Question
Hi-
I recently moved to Alta-actually Blue Canyon, CA.  I am literally starting from scratch.  Previous owners did no gardening at all!  I am at 5000 altitude-Zone 7 I think?  We get annually, 22 ft snow per year-average of about 5 ft snow pack from December to March/April.  High summer temp is 80-85 max, winter night average is 30 degrees with 2x at 10 degrees.  When I moved I dug up and brought several roses with me.  I saved them in my atrium and they are now planted in the garden.  I do not know if they'll make it or not this winter.  I  would LOVE suggestions on roses that do well with snowy winters.  Color, size unimportant- We have 10 acres-about 2 which I can landscape at this time.  Though we live in a VERY rural area I have not seen any deer- probably due to the dogs.  Thanks!

Answer
Sorry for the delay (computer problems). You certainly have the climate to grow healthy roses. Roses like to have 4 seasons and they especially like to have a rest under a lot of snow. The secret to having less problems with roses is to grow only those that are hardy to one zone below yours. That way the winter isn't a problem. Many people in your zone don't have to protect their roses for the winter as the snow does it for them. Modern shrub roses have come a long way from the single pink ones of yesterdays. The other secret for getting them through the winter is to not fertilize anymore after the end of July. This gives the roses time to harden off their canes even if they put out some new growth.
I would however when you get a couple of good hard frosts, mound your roser from home. You can't help but damage roots plus the frail feeder roots when you dig a rose up that has already settled in. Just cover them with everygreen boughs or put a pile of soil around them about 6 inches deep.
Here are some tried and true roses to start with. Those marked * are very fragrant.
HYBRID TEAS
Elina   
Frederick Minstral*  Ingrid Bergman  
New Dawn(Climber)
Royal William  
Sunset Celebration
Folklore*
Olympiad
Queen Elizabeth
Secret*
Sheer Elegance
Touch of Class
Tournament of Roses
Valencia*
FLORIBUNDAS
Apricot Nectar
Columbus
French Lace
Gene Boerner
Little Darling
Livin Easy
Playboy
Sexy Rexy
Sunsprite*
MODERN SHRUBS
Bonica
Buff Beauty
Cornelia
Felicia
Dortmund
Lavender Lassie
Prosperity
Any if the Romantica series by Meilland
Any of the Renaissance by Poulsen
Most roses by David Austin should do okay for you.
CLIMBERS
Autumn Sunset
Westerland
Blaze Improved
Golden Showers
New Dawn
Royal Sunset
OLD GARDEN ROSES easy to grow and all extremely fragrant
Charles de Mills
Gloire de FranceCompte de Chambord
Common Moss
Enfant de France
Isaphan
Konigin von Danemark
Rose de Rescht
Well by the time you have planted those, you will be exhausted. If you want to see pictures of most of these roses then here is my web site. Hope this helps. Lynnette
http://pages.zdnet.com/lynnette/