Rosa Helenae is giving a very nice bloom for it's first year, the white truss of flowers is easy to spot across the yard and in the morning the whole corner is filled with a delightful spicy fragrance.

Not a great picture, but it's the best I got showing the one long cane of R. Helenae stretching up into the tree I think is a volunteer pear.

And this is Rosa gentiliana, it's looking like it's going to forgo blooming in favor of growing like crazy this year - which is just fine by me. I was excited to see that R. gentiliana held it's leaves through the cold spells in the fall and winter, and really happy to see that it leafed out and started growing at least a month before the Himalayan blackberries that like to infest that area. I'm hoping that after a few years of assistance the roses will be able to hold their own against the ever-encroaching blackberries.

Camp, I have to say I'm not overly surprised you approve of these roses - I picked them because if your glowing recommendations. I'll keep an eye out for Lykkefund, it sounds like another winner ;o)

After collecting a variety of other types of roses, it really is interesting to see how much more vigorous the big ramblers and species roses are.

When choosing plants I tend to think of roses as an indulgence, not a 'good deed' plant like the natives and host plants for wildlife I have. But this year I've noticed quite a few tiny little native bees happily gathering nectar and pollen from most of my single and semi-double roses, which is delightful.

Anne

I'm glad to know to about the fragrance of Rosa Helenae. Thank you for posting about that.

I LOVE the idea of the "good deed" plant label. That would be an excellent marketing device!!