I grew Serendipity. Just took a look at Dr. Rousch's Blogspot Blog, which has a useful table. Blackspot ratings run from '0' (which actually is shown as a blank instead of a Zero) to '3'. A '3'-rated rose gets severe infestations of blackspot. There was only one '3'. Serendipity is rated at '2', while most roses on the Buck list are at '0'. I planted quite a few Serendipitys, since the color range schemed with the range in our house's brick, and assuming that a Buck rose would be disease-free. My experience (and that of the young surgeons who bought the house, then of the young attorneys who bought it from the surgeons) is that there is a huge spring burst of bloom and growth, followed by a late-spring defoliation from Blackspot. Collectively, we've learned to allow the defoliation, and then, when temperatures are about to stay above 90, to fertilize and drip-irrigate. High temperatures inhibit Blackspot. Thus, with high summer temps, we could keep the roses leafed-out and blooming. Too, one can leave the roses leafless until really cool weather is coming, and water/fertilize in time to have a second burst of bloom in October/November - even a mild December. Serendipity likes sun, a lot of water, and constant attention (much deadheading needed). The Attorneys are now judiciously removing the original canes, one-by-one (i planted in '06), which are quickly being replaced by new ones. Serendipity blooms best after a hard winter, and will keep its leaves up until winter gets really cold. The Siberian component in its makeup is quite evident. Anyway, this is a portrait of one of Buck's "worst" roses (disease-wise). Eight years in the ground, and they're still doing quite well (own-root, BTW).

Prairie Star and Prairie Harvest are disease free (as foliage goes) here in coastal NC but one of them balled terribly when we got a sudden rain (sorry, don't remember which one). It is possible that it was not the rain but very dry winds or sudden thrips attack - in any case from a moment to another it turned to an ugly brown paper ball. Winter sunset as Michael mentioned last longer as cut flower than on the bush; it is very beautiful when it starts opening but blows fast on the bush if bloom left there. Maybe in a colder climate it would last longer. Here in the south, I am told, Earth song, a grandiflora, is one of the best and the most productive - healthy, has a gazillion of flowers, gives good and fragrant cut flowers and holds on to its flowers on the bush as well. It does not mean though that it will behave the same way in Iowa. I love, love, love Quietness; it is pale pink. Simply gorgeous and smells very good. My smaller plants already gave me so many flowers that it was just amazing. Huge, many petaled blooms, supposedly good for cutting, too. I have Prairie sunrise. It was my first Buck rose, is a small rose even after 5 or 6 years. It is still under 3 or 3 and 1/2'. Not very productive in my opinion and here it gets blackspot. Too bad because I planted in a bed where I do not spray any other rose so this rose does not get sprayed either. Very beautiful though, I love the colors. And maybe in your climate it stays clean. (But, let me emphasize again, it is my smallest Buck rose.) PH or PS close to it has clean foliage and on the other side Quietness is also clean. Folksinger is a good repeater and it is apricot (my favorite color) , has clean foliage but the flowers blow fast but repeats fast. Many people love Golden Unicorn, I have one in pot but not in the ground; relatively new acquisition from Chamlee's. Have no personal experience of Hawkeye Belle; my understanding is that it performs better in cooler climate. Here is an extensive list and description of almost all Buck roses from Iowa STATE University. The photos, alas, are not very good. http://www.ag.iastate.edu/centers/cad/where.html The next website for the best source for best priced, strongest own root Buck roses. Here is a link that might be useful: Chamlee's

Hi, Jerome. Yes, 'G. Nabonnand' is still among my favorite roses. As far as big roses that I really enjoy in my garden, I'd put it right up there behind 'Nur Mahal'. It's a subtle rose that will charm you once you get to know it and it continues to be very healthy & productive for me. I've really been concentrating on smaller-growing roses lately, with my space restrictions, but I haven't forgotten G. Nabonnand by any means. By the way, are you finding it difficult to respond in Gardenweb lately? An ad for "inrichmedia.com" keeps popping up, eluding my pop-up blocker. It is almost impossible to type a response. Randy

I've grown two of the Vigorosa series from Kordes, Innocencia and Emely. Both were short, very disease resistant and bloomed a great deal. This was in the southeastern US - it's rated to 6b by default on hmf, but may well withstand colder temps, being Kordes. Emely is one, I think that Pickering is phasing out, but I think it's still available from there. I grow Kordes' Cream Veranda and have found it to be very bs and mildew resistant here; very pretty bloom. hmf rates it to 6b but I notice that Celeste in New Hampshire grows it. New to me this summer, but I really like Tantau's Sweet Haze, which has a very pretty single pinkish bloom; Heirloom rates it to zone 5. I think hmf zone rating is in error, 8 to 9. What colors are you wanting?