One day I turned around and my yellow rose had produced an enormous vertical shoot. It was a little over a foot high when I first noticed it and this photo was taken several days after that. These ladies grow fast!

The grower's tag said they need a minimum of four hours of full sun and they just barely get that in my backyard. I think that's why they're sending out these huge shoots in all directions - they get enough sun to keep them healthy and vigorous, but they want MORE! NOW!

Nothing seems to bother these gals. I had minor cases of aphids and mealybugs earlier this summer, but they were easily dealt with by washing them off with the hose. All the rain and high humidity this year haven't bothered them either. My poor Goldflame honeysuckle is covered with powdery mildew, but the roses are as green and healthy and happy as ever. All I do is put them where they get some sun and air and water them occasionally and they grow and bloom all over the place. It's so nice to have something pretty that I don't have to constantly fuss over.