I think they will be fine in the cut out area...just check them often, for water....congratulations!

If you are due for a cold snap covering them up even with a blanket or sheet will help. It sounds like the location I have planted a Marchael Neil here.. right by the vent for the stovetop.. I doubt the ground ever gets freezing right in that spot. And the east side of the house is pretty sheltered from a lot of the elements and wind. I also have a J. Desprez on that side of my house that has grown like gangbusters.

Just keep an eye on the for water as Melva said. Cover them up if a cold snap is coming :)

I have found wind to be the worst thing to worry about here in the winter, drying out the leaves and canes of the new babies.

Also in the spring I loose cuttings to rot I think.. just when things start to get warmer, so I think them being outside during that time is a big plus. (I typically have had them in my unheated lean-to/greenhouse when the rot occurred).

Congratulations on your good luck and I am sure all will be well :)

Marleah

When I lived in western WA zone 8 I had about 50 varieties of roses. Took lots of cuttings and left the pots out in the garden all winter- no major losses. I usually had way more than I needed so if I lost a few it didn't bother me. You can also bury the pots up to their soil line and they would do fine. This protects them from frosting the roots to the same degree as your mature roses. Just make sure the pots will drain well due to all the rain in your climate. You could put a little pea gravel in the bottom of each hole before putting the pot in.