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?

The follwing was stated by jokewing: "jJust wondering why henry kuska ONLY makes posts having to do with diseases and death? Has anyone else noticed this? Why is he even worried about roses if the thinks they are so disease ridden? " H.Kuska comment: Jockewing, perhaps your own post is a good explanation as to why I feel knowledge about what is known/unknown about rose diseases is important. "Posted by jockewing 9a (My Page) on Thu, Jul 4, 13 at 16:18 Yes Thornton, I hope you are right. With the amazing science we have today, I'm surprised more roses with such qualities have not been released. It just baffles me that the most beautiful flower we are able to grow is plagued with so many problems. Why must that be? There are so many beautiful plants that are such a breeze, but in my opinion nothing is so special as a classic hybrid tea rose. Why must they be plagued with so many diseases and pests? I admire the Knockouts, but I just don't think they are beautiful except perhaps in mass plantings from a distance, say at a commercial building or along the highway. We want giant flowered hybrid teas with the same vigor!!! It really makes me sad that virtually NO ONE I know in my area grows any classic hybrid teas at all, with may the exception of a few here or there, usually in an older neighborhood." http://forums2.gardenweb.com/forums/load/roses/msg0715030426702.html ----------------------------------------------- Additional H.Kuska comment: If you are interested in my other contributions to rose growing why not do a Google search with the search terms: "Henry Kuska" and roses or you could get a partial view at the following thread: http://forums2.gardenweb.com/forums/load/roses/msg0411322117173.html Here is a link that might be useful: link to earlier thread This post was edited by henry_kuska on Sun, Oct 20, 13 at 16:33

I'm new to roses (planted my first rose garden in 2011) and, thus far, they're all healthy, but I do read a lot and want to be educated and ready to remove plants if it becomes necessary. I saw my first RRD rose at my local independent nursery a few days ago. A landscaper had brought in a branch and blooms. The horticulturist on staff at the nursery was kind enough to gather a few of us around and point out what to look for. In all honesty, it looked really different in person than what I had here-to-then seen online and read in descriptions of the virus. It was really helpful to see the "witch's broom"-like growth, the blooms that looked like it was grown at a leaking nuclear plant, and the weird thorniness that were like thorn-hair. This particular afflicted plant was off a Knockout variety but I know it can affect all roses, so I'm watching everything at my house, praying that I don't have to "euthanize" any. Pretty scary. Wish there was something we could do to avoid it. Makes you feel so helpless. . .

My sympathies as I have also lost favorite roses to this horrible disease. This weekend I was at the District Conference for the ARS and there was much talk about RRD and other pests and diseases. The term we loved was 'be a tall shadow in your garden' meaning be a presence there to look over everything. We all get busy, lazy, sick, hurt and can't be out there all the time. But when we can we need to be aware of what it looks like normally so we know when something is not right. I was able to save one bush by noticing some weird growth at the tip of a cane, which I cut out. 3 years later, and so far no more signs of RRD on that bush. This fall I found some suspicious growth on another rose, so I cut out that cane. Time will tell. If Little Mischief looks ok, then you can plant next to it. I would think all of the mites are dead or dormant at this time of year. But watch Little Mischief very carefully when it comes out of dormancy in the spring. That is when RRD can show up.