QUESTION: Is there such a thing as a thornless rose? And will it grow in Princeton, N.J.?

ANSWER: There are two kinds of thornless roses: those that have always been thorn-free, and those bred for thornlessness. The first group includes many classic beauties that would have ardent fans even if they bristled with knife points.

The second group, trademarked Smooth Touch, is descended from hybrid teas, and should be compared with other hybrid teas before you decide to buy, said Peter Schneider, an editor of the Combined Rose List, which describes more than 14,000 roses and provides nursery sources for them (www.combinedroselist.com or 330-296-2618). Thornless roses are marked with a "t," so if you are patient, you can page through the list for many possibilities.

Or, Schneider suggested, you can start right out with one of the old favorites. The most famous is Zepherine Drouhin, a climber with rich bronze-red young shoots and new foliage, followed by strongly fragrant, deep-pink flowers. Schneider also recommended Phyllis Bide, a near-constant bloomer in a combination of cream, primrose and pink.

All of these should survive in Princeton, but that is close to the northern edge of their range. Be sure to site yours in a protected spot. Or choose Lillian Gibson, a vigorous grower, which covers itself with pink flowers for six weeks in early summer. It is considerably tougher than most other thornless roses.

Container-grown Smooth Touch roses are distributed by Monrovia and available at local nurseries. Zepherine Drouhin and Phyllis Bide are sold by Roses Unlimited, 864-682-7673, www.rosesunlimitedownroot.com, or Lillian Gibson, by North Creek Farm, 207-389-1341.

QUESTION: I'm hoping to plant some small maples and redbuds around my northwest Connecticut property but I understand that 2004 is the year of emergence for the 17-year cicada. Does this pose a risk to young trees?ANSWER: Periodical cicadas lay eggs in twigs and thin branches, which weaken and sometimes kill the wood. This does not harm mature trees, but small trees and shrubs cannot stand that much loss. They should be enveloped in thin muslin for the month or so between the emergence of cicadas and the end of their laying period.But you need not bother this year. "The cicadas that will emerge in 2004 are Brood X, which does not occur in Connecticut," said Chris Simon, a biology professor and the director of research projects at Cicada Central, at the University of Connecticut. "The Connecticut brood is Brood II, which will not appear again until 2013."Some broods are 17-year cicadas. Others have a 13-year cycle. Each brood is associated with its own set of locales, but those sites can be widely scattered, not only among states but also from town to town. Local records are therefore the best tools for predicting emergence. The highly informative Cicada Mania (www.dancentury.com/cicada) includes a list of which broods pop up where.Being observant also will help. As these insects near their mature size (an inch and a half long) and head for the surface, they are easy to see when you dig. And be on the lookout for moles, which often multiply in response to the large increase in their food supply.People sometimes eat cicadas too. Recipes can be found at www.biology.clc.uc.edu/steincarter/cicadas.htm.Address questions to Garden Q&A, The New York Times, 229 W. 43rd St., New York 10036, or by e-mail to gardening@nytimes.com. Those of general interest will be published. Unpublished questions cannot be answered individually.