Parole
Neptune
Jasmina
Lucille Ball

If anyone has any experience with these four roses, please chime in (and of course, pictures are always welcome!). Thanks so much.

Judith

I'm now growing Parole (aka Buxom Beauty) on its own roots -- one of very few own-root HTs in my garden. It's been a slow grower and rather stingy of bloom. However, I'm impressed enough with this rose (& its fragrance!) that I too am ordering it from Palatine, hoping that it'll prove to be more vigorous as a grafted plant. I've read that Parole has a good reputation for hardiness, so I'd encourage you to try it.

The other rose I've grown is Lucille Ball. I agree that there are hardiness issues with this rose. I don't take measures to 'winterize' roses in my garden, & rarely have any winter-related problems that spring pruning doesn't resolve. Last winter, however, we had a prolonged cold snap accompanied by fairly high winds. This spring, two of my modern roses (out of abt 75) were absolutely dead -- Lucille Ball and a 9- or 10-yr-old Valencia. I've no idea if it's mere coincidence that those two are apricot, or if roses in that color range tend to be less hardy in general. I know there are gardeners who grow LB successfully in zones where winters are often severe, so taking basic steps to protect it may be all that's needed to keep this wonderful rose from one season to the next. I definitely plan to replace mine.

I like Neptune here -- it's one of the nicer lavenders, and it generally has reasonable exhibition form. And unlike most lavenders here in my coastal canyon fog, it's not particulary mildew-prone. All in all it's a good rose.

Kathy

I have roses that by no means should be grown in Michigan. Most are self rooted florist roses usually grown in Ecuador. Here are pics of 2 of these;

Papaya - Lived through 3 winters so far;

Latin Lady - Made it through 2 winters so far;

These roses, and roses like Lucille Ball, etc. just seem to have a hard time getting through the winters without special help. What I do is this;

After 2 nights where the temps have gone below 25 degrees, I place poultry fencing around the tender roses.

poultry fencing from Home Depot;

The fencing is then filled with pine bark fines to the top (12-18 inches depending on rose), and left along until about April 15th. If I am really feeling energetic, I put spray adhesive on the inside of the netting, and place newspapers onver the adhesive in order to keep any fines from falling out the holes. This has worked fine so far (4 year experiment) and I've not lost any roses that I have used this method on. I do this for all my florist roses, and roses that I am terrified of losing.

Mgleason, I appreciate the warning regarding LB's hardiness. I will be growing all these roses in pots (forgot to mention that)since I'm completely out of space (unless I fill in my little pond). I will overwinter them in my attached shed, surrounded by bagged leaves, and raised off the cement. I will take extra care with her. Perhaps I can keep her in my unheated, attached garage?
(p.s. your florist roses are so beautiful - who wouldn't go above and beyond to save THEM?)

Jaxondel, another warning on LB's hardiness! I'll be worrying about her all winter!
I'm happy to hear about Parole - the colour looks gorgeous, and I'm a sucker for 'very fragrant' roses. Good that it is hardy - I'll have enough to stress about until April rolls around :o)

Kathy, thanks for the heads-up on the mildew for Parole - I spray sulphur for BS and alternate Cornell/milk sprays for mildew. This year was bad up here, mildew everywhere, but I will start spraying earlier next spring. I also love the colour of Neptune's blooms, but not sure if it will do well in my zone.

Dollsandroses, where are you located? Maybe it will make a difference in how Neptune performs...can you tell I don't really want to hear discouraging news? LOL

Judith

I got PAROLE from Heirloom about 4 or 5 yrs ago when they were the only ones who had it, so of course it is ownroot. I have yet to see one bloom on it. The plant is still teeny tiny and does practically nothing. Maybe I should order a grafted one also!

I've had LUCY for many yrs. Got her when she first came out. The plant is not doing well, and hasn't for sometime. I get only mild winters, but we do get a bit of snow a few days a yr. Nothing I have to prepare for. I've never lost a rose to winter. But LUCY is just faltering along. She died back this yr to one cane, and I keep watching to make sure she doesn't totally croak on me. So far, so good. But her blooms are so beautiful. Definitely worth trying to keep her going in your harsher winters.

So, have you guys seen all the new roses Palatine lists? I just placed my order last night. I was thrilled to see LAGUNA FREELANDER. Saw it on the Kordes website last yr and was hoping they'd someday bring that one over here. I also ordered BEVERLY, HOLSTEINPERLE (one I always thought about getting from Michael Fischer when he was still in business), BONANZA FREELANDER, CHARMANT FREELANDER and THANKSGIVING ROSE (a shrub from Kordes).

I saw 'LAGUANA FREELANDER' also...have been thinking about adding it. Do you have any experience with the Freelander series?
-terry

I have Laguna from Palatine. It is a gorgeous rose also. VEry healthy. I think all of the roses I have ordered from them the last few years are definately among the best I have ever seen.

Valerie

Margaret, that's exactly where I am planning to put Parole - on my back deck in a pot, with sun until 12 noon. Wish me luck.

I ended up ordering Parole and Lucille Ball - even though you all warned me about LB's hardiness! I just couldn't resist. I must ENJOY worrying!
Thanks everyone,
Judith