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Hi Robert,

I have a 'waterless' (no water once-established) garden in Irwindale (east of L. A.) where I am experimenting with roses. Plants include Mrs. B. R. Cant, Graham Thomas, Old Blush, Le Vesuve, Evelyn, Crown Princess Margareta, Wenlock, Mme. Alfred Carriere, Marie van Houtte. The last 3 haven't been tested yet, being newly planted in 2019.

Had a question, if you have the time. The 'waterless' roses were pruned upon the first soaking rain in late November except for Old Blush. Old Blush is producing a myriad of flowers, the others have not bloomed yet, and the two David Austins Graham Thomas and Evelyn (Crown Princess Margareta already removed due to unnattractive foliage in late summer) show 'blindness'. Evelyn is partially blind, with a ruff of foliage on its stems and normal shoots at the tips, and Graham Thomas shows entirely bunched up foliage as of January 12.

It looks like there is a fairly restricted range of roses that can adapt to the harsh conditions. In my opinion, Mrs. B. R. Cant looks like the most ornamental variety, dropping its leaves in summer to leave an attractive branch structure, and leafing out normally upon the rains. No flowers yet. Old Blush doesn't look as 'clean', keeping browned leaves thru summer.

My selection criteria for the roses were desiccation tolerance, heat tolerance and the ability to grow in winter. IMO Mrs B R Cant shows the best combo of these characteristics, while remaining ornamental. It's only been through one 'waterless' year, however. Thank you for your HMF posts on heat tolerance.

Can you recommend roses that show a pronounced tendency towards winter growth (thereby avoiding blind shoots) and also sunscald resistance/heat tolerance? What about... Sutter's Gold? Abraham Darby? Mary Rose?? Bewitched?? Bow Bells??? Iceberg?? 'Souvenir de la malmaison' gets too much mildew. 'Mutabilis' may be a little too susceptible to sunscald, based on what I've seen in other gardens. 'Safrano' may not be sunscald resistant and may be too mildew susceptible (???). All of the varieties in the first paragraph are sunscald resistant for me, exc/ for Marie van Houtte who hasn't been through a summer yet.

Thanks!!! Nate

Robert, I have been fascinated reading and following your work with Lila Banks and its impressive dynasty of progeny. Many of which are quite colorful and beautiful. I love lavender. It's my favorite color, so I have been keeping tabs on everyone's projects breeding for lavender for quite a while now.

You mentioned to me in another thread that you have been working with bracteata a lot. Clinophylla too. I am very interested in those species because of their other-than-china rebloom genetics.

I want to work on three species in particular: rugosa, bracteata, and roxburghii. Clinophylla is very tender but I could find a way to use it too.

I was wondering if you had some advice and ideas, particularly regarding bracteata. I have read from many sources that it's challenging to use. Then I've also heard that it's reasonably pollen fertile.

I know that Ralph Moore was extremely proud of Muriel because it took him forever to make that cross take. I also know that it produced a lot of nice things.

I don't really know where to get it. I do know where to find Happenstance, one of the miniature sports of Mermaid, though. I have bracteata and Pink Surprise, a rugosa x bracteata cross. I might try Little Gray Pearl, as Muriel is a parent of it.

I was wondering though if you had any bract seedlings that have been particularly useful. I would love to trade for daylily species, or historic Iris, or even some rugosas. Whatever you'd like. An IOU for stuff I end up working on, whatever you like. Even if you just have bract crosses that weren't winners that you want to toss.

I've got stapeliads, cacti, succulents, orchids, lots of stuff. I bet I have something you'd like. Let me know.

Thanks!