A Paul Barden rose is always a good idea.

100%. I have several Barden roses, all of them jewels.

Oh wow, fig_insanity, now that's an endorsement! I used to live over that way, but after the 4 year drought in the 1980's, we wanted to be out of the rain shadow of the Plateau. Of course, part of the tradeoff is the heavy acid laterite clay. Apples don't like The Highland Rim very much, so I miss those wonderful old apple trees I used to collect fruit under.... Hard to say about roses since I didn't grow them in The Valley. What we do have in common is the unpredictable wet/dry, hot/cold climatem and good conditions for fungus. Did you ever meet Frances Hudson, who sold goat milk around Knoxville in the 1980's? I was told she had a monster fig tree, that was badly damaged by those 2 back to back freezes in Dec 1983 and Jan 1985. I only vaguely consider figs here, it gets colder than in the Valley.

Oh, just to show the difference in soils, I think I have seen just 1 Dr. Huey here in 35 years. They were fairly common over your way. They don't like this clay, so I suppose their scion usually dies with them.

Yeah -- Any of Paul's roses are good roses . . .

In the realm of Miniatures, don't miss 'Carolyn Supinger'

Want larger? 'Jeri Jennings' is a great yellow-flowered shrub

BIGGER? Don't miss 'Mel's Heritage'

Smaller shrub? Try 'Tajique'!

All disease-free!

Thank you for the encouragement! I don't grow minis, dan't want to accidentally step on my plants. I have to have vigorous wanna-be-world-conquering cultivars to deal with the heavy clay, the Tennessee climate, and the lack of a water source for the garden. Eg, American Pillar was a bit too much., but ramblers have done well.

Mel has quite a bit of surviving cane here. I will see this year how much of his tallest canes survive this winter. He had a rough transplant last year and I wasn't sure if he would make it, but he came back strong in the Spring! Love this rose and also Dakota Redwing.

Oh, I love Mel! LOVE, LOVE, LOVE.

'Marianne' is one of the best roses here. If you can find it, buy it.