Question: is it the COLD wet that makes them ball? They seem to handle HOT wet quite well. Of course, a downpour will mess them up pretty bad and cause them to hang their heads from the weight (not unusual, I guess, for any flower). And there seems to be a point in the bud development when, if we have rain, the bud will not open - doesn't happen often. Sammy, 9 SdlM's is definitely something to strive for in my garden. Mine would have to be in groupings - no room to spread them out. Wow, just imagine a bank of them blooming all summer. Hmmm, something to keep in mind in case of future failure(s). I have 3 plants, and 2 will soon be neighbors. I have MB & CDdG next to each other, hopefully in enough sun for their liking, but if they have to be moved that might be a good thing, right? Suzy, I wish I could "send" you some heat or "attach" it to my photos. To show how amazing this rose is here, even my Louis Philippe, aka The Florida Rose, took a break from blooming in August. I noticed this morning it suddenly has flower buds & lots of new leaves from all the rain we've had this week, but SdlM has kept pumping out her voluptuous fragrant flowers that even now are darker pink in the center, fading to pale pink at the edges - just lovely. (I wish I'd taken a picture.) Location, location, location! Your "bland and vague rose with messy petal formations, tendency to age nastily and, on top of everything, is a disease magnet" is not the rose I grow. Come ahead to Florida (Ocala) anytime. You'll at least have no hotel bill and no "little britain". But I imagine with a grandbaby coming that won't be soon! Michael, I've seen a very mature SdlM with hugely thick canes (maybe the climber) that was as tall as I am. I certainly hope 4x4 is a comfortable size for them here. Sherry

Please use the latest listing. Thank You. Ron S

How about several bushes of Awakening? One will cover 20 ft. Here is mine covering the entire fence and spilling over to my neighbors side. It is supported by 3 trellises and the house on the left. It is fragrant and reblooms too. It is very thorny and could serve as extra security.

My brother grew Joseph's Coat in La Quinta(low desert) and it was fine. The only drawback (for me) is no fragrance. I also think Climbing Don Juan would do well, although mine gets crispy in the mid 100s. Mine only gets morning sun, and it blooms a lot and smells great. I bought an America this year, even in its pot the blooms stood up to summer, you should consider that one too. FYI, Ben's roses are always fabulous, but I do want to point out he is in humid heat, not dry desert heat like you (and me somewhat as well. ) I think it makes a huge difference, and roses suffer more in dry heat. Carla in Sac