The RRD that I saw on my rose last year was very obvious. The leaves were smaller than normal and more numerous, there were more thorns very close together, and the flowers weren't developing properly. The infected canes were very different than the rest of the bush. Luckily, I saw it early enough that cutting out the canes seems to have stopped the infection as the rose appears to be normal this spring. Read through Ann's book so you know what to look for, and watch your roses so you know what is normal. Red growth is normal, small leaves that get larger is normal, even thorns that are close together that space out as the cane grows is normal. But many small leaves close together, on a cane with too many thorns, with flowers that don't look right should be checked out.

Back when RRD was first being looked at, there was a west coast comment that at least one investigator thought that there were two different strains of it going around and the west coast one was less serious. Probably not the same thing, but worth keeping in mind. One problem, in this current decade, is that plant pathologists are no longer symptomologists but many are looking at things at a molecular level, instead. The one time I've seen RRD with those odd leaves (but with additional symptoms) was on a multiflora from a river bed up in the mountains of Virginia, just south of the KY line. Not anywhere near cultivated roses. It was growing in a place that would be heaven for any rose. Could this be a hint that Odyssey's roses were also happiest? There are probably trigger temperatures out there...just guessing.

Hi, Laura - Hope you make it to the cemetery next Wed (Sep 3). I'll be up in Seattle for a week so won't be in the cemetery the following weekend or Sep 10. Yes, I can show you how new tea roses send up those alarmingly tall canes as they start to mature - there's a Mlle de Sombreuil at the front of the rose garden (next to the arch with Sombreuil) that is doing that right now. People come to me and ask, "Is that rose going to be a climber???" The answer is, no, it's just showing how tall the overall plant will be, once the rest of the growth catches up. Our Mme. Antoine Mari is relatively compact, though. It's up in the Broadway Bed in plot 9. Hope to see you next week. I'll be in the cemetery all morning tomorrow, too - Aug 30. Anita

From what I can see, it doesn't look like RRD to me. I have no direct experience with RRD, BUT, I did present a Love Song and South Africa with growth VERY similar to what I can see on your image. New growth can look different, and can vary dependent upon the class of rose etc. The RRD or not consensus for my roses, including that of Ann, was it likely was not RRD, but funky growth nonetheless. Two years later, those roses are fine.... I would, however, remain open to more analysis, and as Patty wrote, more images from different angles etc. would be helpful for those who know the RRD menace well. Good luck. Lynn