The thitles are perhaps just seed dropings from birds, I sence your seeing a few English Sparrows as of latly if so someone is on a bird feeding frenzy. The mini rose it's self might die if you where to use a weed killer in such a close area. A hydrangea and a mini rose arn't really the best compatable plantings, good luck to you on that. If me I'd just move the rose to a new garden home root split them if you want and let them re-establish in a good rose prepared garden soil during the rest of the season. They should re estabish well enough for you to notice then you can step it up on the rose food for feeding. Black Spot and other diseases have there own bible ,I am no preacher so what ever works for you works. Altho you might want to read up on rose diseases and prevention measures, there are several methods and products people do use for this, some are effective to some degree some are not as effective. As it is even said by some thou out the forum..... " Buy disease resistant roses." I find this responce to be just to darn generic for me to agree with.

Photobucket isn't as great as people think it is. I can't count the number of times it goes down and how many posts I didn't get to see due to one reason or another. Most days I click the link it takes me to the main photo bucket page asking for a log in or telling me about photo bucket. Picasa is decent so far for free. Has been reliable

There are several yellow HTs that could be. Look at Midas Touch or Oregold but there are hundreds it could be. Here is a link that might be useful: Yellow HT search at HMF

I'm seconding Mrs. Dudley Cross- practically no prickles, the pink shading on the outside rather than the interior, the nodding heads and the open growth pattern. The burgundy stems are gorgeous! Also that it grows like a weed and thrives in neglect. I had mine in an atrium because I read it would be about 4'x4'. It ended up about 12' tall and 9' wide.