Thanks, Henry, but it would be well to advise others that growing roses in the UK is entirely different then growing roses in the US. For example, over there they can grow them in clumps, close together without fear of some of the disease problems we would encounter doing that here. Maritime climates are different then say the middle of Iowa here.

That's what John Starnes told us. And he's the person who knew those roses best. It doesn't surprise me. I've seen it happen in other places. They don't want the roses in the way of "maintenance." They don't want the roses to obscure the tombstones. And the roses CAN -- there is some legitimacy to that concern. (SEE BELOW) But if you respect the history, and the people, and the families who buried them, you should, I think, respect their choice, to put roses there. Jeri

While I applaud the development of Knock-Out for what it means in bringing people to roses, I'm appalled that it severely limited the availability of other varieties at my neighborhood stores this year. This is the time, people, to support not the box stores, but our local gardening centers, who might, just might, be willing to take a chance on selling Charles De Mills, Variegata de Bologna, or Golden Celebration. Here is a link that might be useful: Garden Musings

I couldn't get the link to work for me, but did try Googling Brownell roses to see if I could find the article. Nope. But I did find this article by Dan Russo http://www.heritagerosefoundation.org/4resources/Rosa%20Mundi/3/RM3_Russo.pdf and it brought up an interesting point that we had been discussing on another thread about the fact that some roses are/were not intended to be grown on their own roots. The article states "When grown as the Brownells instructed in their catalogues, i.e., grafted on multiflora rootstock with the bud union placed several inches deep, they have indeed proven to be very long-lived, floriferous roses." Even though this has been mentioned very recently, it had not truly registered with me that a rose might actually have been designed to be grafted. Wow...sorry, but that's a mind bender for me. I'm still only gonna grow own root roses, but a serious crack in my mental fortress has been noted.... Here is a link that might be useful: Dan Russo article