Coincidence: I bought this rose yesterday at ARE, which is ten minutes from my house. I knew nothing about it. But it stopped me in my tracks with huge, deep fuchsia blooms already on the potted ones for sale...and the staff there is very fond of it. They said it is a true winner for a hot sticky climate...but although they don't want to talk about it much, they DO SPRAY their roses, so keep that in mind. I can't help you with which vendor, but I'm giving serious thought to going back for another one, and pulling out a boring single-petalled red that mostly produces thorns. Parade seems to have a lot of little thorns. About the size of the claws on a healthy growing kitten. If you do buy from ARE, I suspect you'll get blooms within a month or so, depending on your weather.
One more thing, off-topic. They have really nice metal rose markers for less than a buck apiece. They're sold as 20 or 25 for thirteen bucks, I think it was, but they would ship easily because they are smallish and two-piece. Something to think about if you need those too.

Thanks for all the great info, Prarielaura! It sounds like you think this rose is a keeper! I wish I could drive over to ARE like you & just snatch one up! When yours starts blooming, would you post pics? Would love to see it!

Hi Stinky, I'm in Chesapeake! Check with Roses Unlimited, it's in their 2009 catalog. Like ARE, the folks at RU spray their gardens so they may not know about BS resistance. They also stock Rosarium Eutersen, Illusion, Vanity, Gartendirektor Otto Linne & I think-- Exellence von Schubert. Some climbers, some shrubs, along those same color lines. I grow Maggie as a climber which is fabulously fragrant, with a large intricate old-rose type bloom. ARE is an excellent source but RU is in South Carolina, lots closer. Another SC supplier is Ashdown, you might check with them too. Good luck!

Hi Barb (howdy neighbor!) & thanks for the reference. I can't wait to check it out.

I live in Va Beach! Have only been back for a few years after living for 15 in PA. Originally, I'm from Portsmouth. Summers seem hotter & more humid than I remember them from the days of my youth, or is that just my imagination? Still, I don't miss shoveling snow, or carrying groceries while slipping over icy sidewalks, both of which I did plenty of in PA!

Thanks again for the feedback!

hi! I live in VA beach too. We are actually zone 8 according the newest map and with our temps we truly are. It actually makes a difference because things do better here with less die back.

I don't know anything about Parade sorry, but feel free to contact me.

Sunni

Hi Stinky, hope you'll come over to the Chesapeake Arboretum and see the antique roses there. We also have a number of BS-resistant moderns: Quietness, Carefree Beauty, Prairie Harvest, Champlain (not perfect but good for a red shrub), Hansa, and Sir Thos. Lipton. The arboretum is posted on helpmefind.com/roses. I'm not growing Parade but like you love what I've heard-- and if you want a lovely rose to grow with Parade, check out Blossomtime! Welcome to the forums.

Hi Sunni, thanks for the zone info & for saying hi. I noticed that Barb listed her zone as 8, & I wondered about it.

Noticed on your page that you have Our Lady of G rose. I've always admired that one in the catalog & have thought about getting it. It seems to have the most perfect shape & delicate pink color, and I like the symbolism & the fact that some of the profits support a worthy cause.

Don't have lots of space here for roses (have lots of Camellia shrubs) but do have the three trellises, one still blank, which is why I was inquiring about Parade.

Anyway, thanks for saying hi! It's nice to meet Tidewater residents who frequent this site.

Hi again Barb, we must have been cross-posting! Thanks for telling me about the Chesapeake A., I've never heard of it!

When I lived here before, I didn't know the difference between a daisy & a rose, but got heavily into gardening in PA at my first house, which was 100 yrs.old. I grew lots of perennials, herbs & roses. Had Cecile Brunner climbing on a back fence. Others in my garden were Heritage, Graham Thomas, Othello & Angel Face, a rose with an unusual lavender hue planted by a previous owner.

Here I live in the burbs, in a 1987 house that has a very different vibe. I have to keep things neat & tidy here, & I have a lawn!!! Gardening is easy, "lawning" is hard!

