Ingrid, in our cold region if there is no snow cover, the roses will be automatically eliminated, whether we want it or not :-)

I'm done with mollycoddling roses. They either make it or not.

In 8 years of growing roses, I've been often surprised by their resilience. I've lost more perennials than roses.

I thought this year, I'll lose some of my most tender rose, Sweet Chariot, and all three of them survived and bloomed their head off in June.

But in wake of extreme temperature swings, if I were to redo the garden, I would focus on European OGRs, Spinosissimas, Canadian Explorers and species...

- Bob

We're thinking along very similar lines, Ingrid. I'm honestly primarily keeping my own seedlings at the expense of many of the "commercial introductions". Kim

I think in part to favor roses that have survived decades without irrigation, to be rediscovered. Thus, Mme Lombard is high on the list, among others.

Grandmothers Hat, The Portland From Glendora, and a whole raft of Noisettes and Chinas -- all right in there.

I think in part to favor roses that have survived decades without irrigation, to be rediscovered. Thus, Mme Lombard is high on the list, among others.

Grandmothers Hat, The Portland From Glendora, and a whole raft of Noisettes and Chinas -- all right in there.

I think in part to favor roses that have survived decades without irrigation, to be rediscovered. Thus, Mme Lombard is high on the list, among others.

Grandmothers Hat, The Portland From Glendora, and a whole raft of Noisettes and Chinas -- all right in there.

I think in part to favor roses that have survived decades without irrigation, to be rediscovered. Thus, Mme Lombard is high on the list, among others.

Grandmothers Hat, The Portland From Glendora, and a whole raft of Noisettes and Chinas -- all right in there.

I think in part to favor roses that have survived decades without irrigation, to be rediscovered. Thus, Mme Lombard is high on the list, among others.

Grandmothers Hat, The Portland From Glendora, and a whole raft of Noisettes and Chinas -- all right in there.

Jeri, your computer went crazy. All 5 of your posts are the same. (More than likely you know)

We are not as threatened by a drought as we are with seasonal surprise activities. We have extreme heat, drought in the cold months, strong winds, and worst of all we have sudden temperature changes. We may have a freeze in April or May or we may have 90 degree temps in January following by a freeze.

My answer has been to reduce by rose count from a high of 276 to a present of 104. I have removed arbors and anything that would hold up climbers, and have scattered smaller beds.

Since none of my beds have natural Oklahoma soil, they can receive water more quickly than something that would be in the clay.

I am trying to use heavier mulch each year, and learn about how much water a rose needs.

I know that I can let the hose pour for 60 seconds, 20 seconds, whatever, but I do not know what is an adequate number to use. I wonder if there are water meters that could give a continuous moisture reading, and let us know what the rose needs.

Sammy