Count me in. (My house was built in North Carolina and has never moved.)
(And your roses bloom a bit before mine do up at 1100')

Yes! (I would love to pick Ann's brain). I have one commitment one weekend in May with our town's garden tour. Other than that I'm there. Would love to meet all of you.
jim

I'll probably be horribly snowed under with garden and nursery stuff in May, but I'm going to do what I can to break away and come down there to meet you all in person.

Connie

If you don't mind nursery folk and we can tear away sounds like fun. I could only do a Sunday though.

Count me in.

Great to hear from all of you -how exciting! Now please give me some input about what kind of get together you all would like best. I guess deciding on exactly where it's going to be will depend on how many people reply and from where. So far it sounds like a Sunday might be best, and Jim needs to tell us what weekend he'll be busy. A few options for where to have it are:

The Granite Falls Recreation Center - This has a wooded area with picnic tables and a little building with a kitchen and restroom. It is not a busy place and we could reserve the building. If we had a picnic there everyone could bring something to eat. We could have a plant exchange or not. Afterwards we could visit a couple of gardens like mine and Dickie's ( budeye). I haven't asked him yet but he usually enjoys company. Carla is nearby and I am not sure right now if she wants a garden tour but I know she likes to see her rose friends.

Or we could have it at some other park, some place in the mountains, The Biltmore House gardens, or at my house. My house is not the Biltmore house and employs no gardeners. It is just my garden and weed patch but there are some roses in it and other things. I think there's enough time to play this by ear and decide on a location a little later, but I would like some ideas. Maybe I could locate an old cemetery with roses not too far away and we could take a look at that.

When it gets closer to late May I'll take a count of who's coming and we can decide on any details. Ann, how was your house built in Carolina but you live in TN yet it has never been moved? It's a riddle!
Linda

I'm not sure if I could do it, but it sounds like fun. Please let me know when you get a firm date. Jeff

I'm sure Ann can give more historical detail, but Tennessee used to be part of North Carolina, before it became it's own state. So her house must have been built in that earlier period.
I would love to come to a gathering and see old friends and meet new, but I seem to be chronically reliable-vehicle challenged. So you can put me as a tentative maybe.
Jane

Have fun. Take pictures. Put names to the faces, too!
Anita

If the day works for me, I'll try to make it. The end of May is filling up quickly with rose garden visits! How exciting.

Robert

Put me down as interested too. Just let me know when & where.

Carole

Dave and me, too! Keep us posted, Linda -

Lila

Linda! I am excited to hear this. I would learn to ride a motorcycle if it meant being able to see your garden, Dickie's and Carla's. I have heard so much about your garden and seen too little. What I have seen of Budeye's garden makes me want to ditch the motorcycle and live in his garden, and as many times as I have treked greenhouses and rose programs with Carla, I have never seen her garden, nor Ann's coveted haven of old garden roses sitting above a river which sounds too good to be true. Would Saturday be the worst day in the world? It's a long drive back to Alabama on Sunday night and I would love to see all your gardens. However, do what is good for all of you. I will survive even if vicariously through pictures.

Maheka,
I kind of thought the TN/NC border must have been different at one time. I hope you can come. You too, Jeff, Carole, Robert, Lila and Patricia. Carole, I still have a baby Peppermint Rose coming along for you. It would be so nice to meet all of you, and to see you again Lila.

My first thought on having this get together was to have it at a park, then go visit gardens. So I'll check on that. My town is a little old mill town, nothing fancy. There is a new park down by the river...Lakeside Park otherwise known as Tater Hole.
My garden sits across from the back of the Pepsi plant where big old trucks lumber along making flatulent noises. But once they're gone the quiet is all the more quiet.

I haven't heard yet from Dickie..I know he's doing some garden overhauling this spring. He's a fine rosarian though he rarely posts here. I wouldn't want everyone to come all the way out here and only get to see one garden. There is a local rose club I have been meaning to contact- I think they might enjoy coming and may have some gardens to see.

Paul I don't know if we can have it on a Sunday because so far everyone would be driving a distance. Saturday would probably work best for most so they could possibly get a room somewhere and drive back on Sunday. Maybe we could interest some of our more expert members in giving a talk. It would be great if you can make it.

