Christopher, I have not seen Mons. Boncenne.

One suggested ID for Pulich Children is 'Dr. Jamain' (that was, NOT Souv. de). The contemporary illustration of Dr. Jamain led both Jill and I to think it may be a match. But there's a long way to go with that . . .

The foliage pictured on Mons. Boncenne looks very like that of Pulich Children. Bloom color, it's really hard to tell, because PC is definitely poiple, and accurate color on photos of poiple roses is an exercise in frustration.

Jeri

Hmmm....I was planning on ordering Monsieur Boncenne again anyway (this time for myself), so maybe I'll try "Pulich Children" as well and find out if there's a difference.

:-)

~Christopher

Then, you can tell us. :-)

Jeri

Jeri, how would you rate the fragrance strength of "Pulich Children"? Since I don't have a lot of room here, I have to try and whittle down my wish-list by something....

:-)

~Christopher

Can't help you there, Christopher. Maybe Anita is around.

I've suffered from such severe allergies, for so many years, there are many fragrances I simply don't detect. I can't smell most HPs, and even Damasks barely register.

Jeri

We grow Mons. Boncenne, too, and Pulich Children is NOT that rose and is many times better. It has good fragrance and blooms on laterals all along arching branches. I can't speak for disease resistance in other parts of the country, but it's pretty good here. Great repeat, wonderful color.

For us, Mons Boncenne gets incredibly rusty, grows more upright and colonizing, and repeats much less often. When it is good, it's spectacular, but I took it out of my home garden because there are much better roses here in Sacramento.

Pulich Children also has a wonderful story behind it, for those who care about that sort of thing.
Anita

Thank you, Anita, for clearing that up. Rust isn't an issue where I am (New Jersey), and I'm not put-off by less-than-spectacular repeat. I'm planning for a big mixed bed, and I liked the color and fragrance of Mons Boncenne, and knowing that Vintage is the only place that has it (and it's available now) makes me tempted to get one for myself. And from your and Jeri's praise, I think I'll be adding "Pulich Children" as well. Thanks!

:-)

~Christopher

Anita, I have Pulich Children coming this spring (yeah!). I would love to hear the story behind it. I think that's why I'm so much more drawn to the old roses, and not the moderns; they have a history behind them.

Is there a website that tells some of the old rose stories? I have a book I found online called "A Rose by Any Name," but there's just so many more I'm curious about.

Tammy

Just found the article...
very very interesting!

www.goldcoastrose.org/pdf/how-a-rose-found-its-family.pdf

Since then, yet another Pulich descendant has contacted Robin and her sister -- all a result of the discovery of their family rose.

Pretty cool, eh?

Jeri