I've just started posting after lurking for many years. I've harrased my family and friends with flower pics for long enough, I thought I would go global. ;) Thank you so much for your sweet comments! Seil & jjpeace, I grew up in Michigan in zone 5 (at the time). I know exactly how hard growing roses there is! I remember my mom thought our roses were coming down with a dread disease that turned all our roses, one by one, year after year, into single dark red roses. I only discovered who the good Dr.Huey was after extensive research at the library (pre-Internet days). Where I am now, you don't have to be a great gardener to grow reasonable healthy roses. I will say though, there is nothing as beautiful as Michigan in the summer, all those lush green rolling hills, long days and colorful sunsets. :) Jjpeace, I'll post a pic of iceberg in spring if I can find one.

Thanks all. Lisa Adams, A few days ago when it was very hot, it had a strong sweet scent. Today when it was hot but windy, I couldn't smell anything. Sara-Ann, The blooms only look good in very dry heat. It always looks awful in rainy weather for me, the flowers just don't open even though the rain was very brief. They last a VERY long time in the heat too though, the perfect desert rose.

Darren, What! I have read* that the reason Pope John Paul II is not carried by the big rose houses in England is because its name brings anti-Catholic sentiment forward among some Englishmen. Such individuals would not purchase it for that reason. This lovely rose's name causing such a rejection leaves me dumbfounded. It was commented also that Thompson & Morgan, mostly a seed merchant, is the only source of it in England, an unusual situation.....a seed company selling a rose plant, and a controversial one, to boot. What further amazes me is that the decline in Christianity in Europe, churches becoming historical, architectural museums and tourist destinations, instead of houses of worship, would indicate to me that the populace's sentiments would cause them to care less about a rose being named in honor of a deceased Catholic patriarch. Sorry for your setback. Be patient Darren, and continue trying very hard to get Pope John Paul II. It is worth the effort. Try to get it grafted, if at all possible. I believe grafted, it will grow more vigorously, produce bigger and more abundant blooms. Moses *refer to the post on the Antique Roses Forum: -this post is in regards to the Austin rose, Roald Dahl- "I, for one, will NOT be ordering the new Ronald Dahl! EVER!" posted by David Beck. See Marlorena's (Marlorena-z8 England), response, posted Friday March 16, 2018.

BenT and Seil: thank you for posting pictures. They are both beautiful. It helps to see pictures of the rose bush and not Just the rose.