I have Bathsheba! I can‘t comment on repeat flowering because my Bathsheba rose bushes were new bare roots this spring from David Austin. However, I can vouch for great disease resistance. She is also the most vigorous grower I have other than the Fairy climber. Go for it!

I am on a warmer zone at 7b but on a similar humid location. Bathsheba has very good disease resistance to blackspot without having to spray her and her repeat is very good. She is one of my best Austin’s to grow no spray in a heavy blackspot area.

Mine are only 2 years old and I am keeping them at around 6 feet tall because they are growing against a fence and not on a trellis. They repeat frequently but with a small numbers of blooms at a time (I expect they will do better after 3 years). I think this one of one of Austin’s best.

Same experience as dianelas! Wonderful rose.

Thank you all! I'm going do do it. So excited!

You ?

Bathsheba is one of my favorites! ive had her for several years - winter hardy, no spray and really no care lol I grow her unsupported as an arching shrub

So glad to hear that! I've got one on order and will share an update in the summer!

Hardy to 7' here in central Michigan; the flowers are nice sized only in the spring, and then for the rest of the summer the flowers look like peachy clumps of wet tissue - bleh!

Fragrant though, and very healthy. No disease for several years.

Also, the color is very washed out -- it just sort of melts into the garden view.

I think David Austin is on the right track as far as hardiness, health, and fragrance with this rose, but the flower is not worth it. Sunny in zone 5a-b

@Blue Mountain Girl Zone 8 VaVaVa, @Blue Mountain Girl Zone 8 Va I'm curious to hear about your experience with climbing Fairy You're the only person I know that grows up. How many flushes do you get Situation situation do you have her growing in?

I'm in the minority on this one. Full sun, Zone 6, recently bumped to 7, it's vigorous, but the blooms fade to cream almost immediately in hot weather, shatters quickly. The scent is just ok for me. I wouldn't choose it again. It's just fine, kind of meh.

Well, I was hoping the climbing Fairy was going to bloom for me but she never put out more than a few little blooms. She put all her energy into growing vines and foliage like a weed, so I shovel pruned her. Too bad. I also have the nonclimbing version and that one blooms really well for me in several flushes!

I have Betsheba in my zone 6b. Very little BS. She was own-root last year & is now about 3ft & growing. I olan to have her be a big shrub. I sm loving yhe Bethsheba photo above! I only had her mid-srason last year, so this year I am excited to see her strut real real stuff in my garden!

I have climbing Fairy here, from ARE, and its done well. Blooms in flushes thru the summer and is hardy in z5.

Thank you @Blue Mountain Girl. I have two I planted at a neighbors and 2 at a firendsfriends in varying degrees of sun with varying results. Rock solid hardy and healthy, though. @Dingo, is yours in full sun? i

I think this is year three for mine. I keep thinking it's going to improve and in fact it's better this year than last year but I have to agree with those that find the color washed out and meh. It still could get better. It's not that heavy a bloomer either. I've seen some beautiful photos of it elsewhere.

Both Bathsheba & cl. Fairy are in part shade. They get full sun for oart of the day, then dappled shade.

got my first bloom! It’s gorgeous. So many petals! Thanks to everyone for your help!