Rita, I've never seen so many blossoms from one rosebush! That is really incredible. My Lavaglut is only 1 year old, but it only puts out 1 or 2 blooms at a time. I think I'll try feeding it...
About rust--I know the type of rust that grows on daylilies is not a problem in the north because our winters kill it. Maybe you all are right about the mild winter not killing it off this year. The rose rust must need a longer cold time, but not necessarily a lower temperature, than you had.
Porkpal, aren't your nighttime temps warm? Mine are, and I noticed when I was in San Diego that it did cool off at night. In the summer here in Kansas, we stay warm enough at night that we don't get any dew in the morning. Now this year has been different. Very different. We've had so much rain the past few weeks that parts of town are flooding! I'll probably see blackspot this year because of the nighttime coolness and rain.
Some parts of the city received 5" of rain in 4 hours last night where I got none! I'm not complaining about the overcast skies, though, because it makes gardening easier.
The countdown is on! I have 14 days left to get the yard into shape for the summer, then I get my right knee replaced. I STILL don't have the irrigation installed because it's been too muddy to dig trenches! And you know it will stop raining in July and not rain again until fall, so I have to get this job done!
