To begin with, you have what I have -- a buildup of mineral salts that gives you that brown, necrotic area at the leaf edge, with a rim of white. We've had less rain than you, even, and I suspect our water is suckier, too.

The white looks like powdery mildew from here, but there's just not enough detail to be sure. I suppose it could even be minerals, perhaps left as residue from hose water???

I don't suppose you have a flat bed scanner??? If you DO, put the bad leaf/leaves in the scanner at high resolution. I do that all the time, for a perfect image.

Hmmm. I don't have a scanner. Thank you for the info on the brown edges and build up of mineral salts. That cinches it for me. In person you can tell it's not powdery mildew. I think some roses are prob more susceptible to mineral buildup from hard water. At least, that's what I'm going with :-)

Thank you, Anne

Anne, my Gramhats here certainly have that issue. But then, so do most of my other roses, as well.

I think that is a factor in the leaf-drop we've had here on many roses. In addition to heat-stress, the leaves were just SO bad, they fell off. New foliage coming back in is lovely.

I know this winter won't bring us "drought-busting" rain. I'd be grateful, though, for just enough rain to dilute all of that mineral build-up in the soil.

'Lady Ann Kidwell' was among the first to drop her foliage. She's got all new leaves now, and is just finishing a huge flush of bloom.

Yes, it seems I don't have it as bad as you because I've had no leaf drop. Although the plants with sad foliage prob would've been happier if they had--lol! The new foliage on GH some of the loveliest in my garden. Beautiful fresh growth on your LAK. I've become as much of a fan of beautiful leaves as petals, I must say :-)

Anne

Anne, I am also as drawn by perfect foliage as I am by perfect blooms . . .

I went out deadheading this morning, and found a Grandmother's Hat that has NOT dropped any foliage -- but which SHOULD. It's in a great deal of shade, so protected from the scorching sun -- but THERE, I found some of your white "crud," and I'm quite sure it's minerals.

Ignore the leaf miner, :-) and just look at the bad leaves.

If I am bored one day, I may go out and defoliate this rose.

Jeri

Yes, that's it exactly.

Anne

Agreed, mineral salts. I get it here, too.

Our water is SO bad that, even in a normal-rain-year, we see some of this by late Fall. It's hardly surprising, in a water-environment where water heaters are destroyed before their time because of waterborne minerals -- and plumbers complain that low-flow toilets in this area are a recipe for disaster.

In normal years, a lot of the stuff is flushed out of beds and plants during winter rains. Only, we got almost no rain last year, and very little the year before -- so the mineral build up is worse than I've ever seen it.

Jeri

I hadn't noticed until now but when I read this I took a better look and sure enough La France, SdlM and Heirloom had it. My area must not be as bad or it's not as noticeable since I try to dislodge the old, bad-looking leaves with a strong stream of water. I'm also hopeful that we'll have enough rain to at least leach some of the minerals out of the soil.

Ingrid