The last photo was taken in 2003 and is the rose bush I used (with owner permission) to take cuttings to get my monster rose. This bloom looks quartered and pretty, took my cuttings later from different stems. My monster bush is a bit of a disappointment because the blooms do not look like this lovely one. They are like pompoms. The first year they were pretty with white outlines and more form. I don't know what causes this. The reason I keep the big rose now (I have another one on the side of the house that doesn't get enough sun) is that it provides such a nice splash of color when it does bloom, too bad these old roses only bloom in the spring.
I don't think I'll mess with Honeysuckle. I had invasive stuff before I ever started this gardening, and now I've brought in with seeds and compost some hellish stuff I'll never get rid off. We did get rid of some really nasty white, big and clumpy spreading all over clover but at a price. Careless with the chemical ruined a couple plants.
Finding old photos, uploading and posting photos is a pain. It was a lot easier when I had my own web space which I gave up due to cost. There are sure nicer photos I could post, but these illustrate what we've been talking about.
I don't know how you will ever be completly free of the honeysuckle. It's probably too tough for even RU and forms tubers and spreads way underground. Get rid of some and it pops up somewhere else. Plus the digging would be very tough work.
