Mme. Joseph Bonnaire, mine pretty quickly threw up a cane when I got her,.. so I think she tends to be a bit vigorous? I'm pretty happy with her so far. There's a nother similar bloom on her this week. That's neat about Paul Neyron! :D I really like that James Galway has a different sort of look than my other roses. That's a big plus for me. It seems to be very happy, too. It's pretty large compared to some of my other DAs planted at the same time. I'm really happy I got Archduke Charles based on information and suggestions here on the forum... looking at one picture of it is not nearly as interesting as seeing the real rose. Some other roses, they're pretty much like what you would imagine, but I think this one is kinda more fun. :D Thanks you guys! XOXO

Simona, my VID Ardoisee de Lyon was a gift from a hybridizer. I don't know if its in commerce. George, yes, it was Pierre who grows Baronne Prevost in a fruit tree, 3 meters tall he said. I'll bet that shades the canes well. Here, those canes burn in June and July. The old rosarians of the 19th century all pruned their HP's hard after the spring flush. I don't see why you shouldn't give that a try. Take the new wood back down to several buds eyes (stout, self-supporting size), and see if that makes a difference. Do it right away after the spring flush. Let us know if it works.

Geo, even hybrid musks are not created equal. I grow Felicia in full blazing sun and she has been blooming since early April. My Buff Beauty is in a shadier spot but has cleaner foliage than Felicia that does get spotty. Another fantastic Hybrid musk is Prosperity, it is clean and keeps blooming even in this terrible drought in a semi-shady position - in summer it gets more sun than in spring and fall. I wish I could say the same of its neighbor, Baron Giraud de l'Ain; I think that the baron would do better even in less sun in my hot and humid climate. There was a HP expert on this forum, Pete of Belgium; he suggested afternoon shade for HPs and very rich diet. Does anyone know why he stopped posting? I miss him when I dream about HPs doing better here.

Thanks so much Diane. I'm convinced now that I have made the right choice. The photos are lovely, and I now will plant it in a place where it will have some support just in case it needs it.