This is Peace. May we have more of it, in the garden and elsewhere in the world.

Another Peace.

Pink Intuition is an unusual striped or stippled rose.

Precious Dream is a Hybrid Bracteata. I love saying that word.

As a grandiflora, Queen Elizabeth is terrific in the back of the border because of its height and frequent blooms. I can't say the same thing for the climbing version. It's the most stiff, upright climber I've ever encountered -- the canes look like bamboo rods, and I swear she will reach right out and grab you with her thorns when you're not looking. Must be because I'm distantly descended from the cousin that a certain Queen Elizabeth had beheaded -- Mary, Queen of Scots.

Well, that's about half the collection... I'll post more photos of the other varieties in the days ahead.

Wow Mike, you have a stunning collection and what beautiful photos, now I am getting really anxious for blooms! I did some garden cleanup today after the last rain storms and noticed buds on my Christopher Marlowe, I can hardly wait. I am partial to warm tones and love that Prairie Sunrise, it's on my wish list for when I get a bigger garden.

Betty Boop is such a star and that swirled photo of Love & Peace is just delicious looking.

I noticed you skipped right over Paloma Blanca in your alphabetical order. That's such a gorgeous rose, and your photos of it always make me want one or two. I hope it's coming to this space soon.

Never fear, Zuzu, I have two sets of archives, in alphabetical order, and I've only started in on one of them. My better photos of Paloma Blanca are in my other set of photos, but I'll jump ahead and post them here since you mentioned them. I am always astonished at your remarkable memory. It's been at least a year and a half since you saw those photos!

I always describe the shape of Paloma Blanca as reminding me of the ice cream cup snacks that I used to eat as a child, with the little swirled domes on the top. Look at the one in the top right corner to see a good example of what I mean.

Here's a close-up. Looks like you could eat it with a spoon, doesn't it?

When Paloma Blanca blooms, which is several times per season in my garden, it puts out numerous, densely packed blooms all at once. They are long-lasting due to the substance of their petals and strong centers.

Wow, no wonder you remembered it Zuzu! Excuse me while I go check my fridge for some soft swirl vanilla ice cream!

Sue, isn't that a great rose? I have yet to find one that looks like my other favorite childhood treat -- ice cream sandwich!

That's the one! God, what a beautiful rose that is. I could double my weight in a month if I had that to look at every day. I bought one once from Roses Unlimited, but it was one of the Florida casualties. I'll get another one this year.

That's where I got mine. Has Mosaic, but is none the worse for it so far.

MIke, I'll add my accolades to Zu's and Sue's. You have some outstanding roses and so many of them. I have such a paltry collection and would add many more but DH is stubborn about his lawn, so I keep having to find new places to plant them that won't interfere with the holy grass. I keep telling him if we had more flower beds, he wouldn't have so much to mow, but he and the neighbor across the street have this competition going to see who mows first and most often. Give me a break

Oh, well, I enjoy them here vicariously through all the rosarians' postings of photos!

Angie,

Tell him, from one Tarheel to another, that grass is over-rated, and that if he and the neighbor want to have a truly manly competition, it should be over barbecue. Then tell him that he can have a BBQ pit, if you can have another flower bed! That way he'll still have something to compete over, you can get more roses, and you won't have to cook as often!

OMG, I love that Paloma Blanco.. such a stunning white! I don't have but 1 white rose.. "Pure Perfume" and it didn't give me 1 bloom at ALL last year! I've never even heard of it! I was thinking of getting a Full Sail, but, wow! Now the hunt begins!

Hey, Mike, excellent suggestion! Where in NC are you from? What on earth are you doing in NY? It's cold up there! Although this winter has been so strange that we just may have had about as much snow as NY has. I have an aunt out in East Hampton. Quite lovely out there.

I grew up in Winston-Salem, eating Lexington style barbecue and hush puppies. I still order it from King's and get it delivered overnight in dry ice, along with salt-cured country ham that you can't get up here in these parts for love nor money!