Wish I could have been there! What is the name of his new book? I love his books.

Jackie

I really love Mike. A terrific guy -- a smart man -- and a great advocate for tough old roses.

When he spoke at the Huntington a few years back, I sashayed up, and got him to sign my copy of "Landscaping With Antique Roses" which I bought when it was released in 1992. (And I should note, that was co-authored by Liz Druitt.) That book looks a little battered, now, but it still sits right next to my desk.

There was such a long line of people getting their books signed that I did not wait. His book is beautiful. It is loaded with very well photographed pictures of the roses he grows, and little stories about them.

Jacqueline, his book is named Empress of the Garden. It is a large over sized coffee table book with glossy pages, and large rose pictures or photos on each page.

And it really is lovely.

Jeri, I am glad you mentioned that book. Now that I am pruning, once again I need a reference book.

It really IS a great book. Not the newest book, but terrific for Old Roses in the U.S.

Sammy, if I might make a suggestion, I would reconsider ordering McClinton Tea. I've tried to grow it twice now and tried to like it, but for me it was really the ugliest tea rose I've ever seen. Someone else who grew it likened the flowers to scrambled eggs, and it more than lived up to that description in my garden. Really shapeless, few petals and no great coloring to offset those flaws and, for me, just not gardenworthy. Someone else who has grown it and has had it longer may have good things to say about it. I could never bring myself to let it mature. Your other choices are splending, assuming they do well in your zone and garden.

Thank you for this posting. I just now ordered the book on amazon. I'm currently reading 'In Search of Old Roses' from 1989 and there's a short story about the author meeting Michael Shoup when he was just starting out his nursery and got involved in rose rustling.

I found out something interesting (the hard way) about "In Search Of Old Roses." We drove from CA to VA some years ago, to see where 'Old Blush' survived (as described) at the place where Lee signed the articles of surrender of the Confederate Forces. (Fortunately, I really wanted to see the area, because my G-Grandfather was there, and it was a wonderful journey.)

We found fairly newly-planted bushes of 'Old Blush', growing next to re-constructed buildings.

So, when a friend of mine had an opportunity to meet the author, I asked her to query him about that. She said, he replied: "Oh no! THAT wasn't true EITHER?"

SIGH . . .

I've run into some similar things, since, and I've come to the conclusion that, in some cases, things may have happened, but not in the locations described.

Beautiful poetic truth, though . . .

Ingrid, it's on my porch, but I will watch where I put it. Thank you for the warning.

Jeri, good story. It is really disheartening to find out that what you believed was not true. I wonder why it was written.