Great preliminary report, Vicky. I only have a few of these and two are new. First I want to say, I'm sorry that you lost your Dad. I know you are greatly comforted in knowing where he is now:) I don't really do red roses, but I have investigated Rouge Royale because my sons seem to like red roses, and those Romantica Roses by Meilland do so well for me. I'll add what I've observed so far in the roses that I have from your list. Earth Angel: Impulse buy at Lowe's. Potted, big healthy looking bush. Fell in love with the pictures someone posted over on the regular Rose forum. It is still in it's purple Kordes pot.(I know, bad rose lady!) The blooms did bleach out too much in full sun, but once I moved the pot to afternoon shade, I got the blooms I bought it for. They are absolutely perfect! The scent is amazing, too. I did get some funny colored leaves, that looked exactly like iron deficiency. I gave it a bit of ironite, and it cleared up. Others told me later that Earth Angel sometimes does this in response to a sudden overwatering, too. I'm not getting many blooms, but right now I've moved EA into even more shade, just because it's so hot. I'm more concerned with keeping my potted roses alive right now, than bloom production. Once it cools off and I settle this rose in, I believe I'm going to be crazy about it. I cut every bloom it gave me, and kept it by my bedside. Fabulous! Cream Veranda: I have two of them. They are in large baskets with a water reservoir, hanging at the front entrance to my home. I've had them about 2ish years, purchased as quart sized, own root, from Wayside Gardens end of season sale. They have stayed a nice size for the baskets, and are fairly healthy. They just get the usual spring powdery mildew, like many other roses do around here. They don't really seem to bloom in big flushes for me, rather 2-6 blooms on each most of the time. That's fine with me, always some color by the front entrance arches that way. Princess Charlene de Monaco: I only purchased this one in January or February this year, potted from a local nursery. I already love it! You are absolutely right about PCdM wanting to grow straight up and bloom up high on top of those long canes. I decided I'd had enough of that, and I wanted more blooms for cutting and arrangements. This IS a florists rose after all, and I want enough blooms to do something with. She's planted in a raised bed, in full hot sun. She had the usual spring bout of powdery mildew, but shook it off on her own. I tied her canes to trellises about 4 weeks ago. I now have something like 15-20 laterals, each with at least one bud. All that happened in just 4 weeks! There is a post with the details and photos on the regular Roses forum titled, "I'm liking my Princess Charlene de Monaco". This is a great rose for cutting. I would suggest training/tying the canes sideways to produce lots of laterals. Then cut the buds early in the morning when they show color. They will last a long time in the vase, and have beautiful color and fragrance. I'm considering purchasing a second one. I don't have two of many roses, actually only two. I have the two Cream Veranda's for the matching baskets, and I have two Violets Pride roses. They only reason I have two Violets Prides, is because the second one came as part of $13 surprise rainbow of roses collection. Me buying a second Princess Charlene de Monaco is saying a lot about how much I like this one. Try some in a vase! The Pilgrim: I can third the stinginess of The Pilgrim, here in So CA. Mine was also purchased bare root from Wayside Gardens. I think it was bought 5 or 6 years ago. Yes, it is in a difficult spot with blazing afternoon sun. I saw its first bloom last year, and I've gotten a handful of them this year. I'm hoping things will improve shortly, as the adjacent park removed a huge eucalyptus tree that was nearby, and I had Queen Palms and a Texas Privet hedge removed this past spring. I am finally seeing more growth in the past 6 months, than I've seen in the past 5 years, so I'm not giving up yet. Kate, how long are you willing to give your Pilgrim? I'm willing to give mine another year, due to the improved conditions, but that's it. If it doesn't wow me next spring or summer/fall, it's out of here. I don't shovel prune anything in haste, but 7 or 8 years is plenty time to show me what he can do. Vicky, count yourself lucky. At least you've seen some of the Pilgrims blooms already. I didn't see a single one until it was almost 5 years old. And then, it really was a single ONE:) I've seen great pictures of The Pilgrim loaded with blooms, so surely it must bloom well somewhere, for someone? Well, those are the ones I have here in S CA. Please keep us updated on how they are doing, Vicky. And please do check out the Princess Charlene de Monaco thread. I think you could get more roses out of her, and they are best appreciated up close in a vase:) Lisa

I replied to your other thread Ann because I saw that one first. My Princess Anne’s blooms definitely last more than a day but I am not certain how long. I am also sure they last longer in cooler weather. Helen is on the money with her answer. Here all my David Austins bloom a lot but the individual blooms don’t last very long. I grow iceberg as well tho, and she blooms in the same manner, many blooms with short life. I do not think Princess Anne‘s blooms last any less than iceberg here. Severe_novice: Olivia has a good base life for an Austin and actually it seems to hold on to her petals some on the bush (that is usually the way). Self cleaning blooms usually done last as long.

I leave some of my cuttings in the cold basement until March and I am in zone 8b. PNW and most are very happy in the cold and dark and just keep growing more and more roots. Some of the cuttings are in a protected spot in the garden and those tend to leaf out a bit earlier but by June they are all about the same. I put some new babies - still in pots that came from Tenn. in. I was not sure how much cold they could take so to be safe, I brought them into the basement. If they are inside, occasionally check to make sure they have not completely dried out. They need slightly moist soil - not too wet and not too dry..... I also do NOT fertilize until they are potted up and then very little - if any - is added to the pots. Some of the cuttings are in a very protected spot in the driveway, right next to the bulkhead and that spot seems to be fine for most cuttings. If we get a really cold snap they could be brought in but it would have to last for several days. The driveway is on a good slant so the drainage is perfect for the all the rain that we get.

I already received and planted my 9 Alnwick roses from DA this spring. I have AL arriving from palatine some times this month. Ordered M Isaac C from Heirloom own root and one from David Austin grafted to compare. Also from heirloom Laguna and Antique 89. I really thought I was done ordering stuff for this year, but then I decided I really need to try and get some roses in the ground now so when I am done with residency I can have a more mature garden. So here is what I ended up with. Also got some Christopher Marlow they had left over.