Question

 Hi- I have a climbing rose planted this spring that is racing up the side of my house with not a bloom in sight.I have another climber that is only about a foot high.That one is blooming but with very small flowers(nothing like the illustrations in the catalog!)I live on the south shore of Massachusetts.They came from a reputable source(Jackson-Perkins) Hope you can help.Thank you Josephine Libby

Answer
It is not unusual for a climber to take up to three years to produce flowers especially if they are growing well. They make growth at the expense of blooming as making flowers does take the most energy. I would pull back on the nitrogen as this makes new growth and use a fertilizer that has a high count of phosporous in it (the middle number) as this is what a rose needs lots of to make flowers. Miracle grow has a fertilizer high in this chemical. It doesn't matter what the fertilizer is for just as long as the middle number is around 30.
Your other climber sounds like it is the understock that is growing not the rose which is grafted onto, as the top rose has died. If the flowers are small and red, then that is what has happened. If the top rose dies over the winter then the understock will take over. Hope this helps. Lynnette