I have received excellent roses from both High Country and Rogue Valley. As a generality, the bands from High Country are much larger than the bands from Rogue Valley, but both have been equally healthy and vigorous in my experience. Rogue Valley's gallon-sized roses are almost always quite nice. I have never purchased a five gallon rose from them so I can't comment. If there is one (petty) thing to criticize about Rogue Valley it is that I am extremely annoyed by their packaging. I find it takes me longer to unpack a small order from Rogue Valley than it takes to unpack a large order from any other mail order nursery I can think of. I have never seen so much tape used in my life. Between thorny rose bands and trying to remove so much tape that is holding them in place, I find that my hands get scratched up and the shipping box gets pretty much destroyed in the process. (Has anybody else noticed this?) Still, they are a nice company with a great selection. I have also had very positive experiences with Vintage, Heirloom, Antique Rose Emporium and Chamblee's. I am trying Long Ago Roses this spring but I am sure it will be a wonderful experience, too. And then there is Roses Unlimited. I have not had the chance to try them (yet), but many rave about the exceptional quality of their roses! :-)

Thanks guys! I order doubles of some ;) I don't have any specific place I want to put these yet but I do want them kind of scattered through my yard and definitely want to mix in other conifers like you suggest. I have a weeping cypress of some sort and really want a Juniper Spartan for one specific corner...other than that I was going to search around locally to see what they have is store and scatter a few conifers (along with these) against my fence. Now...Ken...I remember you once saying that you only plant in very early spring and if you miss that window you hold out until fall. Is this something I should do as well? Is there a danger planting in late fall or summer? I also have to admit I caved and bought a Red Star...I honestly could resist since its what got me so interested in conifers to begin with...It was only $6 and I poop that out in a days worth of food. Even if it only lasts the season, I'll be happy I got it....but I do thank you for the heads up...at least now I won't be shocked and disappointed!! I feel I have the winter purples covered and tried to sneak a winter orange but I feel I still need some more bronzes and golds...I haven't been searching much but I can't wait to add on. I can't believe I'm saying this but I'm excited for winter already!

After all of your wonderful recommendations I thought I would go to a local nursery to see what's available. I am close enough to drive out to Annie's Annuals (an awesome online and "in person" nursery that is like walking in a botanical garden) on a Sunday so today I did. I went a little crazy and spent too much, but I am so excited about the companion plants I picked out for Archduke Charles! Here's some photos from Annie's Annuals since my plants are just brand new little teeny tiny babies. I can't grow chives because it's just too hot here for them to be happy, but I can grow native coyote mint. Check this out... So cute! I'm planning them near the row of Archduke Charles, but not underneath. Monardella villosa“Coyote Mint ” https://www.anniesannuals.com/plants/view/?id=1901 Next, I also got these native verbena to go near the coyote mint. They smell amazing!!! There's a large expanse of mulch under the canopy of my zelkova trees that I have been wanting to fill in. Of course mine don't look like this yet, but there are lots of blooms even on my little baby plants! Verbena lilacina‘De La Mina’ https://www.anniesannuals.com/plants/view/?id=3398 Next, I got these gorgeous flowing grasses, but probably not for near Archduke Charles. Not quite sure where to put them, but they're super tiny now so I have time to decide. Bonus... The grass turns red in the fall! Here's some full grown photos... Melinus nerviglumis“Ruby Grass” https://www.anniesannuals.com/plants/view/?id=2598 Next I got this lovely little compact oregano for an area along my dry creek border. Origanum vulgare ‘Compacta Nana'Oregano https://www.anniesannuals.com/plants/view/?id=3561 I actually went to Annie's Annuals for red thyme, which they didn't have. So even though I spent too much at Annie's, I looked online at Richters and found something even better! This amazing purple creeping lemon thyme! Creeping ground cover. Purple flowers. Lemon scented. My favorite! I bought in bulk. I will update and let everyone know how they arrive and grow. Richters doesn't have a good picture, so this is from a different site. Purple Carpet Lemon Thymus praecox articus 'Purple Carpet’' https://www.richters.com/Web_store/web_store.cgi?product=X6462-700&show=&prodclass=Herb_and_Vegetable_Plants&source=799158.29456 I absolutely loved the recommendation of lambs ear for texture and tansy for pests, and at Richters I found this silver leaf tansy! Again Richters doesn't have a good photo so these are from other sites. I will update everyone on how this plant arrives and grows in my zone, but I'm really excited about it! I'm planning to use tansy and the purple carpet lemon thyme under Archduke Charles to help with pests while also looking unique, fabulous and smelling nice too. Silver Tansy Tanacetum niveum 'Jackpot https://www.richters.com/Web_store/web_store.cgi?product=X6184&show=&prodclass=Herb_and_Vegetable_Plants&source=799158.29456 I really want the irises too, but decided to wait on them since I spent too much and there were just too many re-blooming irises that I wanted once I went looking online. Dangerous. I will show constraint and see what re-blooming bulbs show up at my local nurseries. Along with my repeated lavenders and nepetas, I think I have it all planned out now! Thank you so much everyone for your lovely recommendations!

Was so sorry Maryott is going out of business. Have ordered from Bill for several years - always get super healthy plants and great bonuses. I just got an order of 10 planted, along with gifts, and decided to make another order, as they will cease taking orders September 30. Always fun to see what gifts he gives! Its too bad to see such a wonderful garden go out of business but he still plans to hybridize, so hopefully the new owner will make them available.