Suzanne, your photos encompass so many colors of a gorgeous sunset! They also show off the wild shapes of Austins that I love so much. I'm aching to have all of them...right now...in bloom, LOL.

Viresco products are exactly the kinds I'd like to try, but like zuzu, I've been unable to find any US sources.

Aside from Japanese beetles, I didn't see much insect activity on the roses over the past growing season.

I also had much less insect activity on the roses this past year, probably because of the drought. It may have killed off some species of pests.

I feel thoroughly enabled!

Even though I don't live in "the SOUTH" per se, I have had luck with a FEW DA roses...those few being: Pat Austin, Wenlock, Mary Rose, and Tamora.
Pat Austin and Wenlock I let grow to become climbers. I specifically did it with Pat because (as Zuzu has said many times) the blooms are too heavy for the stems, so they "nod". Now that it's a climber the nodding isn't an issue, it's actually welcomed.
Wenlock is an ungainly mess that is growing up and through a tall juniper so I just let it do it's thing. Luckily, I don't even notice it until it blooms.
Both of these perform excellently here with zero disease issues...but the heat of summer completely fries the blooms when it's over 85*.
I tore out Mary Rose because the blooms shatter after one day. Tamora bit the dust when the painters ladder fell on it. The blooms on that one weren't plentiful enough and the bush was not worth the space it was occupying.
It has taken me 20 plus years to "finally" come to the conclusion that roses with more than about 40 petals just won't grow in this climate. They ball up, become moldy, and are a royal PITA ! It gets too hot here in late spring, the heat and humidity last until October and DA's just sit there and sulk.

I think the prime reason they don't due well here is the proximity to the ocean (1/8 of a mile). the summer heat, and the humidity.
Yes, I am green with envy of those who can successfully grow them !!!

http://search.waysidegardens.c...
Wayside has Lady of Shallot

I planted Munstead Wood last spring from Regan's - seems to be fine - did not notice any blackspot.
I bought Sharifa Asma from from Heirloom a few years ago as an own - doing fine. It performed better than any of the other own roots I bought from them. Last year, I decided to give Heirloom another try since as heard they had new owners. I bought Rosie O'Donnell and another Velvet Fragrance - both jumped clear out of the ground - I was totally amazed. The second Velvet Fragrance is twice as large as the original from Heirloom. If you like Sharifa Asma - you might want to consider buying it from Heirloom.
I ordered Grace from Regan (bareroot) to be delivered this coming Spring.
Had Graham Thomas many years ago - forget it here in zone 6b - flowers would not open up ( balled - I think that the terminology) - blackspot galore. I was turned off of Austin's for many years because of that bad experience.

Margie, thanks for that tip! Graham Thomas was on my list. I've never seen it growing around here, perhaps because it doesn't perform well in this zone.

That spotted bug may be the Sri Lankan weevil. When I lived in S Florida (hot and humid) they were everywhere chewing the leaves on everything. Since moving to North Central Florida, haven't seen any.

I have a passion for roses and my close friends think I do well. Probably only because I have them and always get more and funds allowing I buy specials and share the extras.

I look at all yalls pictures and find my plants are actually lacking. All of the hybrid teas are grafted and a few think they need to be trees. Those would be some of the Lincolns. One is now about 10 feet tall and supported by a shepherds hook. I can't even dead head without a large ladder.

No doubt I should be doing more and in reading here will find what I should be doing more of.

Luckily, I don't seem to have a diseases here nor bad bugs to fret me. A little black spot seems to me managed with a monthly summer dose of "Messenger".

I look forward to more readings of your experience and expertise.

Welcome to the Rose Forum, Molly. I hope you'll comment now and then, and I hope you'll add some photos of your roses to the database. The 10-foot Lincoln sounds like a fine testament to your rose gardening skills.

So, you still use Messenger? I didn't even know it was still available. I have several packets of it, dating back almost 10 years, when it was the latest craze. I always meant to use it, but never did. Maybe I'll finally use it this year, although if it ever had any magic properties, they may have "expired" long ago.

Is Messenger an organic product? The name rings a bell, keep thinking it is a product I heard about elsewhere and thought it sounded promising.

Yes, it is organic, Neal. It's a protein (harpin) that was said to stimulate a rose's defense mechanisms. People swore by it for a while, but many soon became disenchanted. Here's a link to a pretty good summary of Messenger's pros and cons.

http://gardening.about.com/od/...

Thank you Zuzu. I appreciate the warm welcome.

I will do my best to add to the plant data base with pictures. My favorite roses are those with the most and largest petal count with the best fragrance.

Yes I still have some Messenger from a coop purchase several years ago. They don't have an expiration date on them, but certainly it won't hurt them and makes me feel like I am doing something extra.

I hope to spend more time here and in the gardens since I've recently "semi-retired".

Molly

Thanks zuzu, I think I'm remembering when it was being talked about a lot. Weren't there some co ops for ordering it? I believe someone sent me a pack or 2 along with some plants several years ago.

Molly, are soil nematodes a problem where you live now? Curious where you get your roses?

Neal, yes, the nematodes are a problem here, and to more than just roses. Many of the hydrid teas are grafted on fortiana (sp) rootstock which seems to be more resistant to them. Although the old garden roses do well.

I can't seem to get bare roots to take. Haven't got a survivor in the bunch. So, all my roses living today were bought in pots from local nurseries. I do have some drift roses that are finally taking off with a vengeance that I bought in Mamajacks sales at cubits.

Molly

Molly, I have so many roses that fragrance is not that important to me. I pack them in, and some roses in the crowd always smell great even if others have no fragrance. If they all had a strong scent, I probably wouldn't be able to go outside. I agree with you about the roses with the highest petal count. I like those the most.

Neal, there were lots of DG Messenger co-ops around 2006 or 2007, but I bought mine from B&D Lilies. I was getting a large lily order and added a bunch of light-weight Messenger packets to justify the shipping costs.

Roses grafted onto fortuniana can't be sold bare root, so whatever you're finding bare root probably wouldn't have a chance against the nematodes anyway. From what I've heard, fortuniana-grafted roses can live indefinitely in Florida, roses grafted onto Dr. Huey live only about 3 years, and own-root roses are usually killed by the nematodes in their first year. I hope that doesn't happen to your drift roses, although they're small enough to grow in containers, so you might try that if you suspect the nematodes are attacking them.

When I Googled "Messenger," I found this new harpin product on the Rosemania site, but saw that it can't be shipped to California.

http://rosemania.com/shopsite_...

We have postitively Draconian import laws in California. Stained glass and other forms of art glass can't be shipped here anymore. I have a lot of stained glass lamps and other bits of stained glass decor, and I hope they never break because I won't be able to replace them from a source outside California.

Zuzu, that's explains plenty on the bare roots. As for the drift roses, the ones I bought in the group purchase were about 3 years ago. I put them in the ground right away. 75% of them although they faltered the first year are back and doing very well now. I do have 3 well established drifts that I bought locally and they haven't had a problem at all.

It is difficult to figure, 2 plants of the same within feet of each other 1 lives and 1 dies. I look at that as 50% success rate and I keep getting more.