Jeri, what makes this year's selection of antique roses at Northaven so exciting is that I am almost positive the source is The Antique Rose Emporium. ARE carries this entire list of roses by these exact names, including their own hybridized Texas Pioneer roses that are on the list posted above. So, I know that these will be high quality, disease-free, own-root specimens. You may want to take up your identification concerns with ARE, because this local garden center merely purchased the roses wholesale from the extensive offering at ARE (as Barbara suggested). My own-root 'Souvenir de la Malmaison' came from Northaven several years ago, and it has been a shining jewel in the garden. And they sometimes carry roses from Chamblees as well, because a couple of years ago, I got my "Jefferson Rose" from there (which is really the rose, 'Softee'). It is a long road trip across a good part of Texas from here to Brenham, so it will be nice to shop the roses "in person" at Northaven. Whoo Hooo! Randy

HarmonyP,I hope you haven't thrown out that poor Paradise rose with the signs of RMV. After all, it isn't contagious except through the propagation process, so it won't spread to your other roses. It is very common among big box store roses and still appears sometimes in reputable nurseries. The serious vendors seem to be taking it seriously and trying to glean it from their rootstock sources and budwood source plants, but its hard to eliminate completely because it often doesn't "show" itself at times. But anyway, RMV tends to, over time, weaken the plant and reduce productivity and resistance to diseases and winter frost, but different roses seem to show varying degrees of resistance. So once you know you have it, you might as well keep the plant as long as it seems to be growing and producing ok. I've had some infected specimens that still produced beautifully for several years. As for vendors, I think it makes perfectly fine sense to do what you've done. I did the same. Early on, I could not afford a lot of expensive plants but wanted to expand my varieties.I've had some great Lowe's roses and even from (gasp) Walmart. But once I got to a point where I no longer had room for many more roses, I naturally felt comfortable being much more selective, and the specialty vendors were there ready and waiting. I just got rid of roses that didn't please me. That was many cheap roses, but also some expensive ones. I don't consider the expense entirely wasted, because I satisfied some curiosity about the variety. I've had a few that were first purchased cheap and then replaced from a serious nursery, such as Chrysler Imperial and Elina. But I've also kept some of those cheapies for many years. One of my best workhorse roses has been Paradise, purchased from Home Depot, which I agree is generally one of the worst sources to buy from. Go figure. The big box stores definitely mislabel much more often, but you know what, I've had that happen from some of my favorite nurseries, too. It happens. One of my favorite roses ever was an obviously mislabeled red rose from Kmart (back in the early 1990s). Even friends with the Mobile Rose Society never were able to identify it, but it was a gorgeous,voluptuous velvety red rose of impressive size --and thorniness. Sometimes those unplanned mistake events turn out to be pleasant surprises. Last year I made one cheap purchase, just for no reason. I bought Chicago Peace for 3 bucks, because I saw it and had already spent what I had budgeted on "serious" roses. It even had waxed canes. It produced beautiful blooms even though the plant didn't seem very robust. I thought I'd replace it with a better Ch. Peace this year, but lo and behold, by November it was starting to bulk up and become a proper bush. So I've given it a repreave for another year. Who knows, I may never have to replace it.

I use bone meal once a month and water with bloom booster 10 50 10 and it works just the same as Peters. You can buy it at HD or LW. I bought this book from the author BOB Walsh called Growing Plumeria anytime and anywhere. He is actually talking about this new method called "the Egg Method" I haven't tried it yet but maybe I will in the early fall. i am also planning to grft Have not done it but will try anyway. Went home to Hawaii and brought with me about 40 different cuttings from Obtusa to dwarf Pink Obtusa to red pink and yellow. The Singapore Obtusa is the hardest to root and have killed a few of my cuttings. Killed? they are hardy plants "How did I kill it? Over watering, pls. do not over water your new cuttings. Leave them alone once they are in the pot for about a month until you see the eyes opening and leaves start to come out then they get very thirsty mix superthrive and bloom booster for watering. In the summer time put them in a filtered sun or under a canopy of shades. I am going to try to sell my 2 years old Celadines from Hana that I grow here in North Phoenix.I have about 12 of them that are 3 ft.tall with 3 or 4 branches from the inflouresence and ready to be tranfered to the ground or a big decorative pot.

srahndennis, yeah, it was especially interesting when several were working for competing brands; that isn't a problem anymore :) My brother is very complimentary about Showplace, he says it is the best value cabinet he has been involved with. They do lots of custom work but at a semi-custom price. Well, custom sizes and cabinet configurations, but not custom stains,species, or door styles. He also worked for a custom builder called Actua for awhile, but I couldn't remember that name before. Actua went bye-bye a long time ago during an earlier recession. The guy who started Showplace also started Decora and Starmark; this is his third brand and sounds like the third time is a charm! Crystal is a great cabinet too, but much higher priced; at least that is what I think I know. Lyptus is BEAUTIFUL and has a great "green" story; it ages like cherry and looks like mahogany ... I think darker colors look best, but that is personal preference. On the formaldehyde subject; most national brands that sell in California are required to live by the rules set by California (if you want to get deep into it Google "CARB" to get some "light" bedtime reading; maybe you've heard the term)... those are the best you'll find. The smaller "custom" shops would not have to live by the California rules, but still might be OK; you'd have to specifically ask them.