Excellent video. I appreciated the stress on watering, watering, and watering. Two shovels is so much neater than my bear hug method! After watching the video I realized it's a miracle my transplanted roses have survived. Because they were frying in the sun, I recently decided to press ahead with the transplant of three full-size rose bushes. The temperature was hovering around 99F. Not the smartest move, but the roses pulled through with minimal damage. They are better off in their new locations.

Beth, I'm sorry to say, but it sounds like they are dead. The thorniness of the canes means nothing, but the darkness does. If you cut into them, you will see brown instead of a green rim with a white center. But check the bases of the plants, you may have some good growth there. If you do, cut away all the dead stuff. I wish I could tell you why the one Zephirine is doing well and the others didn't. Was the ground different there? Was it moister or drier in that spot during the winter? Did it have more protection from extra mulch or a building? You'll have to figure it out. When the forsythias bloom is when it is time to trim roses and they really start to grow at the point so you know for next year. I do hope you don't give up on roses. And next time post onthe regular or antique rose forum, you'll get way more responses and quickly too: ) Remy Here is a link that might be useful: Roses for the North

Hi Densiemill, This is a wonderful place to look at so many beautiful roses and gardens and as you said, learn! I started planting roses last year around the bird bath to discourage my outdoor "rescue" cat, Oscar, from sitting under the birdbath as if it were an entertainment/buffet...ugh. I saw the bare root roses at Sam's Club, they weren't expensive so I thought I would try planting a few. I bought six with a lot of greenery on them thinking that was good but, 15 minutes after I got them watered, they were wilted about to the ground. I thought I killed them in record time but, came on the board and the knowledgeable, kind people here told me to cut the greenery back and they would be fine, with watering, etc. and, they did well! This year, I waited for Sam's Club to get the roses in and practically ran down the isle when I saw them. This was one of the first ones I bought, they had another shipment that I got the rest from and now, I am waiting on more blooms of beauty and fragrance. And, Oscar still sits under the bird bath at times but has learned, when he does, it is possible he will get watered along with the roses ;) Thank you for the kind words and I am happy you enjoyed this beautiful rose :)

Cyndita, Thank you for the kind words, and also for pointing out the fact that Heirloom does offer free shipping after a certain point. As you say, it does balance out the cost, and makes me keep Heirloom in mind since I paid $28.75 per rose at RU to get my roses delivered anyway. I think the kicker is that the sale would limit me to a very small range of varieties, and I haven't had two or three from my list concurrently on sale. This scenario is very possible: I get rose-weak and order something not originally on my list, and then I am toast because I have no space to put it or the space doesn't work because I did not research the rose well enough prior. Anyhow, still good for me to visit the Heirloom site from time to time - thanks for making me think of this. Had a busy weekend and my rose-buying spree continued - placed an order for 6 mins I needed (really needed, not rose-needed) for the front of a large planter from Mountain Valley Growers - an organic rose & shrubs nursery in Central California. They have a small selection of mini roses, all priced at $6.95 each for a 3 1/4 inch pot. They are having a fall sale going on - their only one of the year, and many products (but not all roses) are 30% off. I ordered one each of the following, 6 plants allowed for their best shipping cost per rose. Magic Carrousel Lavender Lace Redwood Empire Renny Strawberry Swirl Torch of Liberty All the above were 30% off - a total of $12.51 off my initial cost. Shipping was going to be high - I knew this going in. But in this case, there are three mitigating factors: 1) The initial cost per rose is low to start with, and the sale makes it better. 2) They are all organic, which is how I do things 3) I do get, for the cost of shipping, the rose in 2 days (reducing heat stress) Also, I do realize that I AM moving stuff from one side of the country to another, so of course it is going to cost money - $29.95 in this case, or $4.99/ rose. The total cost was $59.14 or $9.85/ rose delivered to my house. They do have Ballerina included in their rose selection, though not a mini, and it is priced at $6.95. Since I didn't get Sierra Sunrise, Ring of Fire, or Twister, I knew I would have to come back, so I finished up my order with 6 plants and saved the others for later. Note: I ordered on a Saturday and had a question I emailed them, they got back to me within a couple of hours, on a Saturday, during their only sale of the year. Now that is something! Eden is a rose I have been looking for over the last 2 years, but somehow, not able to find it in stock or something else comes up while placing an order. Searching for this led me to Ebay and Etsy, and at $21.98 and $19.99 (shipping included). I am sure one would have to take precautions against disease/ quarantine the rose for a time etc, but I do wonder if this endeavor would turn out successfully. The Etsy seller states that she is an organic grower as well. And speaking of non-traditional vendors of roses, we apparently have a new player in the game - Wal-mart!. Yes, they always carried the Knockouts and the Parade Minis, and it isn't too much of a reach to go on to Easy Elegance and Drift roses. But I found Lavender Veranda, Cream Veranda, Cl. America, Sun Flare, Zephirine Drouhin, Blanc Double de Coubert (!!), Hot Cocoa, New Dawn, Lavender Meidiland, Blaze, New Dawn and Fourth of July. Well, color me surprised!!! These are all from Hirt's Gardens, and I personally have had trouble growing one of their bulb products, but the good part is, if you did get the rose, you have the return guarantee from Wal-Mart. Another rose that I found while loitering around Walmart.com was Brindabella. Now, this rose caught my eye at the local grocery store (a New England specific chain that places extremely high quality standards on incoming produce and floral stock), and I saw that it was not just one rose, but a new series. Off I went to Helpmefind.com, and see that Mrs. Sylvia and Mr. John Gray of Australia are breeding an entire new series of Brindabella, and the Pastel Tiger looks amazing! I do think the claim of stopping you in your tracks with the rose's perfume in inaccurate, as I walked by a Brindabella and hardly smelled anything. But, perhaps it was due to the most of the blooms being older. I will say this, the thing is fairly floriferous and seems to drop its petals cleanly.