We dropped to 28 this morning, and were under 32 for 3 hours, and I see no damage on anything. I checked my Japanese maples, roses, tulips, magnolias, fruit trees, tall phlox, and everything tender has perked up again. The rose buds were very small, not full, so that may make a difference. Some of the roses were newly planted (just shipped in from Texas) and not really hardened off but I think they are fine also. Whew!

Oh they are lovely, I had some seed from them but the tags all washed clean and I don't know if it sprouted. :( I'll have to trade you something sometime to make sure I get some next time.

Lovely, T. I have one really prolific rose here, where I am in the sub-tropics, it's Meillands (Medilands) 'Seduction'. I also have one David Austin that grows and flowers almost as well (a red, I forget its name, will have to look it up) and am looking for others. Also your Amadeaus, that looks promising, I might go do a 'Google' on it and see if it'll grow in (US) zone 10. Nice show, and nice 'clean' bushes too - no blackspot, no aphids. B B B.

Hi Mad Gallica, Well I'll meet your bragging challenge. I have 3 own root Darcy Bussell roses purchased last year from a David Austin vendor in NY. They wintered over beautifully, suffered little damage excepting broken canes due to the tremendous amount of snow Massachusetts got this winter and the cold spring which kept the heavy melting snow on them until mid April. They are easily 3 feet tall and loaded with buds. I have 3 more DB purchased from Chamblees this spring which are also loaded with buds and are growing like crazy. This is David Austin own root Darcy Bussell planted last summer. And these are the 3 Chamblees own root still in pots. I also have 3 own root Ambridge rose from David Austin that were planted last summer and are growing well. These had to be cut to the ground due to cane breakage but they are also loaded with buds and thriving. I also just planted 3 Gentle Hermione own roots from David Austins. The root system was huge and the roses are growing well considering they've only been planted about 2 weeks. I would not hesitate to purchase own root roses directly from David Austin Roses. My only wish is that they had more own root varieties available. This is my Ambridge Rose own root purchased from the DA vendor in NY and planted last summer. She was cut back to the ground in early May after the snow melted due to severe cane breakage and is doing quite well. This is Lady of Shalot from last year purchased from Heirlooms if I remember correctly and wintered over in a pot in the ground. I have read that after several years that the grafted roses lose their vigor and produce less roses. This is anecdotal, so I'm not claiming whether it is true or not. I like the fact that if the rose dies back to the ground, which can occur frequently here with our cold temps and sometimes lack of snow cover the same rose will grow back. With own root I don't have to worry about having all my roses grow back as Doctor Huey as happened to IvaKassin or revert to multaflora rose. I also don't have to try to discern suckers from top growth or other issues that occur with grafted roses. I have had grafted Austins that had little vigor, I think this is more a trait of the specific rose rather than if it's grafted or not. So I'll readily agree with MustbNuts and purchase own root roses whenever possible. Sharon