She's a beautiful rose, and the name's a lovely tribute to your rose-loving ancestor. I hope you can get it spread around.

Virginia

Ir's a very beautiful rose. I wonder if it's one of the larger Bourbons like MIP or a hybrid perpetual. What a wonderful family history connected with this rose.

I figure its somewhere in the bourbon and hybrid perpetual class http://www.helpmefind.com/rose/l.php?l=21.245674 http://www.davidaustinroses.com/us/mme-isaac-pereire-old-rose mip's bloom and color are close but my grandparents plant from what I i recall was short and arching mine in part shade is tall and arching if unpruned. I'm growing a sucker of it in full sun to see how it grows in full sun since I haven't seen the mother plant my grandparents had for years.

Also the blooms on Irene ford are smaller than mip they are about 2" -3" in diameter

I'll have to compare them when the flush starts

She really is a beautiful rose. i remember when you were trying to decide on a name and i was really taken back by the bloom! If you ever do get an extra sucker or some cuttings, please keep me in mind! thanks for sharing again :)

ill have to try cuttings again this year I did a large crop last year and had a white maman cochet for around three months then it died off. I did manage to get two red multiflora cuttings to grow by sticking them in the ground. I have yet to have a reliable system for propagating roses.