Well, all right. I'll pick out some of the rosey ones. This was taken at Kauri Creek Nursery, Joanne and Norman Knight's place. This bed holds their Alister Clark rose collection. BTW, the SJHRG also has a very good collection of this breeder's roses, specifically developed for warm climates. This picture shows a central bed of the recently restored heritage rose garden at the Christchurch Botanic Gardens. And here is a picture of the modern rose garden, also in the Christchurch Gardens. Here are roses growing in the cemetery in Queenstown. And finally a gorgeous tea-noisette (I think) growing in Te Anau, just a few blocks away from the spot where I first fell in love with Old Port five years ago. I would love to know the identity of this rose. If it is as I fear Reve d'Or, I think I'm going to hang up my Felco's, because mine looks nothing like this gorgeous thing. And close up Rosefolly

Kater, I mostly have OGRs and just a few HTs on Dr Huey bought at Lowe's (cheap). My Mrs BR Cant is on fort from the Apopka nursery (forget the name). Personally, (and I think I must be outnumbered) I don't like the growth habit and I don't think it's necessary re nematodes when the garden is well composted. (The most important reason I water the whole bed is to create a moist and healthy environment for the microbes which feed the plants and repel the nematodes.) OGRs typically come only on their own roots, although Dr Manners buds them and puts them up for sale at the Lakeland meetings. If you google nematodes/roses/Florida, you'll find articles by the FL IFAS on the subject. Apparently, the acids put out by the decomposing organics repel the nematodes. Organics create a hostile environment for them, countering the effect of hot, dry sand. That's what I've read, and I hesitate to contradict anything that Dr Manners does. His USF garden is all fort-budded roses. Another consideration for me was the expense which is about double if you can find them. Roses on fort get very large. HTs get to 6 to 8 feet tall. I installed my micro system from parts bought at Lowe's. A semi-strenuous process and only sort of like rocket science. Do it in the winter when it's cool. With the 180-degree heads you can cover the whole garden by spacing them accordingly with little or no wasted water. My beds are generally 6 feet wide which is the spread of the sprinklers. Spacing of roses when planting is crucial. Roses start out tiny and grow quite large at maturity here, so the temptation will be to space them close, but be strong and resist the temptation or you'll be digging them up and moving them. No fun. Six foot centers are minimum, and your tea roses can get to a width of 8' in 3 or 4 years plus you need access room for pruning, etc. It may look funny for a while to have so much space between your roses, but you can fill in with annuals or perennials until the roses get bigger. That will give you a cottage-y look anyway. Pine bark mulch is good. It will decompose and add to the organics. Roses like alfalfa. I get the 50-lb bags of pellets from the feed store for horses. Rose Tone is good, and there are recipes for making your own organic fertilizer. Just google it. A soil test from your county extension service would be good. This is a great forum full of great, lovely people. Welcome! Sherry Here is a link that might be useful: Good info at Marion County Rose Society

Actually Sue, I am intending to come out west again within a few months. I was in California in June/July of 2006 for a week or so, and had a blast! I had wanted to walk 'neath those stately redwoods since I first saw a film about them in elementary school, a long LONG time ago! Since I have been there in summer, I am shooting for a winter or early spring visit next time. I would love to meet some of my California rose friends while I am there this time! Allison

If you are a college student, try to get to Queenstown on the South Island. It is pretty much the adventure activity capital of the place. Lots of stuff for people of any age to do, but a very exciting place full of twenty-somethings. Nice public garden there, too, with a good collection of rampling roses on the fence. Also if you are an experienced backpacker you might want to consider tramping the Milford Sound. They have good accomodations for the self-guided hikers, and that is much less expensive than the guided tours. This is probably the chance of a lifetime. I envy you getting to see NZ at this point in your life. I found it to be amazingly beautiful, a landscape that will fill your memory for years to come. NZ is very fussy about species in, species out, so you probably won't be able to take any plant material out with you and you definitely will not be able to bring any in. If your hiking boots aren't clean enough to meet their standards they will sterilize them for you, honest. They are not kidding about this. They have had serious problems with invasive exotic species, both plant and animal. Paula