Good advice above. Here's another choice. I'm in Zone 6 and have often planted bareroot roses in the 3rd and 4th weeks of March. Admittedly those winters weren't as cold and crazy as this winter has been, but I notice already that parts of the garden are quite diggable, and I transplanted a rose last week to a new spot in the garden--worked out fine! So my advice would be to soak the roses in water, keep them in a cooller place (unheated garage is good) with little or no sunshine, change the water each week, and when you encounter a diggable day in the garden in the next week or two, go ahead and plant them. Good Luck! Kate

Congratulations Pam. I remember seeing the slide show of your garden on Carolyn's website, back in 2007 when it was first posted. It was a great pleasure to wander vicariously in your garden once again by viewing the photos again. I can only imagine what it would be like to be there at peak bloom in the flesh. Your garden is extraordinary and lovely. So your house isn't very clean? Who needs a spotless house when your world is a spectacular rose garden in the California hills. Congratulations also on having some of your roses made available to others through Vintage Gardens. Rosalia looks like a very beautiful rose. I am always jealous of all you American Rosarians who have that fabulous nursery to provide you with treasures I can only dream of. I've thought of ordering some Brownells and rare Austin's from Vintage on numerous occasions, but I have ordered from US nurseries in the past and shipping rose bands across the border has caused me much grief and many dead plants due to delays. Perhaps one day I will have to make the trip. Cheers, RRL

If you are ordering from Antique Rose Emporium, your roses will be big, in gallon pots or larger. I didn't think ARE sent bands. If you haven't ordered from them before, you will be thrilled with your roses. I live 3 hours from them and usually go there to shop....but did order when I couldn't get away - and I was really pleased with the shipped quality. Since they will be in bigger pots, you can just follow the above advice and plant when you can. I generally add a little soil to the top of the plant, do this also with roses from Roses Unlimited that I cant plant right away. The extra root protection seems appreciated. Good luck, and what did you order? Judith

Awww, look at the little blonde cuties. I am mother of 3 of the darkest haired, but whitest skinned, children you'll ever see. Dark hair I understand but white skin must come from DH's Irish mother as he and I are both olive skinned. amylovesbud, love your blog! And your sweet handle, so nice to see people still in love after years of marriage. Sixteen years (21 years together) as of this Friday for us...and guess what???... robinlovesben! Oh yeah, and enjoy that new faucet!!! Just wait till it's actually mounted on a countertop with a sink below it! I look forward to that blog entry! ;o) Robin