Yes, you can grow any rose very nicely in a container including climbers, mini's, floribundas, HT's, standards etc. Just make sure the container is large enough on onset to accomodate the rose when it hits its size and stride (2 years usually). 1/2 whisky or wine barrels are great for this when you are planting big girls like Queen Elizabeth and also New Dawn & Blaze. These roses will get huge and sprawling in no time flat. Don't worry if a bareroot looks tiny, initially. You don't have to trade up pots with roses like you do with the houseplant rule (1-1/2 times the size of the previous pot). Transplanting the rose after it gets established multiple times is too much trauma, it's better to get the container it will eventually live and be comfortable in. I plant using both good quality topsoil mixed with compost (1/3 compost to the topsoil). Other people on this forum will probably do otherwise; everybody has their receipe. Your roses will of course need more watering and more often with regular fertilizing in the container environment. I like slow-release organics like Espoma once per month during the growing season, combined with Neptune's Harvest (fish emulsion) because for me, it is a time saver. I do not fertizile in the winter as with my in-ground roses. In your zone (my previous one also, in Maryland)I would bring the container roses into the garage when it got to freezing temps to go dormant. It's so great if you have that greenhouse however; even better! Don't forget to water them once in awhile during the winter also. They still need that moisture even when it's very cold outside as they aren't getting it from the snow or rain. If you do leave your roses in containers outdoors when it gets below freezing it is very possible they will die because the containers will freeze completely in short order. Been there and done that. Best wishes and have fun!

Shawn, not here..our prices are outrageous. Even at Walmart , HD and Lowes. That $6 laundry tub I got was on sale at a really cheap discount store that isnt open anymore. As an example, last year for mother's day I bought 2 plastic 12" pots to fill up for my mom & my grammy. Those 2 were packaged together. $24.99 for 2 lil 12" pots!! I don't want the big fancy pots..I just need pots for sinking into the ground. Barry, Your lucky! They dont let us do that anymore. You cant get a discount on anything cuz it's broken, they throw them out. And it's illegal to take anything out of the dumpster, its considered stealing from the store. Even with clothing, if you found something was ripped they'd give you a discount..not anymore, full price baby..I don't care if the sleeve is hangin by a thread. Jersey SUX!! Nurseries wont even give me any nursery pots. When they throw out a plant, the pot goes with it. So wasteful. On top of Jersey being so expensive, my town itself is really expensive. But, I grew up here, schools are great, so here I am. You really want me to blow your mind? People in my town pay $1300 and UP a month to rent a tiny studio apt on top of a store!! Psychotic. Don't even get me started on the houses. Karyn, yes please, if you can find out how much shipping would be, that would be great. Do you still have my address so you can figure ito out? If paypal is gonna charge you on that I can always send you an MO instead, that way we dont have to deal with BS charges. Thanks, hon! I'm getting nervous cuz our last frost date here is in a couple weeks, and I am so short. Farmers Almanac says 4-4, and other weather sites n such say 4-15. Thanks everyone, I am so pathetic, ;p lmao. Daniella

I live in the same climate zone, in Oakland, and have several fruit trees, so I know that the following have a proven track record. Someone else suggested Feijoa Sellowiana, also called pineapple guava. The variety "Coolidge" grows well, fairly upright, has beautiful flowers and is self fruitful. The following 2 suggestions could work with thoughtful pruning, and love our climate, Santa Rosa plum or black mission fig. Or a dwarf Meyer lemon tree. And now is a great time to plant with the winter rains to help get the tree established. I recommend East Bay Nursery in Berkeley, they have a great selection of healthy fruit trees and a knowledgeable staff.

Now that Grover has “opened the door”, I will mention my thought when I asked about the room which you have described as your dining room. I was a bit afraid to throw this idea out there for fear of possibly being musically boorish, but ...might you consider giving the piano its own room with a pretty chandelier above and bay window, maybe adding some plants via your current dining space? — I thought maybe you could enlarge the arched opening to the living area slightly ( or not) . Then use a SMALL ( round ?) dining grouping in the space currently occupied by the yellow chair/ toward that window wall next to the fireplace. — You could possibly add the pew to “the piano room “of sorts. This would leave lots of space in the living area for your bookcase along your stair wall, and sofa and chairs in the front and fireplace area.