I thought it looked interesting too, but I have not grown this rose. RVRs has it on occasion. Keep us posted. Orfeo is also a great red.

Thanks Sheila. I haven't heard of Orfeo, I'll check our suppliers here in Australia. I do have Red Pierre de Ronsard, but am growing that as a pillar - as it doesn't get that large (and it's more of a light red than a dark). And i'm after something rambly to "hide" the car port!. Knowing me I'll probably give Guinee a shot. I used to have the most beautiful red climber, with a wonderful fragrance, Countess of Stradbroke (an old Alister Clark heritage rose). You can't get it anymore unfortunately.

Countess of Stradbroke is another one RVRs carries on it's list antipodeanro. I was interested in that too. That is too bad that Alister Clark roses are not available there. I love the Australian rose books I have. Susan Irvine wrote about trying to collect the AC roses. Someone there must have them in their old gardens. Good luck, and keep us posted.

I have always read Guinee is a weakling. I hope that is wrong in your location. Orfeo is not a weakling.

Wow! No, it's not a weakling. Far out! Guinee might be more tender due to cold temperatures and snow. We rarely get snow where I am. Lamarque is said to be tender as well, but goes mad here. But I just found somewhere in Australia that has "Restless" an alister clark that looks similar to Countess of Stradbroke. It just depends on whether they can ship it interstate. (As I'm in Tasmania and we have stricter state border restrictions in what plants can come in from interstate).

Sheila, that is one of the most beautiful sights I have seen. The service has been on my radar for a while since Christopher posted it. I think long ago roses carries it.

Sheila, what a wonderful surprise to see your glorious Orfeo (I'd not seen it before and didn't know you grew it). I do love that one, and it goes on my endless wish list. Diane

Sheila has a lot of rose secrets. I love these climbers growing all over themselves. She helped me decide that I am going to transplant Awakening to my hill and let it grow natural and now I'm thinking maybe I need to just go ahead and get orfeo and do the same! Lol! :-)

That sounds like a great idea, Vapor. I saw NiktheGreek having Orfeo and this rose really is fabulous. Diane and Vapor, thankfully we can have joy in our lives in spite of chaos out there. We are finally getting our rainy season starting. I'll have to get out there with my manure, fertilizing, alfalfa hay application.

alfalfa hay is a great idea. I use pea straw or sugar cane mulch, and alpaca poop. I prefer the pea to the sugar cane, as it breaks down to enrich the soil. Alfalfa would be the same i imagine.

We have "hydrophobic soil" that resists water. It rains and the water just runs along the top. We have put a lot of organic material in to build up the soil, but also have keep it going with mulch.

Shelia, Wow! Your Orfeo is spectacular! I love red roses!!!! Is it fragrant? What about thorniness? I purchased cl. Crimson Glory and now I need to put him in the ground. I really wanted Marie Nabonnand after seeing one of the English ladies’ beautiful specimen (maybe Marlorena?), but it doesn’t seem to be available anywhere.

Marie Nabonnand?! I just googled it, it has a strong damask fragrance!!! Now I want that one too!!! My favourite red, which was not a climber, was Francis Dubrieul. It did burn from the sun so I used grow it under the shade of a huge rambling veilchenblau. Francis had a wonderful fragrance as well.

Yes, Stephanie, Orfeo is fragrant. Moderate prickles. Parents are Guinee and Curly Pink. Orfeo has it all. It is always blooming. I thought Marie N sounded great too. I got Orfeo from RVRs.

Sheila, that's great to know. that guinee is a parent of orfeo. But the curly pink may give orfeo a strength that guinee didn't have.