I don't think you could do this other than with overnight mail. They grow special florist roses in Ecuador and other places that keep their petals quite a long time after cutting, and then they fill the boxes with inert gas to slow down the wilting process. And with special florist roses and that process they last a week or so. But I don't think it's practical to try something like that for the occasional gift. But overnight mail (i.e. FedEx) and a couple of lunchbox sealed ice paks should be fine. Or just call 1-800-flowers, even easier.

Wirosarian -- I agree with everything you said. If those of us who do not exhibit choose to discount everything rose show aficionados have to say about growing good roses, then we're doing ourselves a great disservice. Of the volumes in my gardening library, Robert B. Martin's "Showing Good Roses" is among the most valued. It's 496 pages is packed with info that's extremely helpful to exhibitors and nonexhibitors alike. The book is poorly edited, and the lack of an index sometimes drives me to distraction, but I find myself referring to it time and again. I ordered mine years ago from Rosemania. I think they still carry it.

You guys are so wonderful, makes me very happy that I asked the question here! Okay, so now the two "flagships" in my initial plan have sunken before the voyage has begun: Freelanders are unavailable (wrote to Greenheart and got no word back), Fariy Tales are no good cut . I am so glad Alec's Red and Tournament of Roses were mentioned, b/c some folks said they perform very well in heat, have strong fragrance and last a long time cut, I was quite tempted, but now that I know about the 4"-5" stems--no different from my Peace--I have to scratch them off the list as well. KITTYMOONBEAM: what's the length of stems on your Tournament? (still feeling tempted...) Just Joey is not good cut???? What a disappointment! My gratitude to everyone for your help and advice. Truth be told I am not eager to acquire another white as I don't need more white for my arrangements. I have Honor, not the most exciting bloom but it's a winner as a cutting rose. It's prolific (5-12 blooms at one time with another 12+ buds growing, yet the plant is only 4' by 2'), quick to repeat (about 1-3 weeks when I feed it well), OPENS COMPLETELY IN THE VASE (most of my other roses failed to do so this year), has a delightful clear scent. So for me to get another white, it'll have to be rather special, I already have a strong candidate in mind: Callista, allegedly has super quick repeats, strong fragrance, also it's not a yellow-tone white like Honor (a magnet to cucumber beetles). Anyone grows Callista??? Luxrosa, I can't believe Tiffany, as a florist type rose, only lasts 5 days for you. I live 4hr north of SFO, right outside the fog belt, if it doesn't last for you, it won't last for me. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Can anyone tell me if I should try any of these for cutting? Any of them doesn't do well in heat? I also don't like monster sized blooms, 3"-5.5" is great. Austins: Mustead Wood, Mary Rose, Geoff Hamilton [longing for an Austin :( Heaven on Earth [was dying to have it but saw too many photos of its blooms drooping!] Golden Celebration [nodding? heard great things about it since my day 1 on this forum] Abbaye de cluny [very fragrant, hardy and vigorous? long sturdy stems?] Bride's Dream Neptune [long sturdy tems? prolific?] Diamond Jubilee Rouge Royale [planning to get this one] From Palatine: Traviata, Acropolis, Sweet Victoria Am going to ask Roses Unlimited if they have any Renaissance varieties. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Wishing everyone a sweet weekend. RosyBunny

I'm pretty sure you're right about that Maude. I'm already doing some in the pots too. It's all just an experiment to see what (if) I can get to root. I've always just done the method of sticking several stems in a 5gal pot and putting a 2litre bottle with the bottom cut off or a plastic bag over the pot. I didn't have a lot of luck that way. Right now I have the cuttings in clear plastic cups in a starter medium rather than soil. And I built a pvc pipe frame to go over a big plastic underbed storage container that I put clay pebbles in, adding water to create a moist environment and have heating pads underneath. Then I covered the pvc frame with clear vinyl and I have a fluorescent light fixture hanging over the whole thing, which comes on about 4:00pm and stays on til midnight. So far it seems to be a good set-up. But only time will tell. Like I said, I'm just having fun playing around and experimenting to see what, if anything, works.