The ARS is funding a three year study at the University of Tennessee. Objectives include trying to develop an ELISA test and studying the spread within garden conditions of a garden composed solely of a single cultivar (way out in the country where there are no rose gardens down wind). They have as RRD source plants severely infected plants of the same cultivar. I haven't heard the results of the first year, yet. ----------------- re R. rugosa. Early on, in the garden we followed at Lincoln Memorial University, there was also a plantings of many Pink Grootendorsts near a building that had been the Dairy. They did not get sick for several years as the modern roses planted immediately downwind of multiflora-rich field whose plants were at least 30%infected with RRD. At one time we found some strange swellings on the PG canes, and they made the rounds of a number of Plant Pathologists; no idea what their problem was, but it was just the swelling. Then five or six years in, a plant got two canes that were even more thorny, whose new growth spiraled, whose leaf margins were different and whose blooms were messed up badly. Now I wish I had made scans of the canes, but we were busy with other plases of following the disease as it spread. The problem with the declarations that certain roses don't get RRD is that no one has ever taken the spectrum of all roses species and planted them in different USDA zones and left them in high disease pressure areas for a five to seven year period. What I've seen this winter, when where I live is zone 7 low temperatures, is that the plants with RRD have grown through winter....at least the parts with RRD have. The uninfected canes have gone semidormant. There's so much that we don't know. Here is a link that might be useful: Rose Rosette E-book

Does the American Rose Society have recommendations on rose rosette? I found articles on their website. When contacting the local society, it would appear they believe there are large numbers of herbicide damage being mistaken as rosette, and there is just no way to tell attitude. I was hoping to find someone besides myself, and the local extension to confirm to others that what is present is actually rosette. I thought if there was a rose expert I could recommend to my HOA to consult with maybe they would wake up. I viewed pictures of herbicide damage, and it looks different. The local extension agent knows the difference, and has seen the difference. My fear is others may take the it is just herbicide damage no worries here attitude. Another resident removed diseased bushes, I wanted to cry when I saw it, because I was so happy someone actually paid attention. Anyone know if you can get arrested from taking photos at public places considered private property such as shopping centers?

I also meant to say that the RRV infection pictured in Our Lady occurred in 2008. So she has gone another 12 years after the cane was cut off. This was not the only RRV rose I've done the cut back to with success. About 10% of my RRV roses with ONLY ONE cane involved recovered if that cane was cut down to the crown immediately upon observation. That means that 90% of the time new growth will also sprout with symptoms showing you that the virus has spread throughout the rose and the whole rose needs to be removed. In the cooler months obviously the growth is slowed down so symptoms may take awhile to emerge.......I say this so that people who have roses that are not easily replaced have a glimmer of hope. I know too well about the decimation RRV can cause. Most are not aware that Tulsa had the 2nd largest rose garden at one time in the United States. When RRV first hit it wiped out 80% of their roses and continued to kill more. Now there are just a hand full from what they used to have. It was a devastating blow to a garden that was installed by the WPA (older folks will know what that organization was). It mowed mine down as well. So if you don't want to mess around with it I understand more then some.......................Maryl

I am not sure anyone knows yet whether RRD can be spread with pruners. I think it's possible so I play it safe and do a lot of sterilizing. I haven't seen any RRD in two years either. Sometimes I wonder if the Bayer spray I use for blackspot makes the roses unappealing to the mites. Not saying that's so, but I wonder. I have not been spraying miticide but it's good to know about Forbid. I'm sorry to hear about your losses, Austin. That's hard. I lost my dear dog several years ago. I did a lot of looking at pictures of Dobermans when I wanted to get a new dog. Austin is so beautiful, and I think Doberman's are just beautiful. I heard they are devoted and are velcro dogs. But one breeder said you have to be very firm with a Doberman and be an alpha with them, or they might be unmanageable. What do you think of that? Your little Elon is very cute, Ben. I ended up getting three Manchester Terriers that look like little Dobermans. They are also velcro dogs, very people oriented. I think I do better with small dogs. If they act up, I can just pick them up. They do act up! One time they got into a box of cake flour and got it all over. You can see that walking them all together is a little tricky. We also have a tiny Miniature Pinscher who is about 17 years old. Here is a painting my son gave me of the dog we lost. He was 13, died of cancer. I named a rose seedling after him. Jack Daniel. From this photo He was lightening fast. Loved to get outside and take off like a streak down the street. In this picture he was running free. Happy. You couldn't catch him but if you called out , " cheese" you could often get him to come in and we'd give him a mozzarella stick. Neighbors called out " cheese" also. We got a little gate to put in front of the front door that helped to keep him from slipping out. But he was a runner, beautiful when running. Jack Daniel rose