Helping Nurseries -- And Ourselves

15 years ago

We had some discussion in the past few weeks about helping our wonderful vendors, by ordering a few really uncommon roses from them.

So, a while back, I contacted Ashdown, and asked about a rose I knew they have been bringing along.

I had it for a while, and lost it, and I rather badly wanted it back.

The rose is one hybridized by my dear friend Sean McCann, in Ireland, and it was not only beautiful, but disease-free here.

Its name is 'Kilkea Castle.' Coincidentally, I learned not long ago that some of my ancestors came from the area of the actual Kilkea Castle, which made me want it even more.

I was thrilled to hear from Ashdown not long ago that they had some plants propagated.

I sent payment right away, and 'Kilkea Castle' is coming here, in January.

If you've not explored Ashdown's web site, I encourage you to do so.

The current economic mess has not been kind to them, either, and every rose they can sell will help us keep this valuable vendor.

Check 'em out!

Jeri Jennings

Here is a link that might be useful: Ashdown Roses

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Comments (30)

Maryl (Okla. Zone 7a)
15 years ago
That's such a pretty rose in tight bud. Such a warm shade of pink. And I certainly agree with you about supporting rose vendors. If you can't buy a rose you want from your local rose nursery you should certainly try reputable mail order sources.
sunnishine
15 years ago
did you see that they now allow you to put your roses on layaway and make payments on them! What a great idea!
:)

Sunni
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bethnorcal9
15 years ago
Wow Jeri, that's beautiful!! I'll have to go see what else they have. I just ordered 16 roses from Vintage, and some I wanted were sold out. So, I know people are stepping up to help them too.

I'm off to go look....
rosesnpots
15 years ago
Jeri

You are so right that we should work to keep all the great nurseries that have the rare and uncomman roses.

And to echo Sunni's statement that Ashdown Roses not only has a great lay-a-way program. They also do not charge extra to propagate a rose they do not currently have in stock.

Liz
jerijen
Original Author
15 years ago
Believe me, you do NOT want to find yourself back in the situation that
existed back when we started to look for Old Roses.
It was beyond frustrating!

This year, even if you weren't planning to, ORDER AT LEAST ONE ROSE!
Order it from Ashdown, or Vintage, or any of the other great vendors.
Call it a Christmas Gift.
Just order!

Jeri
teka2rjleffel
15 years ago
What a beauty Jeri, I too am Irish. Lay-a-way, an old fashioned concept that is perfect for our current times. Too many of us get in trouble with credit cards. This time of year we can start a payment plan for spring delivered roses. I love it. Now finding room for more roses......
Nancy
peachiekean
15 years ago
NOW I read this after just posting about other nurseries! Thanks for the heads up. I would love to order a rose from Ashdown as their Delbards keep calling out to me. Layaway - now there is a concept out of the past.
wanttogarden
15 years ago
Jeri:

I love to have some new roses to replace the non performing roses in my yard. But I do not know much about the OGR and their charectrestics. Maybe if you recommend few great ones like Grandma's Hat, it would be eaiser for people to order.

FJ
jerijen
Original Author
15 years ago
FJ -- Tell me what sort of thing you want them to do in your garden -- plant sizes, colors, etc., and I'll give you a list of things that will fill those needs.

For one thing, you will hear over and over that "Old Roses only bloom once, in the spring."
That's not true.

For those of us in mild climates, the very best Old Roses are Tea Roses, China Roses, and Noisette Roses. Polyanthas come in there a close second.
These are not only the best OLD roses for our gardens, they are also the best roses period, for our gardens.

With just those three classes of roses, I can fill a garden with plants of almost every size and color, which will bloom for you pretty much year 'round, and won't need spraying.

Feel free to contact me privately, if you want to.

Jeri
pfzimmerman
15 years ago
Glad you all like the Layaway Program idea. Full kudos to my wife for suggesting it. I loved it when she mentioned it to me.

Paul
mgleason56
15 years ago
I have always bought from Ashdown, but it seems they are getting away from the modern roses. Only 5 HT's available, and 11 FL's. I sure like that Floral Fairy Tale though, so I'll probably order that.

The last rose I ordered, My Wild Irish Rose (McCann)is an absolute blooming machine! Hey Trish, you promised me Spitfire Paddy! I want that rose!!!!!
jerijen
Original Author
15 years ago
The last rose I ordered, My Wild Irish Rose (McCann)is an absolute blooming machine!

*** Try for Kilkea Castle, Mike.
I think you would like that, too.

Jeri
sunnishine
15 years ago
where can we find out what other roses ashdown has that we may be interested in them propagating?
pfzimmerman
15 years ago
mgleason. Hang on more moderns will be coming this spring and summer including brand spanking new ones from new breeders from abroad (and that's all I'm saying!)

