Thank you for the time you put in, and the roses you distributed. You did good work.

Jeri

I wish Connie the best luck. She's a wonderful person, so helpful and I'm grateful for the info. she provided to rose growers. I hope to see her postings in the forums, she's a very knowledgable person who really care for roses.

Hey, Everybody, why the long faces? The only part of Hartwood Roses that's going away is the catalog of roses for sale. What remains is the educational stuff that I love doing best of all.

Not propagating or selling roses leaves more energy for me to care for and expand my garden ... so it can continue to be a place where gardeners (and wannabe gardeners) learn that growing roses is only as hard as you make it. Honestly, in its current neglected state, my garden is a total testiment to the toughness of old garden roses.

I also get to spend more time writing and giving presentations, working on hands-on workshops, etc.

My goal is to light the fire and send folks to get their roses elsewhere. Instead of mourning the loss of yet another sales outlet, let's acknowledge that we still some outstanding nurseries doing thankless work promoting roses in a market that sees little value in their product.

Thanks for the support!
Connie

Well said Connie, well said!

"My goal is to light the fire and send folks to get their roses elsewhere. Instead of mourning the loss of yet another sales outlet, let's acknowledge that we still some outstanding nurseries doing thankless work promoting roses in a market that sees little value in their product."

All the best to you, Connie!

Well said Connie, well said!

"My goal is to light the fire and send folks to get their roses elsewhere. Instead of mourning the loss of yet another sales outlet, let's acknowledge that we still some outstanding nurseries doing thankless work promoting roses in a market that sees little value in their product."

Amen! On to other successes!

Connie, wishing you all the best, where ever your endeavors take you.

Rosefolly

Best of luck, Connie! Your roses were amazing when I've purchased from you in the past. I'll miss having a nursery in an area similar to my zone. Hopefully, one day I'll be able to visit your garden in person. My father lives in Front Royal, VA so you never know :)

Tammy

Dear Connie;
You are one terrific lady. When I first began growing OGR's the information you posted helped me greatly. At that time I didn't even post.
In addition to your garden your blog is inspirational. I'm so glad to hear that you will be continuing in the educational vein.
Thank you again.
Jeannie

Connie, One of the first roses I ordered from you was "Reuter China", a rose for which you were the sole source. Obviously it's a foundling, but I'm hoping you can tell us more about it -- where it came from, its growth habit, mature size, etc. Thanks in advance for any info you can provide.

Connie I'm glad that you are happy about your changes. It all sounds positive to me. I know people will miss buying roses from you, but I imagine you are really excited about having more time and energy for your collection and lovely garden. All my best, Pamela

I hope that you enjoy this next phase of your rose gardening mission.

I do hope that you offer cuttings of those roses you do not want to be lost to those who visit and you educate so that they can learn and keep your passion growing in the future.

Enjoy having the time to "stop and smell the roses"

Connie

I wish you all the best. If you are ever in/near the Atlanta area, let me know.

Jeff

All of the love and support I have received over the past couple of days is making me blush. The messages here, on FB, and via email have been wonderful! It shows that my goal of being an informative, uplifting source of rose information is the right choice for me, and I look forward to continuing down this path.

There are questions here, so let's get to it:

windeaux, I got "Reuter China" by mistake in a rose order years ago. I ordered another R rose, and this one was packaged and sent to me by mistake ... was it really a mistake ... (grinning). For me, it is a stout China/Tea, growing about 5x5 so far, with a habit and flowers a lot like Jean Bach Sisley, which is beside it in the bed. The main difference is flower color ... Reuter China's flowers are a pale fleshy pink. I have traced it to cuttings given to Malcolm Manners in Florida, who cannot remember who gave them to him.

Kippy, I can't imagine that I'd be handing out cuttings to most visitors. Those who come and are interested in preserving and growing the rarities are a different case all together. (I've been doing this all along.) I picture this portion of Hartwood Roses continuing in a vein very similar to our own dear Jeri ... seeking out and growing the rare ones, and offering plants at auctions and fundraisers and garden gatherings. With RRD in my part of the country (and occasionally in my garden itself) it is of prime importance to get the really rare roses out into other gardens ... like an off-site back-up.

Not operating a retail nursery frees up a lot of my time for travel, especially during rose season. Jeff, I will definitely end up in Atlanta, and you will be on my list of people to see. My first stop, however, will be the cemetery in Sacramento. Yesterday, I ordered my tickets for the October symposium ... now I have to see about airfare, car, and hotel.

In order to stop and smell the roses, I first have to unearth them from the weeds. After that .... anyone interested in a propagation workshop? Fall is a great time to take cuttings.

The garden is always open for visitors ... even when it looks like crap. There's always something wonderful to see. Right now, the Noisettes are looking really good, and the Chinas (my beloved Chinas) are blooming like crazy. The seven dwarf polyanthas (actually there are only six ... Grumpy died) are covered in flowers ... polyanthas are superb here. I could go on and on. I guess you'll have to come by to see things for yourself. (or read my blog, where I share all the stuff that happens here on the farm. It's not all about gardening ... yesterday's post is about my new short haircut.)

It's great to hear that roses that came from here are making people happy. That's what it's all about.

Connie

Hi Connie, as I read your blog regularly, I've always wondered where you get the time and energy to do all that you do. I wholly support you doing what makes you happy. I know how you love just preserving roses and your own rose garden among your other pursuits. I wish you all the best. And second if you are in the Atlanta area, I would love to meet up with you again. If you are giving any talks to rose groups, let me know, I'd love to attend! I joined the Greater Gwinnett Rose Society last year and I really enjoy it. I'm going to be clerking at my first rose show this October.

Best wishes, Connie.

See you in Sacramento Connie! We live 3 hours away.

Connie---I too have often wondered how you were able to do so much.---I remember how much I enjoyed all your posts about remodeling your home------
Good luck in all your new projects-----maybe someday I will be able to visit your garden----I'm used to weeds they don't bother me at all.

Florence

I'll add my $.02 for Connie's ability to educate. I went to visit her this spring and she gave me the final bit of advice that allowed me to root cuttings in my house. She suggested putting them in a north facing window and passed on a tip from another rosearian to cover them loosely with zip bags. I tried the same thing here and viola! Success! Go Connie!

I am glad that you have a plan to keep your rare roses going and spreading to other knowledgeable rosarians.

I think about the apple tree my dad worked so hard to develop and start to patent. Health and old age stepped in before he had them to share. When our tree died, so did his work and efforts. (we might still have a bit that was grafted, but the tree has been so mistreated for so many years we don't really know what it is)