First bloom is now ending and deadheading continues, the best bloom year yet for this garden. May was a unique month with Powdery Mildew plauges us. I have never had it here like this year, even some Buck roses were effected. I traveled every week in May and only home on weekends which didn't help with control. Have sprayed 4 times now with things under control finally. The climbers have come into their own this spring, most are 3-4 years old now with a exceptional bloom this spring.
The new climbers on rose house continue to grow and climb. Exception would be a Mermaid from J&P that refuses to grow, will shovel prune today and replace with "The Princes Trust" own root plant.

With 70's and 80's degrees it may or may not be time for pruning but here we go. Almost complete with 100+ spring pruned roses and new leaves coming out everyday. Peach trees here are in bloom and inviting a killing frost. January storms provided for severe pruning due to wet heavy snow loads breaking canes.
Big problem is Lady banks, she was dislodged from a fence last May in a 70 mph windstorm. The whole thing was 20' High and rambled along a fence, fence was uprooted and "the Lady" was flipped off the fence on on to 8 Buck Shrub roses. We had a mess. I built a 13' high 12' X 40' Rose arbor (house) in place of the Rose fence. We attemped to restore the "Lady" up right again and was sucessful until another storm blew here down again. Pruning at the front allowed a path until we decided what to do with her. Springs arrives and we had a 8 year old "Lady" with a tangled matted crossing cane mess. Growth last summer and fall resulted in plant that adjusted to being "grounded", when had cut away 5 pickup loads of canes and debris to get her up again.
She now has 20 canes 12' high supported by cables every 12" OC. We can now managed her growth and contain her somewhat in an "upright" manor.
Will post pictures with new camera soon.

After walking the garden this day I am dismayed by the broken canes we suffered due to our "snow of the century". Climbers to shrubs are all damaged, I have a "Lady Banks" flat on the ground almost and have no ides how to get her back up. The weight of the snow displaced many canes. Spring pruning will be interesting this year.

Planning for new roses taking place as well as new bed creation. Online searches and catologs arriving. Great time of year.

As this posting is now taking place we have had the biggest Winter Storm in the Rio Grande valley history. At his location we had over 1 foot of snow and 5" just before Xmas. Heavy Wet stuff that has broken canes everywhere, I have a Lady banks (white) 16' X 12' that is literally on the ground! This is high desert climate 5000' at the foothills of the Rockies near the Rio Grande River Moderate Zone 7. Rainfall 7-9" annual (with the exception of 2006). Very little foliar diseases to deal with....little mildew sometimes in spring..aphids once in awhile

The garden is young, only since 1999 and changing. All my gardens are a constant work in progress..........ever changing much to the dismay of my wife. In 2006 we built a 12' X 40' "Rose House" 14' High sides with cables every 12" to support Ramblers and Climbers. The intent is to have the 40' sides covered with roses eventually and provide shade from the high intensity sun we have all summer. Maybe a lounger for a nap and cooler inside also. We grow annuals, native grasses, bulbs, Fruit trees, berries and a huge veggie garden on our 1/2 acre.

Roses number approx 200, mostly "own root" . This year I plan on replacing some budded roses with own root versions due to poor growth and disease issues with the budded versions. I also plan on adding more Dr. Buck roses, I am from Iowa and an ISU alum, meet Dr. Buck in 1970 and became a fan of his work and roses. Grew many more in Iowa than I have now and will increase my collection of his roses.