Was the highlight of my roses last summer. Everything took a hit with the drought, but not her. She chugged along. She's fairly new for me. Survived our faux winter last year. Hope she makes it through a real winter here this year.

Ingrid

Diane

Cydney

Can you tell I like this rose!?!?

Melissa

Sophie's Perpetual
Marie Pavie
Pretty Jessica

Kittymoonbeam, I'm happy to see you putting in a vote for La Reine. I bought that one very late this year, so I haven't seen it bloom yet. I'm looking forward to spring, but I have doubts about it long term. Many people say it doesn't repeat well in warm climates.

Molineux, I've been thinking about adding Molineux to my garden. Can you tell me about its growth habit (shrub shape and size), BS resistance, and fragrance? Overall, is it worth growing? (I probably shouldn't ask you that question!)

Sammy

One more to add to my "list"

For more color, I love the big fat medium pink blooms of the hybrid perpetual Mrs. John Laing. Quite upright and showy in bloom, she unfortunately suffers a bit more from BS and isn't the fastest on the re-bloom--but wonderful when she does bloom.

I guess hybrid musks, as a class, are old roses--except that mine are the newer versions of these old roses--Buff Beauty and Jeri Jennings. Love them but don't really think of them as 'old garden roses."

I have about 15 David Austin roses--if they count (as "reproduction" roses) then I nominate all of them--although my newest one--Lady of Shalott--is my favorite and a most becoming but MODERN shade of golden-apricot. I will be getting Austin's Wedgewood and The Pilgrim and Scepter'd Isle in the spring, so they might become my most favorite Austins. Certainly their colors probably blend in better with old garden roses. Oh yes, and I'm also getting Austin's Munstead Wood--not sure how modern or old-fashioned that dark color will be.

I also set off a section for some polyantha roses--they are OGR's, aren't they? The Fairy, Mothersday, and what is that "sweetheart" rose called? etc. They are all fairly new and haven't done much yet, but I'm encouraged by their first season in my garden.

I like experimenting a bit with different types of roses, but most of my roses are moderns.

Kate

Is there a favorite scented red none single that would look good sharing an arched arbor with Don Juan anyone can recommend?

Also, I really should list Mlle. Jeanne Phillipe, a smallish apricot Tea that I had until recently. Very graceful and always putting out lovely smallish blooms, ranging from pale yellow with hint of rose on edges (cool weather) to stronger yellow, to a real apricot, depending on the season. A rose that doesn't seem to get much talked about, but I thought it was lovely and dependable.

Laura

Jackie

I planted a tiny band of 'Pink Gruss an Aachen' in fall 2011 that survived the following winter unprotected and the subsequent hot and dry summer with little supplemental water. To me, this is NOT a photogenic rose and almost invariably looks boring in photos. In person, however, I am amazed by the delicate shadings of the blooms. Quite tea-like. Good, variable fragrance that can be mild or strong depending on weather conditions. Very rapid rebloom. I will watch this one mature with interest.

Doesn't matter how old the garden - or the gardener - there is always something new to add spice to the established loves.

Best wishes
Jon

Just wanted to follow up on what Patrick had mentioned about Molineux. Since you're now zone 5b like me, I think you'll be fine with that rose if you put it in a somewhat protected spot. Mine is by my garage on the west side of the garage and it has been quite hardy for me. Not a terrific rebloomer in our Nebraska heat, and I rarely see the apricot tones you talk about (Pat Austin that's next to it has more apricot), but not at all fussy for survival.

My best reblooming traditional roses off the top of my head have been: Frederick Mistral, Barcelona and Maggie (for their swoon-worthy scents), Baptiste Lafaye, Larry Daniels, Wilhelm and Petite de Terre Franche for sheer volume and extent of bloom in part shade, and Carding Mill, Queen of Sweden, and Scepter'd Isle for Austins.

Cynthia

Of the non-remontant, the one I love the most is the Duc d'Angouleme. Some year, I promise myself, I'll take a chair and a blanket and move into the front yard and watch his yearly show of lavender-blue glory.

@ gardenerzone4- Molineaux should be fine for you, I saw it growing in the Minnesota Arboretum this summer. I believe they used soil and mulch at the base of the plant for winter protection. DH is trying to convince me to grow it since he is a philosopher who loves the name as well as the color.-- Also, I am curious about your italian roses, what do you do to winter protect them?

Erin