Other roses that might be worth some consideration -
I have grown:
- Julia Child - accounts vary on fragrance. May have mild blackspot problems in your area, but it is wonderfully branched, vigorous, and generous with its flowers. It can be glorious.
- Lady Pamela Carol - a light lemon scent to its slightly informal pale yellow flowers. Nicely branched plant. It takes some years to establish, is not a flower machine IME, and it's a favorite of nibbling deer. A slowly-developing subtle beauty.
- Charlotte - another David Austin rose with flowers that fade a bit as they age, a garden-friendly yellow. I've not grown it in the NE, but I'm happy with the one I grow here. Arching habit.
- Might be the wrong color, and it lacks much fragrance, but South Africa would make a bold statement. A big, open shrub.
- Other Ideas--- If you have a great deal of space (say eight feet in every direction at least) and a good wall or fence to train it on, Graham Thomas would be perfect. A close relative, Golden Celebration is more compact but, IME, is probably too prone to black spot in the NE to consider.
- If space were really limited you might consider the miniature Rise 'n'Shine. Again, not fragrant but robust and cheery.
I have not grown:
- Neal recently posted photos of his Golden Fairy Tale rose. Sounds like he's fond of it both for its vigor and for its generosity in bloom. Kordes Roses claims that it is fragrant. When I gardened in the NE I found I had a better batting average with Kordes Roses than with most other roses bred after WWII. Blackspot resistance and general vigor were usually more satisfactory.
- Not fragrant at all... but it might be a great little yellow flower machine... Lemon Fizz.
You can find more on these roses at this site or at HelpMeFind.com.
Good Luck.
