Here are my labels. I used the PawPaw tall stands, and made labels on my P-Touch labeler. I used the black tape with gold lettering. I also spray painted the label stand background with black glossy paint (it's silver), since the label wasn't as wide as the stand (the widest label I can use in my label maker was 1"). I like the way they look, however, the gold lettering doesn't stand out as well in full sunlight, so I'm considering using a different color going forward. I have the template set up and a database of my rose names, so all I have to do is print them up. My only criticism of the Paw Paw stands is that they can be bent easily if you are walking around your roses and step on them. So get extra :)

We have a contemporary home and are doing color blocks just as you are. Therefore, I have (4) roses in each color. I chose fragrant roses with the best vase - these are incompatible traits, which is why it is not easy to find (and the reason why florist roses don't have scent). The Reds: Lasting Love (not as fragrant to my nose, but other people smell its fragrance more than I do) Oklahoma - As someone wrote above...shame on me. Not the best for a cut rose, but I couldn't help myself - the fragrance is heavenly. The Garden Center told me that if I kept it well pruned so that the stems are thicker it will last better in a vase so I thought I would try it. Mr. Lincoln - Not the best leaves as it is susceptible to powdery mildew, but I will be proactive with the Neem oil and baking soda. Velvet Fragrance - I have no experience with this one and took a chance because it is a very fragrant English HT. The Whites: Sugar Moon - I caved I got (2) of these bushes because it has everything. Pope John Paul II Secret's Out The Yellows: Midas Touch Valencia Golden Celebration - HT yellow roses have the worst vase life of any of the colors, therefore, I chose this category to enjoy a couple Austins that are known for their vase life. Teasing Georgia The Lavenders: Neptune - I got (2) of these bushes because it has everything. Stainless Steel - I got (2) of these bushes because it has everything. The Pinks: Elle Memorial Day Sweet Surrender Chandos Beauty As for your list...there are some roses that have an excellent reputation for scent that I can barely smell, and I have an excellent sense of smell so go figure....it's a mystery to me. Instead of beating myself up about it I just steered clear of Fragrant Cloud and Bellaroma because they appear to my nose to have a subtle fragrance. Bewitched has an amazing fragrance, but I chose lighter pinks. New Zealand and Secret are great also, but I ran out of room for pinks. I happen to love Veterans Honor and it has an amazing vase life, but they were out of it at the garden center so I chose Lasting Love instead, which has beautiful glossy foliage.

Pamela, thank you and I promise to write it down this time. :-) Blackcatgirl, your Elle is very pretty. I agree, Gean has a wonderful way with words. Patricia, I can assure you that you do not want to see a photo of my garden right now. The spots have spots. The big picture isn't lovely but there are areas that are beautiful in the midst of the general untidiness from falling leaves and fungal ridden roses. My RdO didn't rebloom very well until the past two years. She took a long time to get around to blooming much but she has been constantly blooming this summer. Always a few blooms, often lots of blooms. Do you think she would do better with a little more time? It's good to see you posting. I miss you! Lordy Hamp, that is a gorgeous big ole girl. She really does like the south. Post as many "huge" pictures as you would like. I've got to remember the "Monster Tillier" :-)My LH has also covered herself with buds just in the past two days. Her last hurrah I guess. I love it that you managed to talk Randy into a rose just as a side note.... Thank you Randall, I'll try to find that lavender. Where you gonna put your Ducher? :-) Lux, I love jasmine. I have Carolina and Confederate jasmine. I wish I could grow lemons here. When I was in California, Carol made us the most wonderful lemon dessert from Meyer lemons from her very own tree. I was most impressed. Your garden sounds lovely. I love reading about all of your gardens! Off to bed. Another long day of work tomorrow. Carol

How lovely to do this for your aunt! You're wise to be strategic about how much work the rose would be and how much bloom there is for the effort. Tomatoes produce a very tangible and profuse benefit for the efforts involved, but sometimes there is a slow return on a rose. Of the three you mention being locally available, by far JFK is the hardiest for me. Neither Honor nor Full Sail has even pretended to overwinter for me in zone 5, thought Seil has had luck with them in zone 6. Sometimes roses that are at their limit of hardiness for your zones may be the ones that fade after a few years. I also don't find that PJPII is a strongly growing rose in any form (grafted or own root). Bolero and Paloma Blanca and Polar Express are all much more reliable bloomers as well as hardy roses for me, and I like the idea of Polar Express. Another rose that you might be able to find at a local store is Snowdrift, which is an Easy Elegance rose. This one is hardy in my zone 4 pocket of the yard and has now in its second year BURST into incredible bloom. I've seen very nice rebloom in other years so I think it would make a steady source of flowers for her, but it's not the best of cutting roses. However, the blooms are fully double and they start out looking cupped as the Austins do. It's also rock solid clean as far as blackspot goes, which is a huge issue for you in NJ. Mine is about 4' tall and wide, which may not fit in her space. Polar Express takes up less real estate and would be as resistant to disease I think for you. Roses Unlimited sells most if not all of these and their gallon-sized roses often come with blooms already on them, but they do take some settling in as opposed to big nursery pots of roses. Do let us know what you decide! Cynthia