Congrats Deborah! I’m so happy for you. But no, Neil would not like some shade. Please make room for your Neil in the California sunshine by moving one your lesser roses. Thanks for your attention to this matter.

I know marching orders when I read them. Thanks, Ben! I'm so excited. I want it in the front yard so people will demand to know what it is (and who am I quoting here?). But...I don't know if I can do that. He may have to go in the backyard where I'll have him all to myself. Whee!

Me too...I got one based on Ben's glowing recommendation.

Wish you great success with your Neils, Rekha and Deborah!

Deborah,

I have always regretted putting Neil at the back of the bed in my front yard. Little was written about this new variety when I planted it, so I put Double Delight in front, Neil in back. I love both varieties, and they are as fragrant as they come, but Neil easily outperforms DD. He’s too big to move now, but I wish I had Neil in front so all the passerby’s could have a nice whiff.

I think I'm going to put him in front, but he won't be on the street -- he'll be next to the walkway to my front door. So this way friends, delivery workers, and trick-or-treaters will get the whiff! And, I'll be able to look out and see him easily from my kitchen window. He will be sort of behind and between my new Bolero and Scentuous. To his right will be Moonlight in Paris, which I'm not thrilled about at this moment -- but I think I will plant a lime green heuchera and a white flowered cuphea to tie it all together...

Ben - GASP! Your Neil Diamond is perfection!!! Swoon!!!

Deborah - it will look great there...you have it all thought out. :)

I don't know why, but Houzz won't let me "like" or "thank" some folks on here. Let me say I'd like to THANK all of you, and of course I LIKE you, too! Neil went in over the weekend. I can't wait to see how it will look blooming next to Scentuous. It looks like a much larger bush than Scentuous, so hope it doesn't get too much...

Nick -- I agree that Ben should get something from Weeks!

Ben - do you know if Neil Diamond played any role in helping to choose/select "his" rose?

I saw him in concert right before he retired. I've wanted to do that my whole life! He was so great. I think he did one or two more concerts after ours (in Los Angeles) and then announced his retirement. So we really made it in the nick of time...

Oh, I love his music and his voice!!!

I just planted my new Neil Diamond last week....I put him in a prime location based on all of Ben's photos of him. I did that last year with Quietness because of Moses and Kristine and it definitely paid off LOL.

Deborah, you are so funny trying to decide who gets the boot

I think we have all done that when a really cool rose comes along

I have a Moonlight in Paris sitting in a bucket waiting for its home as I decide who goes.

My current roses are always a little nervous when a new rose arrives

Kristine, YOU are too funny! I gave Love's Promise to my neighbor, to make room for Neil. I love the rose (LP), but I had two, so I thought I'd share the wealth!

Deborah - I've been wanting Love's Promise FOREVER!! :) Strong raspberry fragrance...oh my!!!

Kristine - nervous roses...so cute! I think I should shake the shovel at a few roses here.

Deborah - it's funny that you made space for ND given the Week's description below.

Neil Diamond

Get the shovel out and prepare the best spot in your garden so you can admire the Neil Diamond rose. Who would have thought that the internationally acclaimed Rock and Roll Hall of Fame singer-songwriter Neil Diamond would one day have a rose bearing his name with the variety Rock & Roll as its 'father'! Coincidence or destiny? It is a true 'diamond' bloomer producing numerous sizeable flowers and attractive buds on long cutting stems. For a touch of elegance in your garden, add this gem of a rose with its novel pink and white striped flower coloration. The hit song 'Sweet Caroline' reaches a new level of appreciation after this rose has ignited your senses with its intense floral aroma of sweet & classic rose fragrance. The plant stands strong with its vigorous upright habit allowing you to have the flowers at nose level, ready for a sniff.

Weeks says the ND's parentage is Della Reese and Rock 'N Roll. I just got Della Reese and the fragrance is stronger than Neil Diamond!

Ann

After 3 less than stellar years with Rose and Roll and regretting that I hadn't chosen Neil Diamond instead, Rock and Roll has finally taken off. Finally it is going crazy. So no Neil Diamond for now. It's still Rock and Roll to me

Kristine - One of the first roses I ever grew was Rock 'n Roll which grew well but I didn't care for the growth habit which was dense and thorny. I prefer ND's HT style.

Ann

Kristine -- I got that Billy Joel reference...

Ann - I've always lusted after Della Reese (the rose, not the singer/actress) :)

So funny reading this thread. We also put Neil Diamond in the pride of place location in our yard. It was occupied by a non-performer so wasn't a hard decision to take it out. Ben is responsible for this with all his glowing reviews of this rose. :-)

We have some pretty reliable enablers in this group

Rock and Roll