That IS exciting, Riku. The list - what's on the list, you tease you!?

Anne

Ahhh I see your one of the sharp ones Anne, just for you, the final delivered list ... I pickup tomorrow, and for me it's like finding a virtual trove of roses (including hard to find Geschwinds) not advertised for the most part, and nearly 90% not available in Canada and nearly 100% grafted on Laxa.

A true rose man I deal with, and a classy gentleman in business and conversation - but shall remain anon for now.

Blanche De Belgique alba
Cymbaefolia alba
Sappho alba
Boule De Neige bourbon (see if this one behaves better than the 2 others I tried)
Commandant Beurepaire bourbon
Coupe D Hebe bourbon
Deuil de Dr. Reynaud bourbon
Dr. Briere bourbon
Eugene Desgaches bourbon
Le Grand Capitane bourbon
Mistress Bosaquet bourbon
Mlle. Blanche Lafitte bourbon
Mme. Cornelissen bourbon
Mon. Cordeau bourbon
Souv. de Victor Landeau bourbon
Red Baller bourbon - found (nice to be able to find)
Romaggi Plot Bourbon bourbon - found (nice to be able to find)
Weller Bourbon bourbon - found (nice to be able to find)
l' Orleanaise boursault
Juno centifolia
Hermosa china - replacement from a shovel accident
Perle D' Or china
Professeur Emile Perrot damask
Arthur De Sansal damask portland
Delambre damask portland
Pergolese damask portland
Rose Du Roi A Fleurs Pourpres damask portland- try 2
Ariana hybrid harrison - Geschwind - very high hopes
Aennchen Von Tharau hybrid multiflora - Geschwind
Caroline Bank hybrid multiflora - Geschwind
Ernst G. Dorrel hybrid multiflora - Geschwind
Fatinitza hybrid multiflora - Geschwind
Futtaker Schlingrose hybrid multiflora - Geschwind
Geisha hybrid multiflora - Geschwind
Gilda hybrid multiflora - Geschwind
Himmelsauge hybrid multiflora - Geschwind
Mercedes hybrid multiflora - Geschwind
Trompeter Von Sackingen hybrid multiflora - Geschwind
Wodan hybrid multiflora - Geschwind
Baronne Nathaniel De Rothschild hybrid perpetual second one
Caroline de Sansal hybrid perpetual
Champion Of The World hybrid perpetual
Dr Andry hybrid perpetual
Duke Of Wellington hybrid perpetual
Dupuy Jamain hybrid perpetual
lair hybrid perpetual
Francios Coppee hybrid perpetual
Geant des Batailles hybrid perpetual
General Allard hybrid perpetual
General Washington hybrid perpetual
Georgetown hybrid perpetual
Glendora hybrid perpetual
Grandmother's Hat hybrid perpetual - heard so much from California about lets see if it's true
Hornish Plot hybrid perpetual
Katies McNear hybrid perpetual
Kern White hybrid perpetual
Line and Twine hybrid perpetual
Lord Raglan hybrid perpetual
Marguerite De Roman hybrid perpetual
Merveille de Lyon hybrid perpetual
Mons. Boncene hybrid perpetual
Star of Waltham hybrid perpetual
Union Redwood Cemetary hybrid perpetual
Victor Verdier hybrid perpetual
Miriam Wilkins hybrid perpetual - found
Wolverstone Church Rose hybrid perpetual - found (diito but England)
Carmen hybrid rugosa
Mercedes hybrid rugosa
Aurelia Liffa hybrid setigeia - Geschwind
Baltimore Belle hybrid setigera
Queen of the Prairies hybrid setigera
Beauty of the Prairies hybrid setigera (should be interesting as HMF says same as above))
Eurydice hybrid setigera - Geschwind
Ovid hybrid setigera - Geschwind
Alpenfee hybrid setigera - Geschwind
Corporal Johan Nagy hybrid setigera - Geschwind
Geschwind's Nordlandrose ll hybrid setigera - Geschwind
Geschwind's Schonste hybrid setigera - Geschwind
Marchioness of Salisbury hybrid tea
Mme. Moser hybrid tea
Walkure hybrid tea - Geschwind
Adolf Deegen hybrid tea - Bohm 1935
Bezruc hybrid tea - Bohm 1938
Astra hybrid tea - Geschwind
Wenzel Geschwind hybrid tea - Geschwind
Paul's Himalayan Musk hydrid musk
Capitaine John Ingram moss
James Veitch moss
Jean Bodin moss
Mousseux Du Japon moss - try two for the real one
Robert Leopold moss
Meteor noisette - Geschwind
Mme. Norbert Levavasseur polyantha
Ave Maria polyantha - Bohm
Rotkappchen poyantha - Geschwind
Crème rambler - Geschwind
Foecundissima species - R. cinnomomea plena ?
Lady Hillingdon tea
Mons. Tillier tea - switch or not with below, doubt it as looks real
Archiduc Joseph tea - ditto above but the above

