Kate I live in Paradise, and we have a couple of good nurseries here. Mendon's Nursery is one of the biggest and best in Butte County. But in Chico, there's Fostine's, The Growing Grounds and Chico Creek Gardens. There are others, but I don't know which ones have roses. And most of them only carry Weeks and J&Ps.

I don't shop the Chico nurseries, just the big box stores. And they don't have much of anything this yr. The bareroot selection was atrocious, and the potted ones aren't in yet. At least I don't think they are. The only place that might have potted ones early tho, would be Lowe's. I haven't been there for a couple weeks, and they had the bagged bareroots and bagged peat-pot ones pared down to a minimum. I'm guessing if there's anything left they'll be clearanced by now.

There is one other nursery just outside Chico on the Midway just before you get to Durham. It's called Hodge's Nursery. They used to have a good selection of roses in the past, but I haven't been there in yrs.

Hey Beth. I was really hoping you would chime in.

I did not know you lived in Paradise. I really enjoy going up there. I greatly appreciate the heads up about Mendon's. Every gardener should make at least one trip there a year I think. A friend here in Quincy told me about it last year and I go up there about three times a summer now. You are so right, that place is incredible. I could stay there for hours. I went up there Saturday in fact and bought these two guys (PJP II and Julia Child).

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So it sounds like there is not all that much in Chico. Just thought it might be fun to check out someplace new this summer. I'm sure I won't have any trouble at all finding other plants to spend money on though:) So Hodge's Nursery? I think I saw that on my way back from Mendon's this weekend. Next time I will have to stop and check it out. If I find anything exciting I'll let you know.

Thank you Beth.

Kate

Kate, if you come down here again in the spring, let me know when, and if I'm home you can stop and see my garden. By next month the irises will in full swing, and the roses will be just beginning. (If I don't get my deadheading done soon tho, they'll be blooming even sooner)

Those look like some pretty good specimens from Mendon's. Did they have anything else good? Maybe I should stop in there. Altho, they probably don't have anything I don't already have! LOL I love to go see what new perennials they have every yr too.

Ya know, there's a nice nursery in Yuba City too. It's been many yrs since I've been there tho. They have (or at least "had") a really nice Japanese garden setting. I seem to remember finding some nice older ht's there. But that was waaay back in the 90's when a few of us from the early Butte Rose Society used to go out looking all over the place for roses. We even went to a nursery in Vina that had some unusual ones too. But I bet they all just have the same old J&P and Weeks ones now.

So, you're in Quincy? That's only what? About an hour away from here?

Hey Beth:

You know we really would love to see your garden sometime. As long as it is not an inconvenience to you. My husband dearly loves roses and probably knows more about them than I do. That is very gracious of you.

Going to Mendon's on Saturday was really fun. A little taste of spring. Let me show you how our yard is coming along this spring with a picture I took on Saturday:)

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Mendon's had the predictable amount of cool plants and fun garden stuff to make me want to go a little crazy. They had a pretty respectable selection of roses but as you note I did not see anything that you probably don't grow already. I was most tempted by a Black Baccara, Graham Thomas and Benjamin Britten. Also they had some very cool hens and chicks and a white flowering quince. Those were stunning. One nearly came home with me.

I'll see what I can find out about the nursery in Vina. Thanks.

So yes the drive from Quincy to Paradise is right at 1 hour and 45 minutes. I left from home early Saturday morning and the canyon was so pretty and peaceful. A nice easy drive from here to there.

Thanks Beth and thank you for the invite. We will surely take you up on that.

Kate

Hey, you're very welcome Kate! I'm off work on Sundays and Mondays. But if you come down on a Saturday, I do get off at 3:30, altho that might be too late for you. We'll just have to plan ahead. I might end up taking a week off in a month or so anyway, so will eventually have a full Saturday off. Just haven't decided exactly when. And we never go anywhere. Just enjoy being at home working in the yard and putzing around.

Geez, I can't believe you still have snow on the ground! What's your elevation there? It's about 1500 (I think) at my house... or maybe it's 1200. I know the snow melts pretty fast here, when we do get it. This has been a really weird winter here. The oldtimers tell me this IS the norm. But I've lived here off and on since 1975, and this past winter was anything but normal.

Speaking of hens & chicks, I have several that I ordered last yr for the store from Chico Propagators. Man, they spread like crazy! We get a lot of really cool perennials from them. They have a great retail nursery also, called The Plant Barn. I think it's on one of the side roads off the Midway on the way to Hodge's. Ya might wanna check them out too, altho they don't carry roses.

Beth:

I never answered your question. Paradise is at about 1700 feet and here in Quincy we are at appr. 3200 feet. Probably why the cherry trees are blooming for you folks and winter is holding on here.

Thanks for the info on the Plant Barn. I really love Hens and Chicks. There is a place you might want to check out called Mountain Crest Gardens up in Fort Jones, CA. Bit of a drive but their webpage looks great for Sempervivum. Link for you below.

Kate

Here is a link that might be useful: Mountain Crest Gardens

Wow! That's a cool website Kate! Boy, I guess you are a good bit above us! No wonder you still have snow on the ground!

Glad you liked it. Looks like a neat place eh? If I go up to see family in Oregon this summer I will probably stop by there on the way back. So let me know if you see something you simply must have.

Kate