You are so right. The sun is setting on our opportunities. I ordered all I could. I can't put another rose into my pot ghetto now.

Oh, Lilac Charm - so lovely.

And there are great roses still available on Vintage's lists. For example, the 1932 floribunda Karen Poulsen, which Graham Thomas described as the "remarkable Karen Poulsen, with dazzling scarlet single flowers which defy description." I got this plant at the Celebration of Roses just one year ago, as a band on the sales table who won my heart with a single bloom that I spotted from yards away. This young plant is so far very pleasing and trouble-free. Here are photos from today:

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On Roseseek's mid century floribunda advice I ordered:
Lilac Charm (love that rose!)
Lilac Dawn
Grey Pearl
Paprika
Spartan
Yellow Cushion
and a bunch more I can't remember.
I've also placed a polyantha order, a china order...
I can't order anymore. If I had anywhere to put them I would.
So far I really like all I I have received.
Susan

Here are just a few of the Floribundas presently available on the Vintage list which I recommend to your notice as ones I can personally vouch for, after several years of trial, as especially satisfying:

--Arpeggio (beautiful near-single; unique dynamic cerise-rose-scarlet color which electrifies its locale without being harsh or clashing; the plant is healthy and vigorous)
--Fabergé (perfectly-formed roses of the 1950s aesthetic, each blossom looks just like the publicity photos sellers make available--the Vintage photo doesn’t well represent either the color or the form; the main color is an orange-pink, with yellow; the leaves are a beautiful glossy dark green and healthy; the plant is sturdy, compact, and vigorous)
--Gold Cup (beautiful rich golden yellow, well-formed especially in bud, wonderfully fragrant; beautiful dark green glossy leaves; sturdy, healthy, and vigorous)
--Nimbus (an extremely floriferous muddy warm lavender; the color doesn’t sound very attractive, but it is; my plant took several years to “get going,” and admittedly the plant is rather sparsely foliaged; still, it’s one I’m proud to have; it's not "sheet of bloom" floriferous, but rather "always a sprinkling of blossoms" floriferous)

I can heartily recommend Titian and Ivory Triumph, both of which I bought from VG last year.

Ivory Triumph is a vigorous grower with lovely semi double flowers which are not white nor ivory but an unnamed cool color inbetween. I just uncovered it. It is not cane hardy in zone 5, and in the future I will need to wrap the stems in burlap, but new growth was already coming up. It was Almost Entirely Free From Blackspot in my yard last year. NO BS, or not until very late in the season, and then only a few tiny blotches on the very lowest leaves.

I believe Titian, a shrub or floribunda from Australia, is truly a sleeper among roses. The flowers are large, very double and of the most amazing color, a kind of dark redish pink with orangey tones that you must see to believe. Growth habit is excellent. Titian puts out strong canes which branch at approximately 60 degree angles, so the inside of the bush remains open. No twigs, and no thorny rebar growing straight up.

Both Titian and IT are strong growers and prolific bloomers. Titian had a little more BS than IT, which had hardly any, but did not defoliate. In warm climates, Titian would probably make a fairly substantial bush.

Can anyone suggest any of the remaining floribundas at VG which might be hardy in Zone 5? The Talk roses look lovely, but if they are small in CA, they would likely be miniature sized for me.

I finally placed a Vintage order.

But by the time I picked out what I wanted, those were gone, so then I looked for the found roses, the ones I wanted were gone too.

Then I made a long list, said I want 4 of these....and they are on their way shortly.

I think my final order looks more like I choked while playing Jeopardy and Alex said I was running out of time. :)

Glad they were out of so many of my picks

I finally decided to order two more, Arcata Pink Globe (possibly the same as Moser House Shed Rose) and Cl Madame Caroline Testout. I think I know where I can plant them, maybe.

Like Kippy, I found they had sold out of many of the roses that attracted me. And also like Kippy, I saw this as a good thing.

I'm still working on getting the last round of purchases in the ground along with various companion plants.

