I haven't had problems with people picking roses, although one woman asked for a few for her mother's grave. Of course, I gave her some. My little neighbor, Tallulah, picked some strawberries, but that is alright. At least I didn't need a bird net, Tallulah and I got the strawberries before the birds found them. She is only 3 and I enjoy her company. I dug out a few strawberry plants for her grandmother's garden. An older Pakastani man watches me water the garden at night. I am not sure if he likes the flowers, the fragrance of nicotania or a sweaty blond in shorts. Whatever.
One year, a different neighbor's kid picked a tulip. I was furious, but they moved. Hurrah! This woman let her children, including toddlers and infants, run wild unsupervised. They came to my place whenever I was outside for someone to talk to. Who knows what the mother was doing inside. She always ran outside nude under a shabby robe. Poor kids, if she were a cat, I would have paid to have her fixed. Cats, however, are better mothers.
It has been hot here, also. Humid also. At least the heat slows down the aphids and Japanese beetles. I am behind with the deadheading, but keep up with watering. A couple roses have slowed down, but all have survived the summer, so far. They are faring better than I am. My viking blood boils in hot weather. So much for warmer zone envy. In spring I want to move south. In summer, I want to move north. I guess I will stay put and stop complaining. The scenery is beautiful here - rocks, black walnut trees, trumpet vines and all. Plus, there are advantages to being reasonably close to NYC.
I bet own root Austin roses would do well for you, skiekitty. Most tolerate the soil here and get thru the winter with little or no winter protection. If you like pinks, I love Wildeve. It is a hybrid musk Austin. So is Charlotte. Marlow may suit your orange color palette, it survived its first winter and came back bigger than expected. I am experimenting with growing some Austins as climbers with clematis on a trellis against a wall. I am still getting the hang of it. I am also trying to pillar a rose for the first time, not an Austin. I have limited space so I have to expand vertically.
Buck's Honey Sweet is a knockout this year. It is on its first flush of blooms. It was the second rose to bloom this season here.
Fire Meilland groundcover rose is also fab. Lots of magenta-red blooms, not quite as red as I expected, but gorgeous nonetheless. The canes are fully winter hardy and long -6' or more! They start upright and fall down. Sometimes I hold them down with a rock if they look odd. The rose doesn't mind. It is in my natural spray garden bed, but has no blackspot at all! Any rose with severe blackspot in that bed has to be moved to the other bed that gets sprayed.
Better get back to painting the kitchen. I have the windows open and the ac off. At least paint dries fast in 90'F weather. Had to stretch and rest my back for a bit. Can't wait to be done with my home improvement projects and have more time for fun things.
