I grow a few but I'm much more into hardier roses. I tried to kill The McCartney and Double Delight by not winter protecting and big suprise they somehow made it through. They still might meet the shovel since they haven't done much of anything the last 2 years. Of course one of my favorite roses (Grandma's Blessing) that's supposed to be hardy to zone 4 may have died.

I find the winter protection required to grow HTs is just too much. I mean, I'll do it for a few pretties that I really must have, but there is no way I'd want to tip all 100 of my roses. There's just no way. Right now I only tip 14 which isn't too bad but I'm still planning on getting rid of a few more. I would much rather fuss over the slightly more hardy David Austin roses. I give them a light covering over the base and have not lost one yet. I'm very fond of the Bucks, old roses, and hardy shrubs too.

Even with all that said I would have a hard time parting with Chicago Peace, Peace, and Love & Peace.

I treat them as annuals. I buy them at big box places, let them bloom and if they come back, more power to 'em. I grow hardier roses, love the Bucks, and also treat miniatures like annuals. I don't have enough time to tip, care for or worry about (bugs/diseases). I have had one back surgery, work as a nurse and will not risk my back on plants anymore. I also deal in antiques where auctions take a big bite out of my summer time.

My HT's came through the winter without losing a cane. I have 18 of them. I tip them- takes me about a week of doing two or three each evening after work and about the same time to upright them in the spring. My husband helps because he loves them. Lots of Bucks and Austins as well but those I use in perennial beds where there isn't room for tipping.

I'm afraid I treat them a bit like annuals too.... but you can buy beautiful tea roses (even the big gallon size ones already blooming) for the same price you'd pay for a hanging basket of annuals. And they are so much more.... I went to Donahue's open house this morning and brought home two clematis and two gorgeous rose bushes... with some of the most fragrent lovely roses already in bloom. They will stay in pots all summer and if I get around to it I'll bury them in the garden in the fall. If not, I will still have had so much enjoyment from them. Planted in my garden though, are 12-14 much hardier species roses. Can't wait to see how they do this summer. All made it through the winter with absolutely no protection and are all growing nicely at this point.

The Blue Girl my parents bought at Menards for that price turned out to be some sort of old garden rose - a gallica, I'm fairly sure, and I'm watching for its first blooms this season because my hunch is that it might be Charles de Mills. Did yours bloom last year? If not, that might be the reason (it's only once-blooming in early summer) and also the reason for its hardiness.

Stefan

Charles de Mills (or any gallica) sounds sooooo much better than Blue Girl. She never did well in my yard.