Rosefolly

I just went through the remainder of the available Vintage roses (other than the Floribundas, which I made recommendations for above). Here are some which I especially recommend from personal experience:

HTs

--Calico (beautiful leaves, good strong growth, wonderfully delicious fragrance, ever-varying coloration in the flowers)

--Gold Glow (beautiful distinctive form, a deep and rich pure golden-yellow; I also have the beautiful apricot sport)

--Peach Beauty (of that pink-orange which is so characteristic of its breeder Boerner, the color tonalities of its opening flower are truly luscious [see my pix of it at HMF]; the plant is sturdy and floriferous)

Hybrid Musk

--Wilhelm (a healthy 8-10 foot shrub with very generous clusters of semi-double rich red flowers; the fragrance is delicious and distinctive, with a yeasty undertone [I think one is smelling the pollen]; I also have the brighter red sport 'Will Scarlet')

Climbing Polyantha

--Hermann Schmidt (clusters of reddish-violet or bright magenta flowers on a vigorous plant with attractive glossy spring-green foliage which is healthy; the color of the flowers enriches all colors around it)

Ramblers

(First, among the Ramblers, I recommend to your notice two Boursaults: 'Blush Boursault' and 'Morlettii'; lack of space has meant that, despite very strong temptations to get some experience with the Boursaults, I haven't done so; but the Boursault group has been neglected, and I encourage those with space to give them a try)

--Erinnerung an Brod (a blackish-violet-purple Setigera hybrid; it's blooming right now for me, and the perfect color combination with the also-blooming pure light pink 'Duchesse d'Angouleme' is one of the highlights of my gardening year)

--Robinette (a demure climber from Mr. Moore; its white-eyed cherry-red single flowers with their sparkling golden stamens have a simple charm which makes me yearn for them when the plant is not in bloom; its little clusters of bright hips add to its charm in the Fall and Winter)

--Violette (a good rich dark violet purple, purified of the red tones which others of this sort often display)

Teas

--Mme. Antoine Rébé (more a China-Tea; the big nearly single blossoms look as if cut out of rose-red Oriental silk)

None of the above could be considered "just another rose"; they all are distinctive characters which bestow their own unique richness on the garden and on the gardener...

Lilac Charm looks really lovely!

I'm hoping they will have a last minute sale. I've ordered 48 this spring. I have space for more, but the budget is running low.

I am with you Catsrose, the list is long but the wallet is thin.

Odinthor, thank you for taking the time to make a list! It really helps.

Would those boursaults grow well in Coastal SoCal?

My random order arrived today. The roses are random sizes too...lol from a thin spaghetti to a bush they had to bend to get in the box (all bought as bands but they must have been happy to give the big one the boot-Morey's Pink)

K-t-H asks if Boursaults would grow in Coastal So Cal....? That's the great question I've been wondering for a number of years, but have lacked the space to experiment and find out. They're half China--modern people sometimes dispute this, but those familiar with this group at the time it was being bred stated it without equivocation--so one would think that they would have a very good chance of liking coastal So Cal. It would be wonderful to find out the answer to this question of how well they do here, and so perhaps open up a "new" group to Southern California gardening!

Kittymoonbeam (who apparently lives near Anaheim, Z10) recently posted about Blush Boursault (link below). Isn't that coastal SoCal? Being native NoCal and not getting out much, I have no idea... :)

Here is a link that might be useful: Blush Boursault thread

This post was edited by catspa on Thu, May 9, 13 at 21:29

Here's my last? order:

“Florence Bower’s Pink Tea”
Laneii / Moss
Tuscany / Gallica
Esther / Gallica
Duc de Guiche (Lowe) / Gallica
Flora / Rambler
Daphné / Gallica (not the Hybrid Musk)
Rosa brunonii “La Mortola”

I do hope Vintage is able to sell out all their roses. Am sure they will bring what's left to the Celebration of Old Roses on May 19th. I'll keep an eye out to see if anything is left before the 19th but I probably have no more room.

Alas,
Diane

Fogrose, I'm surprised by all the Gallicas in your order. Perhaps that's a classification of roses that I've needlessly been ignoring . . . What other Gallicas grow successfully in your zone?

Windeaux, I was just going to comment on Fogrose's order to say that I just received Tuscany from Vintage. I have seen it doing relatively well in this area. I also have La Belle Sultane (beautiful scent), as does my rosarian neighbor-across-the-street (who inspired my acquisition of that variety).

La Belle Sultane does well for me here in Silicon Valley. It is one of the most successful gallicas I've tried. Many of them dwindled. Be warned, LBS has intense wanderlust.