Anyhoo, enough about me. Would love to hear more about your gardening adventures, & Sunni's, when y'all have time!

Hi sinky-gardner

I am not famaliar with Parade but I wanted to say hi neighbor! Like Sunni and Barbara I live in Tidewater as well. I am in Virgina Beach. Sunni, Barbara and I keep in touch all the time and Sunni and I have been on a few what we call 'rosie road trips'.

Glad to find someone else growing roses in the area.

Liz

Hi Rosesnpots! Wow, I can't believe this. Usually, I'm over on the home dec board & I've never bumped into anyone from this area! There are a few NOVA ladies over there though.

Do you, btw, grow roses in pots? I'm having a patio installed at the end of May & a rose tree in a pot would be stunning. I'm just always doubtful I could keep such a thing alive! One of the catalogs that came last week featured a topiary shaped rose in a pot. I can't keep ivy topiaries alive, much less a rose topiary! But it was stunning to look at.

I'm really excited about the upcoming historic gardens tour. Va Beach is April 22. I love, love, love historic houses, furnishings, & gardens, so I'll be like a pig in mud. One of the houses on the tour dates back to the 1700's, which is quite rare in Va Beach! I can't wait!

Thanks for stopping to say hi!

Hi again

I sure do grow roses in pots. Right now if I do not include my new roses I just got this year, I have 10 in containers. It really is not hard to grow roses in pots. The trick is to pick the right size rose and a big enough pot. We are lucky that we can keep the containers outside all year around. I have not tried it yet, but in Europe they even grow small climbers in pots.

You will have to come by for a visit.

Liz

My small back yard is pretty full, so I also have roses in pots-- Sweet Chariot, Marie Pavie, Tamora, and Martha Gonzales. And a hulking Lamazque that neeeds to go in the ground! I have Caramella (Caramel Fairy Tale) and Winter Sunset coming soon. One of these will replace Lions Fairy Tale which I'm donating to the arboretum--it's wonderfully healthy, delicate color, but just not for me KWIM? I've heard Caramella likes to climb so she may end up in a pot with a trellis, better be a big pot! Most of my roses are antiques and Earthkind, so I have lots of pink/rose/blush. I needed an apricot fix & that's what this spring's order is all about.

Thanks again RNP & Barb! Wow, you both sound so creative & enthusiastic! Love it! Your yards must be brimming with color & interest. Late spring/early summer must be a sight to behold.

Alameda, Thank you so much for all the good info. Your feedback about both Zephy & Parade is quite helpful & interesting.

Y'all are so nice over here! Glad I posted!

Hi Stinky gardener!! I luuuv your screen name! I purchased me Parade this spring from ARE and it is a real big plant. Plus it came with one bud which is about to open. yaaaaa!! Anyway, this was my first time trying them so I wanted to see how their plants were and they were great. Huge, huge plants. I know people say climbers are slow growers so I wanted to start off with a bigger plant just because I am sooooo impatient. I know its a little more expensive but I don't mind paying that for some of my plants, just can't do it for all of them. Have fun whatever you decide. Take care, Judy

I believe Pickerings has it too...

I bought it last mid summer from countryside roses. It bloomed within 2 weeks of planting it and here is the only photo I took of that bloom. It grew at least a foot by fall. Love it and can not wait till this summer to see if take off again..It did get alittle black spot so I will have to spray it this year..
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Here is a link when I asked about Parade last year might help and be useful for you also.

http://forums2.gardenweb.com/forums/load/roses/msg0619294411072.html

Hello everyone! I've been resisting ordering another climber but after looking at Parade on HMF, I was wondering if Parade would be a good candidate for 'pillaring'. Are the canes flexible enough? How are the thorns?
-terry

Hi Prettypetals, thanks!

Hi kad2, another VA poster!

Jess, Hi & thanks for the pics. OMG, Olga's Parade is beyond words! So gorgeous.

Hi Terryjean, that's a good question. Just this morning I was looking at some beautiful pillars on the J&P site. Parade would be a stunner on one if it would take.