my bride's dream grows quite well and produces lots of blooms....but the
blooms rarely open. it is probably botrytis, and my regular spray program
doesn't keep it in check. i live near santa cruz, ca, and we have cool
wet/foggy nights and warm days. since i grow my roses for cutting, bride's
dream has been a disappointment even though the few blooms i can pick are
beatuiful. now for my question: i am looking for a light pink to replace
bd. any suggestions? the new zealand in my edmunds catalog looks good, but
they tell me it balls much like bd. i have read that audrey hepburn and
royal highness may do good in this climate, but i can't find them in my
catalogs. do you know anything about those two?
tia
tom

For a disease resistant light pink with a fabulous scent, I'd suggest Frederic
Mistral. I put two in a couple of years ago and am thrilled with their
performance. I'm in the SF East Bay valley, so it's hotter than Santa Cruz,
but the one I gave my sister in Mt. Shasta has performed well too - under very
different conditions.

I too have problem with bud rot on my New Zealand, but no problems at all with
Frederic Mistral-and I break all the rules. These roses get only morning sun
and are watered from above by the lawn sprinklers. By all rights, they should
be a mess, but they keep cranking out fabulous long stemmed blooms that are
perfect for cutting. My only caveat is that it needs space - it really gets
big - ok with me, because it gives me plenty to bring into the house without
stripping the bush.
NT
NT