I added what I had on Friday. I can see the addition, but it was never recorded in the number of posts???? Title: "First report of rose rosette disease caused by Rose rosette virus on Knock Out roses in Louisiana." Author(s) : Singh, R.; Valverde, R.; Cook, M.; Owings, A. Author Affiliation : Department of Plant Pathology and Crop Physiology, Louisiana State University Agricultural Center, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA. Author Email : rsingh@agcenter.lsu.edu Journal article : Plant Health Progress 2016 No.August pp.PHP-BR-16-0022 ref.1 Abstract : " To the authors' knowledge, this is the first report of rose rosette disease caused by Rose rosette virus on Knock Out roses in Louisiana. It is difficult to assess the total value of roses in Louisiana but this disease has the potential to negatively impact the thriving rose industry in the state."

The following was stated: " where the similarities end is with the witches broom and of course the massive amount of thorns." --------------------------------------------------------------------------- H.Kuska comment: new growth on some roses have more thorns than the mature growth on the same bush. I assume that this is to help protect the new softer growth against "critters". The witches broom can be also caused by herbicide damage. "Symptoms of RRD may resemble injury from herbicides. If herbicides make contact with rose foliage in late summer or fall, the plants may show damage immediately or the chemical may be stored in the buds. In the latter case, damage becomes evident when buds swell and leaves emerge the following spring. Some herbicides can cause a witches’ broom symptom on roses, as well as yellowing or stunted, narrow leaves (Figure 10). However, excessive thorniness and unusual red pigmentation do not usually occur with herbicide injury. Most herbicides are non-selective, so other plants in the area may also show unusual symptoms of distortion and discoloration." The above witches broom information is from: http://factsheets.okstate.edu/documents/epp-7329-rose-rosette-disease/

I am SOOOO sorry to hear. RRD was one of my concerns that sorta kept me growing roses years back Right now, I think I might have boxwood blight. Took some cuttings for analysis to get confirmation. Sadface on , as these boxwoods I have nurtured since they 3G sized to full grown....and they grow like a measly few inches per year at most. I hate the diseases we speak about cause it's not a single plant virus/disease. It can setback your hardscape by wiping out X Y Z

I also meant to say that the RRV infection pictured in Our Lady occurred in 2008. So she has gone another 12 years after the cane was cut off. This was not the only RRV rose I've done the cut back to with success. About 10% of my RRV roses with ONLY ONE cane involved recovered if that cane was cut down to the crown immediately upon observation. That means that 90% of the time new growth will also sprout with symptoms showing you that the virus has spread throughout the rose and the whole rose needs to be removed. In the cooler months obviously the growth is slowed down so symptoms may take awhile to emerge.......I say this so that people who have roses that are not easily replaced have a glimmer of hope. I know too well about the decimation RRV can cause. Most are not aware that Tulsa had the 2nd largest rose garden at one time in the United States. When RRV first hit it wiped out 80% of their roses and continued to kill more. Now there are just a hand full from what they used to have. It was a devastating blow to a garden that was installed by the WPA (older folks will know what that organization was). It mowed mine down as well. So if you don't want to mess around with it I understand more then some.......................Maryl