Devon, Beautiful sentiments, truly. There is something immensely cathartic with having your hands in the soil and to have the privilege of both contributing too and observing nature in all of its splendour. These are all the reasons I became enchanted with gardening in general. Niels, Regarding bees, there are problems even in Europe with the Bumblebee and declining numbers. There was an article featured in the most recent RNRS semi-annual publication regarding the declining numbers of Bumblebees and potential agriculture and ecosystem impact. I too noticed a decline in the number of bees in general last year. They were there, but just not in the overwhelming numbers of years previous. Both my neighbours and I have a number of Rose of Sharon shrubs and a few Hydrangeas. Both of these are favorite feasts of the Bees and their presence in great numbers is omnipresent while those shrubs are blooming. Last year saw a dramatic decrease in the overall numbers to be sure. Here are a couple of pics from last August. No matter how I might tryÂand admittedly, I really donÂt try very hard cause I am a guy after allÂI just canÂt help myself from thinking how this really looks like this bee is seriously copulating the heck out of this Dainty Bess bloom. LOL This bee certainly got his fill of pollen in these blooms of Mary Rose and appeared to be totally pollen drunk. I watched it for about 5 minutes as it literally rolled around and just frolicked inside 3 or 4 open blooms that were in close proximity to each other.

You have quite a variety available in this area. If you like OGRs ... Albas/Gallicas/Damasks are hardy but once-blooming. Damask-Portlands are hardy and repeat. Boubons/Hybrid Perpetuals are mostly hardy and repeat. Chinas/Noisettes/Teas are not hardy here. David Austin roses - many are hardy (not all though) and repeat. HTs are borderline hardy over the winter, usually need protection, but some make it ok without. The Explorer series is one to look at, Morden as well. Kordes too, is hardy and has some beautiful selections. You do have quite a few options. Take a look through the Pickering website, under the different classes of roses I mentioned, and look for the ones that appeal to you. A lot of people don't like the idea of once-blooming roses. I just want to say that there are some pros to once-bloomers as well. Their big flush of bloom is quite simply spectacular. They make really nice garden shrubs (for the most part) while they are not blooming, a good backdrop to the rest of the garden. They tend to bloom before Japanese Beetles start attacking roses and so aren't affected by them very much (huge plus). Very hardy in our zone and only need pruning after they bloom. These classes of roses are certainly something to look into. I have a nice mix of once-bloomers and repeat-bloomers. The colour of the Gallicas, and the beauty of the Damasks and Albas is hard for me to ignore, but neither do I want to go most of the summer without roses :) so I compromise!! Here is a link that might be useful: Mad Dogs and Englishmen

I agree that you might want to consider training the roses flat onto a trellis against your condo. Two feet isn't really wide enough for roses to grow in their natural form -- even many modern ones, in my opinion. I cannot think of a single rose I grow that is as narrow as two feet in width. I would recommend that you start by contacting Palantine (http://palatineroses.com/roses) or Regan's (http://www.regannursery.com), and it is not too early to shop right now for next spring. Some varieties are already sold out. While I prefer to grow own root roses in my situation, for you I recommend grafted bare roots, at least in the case of the old once blooming roses (gallicas, albas, and damasks). These will sucker on their own roots, sending up canes from the roots at a distance from the main plant. They are trying to form a thicket and without your constant attention, they will. With your narrow bed, you don't have space to deal with this issue, so grafted will suit you best. Palantine uses multiflora as a rootstock. That is probably a better rootstock in your climate than Dr Huey, the rootstock used by most rose grafters in the United States. I don't know what rootstock Regan's is using. The vendor they used to get their roses from is not shipping this year. Of the ones you listed, I would NOT buy Autumn Damask. It is fragrant and healthy, and it does repeat some, but it is a huge, coarse, and viciously thorny plant, best grown in the back forty and viewed in a landscape rather than close up in a small garden. You would not be at all happy trying to train it flat against a trellis. Also, do not buy Mme Isaac Perriere unless you plan to spray fungicides. In a humid summer climate it will get a LOT of blackspot. It is as beautiful and fragrant as you are imagining, so your taste is excellent! Do not be discouraged. I think you will find a way to make it work, and in the end, your garden will be lovely. Rosefolly Here is a link that might be useful: Palantine Roses

Check the resurected thread below, about David Austin cuttings. Apparently, the Winchester Cathedral, propagates very nicely from cuttings, according to object16. Also, this rose, nicely reverts to Mary Rose, which is a beautiful pink, and was the rose that put David Austin on the map. Enjoy. Also, object16 has some nices photos that he provides a link to. Cheers,