It's been awhile since I've been to this forum and my garden has been neglected since moving part-time to NYC however, since I've been back I've been industrious in getting the roses back in shape and I thought y'all would like an update.

Some of these roses were bought with the help of your input from a trip to Otto and Sons, the others from Rogue Valley Roses, Antique Rose Emporium, and Heirloom Roses.

I've since shovel pruned some plants (not roses) and moved the roses from trellises precariously perched on the wall to new obelisks pillars. I had to cut a huge main cane off my Cl Angel Face to do this, but they are looking so much better already. I keep on telling myself it's better for the long term.

If anyone is just starting out, I figured out one of the key issues to training my roses but just not being able to get to them. Even though they had a trellis to grow on, getting to them was always an issue even with a short plant in front. Now they're on the obelisk pillar, I have wrapped them around several times and they're going to much happier! I just know it =) !!

1) Climbing Red Eden. I fell in love with the pics of the pink version (bought it too) but then saw the red one at Otto and Sons and had to have it. People warned it would not be well in my zone close to the beach but it has been quite good, blooming frequently, and growing well. Canes pretty flexible even now, going up about 4 feet up the obelisk. Very BS and PM resistant for me.

2) Heritage. My history with DA roses is quite sad. Even the short ones are non-blooming octopuses in my garden. Even pegged! Heritage I'm happy to report is the best climber! Very flexible canes that are now trained in a circle completely to the top of my 7" obelisk. I didn't have to cut a single cane and even at the age/length, the flexibility remained. Reasonably BS and P resistant.

3) Cl. Angel Face. I was told this rose would not grow well in Socal and it has become a monster!! Just one year in the ground from a gallon plant and this rose was shooting more than 15 feet in the ground, after zigzagging on the trellis! Main lateral that I sadly had to cut was about an inch thick. Wow! It hurt to cut that but it was too stiff to train. Plenty of others long main canes that were still flexible enough. I have this and Heritage on the same obelisk and when spring/summer comes, the bloom is going to be amazing!

4) Lavender Lassie. The first year I got nothing but the second year it started growing and put out a few blooms. We'll see how it does this year and if it stays. It's in a slightly shady spot so I'm thinking Zephy as the next roses there if this one doesn't work out. It says it's shade tolerant however.

4) Ever blooming Cecile Bruner. Huge canes and lots of growth but not a lot of blooms. I might get rid of this one this year to make room for ones I love. With so little space, I've got to make some hard choices and while I love the idea of it climbing over my roof, I'm not in love with this rose.

5) Cl Pinkie. Kind of in the same position with this rose as the Cecile Bruner. I thought I would be ok with less cupped and showy flowers with little fragrance if they bloomed more. I'm starting to think I'm not ok with that. I have a Barbara Worl and Eden that are starting to come into their own I would like to make room for.

6) Brother Cadfael. I was hoping it would survive the shaded position and thrive but after a few blooms, I'm thinking it needs to get moved this year. Love the blooms though! Flexible canes that have stayed flexible for climbing.

Sorry for the long update but thought someone might find this information useful who is looking for climbing roses with flexible pillars, especially in Socal.

My criteria here was a color other than white or yellow, fragrance, repeat blooming, and reasonably easy care and disease resistant. Originally I tried for thornless varieties but have since given up. Even the supposed thornless ones are quite vicious!

So far this year, I have ripped out my companion plants - they were getting too big and getting in the way of the growth of my roses.

I am thinking some tallish evergreen groundcover to make the surrounds prettier. Also looking at getting some bulbs this year to round out the selection of plants besides the roses.

But then again, I am very tempted by the miniature and micro mini varieties I am seeing. I have miniatures planted in a small row next to our deck in the front and they have been workhorses. Always blooming and when I feel like they're scraggly, I just take a hedge trimmer to them. I trim about 1/3 of the plant down and in a few weeks, they're back to almost like new again. Then blooming their little heads off.

My next big task is figuring out a way to get a climber on my front deck. It's a large deck and gets the most sun anywhere on our lot. I'm thinking of a large miniature climber like Jeannie LaJoie. Just need to figure out what I'm going to put it in. I REALLY want that roses climbing up and around the windows of the house look.