Oh, my...

BEST OF LUCK!!!!!!!!!!!

And, after they're established, are you going to begin enriching the gardeners of Canada with cuttings of your marvelous roses? Splendid, splendid list.

Melissa

I know it is low class to speak of such things but let me be a redneck for a moment. Wowee! How much did THAT cost ya?? (You don't have to answer that but it was one thing that popped into my head. That and high school French.)

Riku, that is an amazing list. Quite a few I've never even heard of. Wow, are you going to be planting for a while. I'll be interested in hearing how your Weller Bourbon does. It's the only rose I lost this winter being over-wintered in my unheated garage. I got mine as a band from Vintage. It really didn't grow a whole lot, so it might have just been a weak specimen. If you can get yours to survive in your zone, maybe I'll try it again.

That is an impressive list, Riku. Please take photo's of the one's that are not available here. I would love to see them.

Carol

WOW---WOW---WOW

Florence

you may need another memory card for your digital camera once those get blooming.

Riku Heavens! Are you starting your own nursery??

: )

Riku, do you plan on growing your Chinas, teas and noisettes as annuals? Do you have a greenhouse? Do you have 40 acres? And are your dear babies sleeping in the bedroom with you after their long trip?

They all sound wonderful!

Sherry

They arrived home safe and sound 60 minutes ago from the air cargo depot. Finished taking a very quick sneak peak with a glass of Beringer's Chenin Blanc in hand due to a long day and week - nice way to finish off the smoother of a week with my treasure trove of hard to obtain roses for me and along with my favorite desert wine.

Prefect execution and timing by both parties in this endeavor again with only 48 hours give or take, elapsed from leaving airport to my house - got to love it when it goes perfectly two years in a row for my favorite passion considering the risks associated with hearing other peoples stories and experienced one really bad episode a long time ago.

Nice and green and fresh, young feeder shoots just beginning to peak out of Wodan, Mme. Norbert Levavasseur and Sappho - I did mention it was a quick peak?

Off to the nursery tomorrow to buy peat pots and soil to get them going for May Planting - the frails into the grow room under lights to join the chinas, HPs and teas that have wintered there with fighting, as usual the mites, in a see-saw battle for the last 5 months (actually it only about 5 minutes once every 5 days with a can of pyrethrine - not really a big deal).

Asked how much did it cost ? ... hhhmmm I claim it is my one treat a year in celebration of making through another winter to see another spring. But lets say to ensure prompt delivery and low loss potential take your average cost for an own root in the States or Canada (currency equal now days) and deduct 3 dollars and assume 2/3 of the remaining cost is transport cost per rose. The gentleman is extremely reasonable with his prices for such rare roses in Canada - at least in my books.

Asked if starting a nursery, no I am not, but I SAH wish I was but only as an aside of pleasure not business ... I've had enough of the "power whines" in my real life I only relate to black and white. I know of one for sale in a perfect location in Canada but no money for it.

Congratulations! Glad they're home!
Sherry

A most impressive list, Riku.

So, the roses came from Serbia/Belgrade? Sounds like the nursery Petrovic Roses could be a match.

They seem to have a most impressive OGR collection, given their list and your (quite matching) order - and they have a very good website, also in English. They do ship internationally. Glad to hear that your roses came so promptly and in such good shape. Given what they have to offer, I might actually give Petrovic a call, shipping to the UK should not be much of a problem.

Now, who's going to plant your many new treasures?

