Centerum, My reasoning is that I think there's a possibility that they may have been selecting cultivars that make big plants in the sandy playa lake bed that is Wasco. When the big producers started thinking about going to own root roses / faced up to the increased expense of grafting roses over time as manpower expenses went up/ tried to follow trends, they were still owning the growing fields in Wasco so they were going to be growing those own roots in Wasco or in the desert fields in Arizona. My reasoning would be that they'd choose the white HT for 2007 that grew best in those conditions, rather than the white HT that might grow well cross country even if it didn't make as big plants in CA and AZ. Each cultivar is its own rose; some make hair roots that do better in sands, some may prefer heavy clay. Some may do better grafted on Dr. Huey; some may have better color grafted on canina. Some may even make better standards than dwarfs (grafted on very short rootstock- a phrase from the early 1900s) back when the sellers of roses recommended how to grow different cultivars. I doubt that, when it comes to own root roses, one soil fits all.

Personally, I am not so fond of Veteran's Honor. Of the reds I grow, Papa Meilland (yes, right, you knew that I would say that :-)) is the number one red rose for me and it is outstanding as cut flower with a fragrance to die for. Taboo would be my second best and I adore Rouge Royale in spite of its being more bs prone than the first two I mentioned. Royal William is also a very good, productive dark red. Velvet fragrance is bushy and has a nice shrub form + fragrant. Of those reds that are gorgeous but have no scent Black Baccara and Red Intuition are my favorites. In lighter red color Grand Gala and Alec's red are very fragrant; they are shorter than those I mentioned above. I do not grow Firefighter that everybody seems to praise.

Phil -- Grandiflora. It's only in their Spring 2010 mail order catalog -- totally missing from their big wholesale catalog for 2010. But the mail order catalog says this: NEW Peppermint Splash. Grandiflora Var. JACdrama (PPAF) A unique blend of white, red and peppermint-pink splashes and speckles. Enormous blooms, each one distinctively different, open with perfect high-centered form, releasing the evocative "high summer" aroma of fresh honeysuckle. The petals aren't exactly striped-- instead they're a swirled confection of rich pink against Christmas and snowy white. For lovers of one of a kind beauty with an artistic twist, this new rose is absolute tops! Own-root rose. Exclusive. 4 1/2 - 5 feet Height/ Red and white (turning pink) striped 4 1/2 inch blooms -- late spring to early summer Pointed ovoid buds / 20-25 petals / 14" to 18" stems Large glossy dark green foliage Light sweet honeysuckle scent / full sun 38663-X7R Bareroot $18.95 Kathy

When I ordered from the HD sale that was posted here, I got fabulous J&P roses, and got them fast. I ordered the test panel roses from J & P and they got here fast and healthy. Then I ordered from Wayside on June 6, and the guy who took my order thanked me for calling and ordering from Jackson and Perkins. Huh? Oops, he said, we just bought J & P and I take orders for both. I asked if the roses were coming from Wayside in S. Carolina or from J & P in California. He said we have them here in S. Carolina, and we'll send them to you in a week and a half. I called today, and they said the roses won't be shipped until June 30, and they are coming from..you guessed it...California (in this heat?) and will be from J & P. They also deleted part of my order, item no longer carried. Their transition isn't going so well because both companies are losing customers now. I don't understand why they advertised so heavily when they can't fulfill the orders, and they are going to end up refunding so many of them. You would think they would assign an employee to at least communicate with customers about the delays. From a business perspective, I think they would have been better off to compost the excess stock than to alienate so many customers when they can't deliver healthy goods. People don't remember the good price they got on something, they remember long delays, lack of communication, fried plants, bad information. That's sure not going to make them come back next year willing to pay full price.