Hello Kate, don't worry. You're not discouraging me :) I have been hearing the same from many different people and also have been reading a lot. I'm just very curious how the DA's will react to this weather and hopefully they will grow into healthy large plants. So far I've tried to focus on good air circulation to prevent BS and I have used Bayer Advanced Control but I'm looking for an organic alternative. I will post some pictures about my DA project after a couple of months. I noticed that there are hardly any postings about DA roses in the Tropics. I'm located at I'm at latitudes 1ð and 6ðN, and longitudes 54ð and 58ðW and only 2 to 5 degrees north of the equator which is very very tropical. Basically similar to Malaysia but less high elevations. BTW I'd accidentally posted this thread in the General Rose Forum after I discovered the Antique Rose Forum for DA roses. I have posted the same thread in the Antique Forum. If anyone would like to share their experiences or have some great tips please go to http://forums2.gardenweb.com/forums/load/rosesant/msg0122043413265.html?2 Thanks again Kate.

I spoke to DA just this morning. The nice Customer Service Lady said that its a good rose for my climate (very similar to the Pacific Northwest). She said that its a heathy rose but not so hardy if I lived closer to the sea. (There's a couple very, very small mountains between the sea and my garden so I'm ok) I also asked why its a lesser known variety. She answered a distinctive London accent, "it's just an older variety, we're not hiding it or anything. It's a lovely rose, beautiful cups with fewer petals so the rain doesn't affect them as much. It would do well for you in Donegal as long as your a bit inland from the coast." I hope that helps. I'm not sure what your zone is. M.

Ugh Cynthia - The Prince is coming and he better be on best behavior is all I got to say! Though I will coddle him. lol I love Munstead Wood but planted him next to a tree stump so he's been sluggish, I'm told to feed him more and he may muscle up! Tess is gorgeous but I'd need that beautiful stone wall to put her on. Hmm... what would hubby say about that? What are your thoughts on Othello and Falstaff as far as growth, fragrance and disease? It sounds like they've only been in one year so then it would be premature. I can't wait to see pictures of them! Snow cover here hasn't been so great this year, we got 8" dropped in October then nothing till January 10th I think. There's maybe 6" inches out there now. Our weather man said that this winter will now be the new norm so that'll be curious. We've had very mild temps and if this is the new norm we will be moving into a new hardiness zone, so far that is. Sunday's supposed to be 54 degrees, grab your bathing suits! :)

the blooms produce during the summer heat are very different to the regular blooms, specially in texas. no other david austin has that exact shade of red/hot pink and peach with intense fruity fragance