Lilyfinch - I was just googling Teasing Georgia Without Support and your Houzz post came up! I just got my 1 gallon own root from Heirloom Roses on Tuesday. Here are two questions for you: 1) would you plant the 1 gallon own-root right away, or put it in a 2-3 gallon pot and then wait for cool fall weather? WE're about to get a heat wave, so I won't plant it this weekend, for sure. 2) How do you think TG would do on a south facing slope that gets a bit of dappled shade during the heat of the late afternoon. I'm worried maybe it won't get as much water as it would want...but maybe it would be okay with a big basin around it? I have my rose/cottage border that you've seen pictures of -- on one side of the border is my walkway and then house. On the far side of the border is a slope -- not too wide - but steep enough that I need stepping stones /stairs and I go slower on them so I don't accidentally break my neck...

I have both CPM and TG, both in the ground for three years now. How much sun does the east side of your house get? I have TG on the east side of mine, and that's maybe 4 hours of morning sun tops due to two massive trees. She hasn't grown a lot but she has been fairly hardy and disease resistant. I've gotten very little rebloom from her but she's notoriously slow about that, so I can't say if it's shade/water or if she's still gearing up. I'm wondering now if she's getting enough water there, based on what others in this thread say. She might get moved next year. CPM I had in a spot much like StrawChicago - clay soil, 4 hours of afternoon sun. Mine was under the canopy of a massive oak tree, and that soil is some of the worst in my yard to be fair. More clay than soil I think! She never bloomed in that spot, and never really grew. Maybe the soil was too heavy and she wasn't getting as much water as I thought. I have a polyantha, 'Sweet Pea', in that bed who's done alright, but started as a two gallon plant where CPM was a one gallon. I moved CPM this spring to a spot with much fluffier soil (still clay but soooo much easier to dig in) and more sun and she's doubled in size already and has two blooms!

Mama Africa is fabulous! I love her form as much as her color. Thank you for sharing. Wow they sent you a letter. I am curious, how many roses are in your fabulous collection? I have 37 roses all on drip, but I hand water deeply a couple times a month for all except the 3 English roses (Golden Celebration on Dr Huey, Darcey Bussell on DH and James Galway own roots) under a Sycamore that get extra water a couple times a week. Dr Huey rootstock does very well competing with Sycamore roots. everything else in my yard is drought tolerant, mostly native Californian or Australian plants plus herbs. Our water bill is high, but probably not more than neighbors, since most everyone here has a lawn. Gardening is my hobby and most hobbies cost money so it doesn’t worry me.

Thank you, Helen. I'm helping a friend with his (rose) garden and need a low thorn climber for his "he-shed". Good health is also a requirement because I doubt he wants to spray all over something he just built. I've been eyeing James since seeing the gorgeous pictures of him growing in Bavaria. So long as he gives three flushes, I think that would suffice. It's just and extra sort of rose. Thank you for taking the time to post pictures of the canes. We also have Teasing Georgia on order and a few others you grow!! : ))