Thanks, Kim, for the confirmation. I checked on Chinese chives, it's the same as garlic chives mentioned in Field Roebuck's book. He stated, "In at least one controlled experiment, when planted underneath roses, garlic chives completely eliminated spider mites and reduced aphids." Rose magazine site stated that high-nitrogen chemical fertilizer does encourage aphids. The Canadian website that advocated fall fertilization, rather than spring, cited less insect problems with earlier nitrogen fertilization for wheat fields. Garlic chives have white flowers, it is listed among the invasive species. In my experience with invasive species, it's the least invasive, since it can be pulled up easily. It's a tiny bulb - rather than invasive roots. If you cut the flowering stem off before it becomes seeded, then you stop the growth. I was hoping it becomes invasive enough to gather a gallon for making pot stickers -but it did not spread fast enough in our 40" inch annual rain and high germination in magnesium rich soil. I also have the American chives with purple flowers, this is invasive since it spreads by roots. This chives is more drought-tolerant than Garlic, or Chinese chives. Calendula, or potted marigold, is just as pretty but more drought-tolerant than regular marigold. Calendula host many beneficial insects, especially green lacewings. These lacewings fly around and eat Calendula's pollens. But they give birth to larvae, named aphid lion. More info: "Each lacewing larva will devour 200 or more pests or pest eggs a week ... After this stage, the larvae pupate by spinning a cocoon with silken thread... the adult will live about four to six weeks...Each adult female may deposit more than 200 eggs. Nectar, pollen, and honeydew stimulate their reproductive process." What I like the most about garlic chives, or Chinese chives is its medicinal and anti-inflammation properties. It's especially yummy in potstickers, better than green onions. I like Calendula (comes in bright yellow and bright orange), since they are drought tolerant and still bloom during frost. Below is a picture of Calendula in my tomato garden:

Taoseeker, Thanks for the information on the European history with long term use of their most common rootstocks. I find it interesting and very useful and hope for long term good results - more vigorous root growth translating into more resilient bushes. I do remember seeing a number of times R. laxa use mentioned in the hybridizing experiments by the Canadian pioneer prairie hybridizer. One of the Skinners I have is apparently a cross with it and a pimpinefollia - sorry have not taken the time to check if it is Haidee Suzanne Butterball or all. Makes me wonder if that was the influence of their European ancestry, availability or factual superior hardiness - don't know but in 5 years I should. By the way very pleased to see very good cane survival for the first year on my Portland named Marie Jean I got from Lynnette last year when she gave up on it. Melissa, There is a gentleman in British Columbia I met through Lynnette who has made it a mission to collect and save Geschwinds. I need to let him know what I received and get him some cuttings. The two Canadian nurseries that I would be happy to share cuttings (gratis) that graft I have not approached as it gets too close to commercial for me and I would have to be absolutely sure that the roses are out of patent before even contact (most are over 100 years old so I am probably safe). However I sense both of them have absolutely the strictest of QA controls and would do it on their own so as to be sure of providence and disease free stock - if they survive winter and prosper I may contact them to guage their interest ... they both export to the States. Kaylah Hi, I was fortunate my Charles de Mills that I cover and is in the south gardens has 3 foot canes and lots of them ... problem is blooms are usually in short supply and last year I think I got 3. I leave it as it always grows well and takes to protection well. All my other dark gallicas are history except for the many exmaples of Belle d'Crecy I got as delambre - it also seems to survive well if covered ... but too much damage and the blooms are gone. All my cardinal Richelieu departed voluntarily over the years (3). Me I fool around with teas but only in pots and bring them in in October ... got a couple new ones this year. My FMkruger ... is a monster in zone 3 (hahhaha) and I think I must of got the most vigorous clone of this tea via Quebec. Kids you not take a cutting - stick in earth in the house and it takes like in February when I accidentally snapped a branch off ... now I got two with the younger being already at least foot high in 4 months and has gone through one bloom cycle. But the one I really miss is Mrs Schwartz ... almost as reliable as Mlle Franz Krueger (sp) ... forgot to take a cutting and over wintered her in the garage and she and all the other ones died - fortunately had cuttings for 3 of them in the basement to replace them - there as tall in two 365 day a year growing seasons as the originals.

Over the years I have built up a library of rose books to the point of starting to give away some of the more basic ones I started with in the early days. That is pretty much how I react to any new interest, build a reference library. Learn to knit: knitting books and books on sheep breeds and wools. Learn to sew: books on sewing technique and history of fashion and fabrics. Remodel the house: books on architectural styles and historic tiles and interior design. Probably none of you could guess what I trained for as a profession. Anyway, I have too many favorite rose books to make a manageable list but I'm not going to let that stop me. For starters, I would like to second Liz Druitt's book. It is exceptional. She's a nice person, too. I've never met her but when my dog died she sent me the most moving note on FB. I still tear up when I remember it. For pure eye candy I recommend Visions of Roses by Peter Beales as being very inspirational. Beautiful American Rose Gardens by Mary Tonetti Dorra is a similar book with the added bonus for Americans that it showcases gardens grown in climates familiar to us. You will get great ideas from both of these. Damask55Linen, you mentioned enjoying a book on the origin of rose names. Several came out all at the same period. If you'd like to read more you could try Naming the Rose by Roger Mann and A Rose By Any Name by Stephen Scanniello. Roger Mann was a regular poster the Antique Roses Forum back in the early days until Spike threw him off in a fit of pique. Stephen still posts from time to time, so these books are in a sense visits with old friends. It is at least like reading a book written by someone from your old hometown; they know the same "streets" you know. Stephen Scanniello also wrote Climbing Roses which fed my love of climbers. Today climbers are among my favorites. If a gardener grows roses in a warm climate with mild winters, he owes himself a copy of Tea Roses: Old Roses for Warm Climates written by six Australian rose historians and gardeners who visited the US while doing their research. However if you garden in a climate with a severe winter, you might try Hardy Roses by Robert Osborne (lots more roses in the revised edition) or even Growing Roses Organically by Barbara Wilde. That last book covers similar concerns as Liz Druitt's book does, only for areas that get much colder so the selection of roses is different. And while I cannot help but think of this one and that one I really should mention, I'll end with In Search of Lost Roses by Thomas Christopher. This wonderfully readable book describes the adventure of rediscovering lost roses better than any other I have read. Have at it! Rosefolly

Anyone have any experience with either? Growth habit? Full sun or a bit of shade?