I'm not sure I understand the question.

Probably the best place to buy good, climatically appropriate roses is to mail order them from Pickering in Ontario. They do a lot of business over the border, ship from Buffalo, and while they sell both hardy, and marginal roses, are aware of the difference between the two.

If by local, you mean walking into a garden center and buying reasonably priced, climatically appropriate roses, good luck. There might be a decent local business, depending on exactly where you are. However, to generalize, most garden centers know very little about roses. They are, after all, a very specific subject, and it takes a lot of time and effort to sort through the mis-information. The result seems to be either 'annual' roses, which are relatively cheap because nobody will buy them otherwise, or 'perennial' roses which are relatively expensive because they are reasonably rare.

The forum is really sleepy nowadays, so you may not get much response.

Where in MA are you located? Sedum37 (another Sue) compiled a great listing of favorite nurseries and garden centers in New England. You might want to check the list for nurseries close to you and see whether roses are featured.

One old standby is the Mahoney's system; there's likely to be one near you. Some people complain that they're too big or impersonal or whatever, but the ones on the Cape have great selections of roses.

Claire

Here is a link that might be useful: Favorite Nurseries PDF Document

Claire, Thanks for the great list. I am in the central mass area (495 & 290) and see a number of places that I will need to visit. Can't wait for April!

Sue

big lots LOL
I am a cheapskate, but I am completely comfortable with that

Seriously though, I have gotten plenty there and they have all done great - and I am no rose grower

I never seem to get the good quality and root size when buying roses at nurseries as I get from mailorder. This goes the same whether we are talking big box store or high-end expensive family-owned nursery. Ditto what mad gallica said. Maybe there are some nurseries near you that are actually knowledgeable about roses and stock ones that do well in your area. I just mail order from Pickering, Chamblees, or David Austin.

Martie, what marginally hardy own-root roses have done well for you? So far my list is three out of about 40 - Earth Song, Lafter, and Kathleen Ferrier. Everything else I've tried growing own root just doesn't seem to have the vigor necessary to get over the hump of being a foot tall. It's not just me. It seems to be pretty universal in the northeast.

Roseland Nurseries in Acushnet Ma has a tremendous variety, are certified Rosarians, and over many years, I have found them good people to do business with. They know roses. They have lots of other good stuff, too.
Sconticut

Mad Gal: These in my gardens have taken to being moved once already and before the freeze, were all beginning to swell with signs of good life. Yes, I'm in Z6 but these were all proven in former Z5 garden.

Charisma
Therese Bugnet
Pierette Pavement
C. Blaze
many, many R. chinensis started from seed
R. rugosa 'Alba'

I love Roseland in Acushnet!

Ah, I'd forgotten all about Roseland, an old friend had told me about it a long time ago. Their web site is not quite functional, but a note there states that it's being updated for 2007. I love the fact that they list the pertinent info, including fragrance, right on the front pages of the previous catalogs' areas.

I don't grow any unusual roses, but have had decent luck buying "name brand" plants at local nurseries - the kind of nurseries where they know how to take care of the stock. Since I only grow easy roses like Fairy, Bonica and New Dawn these days, maybe my experience with local nurseries isn't all that helpful for anyone looking for difficult or unusual plants... but I figured I'd put in my 2 cents anyway.