Thanks everyone for your comments and encouragements. Keep us posted on your Gallica experiments Portland. Summer, I would love to try Darlow's enigma. But for some reason, it cannot be found in Canada. Most of my garden is in shade. However as you know there is shade and shade. The back of the garden was full sun a long time ago, however, the trees have grown so much that it is constant dappled shade. So, roses that grow there need to be vigorous and tough and sizable. I love Albas. There is an aura of mystery about them, as if they are a bridge between a longtime ago past and what is old and venerable in us. If I'd go through with this experiment (As the spots are taken with some sentimental plants), For the original spot mentioned in this post, I was thinking of going with Great Maiden's Blush even though I was tempted by the Queen and her ladies-in-waiting Madame Legras and Mme. Plantier! For a small spot I was thinking of Félicité Parmentier, as none of the big ones will fit. Although the idea of an all exclusive alba garden is very enticing, I've always been intrigued by the apple scented leaves of Sweet Briar. So, she'll be another candidate for another tough spot. I would grow her for her scented leaves only. But again all this is an ideal, a dream, which for the time being, is enough as I'm quite content with miss Semi-plenaâ¦.

Your roses are beautiful! They were bare root and they've grown that big in one summer? Wow, you must have the magic touch. I got two Fantin Latours (potted) from Heirloom Roses this spring and they've grown about two feet tall, but they're branching out pretty well. I like the way you've put your roses out so that they will be easy to see and smell when they start blooming. You picked roses that should stand up to some tough winters. Even with all the snow, they should be fine (we get two to three feet a year lately) but I have read that in the first year, Gallicas, Albas and most old-fashioned roses could use some winter protection. You might want to check the Heirloom Roses website. They have an e-mail where you can send questions. They've always been good about answering my questions, even before I purchased any of their roses. Good luck with the winter!

The only thing to be cautious of is that it is incredibly gifted with prickles. I once walked too close to a large bush in a gold rush country cemetery. An errant breeze blew the hem of my skirt against the outer reaches of the plant, and it took two men to disentangle me. BUT if you have an area where miscreants commonly climb into your garden, and you wish to discourage that action, I heartily recommend a hefty Alba Odorata. They may jump into it ONCE, but I bet they won't do it twice! Jeri

Tangles, I'm so glad you are going to order the Queen! I feel she is one of the loveliest roses ever created. What country do you reside in? Yes, your impression is correct. The Queen is more of an arching shrub that is somewhat languid and very graceful. She grows beautifully on a tripod, as a fence or wall shrub or tied to a trellis. I grow mine next to a wall and support her with a surround of rebar and and plant twine. She and Basye's Purple and Botzaris weave together as they throw out their arching canes across the bed. When the Queen's canes arch horizontally, she blooms all along the canes. Please post photos when your rose(s) arrive! I'd love to share in your excitement. :-) Carol