Hi Beth - I'm new to this forum, but not new to coastal Southern Cal rose growing, so I'll chime in too. I'm in San Juan Capistrano on the South end of Orange County and about 2.5 miles from the beach in a coastal canyon. So I know all about roses in the marine layer fog. Mildew, not black spot, is the bane of our existence here. The only blackspot I've ever seen in my garden was on florist roses. But I do spray. And the three most fragrant ones on your list -- Double Delight, McCartney Rose and Fragrant Cloud -- will mildew even with religious spraying. But, the fragrance is worth it and I grow all three. No one has told you about the rose societies here yet. There are several. I go all the way south to the California Coastal Rose Society in Carlsbad. That's probably too far for you. There are two other OC rose societies -- the Orange County Rose Society which meets very near to Huntington Beach in Westminster -- they focus on exhibitions and hold their show the last weekend of October every year at Rogers Gardens. There's also another one that focuses mostly on gardening, garden tours and garden parties -- no exhibiting -- which is the Saddleback Rose Society -- that one's a bit inland for both of us. Wholly different climate those folks have. You can get to either one by googling the names, or I've put a link in here for the OCRS. On the rest of your list, I've grown most of them, and they do just fine. But as a general rule, in coastal cool areas like ours, fewer petals is better. Many roses just won't open like they do in hot climes, and sometimes you just die waiting for a leeeetle bit of heat to get them open, which never comes. So, plan to have some that open without heat. As for colors, try these -- Pink -- Our Lady Of Guadalupe is by far the best pink floribunda. But also check out The Imposter and Lovestruck, both of which do well for me. For Hybrid Teas, I like Memorial Day. Purple -- Intrigue is okay, but try Purple Tiger -- it's better and it's striped. It does really well on the coast. For a Hybrid Tea, I like Neptune and one that Armstrongs carries called Della Reese that is a darker purple hybrid tea with occasional exhibition form. Orange -- About Face Red -- I'm still looking for a good one. Yellow -- Julia Child or Midas Touch. Or even Peace, which gets enormous blooms on the coast. Multi -- get some stripes -- City of Carlsbad if you can find it or Cabana if you can't. Have fun. I seem to move every few years just BECAUSE I get to replenish my garden. Enjoy it. Kathy Here is a link that might be useful: Orange County Rose Society

Just like last year my NZL is putting out a ton of flowers while some leaves drop and grown pre-ripe fruit drops to feed flower that turn to fruits that were then sacrificed to produce more flowers. Was growing daily and stopped when tree started flowering then dropped as new fruits started. Flavorless. The new set of fruit-lets will grow and the tree will flower again and drop the growing fruits to feed the flowers. My tree is under good light. I am questioning whether the US897 rootstock is worth using. Steve

Bossy, very nice tree!! Sorry about the deer demolishing your citrus! We live in the country, surrounded by acres of fields and forests, and this area has always had a huge deer population.. They have a way of knowing what goodies you just planted.. They have demolished my gardens, newly planted orchards etc.. and will jump or trample any fence you put up.. sigh.. In the second picture, it looks like your tree has a nutrient deficiency. The leaves have that Christmas tree pattern.. I believe it is chlorosis.. It is a lack of uptakes of nutrients..Can someone correct me if am wrong? I just read about it recently . Let me see if I can find the link..

Before you do anything find out if anybody wants to trade cuttings. If your main is too short,you could straighten the strongest side shoot and make that your new main and get rid of all the others. After that new main branch gets taller, tip of the top, this will start your scaffold branches much higher, just keep four, spread out equally if possible. This is just one way doing it.