Andrea

Here is a link that might be useful: Petrovic Roses

Aaahhhh, I see Cambridge alumni - Do I see a tinge of pink of in your background slant ??? ... the 6th man not known about? ... yukyukyuk ... always favored Oxford myself, better rowers.

I will be planting them as the spring plant is a most excellent purgative for the soul to rid yourself of winter's bad vapours.

Petrovic Roses is an extremely good potential candidate and I hear and read good reports about their one man dedication to acquiring and preserving OGR and antiques in a beautiful Balkan garden that I believe is scheduled for a major expansion.

There maybe many layers - some harder to locate and using approaches of !!!Here I am!!! - is not recommended, then again who knows for sure.

I found a bonus rose as I work my way through the order. Thought Golden Moss was out of stock, but low and behold there it was. Been trying to acquire it for years ...

Hi Riku, close but not exactly - I'm currently employed at that place. And Cambridge a hotbed for radicalism? That would be news - last time I checked Cambridge had something of a reputation as an academic research institution, in some ways more so than Oxford. Here's the quick count: Cambridge affiliates boast the highest Nobel Prize winner count of any university in the world, Cambridge produces many more PhDs than Oxford, and actually has some serious science to offer much in contrast to Oxford whose traditional strength has been in producing government employees - lawyers, MPs, and diplomats (who sometimes end up as Masters of Cambridge colleges, as in my college). And as to a slightly different kind of government employment, yes, Cambridge has traditionally been MI5's and MI6's top recruiting address. For better or worse, Britain's enemies like Cambridge brains too, see for instance the opposing Cambridge spy camps during WWII. And the British Security Service's (MI5) official historian, Christopher Andrew, is professor at Cambridge. What would make one out of all this politically? It's certainly never Oxford, they're too conformist and traditionalist. Now, looking at the all important athletic score board, Cambridge actually has a slightly higher winning score in the famous boat races than Oxford. Not sure if that makes one or the other team the better rowers? And regarding academic political radicalism, you'd really have to look elsewhere in this country. Britain's radical academic heavyhitters have usually come from (and/or have been employed by) other universities. Thank goodness, not everything is Oxbridge here, even if these two try to make you believe it.

Meanwhile, let's hope that spring will come, enjoy your fabulous new roses and keep us posted on their progress!

Andrea

Here is a link that might be useful: he Sword and the Shield: The Mitrokhin Archive and the Secret History of the KGB

Thanks Andrea I really do enjoy the information ... but in a non-nonsensical weak defense of Oxford, the 1st lady Rhodes scholar from Canada was in my class here, suggesting a massive moment forward in advance thinking in 1977 at Oxford??? (yukyukyuk). And right into the civil service at a high level.

A few more bonus roses found now that I am finished the first pass and have them soaking, includes Agathe and Kronprincessin Victoria. Also what I like about this vendor if he is not pleased enough with the quality of a bush or has doubts he ties a double to it. Need to go through again tomorrow with a formal list.

What a great selection. Did you visit the Arborétum Borová hora or do it all by mail/e-mail. Take good care of that "Ariana hybrid harrison" of Geschwind's and keep us informed of how it is doing. I am sure that this 'Himmelsauge' will be the real one. It is interesting that they do not mention the Rugosa in it's makeup which is what tempts me to try it. I was tempted to try a Portland or Moss this year but several nights of -35 with 60km winds made me chicken out again and stick to more pimps. So I will enjoy following your results.
Leo

Hi Leo

Thanks, this springs variety probably represents the apex of my out of zone testing as I move into planting mostly zone 5 and 6 roses.

The gentleman mentioned he would be offering me "really rare" ones in the future ... Canada is so blessed to have this gentleman willing to offer to us versus convolutions and dead ends I been down ... as you can imagine I had to pick myself off the floor and take a strong whiff of smelling salts at this offer. I have myself next to first in line for next year.

On the "Made in Canada" by great hybridizers who knew how to make a rose for here, I have Prairie Peace, Hazeldean (a prize offering from a friend), Butterball, Suzanne and Haidee coming - hopefully soon as zone 2 thaws out.

You know just as I wrote this missive I just thought I should a reciprocal offer to my European source for Canadian cuttings. Shheeez talk about me being a slow thinker.

