Jeri, Thanks for the feedback; I was hoping you'd write in. You must have posted your first message right when I began to write mine, and so I missed it. As to growing conditions, we have more winter chill and perhaps more summer heat than you, fog not too often during the growing season, heavy soil and perhaps not as alkaline as what you describe. It's significant that rust is practically unknown here, and blackspot isn't a major problem (though I don't like it when it shows up). Actually, when I'm not worrying about drought, landslides, (earthquakes,) and the economic policies of the Italian government, I'm inclined to think that we have a perfect environment for growing roses. (I'm beginning to think this country needs a revolution, AND all its politicians struck down by lightning from heaven: it seems the only way to get rid of them.) 'Gloire des Rosomanes' is probably available in Europe, but I don't believe is common in Italy: I don't remember ever seeing it offered for sale in this country, and no one I know has it. You bet I would like to have it. I seem to recall reading that it's confused in commerce with 'Nur Mahal', in Europe I believe. Taoseeker, Aha! Several years ago I too ordered 'Comte de Chambord', 'Mme. Boll', and 'Mme. Knorr' (from Schultheis in Germany) and ended up with what looked like three identical roses...a wonderful one, to be sure. Like you I'm wondering if there's a unique 'Mme. Knorr' in commerce. I have a fourth plant arrived from who knows where, that looks like these three, but I need to re-compare them all carefully to see whether there are differences. Thanks for reminding me of the dark Hybrid Perpetuals, a group I have no personal experience with, but consider worth looking into. I don't think 'Fantin-Latour' has much Centifolia about it either; I think it falls into the category of what Vintage calls Hybrid Bourbons. It's a wonderful rose, fragrant, vigorous, and healthy, and a pleasure just to handle. The Centifolias and Mosses generally do well for me, but I have easy conditions. With leggy plants sometimes I do have to prune harder: 'La Noblesse' is a good example, and I think I'll have to cut back 'Shailer's White Moss' more than I have in the past. This last rose, so beautiful, is showing bits of pink on a lot of its flowers this year. Suzy, after losing two purchased grafted plants of 'Hebe's Lip' (herbicide and mowing), I got cuttings in a swap and now have three plants of it growing around the property. They're young but growing fine and I'm looking forward to seeing them in their maturity. 'Coupe d'Hebe' is duly noted. Jaxondel, Okay, 'Marquis de Balbiano'; I'll keep it in mind. This is a great discussion. Melissa

Since there are other airports in the US that get international flights, is there a way to specify which airport something is shipped to? (I'm thinking Charlotte NC) Back in the day, I knew never to get petroleum well cuttings samples through Miami, they were overwhelmed by all the stuff coming in and it could take months to clear there, where I could clear through Houston Intercontinental in a day or two using a broker (or by going up and doing it myself when one well was labeled with the name of "Rio" which convinced the inspector that it was surface samples.) Icelandic is adding a bunch of US destinations this fall, to less frantic airports. This has potential.

Thanks, but Forest Farm is dead to me. They've sent me too many mislabeled species roses. I have a new objective for species roses: they should be true to type and, ideally, seed grown so that if we buy two plants, they won't be clones. I'm sick of species selections grown as clones. With unrelated seedlings, if we carefully hybridize the two plants, we can actually produce seedlings showing a bit of the diversity of the species. I've love to have a garden full of species that aren't clones. OP species seedlings are always a crapshoot, and OP seedlings of a solitary diploid species rose are virtually assured to be hybrids because so many diploid are self-incompatible.

Those of you interested in exchanging roses between the U.S. and Canada will find the process straightforward. I send at least two shipments a year south and receive at least two a year in return. No import permit is required for either direction. Canadians need to obtain a Phytosanitary Certificate from their local CFIA Office by appearing there with completely clean (no dirt or debris) bare root plants to be inspected. An application form for inspection can be obtained on-line and faxed/emailed to the local CFIA and an appointment made for the inspection. In Alberta I pay a total of $12.50. The roses are then boxed and mailed via Canada Post and get to wherever in the U.S. in approximately 10 to 12 days. Don't forget to put the Phytosanitary Certificate in an envelope and tape it to the outside of the box. Postage for a box approx. 8" x 10" x 22" is around $40.00. The reverse process is carried out by those in the U.S. shipping to Canada. Hopes this helps. Email me direct if you'd like more detail.