Susan H. Simko wrote:

Shiva wrote:

Know what, Susan? My AUSTINS were the ones that held up to the
pestilence last year. And nearly all of them are on their own roots,
as are minis. Coincidence? I think not!

I'm still amazed at the die off you had last year. I may have lost
leaves to blackspot but thankfully no plants.

I need your secret. Tell me this, did you put in any
bare roots? And, how do you keep the voles from eating
your roots? I know the best way is to not have anywhere
for them to hide, but I like mulch and do not have time
to keep the non-rose areas tidy, so they love my yard.
This year I'm hopeful because it appears that the moles
are back. Since the voles use the old tunnels of moles,
maybe this means no voles this year??




Just put in a J&P Heirloom over the weekend. It's protection and
headstone for our little Smokey the Hamster who died of old age at two +
over the weekend.

Purple, isn't it? And scented, IIRC.


I'm planning on putting in one more and am hemming an hawing between
Desest Peace and Barbra Streisand. I just can't make up my mind on
this! *laugh* Part of me just wants to order both

You DO need both. Barbara squeezed out several blooms before
she expired (one of the bare root casualties last summer)
and they were wonderful. Scent!! Strong scent!! Desert Peace
is lovely, too. I just had such a bad experience with the
original Peace, I'm afraid of all offshoots.




but I really don't
know *where* I would put the second one. My partner has forbidden any
more flower beds in the yard

Oh, nooooo, this will not do!


and I tend to agree with the thought at the
moment. The Heirloom and which ever one I decide upon are each being
put between two bushes at the back corners of our yard. I can't
completely wall off the back with roses as I have blue bird houses that
need periodic cleaning and bird feeders that need to be fed and I have
no desire to don a coat of armor to get through the thorns to get to
them. *grin*



I think we need a diagram of your yard with plantings
(including g-g-g grass) identified. Only fellow rose
heads can really tell if you have enough roses. :')