From the blog of John Starnes:

"I bred this rose under glass in Denver, using pollen from 'Graham Thomas' on a bloom of Rosa moschata. I thus consider it a true archetypal Noisette, a modern counterpart to the first Noisette 'Champney's Pink Cluster' (R. moschata X Old Blush) though the folks at IRARS won't list it as such. This own-root plant has thrived in my Tampa yard for years despite prolonged drought, my scant water use and all-organic growing methods. I am soon mailing cuttings to California rosarian and breeder Kim Rupert to test in his climate. Over the years it has set VERY few OP hips, and I've yet to get one seedling. But it has the cinammon-clove perfume of the Mom, and I love the occasional giant clusters it produces that are bouquets in and of themselves. I am now hopefully rooting my first ever cuttings so I can begin sellling my own hybrids directly vs. the usual $1 per plant royalty. John"

http://johnstarnesloveofroses.blogspot.com/2010/03/my-hybrid-lemon-zen.html#comment-form

John Starnes told me that the seed parent was actually R. moschata, not R. brunonii. And today he posted that this presumed-lost rose has been rediscovered as three plants at High Country Roses. I look forward to it becoming available.

:-)

~Christopher

It is surprising that this cultivar is good repeat flowering although it is said to be first generation of R. brunonii.