Yay! Yes, I went and what a great time. Just love going and seeing all of roses at a cheaper price. Only wish that I had gone first thing this morning for better selection. Oh, and I can never get out of there without buying a couple at regular price. I bought an Austin, Happy Child to place in a container and the Impressionist which I was most excited about. This is their top selling Clements rose and it is much like an Austin, fragrant and gorgeous. Didn't think that it would be in the 1/2 offers. My husband came with me and he was trying to be Mister Macho telling me that he didn't really have much input about the rose garden (when we arrived there were more women there). . .blah, blah, blah--when all of sudden he spots a beautiful Eden (Pierre de Ronsard) growing on an archway. Next thing I know he's in the rose house picking the best one he could find at full price. It is a beautiful rose, so much more attractive than its pictures. One thing that I didn't know about Heirloom is that they have a lot more roses for sale than are in their catalog. I have been researching roses that do well in rain and someone told me about Rosarium Uetersen and I hadn't been able to locate it. Heirloom had some!! Have to go back and really go through everything -- take my time. Then I'll be even more broke and have to find more room in my garden for roses. CJ

Okay so I didn't actually *need* any more roses.;) But that didn't stop me from ordering. Figured I've ordered from multiple vendors this year, and I really ought to support Heirloom, as they've always sent me wonderful plants in the past, and I want them to stay in business. Also I really like their firm and vocal stance on rose mosaic virus. In addition, I've bought some really big plants already this year. First from Antique Rose Emporium. That has meant digging fairly large holes. Then I have been getting LOTS (like yikes maybe 30 or so) from Eurodesert, and those plants are enormous, which means digging even larger holes still. So the idea of getting bands where I wouldn't have to expend that much effort in the planting has a fair amount of appeal. Plus one of my flower beds hasn't cooperated as expected--as in the flowers haven't died back as I assumed they would, and they are so pretty I don't want to disturb them with digging giant holes to put in roses, so that means I just have to get smaller roses, which can go in without losing the other plants. That's my story and I'm sticking to it!;) I ordered: Stanwell Perpetual (okay so I already have SP, but you can never have too many of this wonderful plant with its elegant, fragrant flowers!) Irish Hope (looks like a pretty, lemony white on HMF) Paul's Himalayan Musk (I have a 50 to 60 foot tree in the backyard that I think would look great with this rose cascading out of it, and PHM is known as a tree-eating, house-eating rose, well here's its chance!) Happy Child (I'm a sucker for David Austin's and this one is so cheerful looking....) Melissa

Virginia, yes I am intrigued by the reports I've seen of BB's "unique" coloration that is apparently so hard to describe/photograph. I have a spot on my fence for him where I don't think he'll clash too badly if "unique" is really code for "ick." I went back and got The Shepherdess as well...I hope she will do well in a sunny spot in the yard. I have been so pleased with my three Mayflower shrubs this year (my first DA roses) and I am looking forward to expanding my DA collection. Good luck with Mortimer and thanks for the tip!

I received the two roses from Heirloom today. They were shipped on Monday and I received on Thursday via UPS. I’m very impressed with the way they packed the roses. Both roses are well developed for own root roses. If they find a way to sell all the gorgeous cabbage roses from Europe and Japan, I will sure to buy them all. Helen