Here are the roses being tested in the AARS plot at the Chicago Botanical Gardens. Some of them were named with a serial number, others had only a description of color and class. A few of these are verrrrry pretty!

"10R202" Appears to be deep pink with a tan petal base. Very interesting.

"Bicolor pink white hybrid tea" looked very fragile and delicate

"Coral and peach blend grandiflora" had three blooms. Appears to start out as a deep salmon, then fades to a light coral pink.

"Lavender blend hybrid tea" Very large bloom with a LOT of petals on a very tiny plant:

"Ruffled Lavender floribunda" Of course, I am personally obligated to photograph anything lavender or purple...lol

"Velvet Purple grandiflora" Yes, I know it's blurry, but it was whipping about in the wind and I just HAD to get a picture of the color. Looks like Ebb Tide; flowers are very similar in form and size, but it does really have a velvety quality that I haven't noticed on Ebb Tide:

"Purple smoke blend climber" This is by far the most interesting of the group. I'd call it about the same color as Burgundy Iceberg, but instead of white peeking through on the petals, it's a greyish tint:

This was the largest, healthiest, and most loaded with blooms. It's labeled "White hybrid tea". It's the same color as Bride's Dream, but these blooms are flat, english-shaped, and ENORMOUS. It looks like an Austin on steroids.

I can't testify to the fragrance on any of these. Unfortunately, at this point in the day it was very late, there were rain clouds closing in on us, we had a 20-minute hike back to the car, and stuffy noses from the wind and cold. It was worth it, though!!

---Laura