Rosefolly

I just got my "last" Vintage order today. Although I dont need any more...I am going to look again - cant stand the thought of no more Vintage orders arriving.....while there is still time.

Tip Top
Pink Soupert
Florence Bower's Pink Tea
La Nymphe
Tutta's Pink Noisette
Georgetown Gateside Yellow
Taisha
Judith

No fear, I hope, Rosefolly. I put La Belle Sultane in a "challenging" spot where I hope she has as much room to roam as she wants... famous last words...

"Old Red Runaround" is assumed to be something of a Gallica that I also have and also with wanderlust. I love it, but maybe worse than LBS that way, I think. On second thought, consider its name.

My "deer in the headlights" order got potted today.

In band size order

Morey's Pink skipped the 1g pot and is in a 3g Not sure how a plant 2 1/2 feet tall with 4 canes fit in a band pot. But guessing it will need some time to stretch out some roots.

Crepuscule has a big bud and is in a 1g

Mme Berkeley is in her her new 1g

Alister Stella Gray (itty bitty) is in a 1g too

Bet next year the size order is reversed...lol Alister Stella Gray has a mammoth oak tree to climb, so I hope it is a mini house eater.

Morey's Pink was busy uncurling today from being bent to fit in the box. I had to smile when I noticed the bent cane was hiding an itty bitty bud and a busy little lady bug.

Be sure to baby Lilac Charm...mine did great last year in a 1g pot, but I lost her this Spring...really pretty blooms though...just make sure not to over water, she really hates it :)

I agree with the mid-century floribundas! I am completely taken by Gene Boerner's roses! I think I've tried to order every one they still have in stock. They just do really well for me here!

Tammy

windeaux, so far the Gallicas are doing very well for me even though they're not supposed to. I have Officinalis, Tuscany Superb, Alain Blanchard, Velours Noir, Belle Isis, Narcisse de Salvandy and more new ones so hopefully they will do as well. Unfortunately Red Runaround is proliferating terribly so don't know if it will get to stay.

Diane

Sorry to reply a little late to Nastarana's request for floribundas from Vintage that would be hardy in zone 5. Most of the floris I see left on their list are pretty tough puppies, with the possible exceptions of Angel Face and French Lace, both of which have failed to overwinter 3 times each for me in different locations (though I know others in zone 5 who've done fine with these). There are some very nice singles and semi-doubles, and these in my experience tend to be less fussy about hardiness than the high-centered or densely petaled roses.

Here are some I'd recommend from my zone 5 experience:
Eutin - tough as nails, low growing, pretty constant blooming "red" i.e. hot pink to my eyes
Centenaire de Lourdes - hardy and trouble free pink double flowers
Pinocchio - also tough as nails and very hardy in zone 5 or colder, nice subtle pink blend, not too tall
Sunsprite - hardy and non-fading yellow Kordes, mine has taken a beating without stop in my mailbox strip by the street
Summer Dream - nice double apricot blooms, and hardier than most in that color range, grows about 3-4 feet for me
Lilac Dawn - most of my blooms have been a paler lavender than the Vintage picture but it's again hardier than most purples for me
Nimbus - I have to agree this one is an intriguing color and a "don't miss it" rose. I'm still tempted to buy another one from Vintage, even though I mostly don't duplicate roses (I did break down and by a second Messire Delbard for the heart-stoppingly beautiful quartered dark red blooms) - surprisingly hardy for me
Fancy Talk, Small Talk: I also have Pillow Talk, Baby Talk, and Plain Talk - they all have personality in their blooms and aren't just a run of the mill flower any of them. They're on the small side - about knee height for me - but that makes them good for front of the bed in front of bare knees roses or in my mailbox bed that I want to keep around 3'. All quite cane hardy for me so far in zone 5
Brown Velvet - not a frequent bloomer for me but has survived 3 years in my zone 4 pocket in front of my house, so it's a safe bet in zone 5. Worth it for the russet colors
Cherish - relatively new in my yard, but it's survived several the winters and is approaching its "leap" year, nice blend of sunset colors
Morey's Pink - new for me from Vintage this year, but I have to comment that this and about 8 of the other roses I bought from Vintage were absolutely bursting out of its band pots with thick healthy roots.

