Jane, I received the official call from Robert Trumbule who is one of the plant specialist. I believe I understand now where you got the "permit" and "nursery license" information. Robert, who was quite the gentleman, said that you do indeed need a permit and/or nursery license if you are selling plants/distributing for profit. With Robert, I used sending plants from Maryland to Virginia as a example/possible scenerio and he replied, "I don't see any problems with sending cuttings or bareroot plants to Virginia as long as all soil is washed off and removed and the bareroot plants or cuttings are wrapped in damp newspaper and sent in plastic bags. Our main concern is plants being sent overseas and the spread of pests. For Virginia, I don't see a problem. But take Florida for example, it would be illegal to send any kind of citrus from Maryland to Florida and vice versa. States like Florida, Texas, California, Arizona, and Hawaii have strict laws regarding the plant materials that enter the state." I did mention your email from Steve Malan (who Robert knew) and Robert said that he believes Steve may have misunderstood what you were saying in terms of the whole 'cannot take plants pass state lines' and 'cannot ship plants'. The catch here is, you cannot sell plants and ship them for profit, but otherwise it IS legal. I also collected Robert's contact information for you (his cellphone, he says he is out in the field most of the time) if you would like to speak to him yourself. Now, my question for you Jane is, how much were you looking to be compensated for these plants? And would you consider a DONATION or a trade for one of your bulbs? Like I said, Robert said it was completely legal and okay to send bulbs to Virginia and I have his contact information if you would like to clarify things for yourself. =)

I buy from Heirloom regularlly. Most of their bands are small but healthy. I usually repot them into a gallon sized pot and let them size up before putting in the garden. THis is because I often loose them under bigger plants in the garden until it is too late. I also lost some to a heavy freeze when I was away last fall, and they were still in the gallon pots. However, I have many lovely roses that are hard to find elsewhere bought over the years from Heirloom. I just ordered 2 Magic Meidiland for my daughter in Maine who has had fantastic luck with Mystic Meidiland. And for myself I Ordered Cameo Perfume, Eiffel Tower, Limelight,Tawny Tiger. I would have ordered more if I had any room left! I used to have EIffel TOwer and it is incredibly fragrant, as is Cameo PErfume supposed to be. Limelight goes in my new Green FLower Bed along with Lime Sublime and green echinaceas, primroses, St PAtrick Daffodils, etc, Tawny Tiger goes in by Hot Cocoa in the COffee Garden, and I guess Cameo Perfume goes in the pink garden unless I find a better spot!

You've gotten some great suggestions. They line up under one of several approaches, & you'd decide what is best: 1) Intentional decorative display only--if you get real pleasure from that and have the display room, that's fine; 2)Daily use with idea that one day they might break, but then, you've really enjoyed them, plus you may have other dishes that will become "heirlooms" for your kids, and kids certainly don't need 6 sets of heirloomm dishes; 3)scheduled ceremonial use--holidays, special days--again, if you have room and energy for multiple sets of dishes; 4) store specifically to be a set of dishes for a kid leaving the nest, though realize that if they have no connection, they'll soon pick their own dishes and discard these; 4)save just an item or 2 to use in fun and commemorative way--maybe a serving bowl filled with ornaments or seashells, a sugar bowl used for a tiny bouquet of flowers, or plant African violets in some teacups, a plate with others on a wall, or something like that. The main thing is to do something in which the price of saving does not outweigh the enjoyment.

Some more information from my dad: It is fragrant with a rose smell. It lasts about three days on the vine and then the middle turns a lighter color and shortly the pedals start falling. It definitely will climb to get sunshine if it needs to. Otherwise, it stays a bush. I've had them as high as 15 feet up a tree. Cut it and bring it in and put it in water in the morning and it's ready to be thrown out by 5:00 p. m. It's not for cut flowers. They don't look so good when they start fading. The center goes to a light dull red and then the pedals drop. They do not go as light as some of these photos indicate .