vickysgarden, Pretty Jessica is not listed on Long Ago Rose's site. I have been disappointed so frequently in my attempt to purchase this rose, that I have turned by attention in another direction, and believe I will be very happy with the alternative. I sent a check to R.U. for another rose that I hope to receive in April. If Hortico actually sends Pretty Jessica in a couple of weeks or so, then it was meant to be, but I am not holding my breath. Their system allowed me to request a shipping date for a period, confirmed by their office staff, that no one is even present there to verify if the rose is physically in stock, so expecting an actual shipmentâ¦...

I live in a smaller town, so things may be different here, but on a couple occasions when I wanted the city to do something, I just called one of my city commissioners at home (got his name from City Hall) and chatted with him and ask if he would give you permission to speak to the commission and show pictures. In a couple cases, the commissioner was not interested in sponsoring me, so I went to the city commission monthly meeting. They have a time period when the public is allowed to speak its piece--give your spiel and pass out pictures. Our city commission meetings are filmed and shown on TV--so that is a particularly effective way get the attention of the city and the public. Another thing to do--write a letter to the editor briefly (important) making your case and send it to your local newspaper. Be polite and courteous and informative. That always gets the public's attention. Even your neighbor may read it--or cut out a copy of it after it is printed and show it to your neighbor. Hope that helps. Kate

Just my 2 cents, and merely a personal opinion that might go counter to many shared here. For many years, I have purchased from several nurseries in OR, CO, CA, but with the exception of Roses Unlimited, I have received dreadfully poor value for the money spent. I am a plant physiologist, with over 25 years in NASA-CELSS work, root and plant cell biology, so the least I know is to to keep plants alive under trying conditions. Not the place to speak of my academic qualifications, but my teachers were all students of the fathers of American plant physiology and biochemistry, James T. Bonner and K.V. Thimann, so auxin physiology is something we have cut our eyeteeth upon. Cuttings and we are NOT strangers by ANY means, shall we say? I feel very upset with unprofessional work re: cuttings. That is writ large is the bands we receive far too often at rather high prices, compared to the plants offered at similar prices b Roses Unlimited. What gives? If plants die on me immediately upon receipt, or linger on for years without putting on growth in a carefully tended pot indoors, as did an eagerly anticipated Mme. Louis Laperriere, then something is not right with the mother plants or with how the cuttings were handled. This is something I have also noticed with Logee's Greenhouses, a precipitous decline in quality and customer care, since the passing of the older generation. Sometimes, fairly commonplace varieties are always out of stock, needing to be specially ordered at nearly $49 per piece. Is this something that ordinary folk can reasonably afford? I have a home aeroponics system of my own design, a true aeroponics, not a mist system trying to pass itself off as an aeroponic design, that can churn out cuttings of even recalcitrant varieties by the hundred in a remarkably short period of time. It is patented and something I am not anxious to encourage so as not to jeopardize any commercial ventures. Against this context, I strongly believe that amateurs and friends can choose to share SMALL numbers of rooted cuttings for the pure joy of growing roses, that otherwise they would not be able to acquire or afford. Why should anyone be forbidden the joy of growing a flower simply because they cannot shell out $25-50 per plant? Those who can are welcome to buy the beautiful well-grown plants such as those sold by RU, that represent much hard work, care and investment. They have my loyalty and unalloyed praise. Then there are those who choose to hoodwink the public by selling barely-rooted liners as bands, or use poor quality mother plants as stock, or make people pay through the nose for visibly virused stock. I owe them no loyalty whatsoever, once I have paid them my $60 or 120 and received plants in shabby condition more than once. Nor would I propagate from such miserable stock and send them on to others. Of course, it goes without saying, that any exchange would be strictly not for profit. At best, only postage and packing would be covered. Not all the plants they send are bad, merely a certain proportion. In some mail-order nurseries, this proportion is higher than in others. There are found plants I collect from around town and the countryside. I can roughly place them in certain order classes, and gauge their fragrance and health, by years of observation. They are mine to share as I please and I have no responsibility whatsoever to ANY commercial nursery that supersedes my joy of sharing them with friends without profit. I have been ill for a long while, curtailing my efforts, but these are my thoughts. Thanks for your forbearance.

I saw your pic last night and was too tired to comment. You looked great in that dress and glad you were comfortable and had a good time. Not much advice for Minnesota as it is hot here too. Do you have a sweater type longish cape or ruana that would work over pants, jeans or leggings? You could wear or carry it on the plane and use it when it’s chilly.