I have to echo everyone else that now is the time to buy whatever you can from Vintage's list, before they get to an "end of season" clearance. Many of the 100 roses I bought from them this year (did I just admit that in writing?) were frequent mentions on their "unloved roses" lists, and were clearly mature healthy roses that had been growing quite a while waiting for a home - Inner Wheel, Molly McGredy come to mind here. I think I had to cut Molly out of her band pot to free her elaborate root system from the pot. My Vintage roses were without exception HUGE plants for bands and you won't be disappointed, even if you're unsure about buying bands.

Cynthia

Well, y'all have convinced me to get some roses from Vintage. There isn't a lot of variety in OGR's here unless you go to ARE, and I have some of theirs, great roses, but I've been wanting something different. I'm going to get 4, but have a list of about 20 must-haves. Gotta pare that down a little.

The first 4 on my must-have list are: Contempo, Irish Mist, Lapponia, Miss Caroline (or maybe Mme Joseph Schwartz), and Heirloom (okay, so that's 5); and as alternates: Sunsprite, Smith's Red Parish, Shepherd's Delight and Morey's Pink, Erna Grootendorst, Faberge, Hawaiian Delight, French Lace, Titian, Sun Flare and Angel Bells.

I've had Mme Joseph Schwartz before, and it died in our drought 2 years ago, and I want another one. I know Smith's Parish, but am unfamiliar with the others. Can y'all tell me how they would do in my Texas zone 9a heat and humidity?

I'd like to get more, but I already have about 30 and a lot of other plants, too, and there just isn't room for as many as I'd like to get!

Nippstress, thank you for the list.

I did order Lilac Charm and Nimbus. For Lilac Charm I got something else, I think Lilac Princess, and Nimbus is presently in critical condition and unlikely to survive. Someing about the ambient light where I live is not friendly to mauve and lilac roses, although the dark reds look sumptous indeed.

I am delighted to learn that Pinocchio might be possible for me.

My last or maybe pennultimate Vintage order will be arriving next week. I have a modest collection of Ayreshire ramblers to which I would like to add Ruga. I did already order it, but never received, or else didn't notice, confirmation. I am waiting to see if Ruga is included, and to then order again if it is not.

I just sent in a last order - doesnt look like that much to choose from - not many noisettes, tea/noisettes which is what I am interested in. Dont know if any of my choices are even available.anyone else doing a last order?

No final order, but I am waiting to learn if a 2+-yr-old custom root order will beat the deadline . . .

I guess no sale, so I ordered a last 12, some for friends. I put the order in Friday and it hasn't been confirmed yet. I won't weep if it gets lost. It was more just to be supportive.

I have one I really want. If there is anyone in my area looking to split an order, let me know.

What is it you're wanting to order, Kippy? is that too nosy?

Harbor

I want Edmond Proust. I could probably find another rambler if someone local wanted a pair of roses too. But not sure I have room for 4 ramblers and most of the other roses I wanted were sold out too fast for me (which is a good thing for Vintage)

If you don't get someone to go in with you, let me know and I'll root one for you. I just got one from them and it looks like it is vigorous. It balls some here, but it is a pretty bloom.

Thank you very much Harbor

I really love that one, I could easy pick out 3 other ramblers, but I don't think I have the space they need with the ones I already have growing. Even my "short list" of antiques I want for the lower garden I really have to cull some because there are more than I want than I space for with out removing the hedge. It is not that I love the hedge, but truthfully, maybe it is foolish to remove an edible hedge that is probably antique itself that needs no water for roses.

Kippy: I'm near you (Gaviota) if you'd like to split a Vintage last order. -Nancylee

My last, last order arrived last week.

Ruga
Burg Baden
Morning Stars
A. von Tharou, the alba/Ayreshire hybrid.

I doubt I can buy more. It is getting into the season when roses probably should not be shipped across country and taking delivery in Sept did not work out well for me last fall because they don't make enough growth before frost.

Nancylee,

That would be wonderful!!!

Are you coming to the SB Rose society this Thursday to see Jeri and Clay talk about propagating? We could talk there or I can shoot you an email tomorrow.

I am off shortly to LA to pick up and drop off kids at LAX and sneak in a side trip to the Getty Villa.

Kippy: I sent you an email. -Nancylee

Nippy the Hippy and Harbor-
You're right, that rambler is EXTREMELY vigorous.
Harbor, does yours suffer any die-back?
Mine has been hardy to the tips the past few years.