Make sure you pick a site with plenty of room for Marianne. It gets huge (definitely more at the 8' plus size than the 5' size in my yard.) I'm going to be digging mine out after it blooms because it is just too big and I don't like the way the bush looks. At least it's not thorny. The blossoms are some of the most beautiful of any of my roses, but I don't like the plant--reminds me more of an Austin than a gallica--glossy leaves and somewhat of an octopus. It's a matter of personal taste--for a Barden gallica, I like Ellen Tofflemire MUCH better. It took a couple of years for Marianne to get started--died back by about 1/2 the first couple of years, but now it's really healthy. It's going to get stuck back against a fence in the corner where I can enjoy the blooms but not have to look at it the rest of the year. Here's Marianne in bloom--it IS gorgeous then:

Yippee! Mariann, I am so happy to hear that you are going to Well-Sweep. Their catalog had lots of stuff I'd like to try - especially the scented geraniums. I'd love to get some of those for my sis. I really hope you enjoy your trip and get some great plants. You deserve it!!! Although the debris in my yard is slowly but surely decreasing, the heat has been unbelievable. When sis got sick and the trees fell, I just didn't have the heart to get into the gardens. I was so sad to see my babies under all that stuff. Thinking about my sis, I just couldn't bear to go out and look at struggling plants. But lately, I've been peeking around a bit. I'm amazed that some flowers are still going strong, and others are recovering on their own. My Ruds are gorgeous as are the zinnias. I have two kinds of JMG that amaze me each time I go see them. I have variagated KMOGG that I wintersowed that is absolutely beautiful! I wish I had sown more. I must figure out how to harvest the seeds. I've harvested some seeds from a yellow 4 Oclock and a broken one too. I also have a vine white lady that is right at the gate that I love to see when I enter each day. Other things blooming away are several types of amaranthus, cosmos, and dahlias. I guess God's been out there doing the gardening for me. Isn't that wonderful?!?! I am looking forward to the fall when I hope to rebuild some beds and get my hands in the dirt again. So, what's blooming for yall? I was happy to see yall posting before our little thread went off the page. Fran, How are you? I see your swap is going strong. I can't imagine shipping anything in the heat we've had lately - over 100 degrees. Bunny, You doing ok? I miss talking to you since I've been away from the computer so much. Kids doin good? Have a great Friday tomorrow and a nice weekend. Nik

Hi, Christopher! You don't owe me a thing. I adore my "DLFED 3" with or without bloom. It's special to me because Kim Rupert bred it and you and I swapped for it. :-) I'm pretty sure it will bloom this year. It has produced a jungle of new growth! 'Indigo': mine has begun to spread much more enthusiastically as well. When you first asked about her behavior, she was a moderate traveler in my garden. Paul Barden, whose climate and soil are similar to mine, mentioned that his 'Rose de Rescht' doesn't spread much at all. After five years, mine started to travel, crawling under a small stone wall and leaping across the bed space. I know what you mean about the newer hybrid teas, even the dark red ones. I am keeping one 'Mr. Lincoln' (which my mother grew) and passing along the rest. As time passes, the old roses, plus a VERY small group of sentimental moderns, appeal to me more and more. I also have two 'Frances Dubreuil' teas in big pots, and I wouldn't be without them even if they are 'Barcelona' HTs. I'd love to hear about the cemetery garden you are planting. I must have missed the discussion during my check-ins. Ingrid and John, thank you for the "welcome back"! Ingrid, the closest I've gotten to Tahiti is a Gauguin exhibit, although I have to admit to preferring Redoute. :-) John, I love your moniker. My husband is insane about figs, too. We have a tree in our back garden which shoots up to twice its size after pruning...to my dismay (since it shades my roses) and my husbands great delight. :-) Carol

WoW! I love white flowers, and those one are very pretty! on varigated pinky leaves it is beautiful Marianne