We are almost done with the same process, but not on such a grand scale! It's the best time of year, when things are dormant, to move them. We moved several figs, a small vineyard, and a few roses. Anytime you have to cut roots to dig them out, you need to cut the branches so that they don't die from lack of roots. They will do fine, even the huge ones!! I heard the word, "farm," and I wondered if the goat would eat your roses, but on recheck, you don't have a goat, right? Law School is well worth the money. My son went that route and is very successful. The key is to find a niche in which nobody in your town specializes. Then, you become the "go to" guy, and people from other towns come to you as your fame grows. He is in Southern California and has clients in Northern California as well. Being located in Wine country, he specializes in wineries and the legal issues of that entire sector. He also does real estate and contract law. You can make a ton of money as an attorney as long as you hang out your own shingle and work for yourself. Good luck with all of it! Suzi This post was edited by desertdance on Sun, Jan 26, 14 at 9:38

With all you've written, your safest bet is to know the identities of the roses and repurchase replacements once you've moved and are ready for them. The next safest choice would be to make good friends with someone there in Texas who would be able and willing to either root or bud them for you and hold the plants until they, and you, are ready. There is no method, period, which can be guaranteed to be successful the first time it's tried, particularly when added to a major move. You need to find someone who is already set up for propagation who can accept the appropriate material from you, propagate it and get the plants back to you when you're ready. Either a hobbyist or a nursery who either uses mist for rooting or buds would be your best alternatives. Might there be someone at the nursery from which you purchased them who could identify them for you so you can replace them later? If you open an account on either Photobucket or Flickr, you can post numerous photos in one post here. Otherwise, it's one photo per post, but at least seeing them in living color, perhaps someone might recognize them, making your job of replacing them easier. Good luck! Kim

Thanks for all the great replies! I'm still torn, but you've made me feel better if we go ahead and get him. I remember you, too, Quasifish! Hello again! To answer some questions--the 2 litters have been co-mingled. The breeder has a "nursery" (separate room in her house, closed off from the foyer with a screened-type door) where the kittens all stay together after about 4-5 weeks in their separate places w/ their moms. In their last week there, they get let out into the rest of the house to be raised "under foot"--w/ 4 home-schooled kids and a dog. She'll let me bring home a towel that's been in the room with all of them, so some familiar smells will accompany Coco to his new surroundings (that's what we've named him--he's a real "Cocoa puff"). I read the breeder's website from all the ones I looked for that were in my state, and it was at the top of my list, and then I found that it was only 7 miles from the new house. Great testimonials and pics sent in by satisfied customers. Some were repeat customers. And, we visited there before we decided for sure to do this (had never bought an animal before and still feel weird about it). I've visited every other week since early June, starting with when she let me have first pick of each litter. Seeing the Ragdolls on that Cats 101 was what convinced me to do it (and yes, I've seen Matilda story too)! It was between them and a Maine Coon, which hubby wanted because we now know the MOST lovable cat in the world since we moved (who's a Maine coon). He goes limp when you pick him up, so we've enjoyed loving on him whenever we catsit him--at our house no less, so we fight over him! We knew then that after Casey, we needed a cat like this one. From what I'd seen and read about Ragdolls, this seemed our best bet. This breeder makes you sign a contract which says that if for whatever reason you can't take care of the cat anymore and can't find a suitable new home for it, she'll take it back. She seems very responsible. She was an herbalist prior to starting this venture a few years ago, and she's quite holistic with the kitties. Oh, she wants me to take this first one before getting the second one. He's more shy than his cousin, a little female. She thinks he should have a chance to bond with me first instead of just her (if they arrive together). The other one is a little spitfire which we can already tell will rule the house. We're already crazy in love with them and talk about them all the time (and constantly look at the many pictures and videos I have on my iPhone). We're soooo ready for another kitty to love. Tracey

I suggest Comtesse Emmeline de Guigne: I saw it growing at Morcom Park in Oakland, California and it was a gorgeous pink Tea with starry blossoms with a satiny sheen. Sometimes it shows salmon in the inner petals along with the pink. I admired it everytime I went there that summer. The next spring I was surprised to see it had been moved, although its replacement was a very pretty pure peach colored Tea rose, I should have looked closer at the foliage et cet. I read Gregs description of Comtesse Emmemline de Guigne in the Vintage Gardens Book of Roses and he described how it changes from pink to peach depending on conditions, so it had been there all the time masquerading under a different color. At Morcom Parks Amphitheatre of Roses they keep it at c. 4 feet tall by slightly wider, and it seems perfectly happy. Rogue Valley sells it. For years I was underwhelmed by my Duchess de Brabant, I thought it was a bit plain, until my neighbor said look how many roses there are on that plant! It gave me a new appreciation for it. . Mrs. Dudley Cross is sublime, and those smooth stems are a relief to me as I walk down my sidewalk as I tend to get caught on nearly every rosebush I pass by. By the way Souvenir de la Malmaison is fully half a Tea rose by parentage, which is why it re-blooms so rapidly and is florifeorus. Mlle. Cecille Brunner is classed as a Polyantha, yet is fully half a Tea by breeding. Her flowers are pink, petite and perfectly Tea shaped, and the scent is divine. Pretty foliage too. Mine has stayed at c. 4 feet tall for years. Good luck, let us know what you choose. Lux.