"Shiva" wrote in message
news:aHlwYXRpYQ==.8d99f5524773ce7f04513657d3e76e3c @1114209348.nulluser.com...
The winner is:

Distant Drums, the own-root planted two in a hole, beating the
grafted one which only has buds. Second is the potted Scentimental,
beating the one in the ground. A very close third is Mutabilis,
which is now a 10 ft X 10 ft round shrub.

My Distant Drums (3 shrubs) were either the first or
among the first to bloom, too. Most of my roses are
now in their second or third flush. The spring-mostly
(e.g. Ferdinand Pichard) and spring-only (Village Maid)
bloomers aren't close to finishing, perhaps thanks to a
relatively mild spring for my area.

Budding roses: Don Juan, Sombrueil, New Day, White Lightnin',
Margaret Merrill, All That Jazz, Happy Child, Arizona, Heart
O' Gold, Judy Garland, Barbra Streisand, Abraham Darby, Granada,
Rio Samba, Radio Times, Christian Dior, Full Sail, Pat Austin,
Penelope, Golden Celebration, Tineke, Great Century, Europeana,
the raspbery-scented Sonia Rykiel, Touch of Class, Ink Spots,
Antigua, Mr. Lincoln, Tradescant, Tropical Sunset, Joseph's Coat,
and the lovely mini Over the Rainbow. There may be more.

Nice list. I have almost none of those, although I
had some and they didn't survive, perhaps because of
too much heat.

The great news: once they are in the ground for a few years
they are a lot stronger than we think. I have been out of
the country this month, and did not prune at all after
last summer. No deaths and very little if any canker. I will
have a closer look tomorrow.

I'm having a similar experience. I did lose 6 roses but
out of 150 I'm not really complaining. Most roses
have now been in the ground 3 to 7 years and hence
are well established.

Interesting passing observation: I have not yet sprayed,
and should have--but I have only seen a few aphids.

Same here, but my local population of Lady Bugs
and their larvae is astonishing. I haven't seen this
many around before. Maybe my rose garden is
providing them with enough food to hang around and
breed a lot. The few roses that got aphids early
on I dealt with by squirting them with a hose.

The single plant that the aphids are congregating on
is the sickest--White Lightnin,' which has obviously
suffered dieback of about half its canes. The buds were
so thick with aphids I actually hesitated before I
squished then was in a beeeeg hurry to wash off the
aphid juice. Eyyeuuu. But I wonder why the aphids would
be thicker on that plant than the others?

Good question. My Angel Face patio rose is the one
that seems to be the earliest and most aphids.

Happy Spring to all!

And to you, too.

Gail
near San Antonio TX Zone 8