What do you mean the Real North. Compared to you I live 280 miles further North than Calgary? Leo lives 450 miles north of Calgary. So ya must mean the deep south of the North? LOL ...it is going to be exciting to see how your new roses will do. BTW it is snowing really bad in London and that is no joke... see

Here is a link that might be useful: Snow in london April 6

WOW Riku, seriously nice list you have there. Congrats.

I have been anxiously awaiting your report on last year's batch to see if you felt the laxa was a better choice for our climate. I know it's to early to tell yet, how they came through winter, but just a gentle reminder that we are out there wondering...lol

cathy

Okay cupshaped roses you win on highest degrees of latitude in the present life ... I have always called Calgary the banana belt of Alberta anyways, but if the past lives count, look up Sysma Suomi (it's a pretty small dot if it exists at all on maps) ...

Being potting like a mad man and having a blast.

Found another bonus "Mme Dubost" ... a bonus for me and Helpmefind photos if it blooms as it appears to be non-existent in the states ...

Registration name: Madame Dubost
Bourbon
ARS Reg: Light pink [lp]
Origin: Bred in France (1890) by Claude/Jean Pernet (père)
Bloom: Light pink. Blooms in flushes throughout the season
Growing: USDA zone 5b through 10b
Parentage: Unknown

Oh, Riku - I can imagine you deep into the potting up and I would give a lot to be there helping you unpack and plant. How thrilling! What a list!! We will look forward to many reports and many photos, yes?
You really know how to live right - no casual rose enthusiast are you. And once again I must say that you're my hero. :-)

Anne

Yes, I can attest to the utmost cr@ppy WINTER weather here in the SOUTHERN UK in APRIL. We've had snow in the early morning hours yesterday, also a very icy, snowy, and windy Easter weekend. There's no end of winter in sight any time soon. Right now it's about a whopping 6C or so, after some night frost of course. This will make it a lovely 7 months of winter weather, and counting. Add to that pleasure the many smoking chimneys around us (in part from folks without central heating in this very crowded city, yes, we're talking the 21st century and carbon emission counting, not that they've heard of it!), with the smelly smoke often ending up in our house since no one here here seems to know know how to build draught-free windows or doors. The winter pollution in Cambridge can simply unbelievable once one moves outside the smoke-free inner city center. Coal and wood smoke everywhere, sticks to one's hair and everything one wears, especially lovely in foggy weather, and good for the lungs. Having lived in Germany and the US, I simply cannot believe this. Plus, if I remember correctly, there was absolutely no summer last year, instead we got an eternal 12-18C weather with lots of rain and wind, great. Maybe Oxford has better weather than Cambridge (supposedly not though), now that would be one reason to switch institutions. I bet anyone anywhere in Canada has much much better weather and air to enjoy than we do here. While England may not be able to change their lousy weather, they seriously have a lot of catch-up to do in terms of modernization and living standards. Well, they do have some lovely roses here. Sorry about my off-topic rant, couldn't help myself.

A.

Hahahahaha ... love it. If you have not made it yet, you need to get to the Cornish Rivera where DMIL lives, and Lands End right in front of the house. The westerlies on a really good day will clear the system out if you hold onto the handrails ... either that or the terror of the cliffs will fix you right up. I consider Cornwall and Devon some of the most beautiful countryside on the Island and a gardeners paradise.

Usually I could not wait to get out of the greater Metropolitan area. That coal sure has an interesting fragrance, but to me it's the outside door knobs, or should I say lack of that drives me nuts.

Cupshaped,Just to keep the record straight, I actually live a bit south of Riku but we are 1400km further inland and away from the moderating effect of the ocean so our winters are longer and colder. Our micro climate is also open prairie with out the protection of a city or hills or trees around us. If you are ever in North America in the winter again we would be glad to show you what winter is really like.
Leo

Just an update. This experience is turning out to be an extremely good overseas import so far. After almost month and half inside in the unheated garage potted up - including having to cover them up for a week due to -14C weather where some lost their first set of leaves to freezing "inside" - I've only lost 5 out of the ~ 105 delivered that failed to break dormancy (canes shriveled).

The potting up is turning out to have been a smart move also with the long delayed plant due to weather because they been allowed to become soil based for 6 weeks instead of soaking. Of course I lost one car space in the garage to my DW slight annoyance - my car stays in, it is newer ... hahahaha.

