Enjoy!

I want to work with Ken!

I have to get up to see Ken's yard! I am waiting on a Palantine order. I check and it was supposed to be here on 3/2. I'm glad it wasn't as I'm not ready yet.

Great roses! I'm eagerly awaiting my orders but there's still a ton of snow on the ground.

Add me to the list of those who wish we could come and plant with you. I'm fairly good at following instructions.

I didn't waste any time this morning. Everything is in it's place in the garden. It helps when all the planting area's are prepared and waiting for the roses. It really felt good getting my hands dirty and the smell of fresh soil. Shouldn't have any problems with the roses. The weather forecast for this week is cloudy, warm (60's) and scattered showers. Time for more COFFEE!!!!

I guess my order is due to get here Tuesday. I ordered ADOLPH HORSTMANN, CANCAN CL and RASPBERRY CREAM TWIRL CL. Can't wait to see them blooming this spring.

My Firefighter and Neil Diamond should be here from Edmunds any day.

Hah! I'm at work at my niece's and my craft shop today, which is right catty-cornered across the street from my home street. The mailman came in with a box from Edmunds. Last week he asked me if I wanted my package dropped off here. This time he just brought it in. I laughed and said "not like I need any more..." He just goes "I wasn't even gonna ask!" LOL

I was a little concerned about getting anymore bareroots right now because we've had such warm temps, and a couple of the roses I got recently haven't sprouted yet. Looked in the box and I see nice fat swollen budeyes! So I'm really happy!! Now I just gotta wait for a few more from Palatine and a big order from Hortico. Hopefully those will be sprouting when they arrive too.

Guess I'm a little late on this thread Ken, but if you're still checking in could you tell me how the graft to shank ratio was? A few years back there were some complaints about grafts sitting atop tall shanks. The next year I ordered a couple of roses and sure enough, they had what seemed like an extra long shank. If you are planting in heavy clay soil or in a pot, the shorter the shank the better. I wondered if they corrected the situation.......Maryl

I finally got notification (from UPS, not Palantine) that my order is coming tomorrow. So I'll be soaking those 9 along with the 4 new minis I just got. I have spots for 3 of the roses (replacing other roses that I have to dig up). But the others I may have to pot up for awhile. I'm going to try putting some Super Thrive in the soaking water. I've heard that helps.

Maryl---The graft on shank is fairly long. To me, I don't care. Where Dr Huey plants are, my planting holes are always 24" deep then back filled when I plant. I always plant ALL of my bush's with the graft just a little above ground level. Doesn't make any difference what root stock my roses are on.
Bet----What roses are coming in and which mini's did you get. My order from Nelsons is supposed to be here tomorrow. Another busy weekend ahead.

Thanks Ken for the response........Maryl

The minis I got in Kroger, Patron, Powerhouse, Ambiance and Flawless. From Palantine I am getting PJP. Gemini, Double Delight, Paradise, Dainty Bess, Rainbow Niagara, Razzle Dazzle and Lucille Ball. I'm hoping some of these will be good exhibitors.

I'm bummed. I came home and there was a small box from Palantine. They did manage to shove 3 roses in there, but where are the other 6? Hopefully the rest come tomorrow.

Hmmm.. I have a second order coming from Palatine. I wonder if it got shipped out yet. Hortico called me the other morning and said my order goes out towards the end of the month and one rose was out of stock. Just as well. Like I really need any of them! LOL

Got my order from Nelsons today. GREAT shape and packed perfect. 2 JFK's, 1 Caramel Cream, 1LD Braithwaite. If you can grow fortaniana root stock roses, you might want to check out their web site. They carry a lot of roses you can't find anywhere else.

ok, I'm an idiot. the 9 roses were there, just 3 bundles of 3. I thought they looked a bit thick.

Buford, Gemini shows beautifully, it is top-rated. Dainty Bess also shows well. PJPII's stems are too short here, they may be better for you. We can get a good DD every once in awhile. The Benardella minis/minifloras are excellent show roses. Enjoy!

Diane, I never got decent blooms with DD until I started using the Bayer Advanced Disease Control spray. Even with Daconil, it would not bloom. Now I have two! The one I thought was dead when I ordered this one is still alive. Oh well.

I still can't believe that Palantine shoved 9 roses in that tiny box.

Does Edmunds sell rose bands? I got a rose band today with my order, I thought I ordered 3 bare root roses.

I have to report that I did get to go up to visit Ken and see his garden. It's wonderful. Everything is so healthy. His secret is his soil mix, part bagged soil (ken can you tell me the brand name, I forgot it) part sand that comes from his yard, and part of his native red clay. I can see why his roses are so healthy and he always has stunners at the shows. He was nice enough to give me some roses he budded and they look great. I am going to give Ken one of my 4 Barrone Prevosts. I also have a seedling from my Japanese Maple, Waterfall if you want it Ken. I'm not sure it will grow as the parent does, but you are welcome to it!

The secret's in the sauce. I mean the soil. Anyway, I use Sta-Green's Flower and Vegetable Garden Soil in 2 cu. ft. bags. Lowe's carries it and since I have a Lowe's just 1 1/2 miles from my front door, that's where I do most of my garden shopping.
This is how I mix my soil; In my wheel barrow I empty 1/2 bag of soil (1 cu. ft.), throw 3 shovel's full of sand and 1 shovel full of finely ground down dry native soil (red clay). 1 big hand full of leaf's (mostly oak) that I keep from my winter protection Mix it all together good and I've got my planting soil. Nothing fancy but my roses seem to like it. I have roses grafted on to Fortuniana, Dr. Huey, Multiflora plus own root. Everything seems happy.
Bet----Thank you for the Barrone and yes, I'll definitely take that seedling of Waterfall off your hands. It'll have a good home here. See you in a couple of weeks.

Just happened to think, not ALL my roses get my mix. My Rugosa's get something quite different. Mostly sand. Wheel barrow, 10 big shovels of sand, 2 shovels of bagged soil, 2 shovels of native soil and a big hand full of leafs. Mix it all together and you have great Rugosa soil (at least in my garden).