Really....RRV was never used as a control method nor was it introduced from anywhere. It has been around the U.S. since at least the 1940s. Was it likely spread by the use of multiflora as fences and such? Sure. But being mad about that would make as much sense as being mad 20 years from now if we discover that something we can't currently detect that is found on say Knock Outs, causes all other roses to die. Multiflora as a fence was a conservation idea and it works quite well if the person who uses it is willing to maintane it. Have there been things introduced that back fired? Sure. But the list of invasive and devasting ecosystem criters that have come here on their own is a far longer list: Japanese Beetles Fire Ants Raspberry Ants Africanized Bees Cactus Moths Asian Citrus Psylid Mistle toe Water Hyacinth Snake Heads Armored Catfish Formosen Termites etc etc etc. Do Chemicals have a place? Yes. Should they be used exclusively or all the time-probably not but that is your decision. The above linked article was an uninformed paper from 2000 and I haven't been able to find any evidence that people ever used RRV as a control method. He was writing as it showed promise as a possible control method. In case you don't realize how this works currently, they test it extensively in controlled situations prior to using it as a commercial control. They have been testing a parasitic wasp to control fire ants for over a decade and still haven't released them.

Y'all need to read that blog. :) Addie was buried in June. No excuse for a shallow grave, except the fact that she was buried in a hurry in the wee hours, and her husband and/or attending physician did not follow legal procedures of the time, requiring a burial permit. One of the reasons for these "legal procedures" was to achieve uniformity in burial practices. The fact that there was no burial permit for Addie was a big red flag. The fact that her doctor LIED (on the death certificate) and said there *was* a burial permit was another big red flag. She allegedly died of diphtheria, but that was just a bad lie. There were no cases of diphtheria in Lake Mills in 1901, or so said Addie's doctor in his report to the state four months after Addie's death. I've read the newspapers for that time period, and I've also read the reports from the state board of health. No diphtheria anywhere NEAR Addie's city. I've done my research. :) Addie did not die of diphtheria. If you want to learn why that's so, read the link below. It is a fascinating story, and I have learned a WHOLE lot, due in large part to the kindness of others, and their love of the truth. Everyone wants to know what happened to 29-year-old Addie Hoyt, and so many people want to help, and that's been a blessing. Thanks for the comments. Rose Here is a link that might be useful: Diphtheria? No way.

I always thoroughly enjoy walking by this rose, and I think I will have to at least try to get a cutting. The plant itself is HUGE, y'all. It has grown into a very interesting shape with one large stem (like at least 4" thick) growing completely horizontally along the ground so that it looks like 2 plants that take up that whole bed. I'm pretty sure it's just one plant, though. I couldn't get into the bush far enough to see how big around the base is. I have a much larger yard than I used to (when space was too challenging to plant larger roses), so I should be able to find a good spot for it. I will be posting the rest of the pics now, maybe in multiple posts. Thanks for all the help, everyone! Keep it coming!

Thank you all for the replies. I'm very excited about visiting the rose creator Vaporvac is mentioning. Next summer when the roses are in bloom so I can see how they look and smell them myself. I would need to decide either to replace some or change the garden layout. My neighbour has a Hybrid Musc, very tall and healthy and it smells heavenly on my terrace. They also grow throughout the city in parcs ans alleys. For the HdB, pegging or growing around a cone, why not both since I have two small bushes. I could test and see what works best. For the blackspot I thought of planting tomatoes throughout the rose beds; I hear they are perfect companions. About the mystery rose, this is where it grows, on the right wall competing with a wisteria and a trumpet Vine. Doesn't stand a chance, it's a wonder it made 5 blooms all year. I don't have a pic of itself since I never thought I needed one but in the wisteria pic you can see the poor thing launching itself right in the middle of the wall. It grows to surpass it by a couple of meters in height if I let it, but this year I pruned it. I do have however a picture of the bloom in all its Glory. About 5-7cm across.