The Geschwinds have broke - except Geschwind's Schonste and it looks dead. The one I was zeroing on, Ariana, has been very vigorous (got planted outside yesterday). Planted it in the south bay plot just in case it does behave like a noisette and not like a Harisonii for hardiness.

I dosed nearly half with mychrozial fungus (forgot the first half until I remember I bought the stuff in winter).

Next week is the big plant with the Pickering's and the Skinner and Erskine roses special order coming this week.

Yeah the pain and ecstasy starts again ... bring it on!!!! Of course November sucks as we do it all in reverse again.

El Areana is probably more harisonii than noisette. It was rediscovered in Norway where it has been widely grown since 1916 when it was imported from Peter Lambert's nursery. South Norway is a warmer climate than yours and mine but not warm enough for noisettes. My plant was planted only last year so I don't know much about it yet.

I'll be very interested in following your Geschwind roses as they mature. I have grown several of your imports since 1999 or 2001. All are completely tip hardy without any protection for me. But they have their faults. Aurelia Liffa had BS already in May last year, incredibly early here where springs are dry and we may get blackspot in August if at all. I wanted to shovel prune it but my husband loves the flowers and wouldn't let me.

Marianne in Sweden

Goodness, now that is a list. I would also like to see pictures when they bloom.

Carla

Wow, I knew you were a real estate baron, filling your lands with floral arrangements. Now your teams of gardens will plant as you watch from ahigh, (wine in hand).

Let me know how your Boule de Niege does, I got one glorious bloom last year. The beauty and aroma were worth the treasure and wait.

Carol

An impressive four-scroll list. Are you going to keep many in pots?

I'm breathless not only with your plant list but also your knowledge beyond the rose garden---I'm truly impressed and will be looking forward to pictures.

This is so exciting and I will be living vicariously through your garden.

Florence

Thanks folks for the enjoyable and informative comments and good wishes. Harry, I will only keep the teas in the pots and bring them in the middle of October and put them in the grow room.

I did receive and plant the prairie privately hybrizied old and new Canadian roses (Skinner's Suzanne, Butterball, Haidi and Erskine's Prairie Peace). It is going to be somewhat of a new experience for me as they are what I call "runners / suckers". All of them show very heavy spinosissima / pimpinefolia cane attributes, but not the "spindly" canes that I am use to (they are at least in some cases 1/4 to 3/8 inches in diameter. Still going after the Beauty of Leafland next year (Erskines)

Got a bonus of two Prairie Peace roses. One actually looks grafted and is very large with 3 canes. These hardy for zone 2 roses have been put in prominent places in the back north gardens replacing under performing out of zone roses I have no more patience with. I believe it is likely going to be 3 to 5 years until they mature into true bushes.

My goodness!!! How many acres do you have?? I can't imagin planting that many roses in one season! Whew! I hope you post pictures of these. Most of them I've never even heard of. You have my admiration for sure! :-)

Hi tenorpeggy,

Good to hear from you again, remember you from over the years here. As to plantng, no room increase in real estate here. I been doing only a bit of shovel pruning and when required SP easy to do as these roses are rare in Canada.
I do not need as much room and therefore do not follow the 2 foot radius rule, because of the miniaturizing effect of zone 3 on 6 foot out of zone roses - learned that over the years.

Also been easy to plant as about 50% of the roses are small grafted ones with roots cut which the vendor warmed me about and I accepted with no problems - another reason I like dealing with this vendor - warned the roots would be cut, unheard of to be told that.

I have noticed that in the pots the small ones have been putting out really good root system - lots of exposed new white feeders on the soil sides in the pots. But to be sure to give the best start in the short season I have been adding mychrozial fungus inoculations to the soil and any exposed roots.

Managed yesterday to plant about 1/4 of them focusing mainly on the bourbons and Geschwinds and planting them in the warmest and most sheltered spots. Also planted a couple of his rugosas and in a particularly tough spot for roses put in another Nevada - once bloomer acceptable in this spot as it is semi cane hardy in zone 3.

And what really gratifying is three days of hot weather up here has triggered the bloom buds to appear on Rotkappchen, a Geschwind polyantha and Deuil de Dr. Reynaud, a bourbon I can not find up here - Olga's makes me envious