Yes! LOL! Join the club! Kim

Where? I don't see any crazy rose people here. You sound perfectly normal to me, lol! I hope it opens for you tomorrow. Post us a pic when it does!

Would also love a picture. Chaucer is one rose I've always wanted. I have Wife of Bath which I think is related to it but I think Chaucer is even more beautiful.

If you're crazy we're all crazy here, and I don't see a problem.

Ingrid

If you're crazy, I'm completely nuts. However, I prefer to consider myself "passionate". You're welcome to use the same term. I think it fits.

Please do post a picture. Jeff

I'd stick with passionate myself, so much more flattering. If you want the old-world flavor, describe yourself as eccentric, but never crazy, unless you also have as many cats as some of us have roses.

As for that bud opening, it may or it may not. I have roses budding and blooming, but I also have some that are stuck, I think due to the cool dampness. I bought a found rose called "Plymouth Fence Tea" at the SJHRG earlier this fall. It produced a lovely delicate pointed pink bud -- but never opened. Too bad for me. I will have to wait patiently for spring to see it. Better luck to you!

Rosefolly

bellegallica, I was hearing Dixie Carter giving her lines to the "Northern woman" about them hiding their "eccentrics" away in institutions, like things to be ashamed of. "Here, we proudly display ours in the parlor, for all to enjoy!" Yes, ma'am. Birmingham born and Southern raised. That's funny! Thanks for reminding me. Kim

No, you are NOT crazy... unless you call living in a climate where roses can bloom in the winter months crazy.

It's people like me who walk through their gardens seeing the structure of the plants and planning their pruning cuts for next spring, which is months and months away. It's time to look away from the garden and let it rest, but the garden and the roses still call ... and I want to answer.

It's too cold to garden, but that's where I want to be .. that's crazy.

Smiles,
Lyn

The flower did open even though it took several more days. Here are some pictures. Sorry about the quality. All I have is the camera on my phone.

Compared to the pics at HelpMeFind, this flower has many more petals, which is probably because of the cool weather. It's also completely scentless. I'll probably have to wait for spring before I get to smell this one, which is supposed to be very fragrant. Pretty Jessica is very fragrant, but even she occasionally produces a scentless bloom. I'm just hoping my nose does not have a blind spot for the myrrh scent.

Kim, I always enjoyed Julia's rants. A coworker who is also a fan told me that Dixie Carter, being conservative herself, didn't enjoy the liberal political speeches Julia sometimes made. Apparently she made a deal with the producers so that for every political rant Julia had to make, she got an episode in which she sang.

Lyn, you are most certainly NOT crazy. During winter, I'm always planning in my head what annuals and other things I'm going to try out next spring and summer.

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bellegallica, a friend whom I've know for many years through The Huntington, lives in Trousdale Estates, a very well heeled area of Beverly Hills. She loves to tell the story of a sign posted in the neighborhood offering free, clean fill dirt. She noted the address and walked the few blocks to it. A very well dressed maid answered and brought her inside, saying, "Mrs. Holbrook will be down shortly". Yup, Dixie Carter walked down the stairs and into the living room, crisply dressed, perfect smile on her face and with an outstretched hand, said, "thank you for waiting, I'm Dixie Holbrook!" Carolyn said, even though never "star struck", all she could say was, "yes, you ARE!" She's always spoken very respectfully and with admiration for her, she found her that impressive. Nice to hear people who've had any personal contact with someone who has impressed you, that they really ARE that lovely. Kim

bellegallica, your pictures almost made my heart stop. I've got to have this rose! Thank you for enabling me. I'm off to the Rogue Valley site this very moment.

Ingrid

Ingrid, I'm happy to enable you, but it's hard to believe my pictures did it. LOL. They're so blurred. One day I will break down and buy a digital camera.

If you like Souvenir de la Malmaison, then you'll like this one. I think I took that third picture yesterday. Today, the peachier tones have finished fading to the palest pink, and the flower looks exactly like SdlM to me. The outer petals have remained round in shape, though. (SdlM sometimes gets pointed/starred around the outside edge.)

The only disappointment is the lack of fragrance, but there is new growth, so maybe I'll get another flower or two before we get frosty in January. And maybe those will have some of that famous myrrh scent.

Let us know if you like yours. And take pictures, of course. Yours will be spectacular!

I was a little suspicious that none of the pictures of Chaucer at HelpMeFind looked like my rose, so I did some investigating.

I think I might have Claire Rose.

Paul Barden's picture and description of Claire Rose are eerily like mine. Link below.

Here is a link that might be useful: Claire Rose

Hi...

I'll stick with "crazy". OMG. The microclimate has changed in my garden. I have an injured arm and am not supposed to use it and I still want to go out and get more mulch and clean out rose leaf debris from the roses. I am not even planning, I just want out !

Housework with an injured arm is beyond boring !

Smiles,
Lyn

I've been waiting all week for my 'Albertine' buds to open, in December!!! I've gotten this rose to bloom 3 times this year!!!
Slowly, slowly slowly, ever so slowly blooms the rose.

Luxrosa

Luxrosa.......... congratulations ! THREE flushes out of a once-bloomer !

Bellegallica .......... Your rose is beautiful. No wonder you were yearning for it to open.

Smiles,
Lyn

Message for Ingrid (if you're still reading this one):

Did you get your Chaucer? I was wondering if you thought you had the "real" one?

I'm still convinced what I have is Claire Rose. The flower I took this picture of is STILL on the plant in perfect condition. Granted, we've had nights in the 30's since it opened, so I'm sure that helped. But Claire Rose is supposed to last and last, so that's another sign to me that I've got the wrong rose.

Hope you love yours. Take pictures!