Brandy...I, too, jumped into the OGRs not having seen them in real life..many of them I still really don't have an idea of what to expect...I guess for about 99% of mine, it will be trial and error.

Robert

A quick Google search yields this page from NC State on public gardens in the state. A couple in the areas you name say they have rose gardens, worth a call to ask what types of roses they are growing. There is a large rose garden in Wilson.

If you visit Mytle Beach, consider taking a day trip to Charleston (a bit less than 2 hrs distant, if memory serves) to walk that city's Heritage Rose Trail. Charleston is a Mecca for anyone who has an interest in OGRs -- esp Noisettes, Teas & Chinas. In addition to the Trail in the historic section, there are wonderful collections nearby at Boone Hall Plantation & Hampton Park. There's a map of the Rose Trail at the link below, but I'd advise writing to request a copy. Spring, for a variety of reasons, is the best time to go.

Vee

Here is a link that might be useful: Charleston Heritage Rose Trail

Thank you Robert, I guess I am not the only one groping around in the dark!
Diane, I appreciate the trouble you went to in getting this info for me. Wilson is not far (closer than Raleigh) so I will try to get up that way before fall. I'm going to print out the County list and see what all is on it. Thanks again, Brandy

If you haven't done so already - you could swing by the Farmer's Market in Raleigh and check out Donny's stand. She carries some great roses, OGRs of all sorts, Austins and moderns. Virusfree. Her plants have always done very well for me. Her nursery is called NCRoseland.

The only nursery in Durham is Witherspoon Rose which is a good shop, but they don't carry much in terms of OGRs, just the usual moderns/classics and a few Austins.

If you don't mid driving to Landrum, South Carolina: Ashdown Roses is a big and reputable nursery for OGRs and many other roses. They're also quite conscientious about keeping RMV out of their stock, just like Donny.

But definitely give Donny's roses a look. She has a great collection.

Andrea

Here is a link that might be useful: NCRoseland

Andrea- thank you SO much! I took a look at the website and what a variety! I am going to compare it to my list and then email to see which ones they have. Hopefully, I can get out there to see their roses the beginning of Sept. Brandy

Brandy, even though Vintage has a terrific collection of rare roses, they're also quite pricey esp. re. shipping charges. So for the plants you can't get from Donny or Ashdown (or Witherspoon), check out other less expensive but imo equally good nurseries that also ship for much less than Vintage does, e.g. Sequoia Nurseries (owned by Ralph Moore, see their outstanding Supplementary List for OGRs etc.), Rogue Valley Roses, B and B Nursery and Propagators, Chamblee's, and for grafted ones Pickering Nurseries in Canada.

Enjoy!

Hope this helps,
Andrea

Thank you, Andrea. I will check those out. Unfortunately, Ashdown has hardly any of the roses on my list.
I emailed Roseland about the roses I am looking for and that they need to be very disease resistant, and I hope to get a reply in the next couple days. I appreciate the information. (I guess you are in Ga., too bad you are not closer.) Brandy

Vee, Thanks for posting that info on the Charleston Rose Trail. I'm scheduled to attend a conference there next April. Hope that won't be too early to see some of the roses doing their thing.

And Brandy . . . check out the zonal/state info next to andreageorgia's name. You 2 are practically neighbors.

Brandy, there is a rose nursery near Winston Salem called Heaven Scent Roses if I am correct. Almost Heaven Antique Roses by Vernon Rickard (sp) is a good vendor too.

Carla

Thanks to all of you for the great info!
And, Jax..., you're right, Andrea is practically a neighbor being in NC (further north I would guess or near the mts- Zone 7).
Carla- I rarely get to Winston-Salem, but will keep that in mind.
Vee- Detouring to Charleston to look at roses will probably not happen (my teenage son will be w/ me). But, maybe on another trip...
All together, some great possibilities. thanks, Brandy

Your son can take a book to read. Sorry, but he can learn that he isn't the epicenter of the universe all the time. (Make him a better future husband.)

It's not that far of a detour to the Charleston gardens. They are great enough that we do the six hour drive at least once a year. (For modern roses the thousands of roses at Orangeburg are also a great visit.)

Other assets:
Roses Unlimited in South Carolina.
Riverbank Garden and Zoological Park in Columbia SC, a great collection of found OGRs and big OGRs, well labeled.
Hollywood Cemetery in Richmond VA

I am not sure that Donny is still in Raleigh. I saw a few posts by her several months ago in which she indicated that she was moving.

You are not going to find anything worthwhile seeing on Myrtle Beach but to see Charleston is always a joy (not in August though).
At Ann's advice we visited Hampton Park in Charleston several years ago. I do not know much about the parkÂs present status but that is an OGR garden with Noisettes, teas, Chinas and Hybrid Musks. We were there in October  it was sunny and warm but not unpleasantly hot. It is a Âno-spray public garden so one can see by fall which roses fared well and which roses should have gotten more attention.
The roses were not marked and our map was out of date - still I learned a lot there.

Roses Unlimited (they are close to Ashdown) in SC has a huge display garden around the nursery; both antiques and moderns are planted there. We were there in torrential rain so didnÂt enjoy much of the display offered. I wish you better luck as we had.

If you do go to Winston-Salem, check out the Reynolda Rose Garden. It has one section of OGRs and one section of AARS winners.

RE: NCRoseland, last time I spoke to Donny at the NC State Farmer's Market, she said she had moved the nursery to Mebane. I haven't tried emailing her, but I have always been able to get in touch with her by phone, and her number is on her website.

Here is a link that might be useful: Reynolda Gardens of Wake Forest University

Thank all of you for the wonderful info! I am planning to go to Wilson to see the gardens later this month. I want to go to that nursery, NCRoseland after that. I have not rec'd a reply to my email yet, but, hopefully soon. Mebane- hopefully that's not too far away, it sounds familiar anyway. I am going on vacation for a few days and if I haven't heard back by the time I return, I will call. Thanks again to everyone. Brandy

Donny sure is still around - just moved to a bigger home for raising her roses - and is still at the Farmer's Market, as usual, on the weekends. You really should head to the market for all the wonders there, in addition to Donny's roses!

Lila

Well, I did tour the rose garden in Wilson. It was very impressive overall- lots of roses in bloom. But it was disappointing as far as looking at OGRs. There were few of them and I did not see any that were blooming.
Of the other roses, I was most impressed w/ Playboy and Folklore- 2 that have been recommended to me as being very disease resistant. Another rose that I found very attractive was Belle Story- an Austin, however, according to HMF, it is not very disease resistant.
The nursery I was told about- NCroseland.com
displays and sells their roses at the Farmer's Market at Raleigh, and they will be there again on 9-8, so I am looking forward to going!!! Finally, to see some of the roses on my list!!! Brandy