Austin roses

Suzanne, I've heard that the Austin roses are not a panacea, and that some of
his cultivars are more disease resistant than others (lots of good words about
'Mary Rose' on the Compuserve gardening forum, more blackspot and mildew
problems with 'Graham Thomas'). Another big part of their attraction is that
they combine the form (and scent?) of old roses with the repeat bloom of the
moderns. But at least among the rose people on that forum, the consensus is
that they're a distinct improvement over most moderns, and a real option for
organic gardeners in a way that hybrid teas are not.

Since the form is what you like, maybe you'd have less powdery mildew with some
of the old roses themselves? The single round of bloom might be worth it not to
have to see that white stuff...<ecch, shiver> reminds me of when I gardened in
San Francisco.  It was tough to grow peas and snow peas there without them
being affected.

Ellen G., you asked about east coast sources for the Austin roses.

Wayside carries a bunch, but I'd recommend them only for the catalog pictures
and descriptions since they're just brokers (800-845-1124). The ideal would be
a source that grows its own. The nursery below is a rose place friends have
raved about, but don't know how large a selection of Austins they carry; they
do have both old roses and modern shrub and hybrid teas for sure:

  The Roseraie at Bayfields
  Waldoboro, ME                   207-832-6330

And one even closer to you (again, no definite idea on Austin selection):

  Lowe's Own Root Rose Nursery
  6 Sheffield Rd.
  Nashua, NH 03062                 603-888-2214

It occurs to me that most of the Austins may not be hardy enough for your zone
3 garden, but the Roseraie or Lowe's people should know.

   Nell Lancaster, Lexington, VA   75500.2521@compuserve.com    USDA zone 6b
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