Wow, that photo of TIC is beautiful. I am most tempted to go for that one after that pic. I think I will cross out Mrs Dudley Cross for now. I've ordered a whole lot of modern(mostly austins and climbers) and old roses from 3 different nurseries and I'm trying to be good and only add one more to this list. But I'm seriously tempted to add B R Cant as well. I will post on the antique roses forum as well and count the votes for each one! Thanks everyone for your input. Sanju

Oh, Deb, how terrible for you AND Mrs BR! Oh, I would feel awful. You definitely need some comfort and consolation! jbcarr, that's a good thought for gardeners with BIG rose bushes. With weather the way it is, you never know when a big wind will come up and to have a big bush staked in advance is probably a good idea. A couple of pieces of rebar would work, ya think? Mine aren't big yet but when they are, I hope I remember this. Sherry

This rose is named after the wife of Mr. Benjamin Revett Cant 1828-1904. The Cant name in rose growing goes back probably four generations back from Benjamin Cant and they started out life as ordinary seedsmen in say 1728 (ish) but became interested in rose as more were brought back from China and other countries. Benjamin's wife was named Elizabeth. There are descendants of the Cant family still operating Cant's Roses in Colchester, England, but no more named Cant descendants. My children descend from Olive Cant who always had lots of roses in her garden. There are descendants of Benjamin's son Harry still living in Australia. This rose is still available in England directly from Cants Roses, Colchester, England and it is also in USA and Australia, where it flourishes as a native. Another interesting fact about Benjamin R. Cant is that he was an entrepreneur, and opened the first dual Ice skating and roller skating rinks in England, putting on skating shows, even bringing an elephant into one of the rinks as part of an act. He started to lose money when he appointed a manager to run the empire, and when others in Britain began to copy him. He just avoided bankruptcy by selling nearly everything he had but the road he made to get to the complex is still there. He spent many years developing Mrs. B.R.Cant, getting the rose just right, and I hope that my care of my children's ancestor gives justice to his efforts, flair and sense of fun. The rose is in centres in most countries - just don't give up looking. An interesting note is that in both World wars, a fair amount of thei Cant land growing roses, was dug up to grow vegetables for the war effort.

"Bon Silene" was one of the earliest Tea roses to be bred during the 1830s but to my eyes "Bon Silene" is, perhaps, a bit plain. I'd still grow it if I had acreage, for I adore all Tea roses but I would greatly prefer "Mrs. B.R. Cant" in my garden . "Mrs. B.R. Cant" has very large blooms for a Tea rose In my opinion Mrs. B.R. Cant is one of the 5 best pink Tea roses, for good health (in my area) and beauty and fragrance. In the 1960's a man found a climbing sport of "Mrs. B.R. Cant" and I would truly madly deeply love to have one. In our area "Mrs. B.R. Cant is much more resistant to p.m. than "Mme. Lombard" and Georgetown tea. Luxrosa