I have never grown the rose sold as La Reine, but have a couple in the cemetery that are "La Reine-type" roses in addition to Barbara's Pasture Rose. BPR is more vigorous and shapely a plant than the other ones. I grow it in my home garden right outside my office window and it blooms heavily and repeatedly. Occasionally its leaves get a bit spotty - more the "damask crud" type thing than true black spot - but generally it's clean, and has no problem with powdery mildew or rust, which are more common in Sacramento than black spot. It's a wonderful rose. A nice medium old-rose fragrance too. We are going to have at least half a dozen for sale at the open garden on Apr 12. If you have room for another rose and don't grow it, grab it! Anita

I like this rose. I ordered it from B&B Roses back when that nursery was in business, and was horrified when a gopher got it. Fortunately I found it in time and was able to rehydrate it and root cuttings. In my experience, this rose might be a good candidate for growing in partial shade. I have one in full sun and the other in fairly heavy shade. The one in the shade was a backup in case something happened to the one planted in the sun, and then I forgot it was there. The one in shade is lanky and tall trying to reach more light, but it is quite healthy and it blooms as well as the one in the sun. Rosefolly

That's good to hear, Sheila. I can't wait till our next trip to Sacramento so I can check it out! I'll take a sharp pruner, some labels and bags, water bottles and paper towels and have me some fun. ;) Barbara's Pasture Rose, Jessie Hildreth, Old Town Novato...my list wants to grow. Maybe you all have some suggestions of "must haves" from the garden, since y'all have much more rose experience than I do. I hope we get there in the next few months, but I never know far ahead of time when business might call us over.

@roseseek and @judijunebugarizonazn8 - The pepper tree that is most invasive for me is the "Brazilian Pepper". The nearest one to my yard is several houses up the street, yet I keep getting seedlings starting to grow in my wetter areas. If i find them soon enough they are easy to remove. Unfortunately, I have one that has made it's home in my "Sombreuil/ Colonial White" rose that is on my hill. I keep cutting it back even under the soil but it comes back as strong as ever. I'm afraid to be too ruthless with it as to damage the rose's roots - aaargh! I have two "California Peppers" planted on my hill and I much prefer their lax, weeping form to the Brazilian. Alas, they are not propagating themselves... And - yes- I blame the BIRDS - eating the peppers and pooping the seeds in my yard!