White Cecile Brunner was slower to take off than traditional pink Cecile, but once it finally found its footing, it was everything you expect from Cecile Brunner, only in white. I enjoyed it. I had it in both Newhall (Santa Clarita Valley) and Encino (mountains between the San Fernando Valley and the West Side) so it had heat and come cold in both places.

Thank you, roseseek, although I'm not terribly happy about the slow growth. I must have ordered this rose to teach myself patience. Hopefully Madame Bovary will leap out of the starting gate to make up for WCB. I appreciate that Rogue Valley offers some lesser-known roses, but that also means that not many people can tell us about them.

Kim, after I read your very detailed instructions I rushed post haste to the phone to change my order for WCB as I knew that I would never be able or willing to do all that. The roses I have now are, I'm afraid, going to have to survive on tough love as these days I'm weak and feeble and can do only the minimum. I have someone to dig the holes and do the planting which is the only reason I can even have roses at all these days. Unfortunately I was too late to reach anyone but I'll try again tomorrow. I do very much appreciate your help and am sure that a rose given that treatment will do very much better than what the poor thing will receive at my hands. Therefore I'll try to find a sturdier rose such as a floribunda to brave my elements. The roses I have are all encased in wire structures and mulched, and are watered very well. I've ordered an organic fertilizer which probably should be diluted in water but in my case will probably be sprinkled on the mulch and watered in with a hose. It's all far from ideal, I know, which is why I'll try to find a different rose, but at any rate I'll soon find out which roses can thrive with minimal care.

Ingrid - Instead of WCB, you might want to try Little White Pet. It is a sport (MUCH smaller, and re-blooms) of Felicite and Perpetue, and has the same gorgeous white blooms. I have 3 of them, and they are very strong and resilient. Mine are over 10 years old, and their height is about 3 feet , and they are about 2-3 feet wide. Here is one planted way out between the sidewalk and the street -

Jackie, I just now got off the phone with Rogue Valley before seeing your kind post. Of course, why would I do it the right way around? Your White Pet is absolutely gorgeous, and I would have given it serious thought, but in truth I fell in love with the rose I have ordered, which is Guinevere. I'd never heard of it before but it has a rating of excellent on HMF and it has a lovely old rose appearance to the blooms.

Kim, I can't thank you enough for telling me about the caveats of WCB, a lovely rose that at this time in my life if probably not the right rose for me. The rose forums and the people who know so much who kindly advise us here are an invaluable help. I'm so relieved that I was able to change my order.