I've grown two of the Vigorosa series from Kordes, Innocencia and Emely. Both were short, very disease resistant and bloomed a great deal. This was in the southeastern US - it's rated to 6b by default on hmf, but may well withstand colder temps, being Kordes. Emely is one, I think that Pickering is phasing out, but I think it's still available from there. I grow Kordes' Cream Veranda and have found it to be very bs and mildew resistant here; very pretty bloom. hmf rates it to 6b but I notice that Celeste in New Hampshire grows it. New to me this summer, but I really like Tantau's Sweet Haze, which has a very pretty single pinkish bloom; Heirloom rates it to zone 5. I think hmf zone rating is in error, 8 to 9. What colors are you wanting?

Today I recieved my rose order from ValleyK Greenhouses. They pack their roses so much better than Cedar Hollow. Each rose was wrapped in cardboard and they sent 10 roses in 3 boxes so they were easier to handle. They are bigger than the ones that I recieved from them last year with the exception of 2 Marie Bugnet which are quite small. I had a broken rose in this shipment too, but it only broke off half way. There is still leaves left on this rose.That is the only damage from shipping that I can see on this bunch. They look much nicer than my Cedar Hollow roses which are stripped of so many leaves. But one the plus side, most of the roses from Cedar Hollow are srouting out new leaves. I also recived my plants from Dominion House today. I had ordered a bareroot Kaleidoscope. The stem is huge!!! It is starting to send out leaves as well. I ordered some lilacs, clematis, lilies and perennials from them as well. The lilacs and clematis are fine, the lilies are a bit shrivelled, and the perennials are sick. I'm sure some are dead. Honestly, I don't know if I would order perennials from them again. Roses, I would though. I think that they were in the boxes for quite a while, there is lots of white growth. I moved a 5 yr old JP Connell the other day in the rain. It should have been moved sooner because it had flower buds on already. It is really sulking. Oh well, If it doesn't make it, they are easy enough to find to replace. I have quite a few of my older roses with flower buds on. It won't be long before the roses start to bloom!!!! Shelley

Oh I just love your Beary Berry Iris!!!! I would buy that in an instant if I could find it and if it grew here. What a stunner!!! Shockwave is such an intense yellow!!! Love it!! Shadow Dancer is so unique for a striped. Lovely!! Perfume Tiger reminds me of my Julio Iglesias - same shade of pink. Again, lovely!! :) I love Smokin Hot - I've come to realize that I really like the lighter reverse roses. Brooks Red is my fav of your roses!!! Oh my!!! The color is similar to Chicago Peace. Oh my!!! Carol

Well I gave a cutting of MRS BR Cant to a friend and hers has just nearly surpassed my mother plant. She (her hubby reminded me) lives in the bottom lands surrounding a creek that periodically has flooded and he said they have pretty good soil. She also told me she feeds all her roses bunny manure. All that and great well water that roots rose cuttings in water! Perfect storm for roses. I'm certainly jealous, and her husband is a man's man who doesnt care about gardens etc. He hunts and fishes. But he told me noticing her success has him thinking about raising rose cuttings for profit! LOL