I observed in a post in the recent past that it seemed that the Earth Kind program had not made an announcement in a very long time and questioned whether the program was dead. Nothing comforting was forthcoming in that thread.

In the thread linked below, I wrote the following about the discontinued postings of the results of performance ratings of roses by the Peggy Rockefeller Rose Garden of the New York Botanical Garden:

"...an innocent might conclude that one would be wrong to say anything bad about a rose or roses, or conversely to advocate the virtues of any rose over any others, it may be that the Garden feels that it would not be politic of them to publish the results of their findings - I don't know."

I have also observed on these forums that one of the most popular series of roses ever introduced - and ENTIRELY American I might add, is mostly rosa non grata here.

These attitudes are out of sync with modern knowledge and sensibility.

I hope better information is forthcoming in this thread.

Here is a link that might be useful: How much store do you put in photos of roses?

Now that I think about it, I became discouraged that the Earth Kind roses had to qualify such rigid standards. The no fertilizer and no additional water made me lose interest years ago.

I certainly have many many roses that I adore, and grow with no spray. But I have turned away from the newer varieties that need spray. Some roses like Distant Drums, and some other Bucks were very pretty, but I can look at them in other gardens.

I would like to know if any of you know anything about the Earth Kind program. The Dallas site indicates that tests are going to be continued in a 2nd part in Houston. However, the Houston Rose Society site online is closed to outsiders.

Sammy