I guess they really all do really well for us here in S. California, I was not expecting anything but mediocre for the Sunshine and the Emerald, but both surprised me this last season. The Sunshine produced small, but very sweet "blueberry" tasting blueberries. The Emerald grew at nuclear proportions. It was twice as big as any of my other varieties, extremely vigorous and had blueberries the size of quarters. When I saw how big they were (lost quite a few to rats/squirrels, sadly), I expected bland and mushy. Not at all. They were firm and delicious. All my varieties were quite good, with maybe O'Neal being the least impressive. Waiting for Sweetcrisp this year to see if they're as good as everyone else has said. Will report back this season, since my bushes will be 2nd year, and hopefully have larger crops :-) Patty S.

I think the high price rose this year (and deservedly so in my opinion) was Takao at $72. Attached is a pic of my Takao today that I posted on HMF. But the roses are not all expensive. I ended up with four roses: Symphony (Austin yellow) $6 By Appt. (Harkness very fragrant apricot floribunda) $8 Poopsie (a new exhibition mini-flora not available in commerce anywhere) $17 Dorothy Anne (an older hybrid tea by Joe Winchel that is no longer in commerce) $19. Here is a link that might be useful: My Takao today

The San Francisco Chronicle had an article that lists Violette de Bordeaux as a good choice for Northern Cali coastal areas. I just planted one here close to Monterey on a SW exposure close to a wall. Won't have anything to report for a few years! Santa Barbara is a lot warmer than here and SF so it should be fine Good luck! http://articles.sfgate.com/2010-06-30/entertainment/21931500_1_fig-white-marseilles-san-francisco Here is a link that might be useful: San Francisco Chronicle:

Well then look for us next year -- same time, same place. We had a few internet bidders, but mostly it was locals, and, as expected, we had more roses than bidders. So there were some great deals to be had. I was "bottom fishing," (i.e. searching for those rarities that didn't get much bidding attention from anyone else) and ended up spending only a total of $80 for ten roses, all for interesting varieties that are mostly new to me. But now I have them and will post photos as they bloom. I got roses that run the gamut: Ain't She Sweet -- Joe Winchel's hot pink hybrid tea from the same line that produced the rose "Dolly Parton." Beauty Within -- a new J & P yellow floribunda. introduction that won "best floribunda" at the International Rose Trial at Rose Hills just last month. Bukavu -- a Louis Lens hybrid musk that has been winning at rose shows recently. Honorine de Brabant -- a striped OGR bourbon for my stripey collection. Merveille des Rouges -- a red polyantha. New Orleans -- a brand new shrub introduction from Heirlooms this year that I'm excited about. Robert Clements -- an Heirlooms old classic that has many good reports, but I've never seen this orange shrub in person. Schubert -- a mauve shrub that grows like a polyantha Summer Fashion -- a pastel yellow and pink floribunda I used to grow and remember liking. Vif Eclat -- a red hybrid musk, which I bought because hybrid musks are usually pink and white, so this seemed very unusual. Again, I'll post pics when I have them of these, and we hope to see you next year. Btw, Connie was correct -- we don't ship for free, but rather at "our cost," which mean you pay for shipping, but only the actual cost of postage and supplies, nothing for our labor and no markups of any kind. Kathy