Love it. My son would have loved this when he was little. The gifts were tossed aside and the boxes ended up built into a fort for fun and games.

Both Savannah & Polar Express arrived in June 2015 as gallons from Chamblee's. Potted on several times since then, Savannah's currently in a 5-gallon & a pair of Polar Expresses in 10-gallons. (Routinely pot up & get to know new roses for at least a season before planting out in this country garden. Would have grounded these already if the weather had cooperated - exceptionally wet overcast Spring & hot Summer - and intend to plant soon.) Last year concentrated on structural shaping & pinched off buds on Polar Express, but they kept trying to bloom & got past me once or twice. Grew vigorously to 4' or so through a long Indian Summer & didn't drop their leaves till nighttime temps dipped into the teens mid-January. Hardy to the tips after an average Winter last year, they threw several new basals in early Spring & filled in well. Bloomed enthusiastically in rapid repeat with snap deadheading, lasted two weeks in high heat & humidity & dropped their petals cleanly. Grew another foot in height & width, about 5'x5' now, arching as they gained height. Didn't cut sprays for the house, so no idea on vase life. Very pleased with their performance & consider it well above average for a second year own root shrubby floribunda. Foliage clean as a whistle in this no spray garden, straight through to leaf fall. Savannah, also pinched for structure, concentrated on growth last year & didn't bloom at all. This year the blooms began early & still continue, each flush giving more than the previous one & taking less time to build for an average of 4 weeks. Again, well above average for a second year own root hybrid tea here. Cut only one bloom with a short stem for a bud vase. It was already open, unlike most intended for cutting, and still lasted a week on the desk full of its lovely perfume. A second gallon Savannah from Roses Unlimited new in early June has filled its 3-gallon pot & given two blooms. Much hotter earlier & longer this year, all the roses that enjoy heat have grown more quickly than last year. Older Savannah now 3'x3' while younger plant is a foot smaller. Clean & plentiful foliage. Not surprised both are now Biltmore winners - consider them outstanding roses! Sue

Ann: Ha! Ha! I laughed so hard when I read your comment that I almost fell off my chair. Vicky: From photos I've viewed, I'm guessing PE is one of those roses with chameleon tendencies. I've noticed that certain roses present more changeable colors or petal counts than others. Temperature variance (as well as sun exposure) seems to play the biggest role in my garden. For example, Marie Pavie is pale pink in our cool spring/early summer and white in mid summer through early fall. Some of my doubles become singles as temps heat up, and fully doubles become merely doubles. I see that Polar Express is a Kordes Sunbelt rose. "Polar" probably sounds enticing in August in the heart of the sunbelt. Japanese beetles? Not so much! :-) Carol

Wow if any rose that I have were blooming like that above. Everyone would hear about it. I would be recommending it to everyone. Boncrow, I have 2 plants they both get good sun. But they started as little bands and winter has taken them down to the ground both this year and last. It does take my little roses longer to get established. So in the mean time it is stingy.