I know it would be hard for people coming from far away to bring food, so we can provide most of the food. Any drinks or chips or desserts would be great.

I hope to hear from more local people with gardens soon. Will post definite plans when I have them.
Linda

Hi Linda,

Pick a day that is best for everyone else. The nursery is open on Saturday which is why we can't get away that day and particularly in spring! Just keep us posted.

Paul

Some of you might want to stop by my place either going or coming. Our house can sleep a lot of guests, some in comfort, others in less comfort, but still on beds with indoor plumbing. (If you have cat allergies, they probably would be a deal breaker.)
Right now, I can't predict how spring bloom will be; the roses are slow to come out of winter.

Ann, I sleep with two fine cats who have (not yet) killed me with their dander but there's still time. :-) I would be happy to stay with you but I really just want to see your garden. I can get there on Friday and see your garden early Saturday (if there is a motel nearby). I really appreciate your fine hospitality but I have become so dependent on my own schedule that I would not want to wreck that of others and well, you know, I can just sort of come and go when I like at a motel/hotel.

Linda, not to worry about food. I bet there are restaurants, etc., nearby and hey, with us traveling so far, part of the fun is seeing the local "little towns" with a history that no one has ever bothered to explore and see the things no one felt important and enjoy the local food that its cooks are happy to prepare for a price, which is usually a much better deal than the sit-down, fast-food restaurants that dot the malls, the highways and byways, who promise "home cooking," that was thawed from its prefab box as soon as the waiter turned in the order.

I heard from Dickie awhile ago and he would be happy to have people visit him and his garden. He also offered to provide the food ( probably bbq) ! I know he and his wife can cook too. Carla and I will also bring some things. So tentatively I think it'll be for the third or fourth Saturday in May at Dickie's. Anyone who wants to can then drive the short distance to see my garden, and probably Carla's and maybe Karen's.
Thank you Anita- wish you could be here. It would be fun to explore some cemeteries with people.

I'll remind everyone in May and can email directions and give phone numbers.

I'm glad you're open minded about little old towns, Patricia. Should we expect you on your bike?
Linda

What I want to know is; will it be a Harley, Patricia?

Carla

Hold on, everybody. See my posting on Mid-Atlantic Rose Tour.

Sorry I am late returning here but I went out hog-shopping today and I did come home with something albeit a couple jackets, a pair of shoes, some slacks and a skirt. No hog, yet but I think I found a great little faux lamb leather motorcycle jacket in silver. :-)

Sounds like fun, erasmus are you close to Asheville?

I hope we'll get to see you model your outfit, Patricia. Buford, Asheville is about 1 1/2 hrs west from us on I-40. I think there are a couple of GW rose people in Asheville, Michael in the mtns for one.

Catsrose, I guess we should pick a definite date for our get together so you all can plan better. I'll try to hurry up and decide, but I think the third Sat. in May.
I know I won't be able to make it to a number of garden tours but might be able to come to one. Would love to see all your gardens. Roanoke is not that far.

Carla tells me Frogview would like to have a plant swap. I think that could be great also. Doesn't have to be roses of course. So if you want to trade, just bring along some plants.

I hope we can get a headcount of who's coming in early May so Dickie knows how to plan on the food. If anyone wants to bring their guitar , ukelele, etc and sing that'll be great too.

Linda

Can we plan so this doesn't conflict with the rose day at Monticello?
I'll try to find out when that's going to be.

Ann, please do so asap. We would like to set our date so folks can make their plans for the NC get together as well as other May functions.

Carla

"Our Open House is set for May 23, which happens to be the Labor Day Weekend Saturday (itÂs very early this year) We are extending the hours to 10 a.m. Â 4 p.m. and are having our speaker here at Tufton rather than at the library in the morning."

I haven't talked to Dickie since he's out of town but I think May 16th is going to be the date. Will post something in late April or early May providing details.
Linda

I haven't seen many of you in eons, but if I am not otherwise occupied, I'll head over.

Jean

Great, Jean! I am going to pot up some plants to trade soon, like Siberian Iris, hardy plumbago, rose campion, bearded iris, a few roses, etc. so that they won't be in transplant shock in May if anyone wants to trade.