Thank you Peplill :o), did you know the nursery first hand? I would like to understand if they are able to send plants or budwood here in Italy. Melissa, I'm working with the Rose Nursery 'Le Rose di Piedimonte', at Terni, Umbria. Rita Oliva, the owner, is in love with Giganteas (and me tooooooooo!!) and many gorgeous varieties are now listed in her catalogue, including 'Pennant', 'Flying Colours', 'Jessie Clark', 'Squatter's Dream'.... etc. But we look forward to new introductions in the following years ;o) Ciao! Maurizio

Kentucky - I have been trying to figure out how to make some raised beds- or raised pots for the front yard landscaping. I don't want the look of basic garden vegetable beds for around the front of the house though. I thought maybe I could dig 2 ft hole and put a 2 ft raised planter on top of it, that night work. I iam also thinking about making very big planters (they are ridiculously expensive to buy. I am not sure about the aestetic for my front landscaping, but after considering many materials and my craftsmanship capabilities I have a plan. I will just have to try it and see how it looks. It could sit above ground, part in ground or in ground. My design is 2"x2" wood frame cube (or taller) dark cedar stained (ECO friendly and plant safe). Side and bottom panels of 1" hardware cloth. Inner lining of natural burlap. It would sit on 8" concrete blocks (in ground) with the hole side up foradditional drainage. Inside bottom filled with river rocks then another lining of burlap to contain the soil and the plant and finally mulch on top, of course. It would have to be big enough to allow 3'x3' space for the roots to grow in the soil area. Again, the aestetic is the probelm (aside form all the hard work and digging). I think it wold look descent but odd. To build a retaining wall for the space under the front window of the house would not look right eiterh at the height I need it to be. I think the real solution is to pay for a backhoe to come in here and excavate the clay and then have new soil put in - way too expensive for me right now. I do have one narrow strip on the west side of the front yard that I am lining with concrete blocks to build up that soil area. I plan on very tall trellises lining that hill (all my land is hilly) and covering them with rose and jasmine vines as a privacy fence. The probelm is the area is part shade - never sunny and that is not goo for any of the plants I like. I bought the Charles Darrow Hybrid Musk for that location as it is reported by others to grow and bloom very well in shade. I also have some varieties of Jasmine that might do in that spot. I am also thinking of Camelias and Sky Pencil Holly. My Hollies are about 1ft tall now. It will be years before they grow big enough.

Elena I have grown all the varieties on your list (except Polka) and think they are all wonderful. You must be very skilled at picking roses, lol. SoCal Sheila’s Perfume has been a terrific variety for me in both Texas and California, beautiful colors, excellent fragrance and good repeat.

I agree: if it seems fishy -like a brand new nursery offering tons of rare roses take a pass. If you really want to take a chance and its not too expensive, just order one..use paypal if possible, because its easier to get your money back. On places like etsy or ebay, I always look at feedback. if its not 98% or higher I dont order. If they are new sellers I will wait awhile and let others be the guinea pigs if they want to. Nefarious people who are trying to get you to buy something will almost always use tactics like guilt, greed, urgency to get you to buy or do something. They like to use worlds like "very rare!, one of a kind!, last one!" While those things might apply. Look and see how often they are using it in their advertising.