catch your skin or clothing, it's a definite keeper which I thoroughly recommend.

Here's the meeting agenda, so you can all get your 2 cents worth in. Even if you can't be at the planning meeting, we'd love to hear your ideas: 1. the date. Has to be between the middle of Sept. and middle of Oct. Any earlier and it's too hot, any later and it might rain. But I don't want to conflict with other rose events (which is the whole reason to hold it in the fall). And I want it to be on a date that it can always be, like 'the second Saturday in October' or 'the last Saturday in September'. If you know of standing ARS events the might compete, let me know. 2. Plants to sell. We'll need volunteers to propagate them. We'll need to decide which of our rare varieties are most important to grow for sale. Recommendations welcome. 3. Workshops. I'd like to have some hands-on workshops, charging a small fee to participants to cover the workshop leader's costs.What would you like to have a workshop to learn to do? Who would you like to take a workshop from? Also talks and demonstrations- any topic ideas? Someone has already mentioned "Roses in the Landscape Garden". 4. Vendors. Do we want to have vendors, and if so, what kind? Just rose vendors or all gardening type vendors? 5. Any other ideas we should consider?

Ooooh. Love them! Especially #2, Climbing Old Blush, #6 and the last one. That last one has the look that I love in roses - but you don't see it all that often. Thanks! Carol

I was there a few days ago. So much to see and what a great resource for rose growers. Looked like black spot has been running amuck there, and a lot of the roses are defoliated. I'm glad that they didnt spray, since it showed me which roses did better during height black spot pressure (not much of an issue for me, but still good to know). Now if only they had an Austin trial garden... :)