I almost ordered Le Grande Capitaine this morning! But I was trying to keep my order to four roses and I chose others (Dame Edith Helen, Mme. Dore, Bourbon from Lykke and Veldfire). I did have it as an alternate, however. Very difficult to choose only four!

I ordered a Pretty Jessica from Regan Roses earlier this year.

Lynn

Lynn, I think you'll love Madame Dore, of which I have two. The flowers are exquisite. I considered Le Grande Capitaine too but have no shady afternoon spots which it would need in my hot garden. My one remaining spot is reserved for Leveson-Gower, which is still growing up in a 1-gallon pot. I think you've made wonderful choices.

Ingrid

Ha! Leveson-Gower was my other alternate! AND I almost ordered two Mme Dore, since they are listed as being small. I always hate to order more than one of something until I know how it will "do" here. But several times, I have loved a rose so much that I did finally order another so I then have one large one and one small beside it. Great planning on my part!

Thanks for reassuring me on my choices; there's nothing like ordering something and then you suddenly read some bad aspect of it :o

Lynn

I purchased 5 little Pretty Jessica plants last year, and LOVE them. They are all in either raised beds or potted, and since we had a HORRID winter here in Oklahoma, I feared
that I might lose them all. Single digit temps aren't the norm here, but we had plenty of those this winter. BUT...I want to report that they
are all looking pretty darned good! Will just require some
usual spring pruning, and should be great. I'm SO happy about their hardiness, and wanted to report this to anyone
interested in adding Pretty Jessica to your collection.

You California folks may have it easier. There was one rose that only Vintage carried and for me to buy it would have cost $50.75. $18.50 for the rose +$9.50 for Fl. agricultural stamp and $22.75 for shipping. I didn't want it that badly. I hear good things about them but the shipping costs at least for the east coast...

I know what you mean teka. I love the roses at Roses Unlimited but turn pale when I compute the cost. I always buy bands which are usually $13.50, don't have to pay for an agricultural stamp and of course the shipping is a lot less within California. My post was really meant more for people who live more nearby.

Ingrid

I didn't mean to critize Ingrid. I was fortunate to be able to find Pretty Jessica last year. I know a lot of folks are looking for it. It is a good post. The truth is I have, in the right mood, fessed up for expensive shipping on a rose I couldn't live without. I did it with Alfred Colomb when I could only find it at a west coast nursery. It arrived well packaged and healthy but in 2 years hasn't given me a single bloom. So it also makes sense for other reasons to maybe order from places within a similiar climate.
OK, now back to Ingrid's topic, sorry for the hijack.
Nancy

Like teka, I've almost ordered from Vintage several times and was put off by the huge price tag largely due to to the extra charges that add up--I'm far away in Louisiana so the shipping is high, and have to pay the agricultural stamp. I will probably order from them one day, but I usually look at the closest nursery to me first, then move outward.

Rogue Valley's catalog shows Pretty Jessica in stock. That's a little closer than California, and their shipping is reasonable if I remember correctly.

Nancy, what a pity about Alfred Colomb. I suspect this rose might need some winter chill. Celeste has a beautiful bush shot of this rose on HMFR, and of course she has very cold winters.

Oops, hijacked my own thread!

Belle, that's good to know Rogue Valley also carries this rose. I think there was some concern here that Pretty Jessica might not be available in the future.

Ingrid

All I can say is I have had Madame Dore for years. She truly will not turn into a house/garden eating monster. Mine has never exceeded four feet tall and wide in all of the years I have had her. The scent almost seems to have sugar added it is so sweet.

Lance