Ah Michael! You should at least photograph one bloom and post it. The first bloom of spring is so absolutely intoxicating.

I've never had the nerve to try Souvenir de la Malmaison. You are a brave man.

Only daffys poking up their heads here and lots of tiny new growth on the roses. The first arbor for the front of the house went up over the weekend. It beat us up on Saturday, was re-engineered and is now in place. I'll not be planting Souvenir de la Malmaison on it :-)

We all deserve a perfect spring, warm sunny weather, plenty of rain, no freezes and no ugly insects.

Michael, I'm happy your neglected roses are making faces at you! You must have a magic touch, glad you are enjoying your roses.

Carla

Nice to hear from you Michael. This sounds like the beginning of a lovely spring.

ZD is always my first rose to bloom. I just love it. The scent is to die for! I have at least 2 months to wait....maybe more.
K

You are so lucky--

I always look forward to that first Zeffy bloom---the fragrance is so delicious----that is why my hubby gave me the name Zeffyrose----LOL
I have a couple of months to wait---boo hoo

Florence/zeffyrose

I don't understand the comment..You're a brave man...to try SDLM climbing. Please help me understand.

Thanks.
Robert

Hi guys,

ZD is fragrant, isn't it? Very enjoyable!

Robert, I think it probably has to do with a very large growth habit in a warm, mild climate. I have to confess to being a little amazed with its performance given that it's only a year or so in the ground here.

Otherwise, I have a love/hate relationship with SDLM and its ultimate fate here will depend on my ability to get unspoiled blooms out of it this spring.

MichaelAT

Of course you shall have your unspoiled blooms, I get them every year. This is CA, Michael. I had the most intoxicating single bloom on Lemon Spice which I was walking around inhaling like there had never been another rose. I really don't remember what else I did out there but the rose, the rose was Lemon Spice accompanied by a heavenly Royal Sunset. Yesterday I thought the daffodils were so fine but with a rose in my nose, I turn it up...at the daffodils. I'm totally besotted today and I've not even finished my prune.
la