I've found that June Laver, Magic Carousel, Gourmet Popcorn, Spring Song and Cinderella are all very B.S. resistant. Last year we had weird weather and I thought that I was having B.S. but it turned out to be Anthracnose. Haven't ever had it like that before and hope I don't again. I do spray but I can miss these if I'm running low on spray material for weeks at a time and no problems. From what I've heard that list is pretty consistant across the nation. Here Rainbow's End is also reliably disease resistant with only minimal spraying, but I think someone said that in their no spray yard it got B.S. a little.

Hmm...., I can think of several I'm curious about; haven't grown yet. For example: Luis Desamero, Yantai, Ty, Buttermint, and Aberlady. Actully, Luis D is on my short list for my next order. There's a difference to me between pure yellow, a yellow blend, and yellow"-ish," which are those roses that can't seem to decide if they're apricot or yellow. Of pure yellow, the Pete and Kay Taylor mini Good Day Sunshine has done very well for me for several years. Terrific bloom form. Blooms in clusters and individually. Bright clear medium yellow, just a shade paler on the petal margins. It is one of the earlier roses to bloom each year and basiclly doesn't stop until hard frost (which we don't get here). No fragrance, but the bloom form is very good. Grows to about 3 feet tall and bushy. Unfortunately, I don't know anywhere that it is available for purchase anymore. : ( I really like my Double Gold miniflora, one of those "yellow-ish" roses. It's definitely fragrant, and the blooms are terrific. But like Sweet Diana, not so good for cutting because of those short stems. Bees Knees has to be at or near the top of my yellow blend list. Great form, prolific bloom, and a healthy bushy garden plant. I assume Erin Alonzo would be pretty much the same but in pure yellow. I briefly had a Butter Cream rose from Rosemania that had the most stunningly perfect miniflora form I think I've ever seen. I got it in December 2 years ago. It came with a bud already on it, and that bloom lasted over 2 weeks and kept its gorgeous exhibition form throughout. Unfortunately, I had it in a pot and someone walked off with it right at Mother's Day time. Nice sentiment, huh? "Here Mom! I STOLE you a rose in appreciation for all you did to raise me with good values!!" The rose had given me only 3 blooms by that time, but they were all impeccable and long-lasting. The plant was, of course, very young, so I imagine a mature plant would bloom much more. Anyway, I haven't yet replaced it, partly because Double Gold is similar in color and has the added quality of fragrance, and I don't have much space. I also have a Dancing Flame that is very nice and promising, but its also young and not filled out yet, nor particularly prolific, so I'm reserving judgment for another year or two. A few I can recall I've had but didn't hang onto for various reasons include: Y2k--killed by Hurricane Katrina, another compact plant with short stems but intensely yellow with just a touch of red edges; Rainbow's End--a classic, but for me it was too blackspot-prone, so I tossed it after 3 years; Fairhope--practally white, its so pale, but classed as a yellow. It is a top exhibition rose but not as high-centered as I prefer nor quite enough petal count; Sweet Diana is pretty and a good bloomer. But to me the form is good but not exhibition-great, and the stems tend to be short. But short stems can be nice for potted patio roses, as they keep the plant looking compact. It doesn't fade much, which is nice. June Laver is another one with short stems. Beautiful form and I love the tawney gold color, but it didn't bloom enough for me--runty plant. Autumn Splendor--intensely vibrant, but I thought it almost garish at times, it stood out so much. I have often considered replacing it. John's comments have me thinking I might have been too hasty getting rid of it. I do that, because I have such limited space and am always curious to try new varieties. sigh... ...boy to I ever ramble when I've got time on my hands. lol Mike

Here is my list of favorites from my garden of about 250. I have several new ones that may join the list soon, but I decided to just list the tried and true. Most are very healthy, bloom a lot and are fragrant. ROUGE ROYALE- This Romantica blooms frequently with huge, fragrant, dark red blooms on strong stems. It is a consistent winner of the Decorative Rose class at shows. SCENTED MEMORY - This rose is very similar to the above, but is an apricot blend. It has huge scented blooms with an old-fashioned multi-petaled form. FIREFIGHTER - To me, this rose should get the Gamble Award for Fragrance. And, in addition to it's wonderful damask fragrance, it has beautiful, velvety dark red blooms. I have two, which in my garden means I love it! SPELLBOUND - This coral rose has exquisite form. It doesn't have much scent, but it is really beautiful. I have two of this one, too! TAHITIAN SUNSET - This is an amazing rose. It is huge in my garden (on fortuniana rootstock) and has huge yellow blend, scented blooms. ELLE - Elle is another constant bloomer with lovely pink blend blooms with a delicious scent. She is a feminine as her name. QUIETNESS - Another very feminine rose of a lovely pale pink and great scent. It is very healthy. NIMBUS - This mauve blend floribunda is has the loveliest color blooms - hard to describe. It has great scent, too. PRETTY LADY - The name says it all! This white and pink floribunda is constantly blooming and seems to be immune to blackspot. PASSIONATE KISSES - Another lovely floribunda in constant bloom with big candy pink blooms. BLACK CHERRY - This is my favorite floribunda. It truly never seems to stop putting out tons of dark red blooms and is extremly healthy. I have Preference, too, and it is very hard to tell the difference. Black Cherry is a little darker red. OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE - Another matchless floribunda that blooms all the time with beautiful pink blooms with nice form. It is very healthy also. Whew! That was hard! I love a lot of others that people mentioned but decided to list the ones I really would grow if I could only have twelve. That actually could happen when I grow to old to take care of all the ones I have (That could happen any time!)

I have a collection of Award of Excellence Roses. I have been collecting them since 1982. Let me first list those I cannot find anywhere which have succumbed to old age (I need cuttings for these.) White Angel Lavender Lace Gloriglo Zinger Holy Toledo NightHawk Centerpiece Suzy Regine Lemon Gems Applause Playgold Ruby Jingle Bells That seems like a long list of needs but 20 years of Lttle League and Bobby Sox can really get in the way of tending roses. Here are what I have available for trade cuttings sent using the burrito method: Baby Eclipse Red Cascade Jeanne Lejoie Life Lines Center Gold Old Glory Heavenly Days Dee Bennett Tipper Jim Dandy Jean Kenneally Rainbow's End Sequoia Gold Ring of Fire Black Jade Winsome Little Jackie Hot Shot Julie Ann Party Girl Cornsilk Cupcake Valerie Jeanne Snow Bride Hombre Pacesetter Peaches n Cream Red Flush Puppy Love Pink Petticoat Rise n Shine Humdinger Avandel Hula Girl Starglo Toy Clown Sherri Ann Beauty Secret Mary Marshall Judy Fischer Over the Rainbow Hot Tamale Email me if you want to talk more. RC