Question
We'd like a fast growing climbing rose for the iron archway to our patio....something fast growing that will provide nice blooms throughout the summer. We're near Philadelphia and our backyard gets full sun. Any ideas? Also, I'm assuming you need to leave the vines intact during the winter with all climbing roses. Is this true?

Answer
You do get cold winters so you have to select a climber that doesn't need to be protected in the winter . John Davis is a good one for your area and it does have flowers on it most of the time. Most climbers have two flushes of bloom and don't always have flowers on them. What ever rose you select just make sure that it will go through the winter and you don't have to take down the canes in the winter or wrap it for the winter as this is a lot of work. Just ask for a winter hardy type climber.