Thanks for the suggestions. I would have liked to find something a little closer. But I know in the rose world we often have to be content with being able to mail order or drive a while. I'm not quite a panicky today as I was last week, perhaps it's the cold weather. :) I think my next step will be to try to root some from my old garden. I have had good success with that is the past(and it's much less expensive!), but there are some others I'd like to have. Taking care of baby roses will have to fill the rose lust for now.

Mr. Rabbit - I had read that article and thought it strange, too. I hadn't waded through all the scientific naming or I would have seen the difference. There seems to be more than one ambrosia beetle. One does seem to prefer the laurel family while the other(s) are less picky about their home. I agree with you about planting anyway. We wouldn't have much of a garden if we avoided everything that might die. I have given up on an avocado for now because I wasn't getting very far with finding a local tree. I got a beautiful olive tree instead. I also think the olive will give me a lot more interesting preservation projects to play with. Well now, I just saw an add in the shopper over in Bushnel at the mexican restaurant. It is for 'Paul's Nursery and Fruit Trees'. Its a 5th generation outfit that sells to the public at the same price as their commercial accounts. Its in Groveland. I haven't gotten over there yet, but it sounds promising. Larry

I realize this post is almost a year old- but if you are still interested, ECHO nursery is WAY worth a trip to SW Florida; just across alligator alley for you! http://echonet.org Their global farm is extensive and amazing! I relocated to Sanibel Island 10 months ago and my goal is to slowly turn 100% of my landscape edible/useable. The tours they give there are worth the trip- I have been there many times and always learn new things when there. Here is a link that might be useful: Echo Farms

Seffner isn't too far. I'll have to check out Kerby's. I had heard of it, but never been there. I might convince my daughter to make that trip with me. (I drive 110 miles a day for my job, I don't even want to make a long trip on a day off!) But it looks like a road trip might be in order. The Weed Patch sounds wonderful! The kind of place that loves roses and wants to share. That's my kind of place. Mapquest shows they are closer to Ocala than Gainesville, a shorter trip for me. I have heard other good reports about Rose Petals. They have a good list of roses on their website. Even by mail order their roses are reasonably priced. Angel Gardens is in the same area, somewhere near Gainesville. So an all day or overnight trip could be very worthwhile. Now just to convince DH we should make the drive. :) Thanks for the information. I knew you folks would know the best places!