Please feel free to browse our rose library to see what we have Mother Plants of and then pop us an email.

www.ashdownlibrary.com

Paul
rosesnpots
15 years ago
Sunni

The Ashdown Rose Library is the best, I use it all the time to look up roses (a to see if they have the mother plant). I know Paul gave the web site but here is the link for everyone like me that just want to click and go.

Liz

Here is a link that might be useful: Ashdown Roses Rose Library
caroleintegacay
15 years ago
While you are over on the Ashdown site...take a moment to look at St. Ethelburga. It is a Peter Beales rose that I first heard about from some folks over in Europe. From what they said this beauty it is a healthy, happy, very, very fragrant bloom machine. My kind of rose.

When I realized that it was now available in the US at Ashdown I did a HHRD and then drove to the nursery and got one. It's early yet but this is a rose that will be getting prime real estate in my yard, hopefully near the driveway so I can smell it when I get home from work.

Carole

Here is a link that might be useful: St. Ethelburga
Maryl (Okla. Zone 7a)
15 years ago
You are right Carole. That's one lovely rose.
mgleason56
15 years ago
Good to hear Paul! Hopefully Spitfire Paddy will be available. I just ordered three, and forgot Kilkea Castle, so I guess I am going to go back and order that also. Here are the three I just bought;

France Info
Brothers Grimm Fairy Tale
Floral Fairy Tale
caroleintegacay
15 years ago
You will LOVE France Info! I have it and the blooms are huge and very fragrant. Good choice.

Carole
luxrosa
15 years ago
Hi Jeri,

I'd like to contact you, regarding your offering your rose photos to worthy nurseries, could you please send me your e-mail address? to
locadalocada@yahoo.com

Luxrosa
jerijen
Original Author
15 years ago
Message sent, Lux. If you don't hear from me, please email directly to me from here.

Jeri
carla17
15 years ago
Jeri, this nursery talk is shameless. Here I am supposed to be "cutting down" and I want more and more!
Kilkea Castle looks beautiful.

Carole, you cannot say that I have a mean streak. You're killing me!

Carla
jerijen
Original Author
15 years ago
Jeri, this nursery talk is shameless. Here I am supposed to be "cutting down" and I want more and more!
Kilkea Castle looks beautiful.

*** I know! I know!
But you know -- sometimes ya' gotta do what ya' gotta do.
Think how awful it would be, if the nurseries went away, and we had not got the roses we need!

Jeri
caroleintegacay
15 years ago
:::Carole, you cannot say that I have a mean streak. You're killing me! :::

Carla...you got me laughing on that one. What are friends for?

Carole
jont1
15 years ago
Jeri your suggestion to order roses from the littler Mom and Pop nurseries is right on. I am afraid I am a little guilty of not ordering from them sometimes as I am more into the modern HT's and FL's and Ashdown currently don't carry very many.
However, I do order frequently from Steve Singer at Wisconsin Roses as I love his selection of modern HT's budded maidens on Multiflora rootstock. I have about 80 roses from him, so on that account I am trying to do my part.
If we rosarians don't support the Mom & Pop nurseries they will continue to decline until they no longer will exist. Bridges roses is a good example. I was so sad to see Dennis "turn off his "puter" so to speak.
John
sunnishine
15 years ago
well you did it Jeri ..I added kilkea castle and St Ethelburga to my list last week ..lol
jerijen
Original Author
15 years ago
Keep it up y'all.
Christmas, after all, ain't a bad time to order roses.
Just tell your friends and family they're getting roses as gifts.
Sunni -- you'll love Kilkea Castle, and St. Ethelburga looks pretty good, too.

Jeri
sandy808
15 years ago
Jeri, you're SUCH a bad influence! :)

Actually, I just received some birthday money from my in-laws, so I need to sit down and get some roses ordered. Here goes the pot ghetto again. I keep telling my husband we need to buy some land.

Sandy
roses_more_roses
15 years ago
Jeri now I want three more! Just not fair, your Kilkea Castle is beautiful and I also want Floral Fairy Tale and France Info. Does anyone know if I France Info can be grown no spray?
Diana
jerijen
Original Author
15 years ago
And Happy Thanksgiving to everyone!

This year, I am giving thanks for our rose vendors, and for the way rose folks are coming to their aid.

Jeri

(And, Sandy -- I MEAN to be a bad influence! It's what I do!)

Helping Nurseries -- And Ourselves

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Maryl (Okla. Zone 7a)

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