Vintage Gardens, to me, is more trusted with the identity of their antiques because they continue to investigate what they have, compare to old records, and have no problem issuing their identification as tentative by placing the name in double quotes. Tammy posted pics of hers, and that is the "thornless RdV" I remember from another nursery -- dull green color to the stems, leaves wider and more rounded, tapering suddenly. Tammy first said hers had thorns, then took the pics and came back saying what she thought were thorns were merely small bumps. My band is just as prickly as a typical Gallica -- no one seeing it would remark about its "smooth canes" because they're not. That's not what I would call the same "a few thorns" as found on Tammy's band -- I can't put my finger on the stem without touching a prickle. The first reference on HMF for RdV is clearly a translation from the French (as noted by both the French title and the text's awkward English). I would much prefer to read the original and translate it myself. It's very likely that the "also the prickles of the branches" which follows a semicolon (which denotes a separation of the second clause from the first, such that it could be its own sentence if grammatically correct, and that the translation isn't makes me wonder about the accuracy of the translation) is not connected to the comment about "red stipules..." It could very well be that missing from the translation is a negative, turning that last bit into a comment about "also the lack of prickles of the branches" which is less awkward of a clause than "also the prickles of the branches." But I can't tell for sure without reading the original French. Be careful about taking an awkward translation as gospel just because it's the oldest. If several descriptions beginning merely a year later describe the plant as without (or almost without) prickles, I'd take that over the claim that the first description (as translated on HMF) is noting "red prickles" which I really don't get even in that awkward translation -- the semicolon would not be used if the "prickles of the branches" were red like the stipules. A comma would be. Also remember that considering the time for a book to come out in print during those years that close together, it's very likely that both authors were writing without seeing the works of the others. Thus the descriptions are better trusted to be based upon actual inspection, rather than copy-and-paste from other authors -- because there wouldn't have been time to read the first description and write it again in a book coming out a year or two later. Ultimately, RdV has had notes in her description over the years about her relative thornlessness. The band which I received would not be called "thornless" any more than many other roses I've seen which never acquired that adjective in their description. Sure, my plant isn't overly thorny, and its prickles are small, but they are not sparse enough for me (or anyone else seeing it for the first time) to say "my, that rose is thornless." But others seeing the real RdV over the years have. That's why I don't think this one is the "real" one, and the one I grew previously (and gave as a gift) was. :-) ~Christopher

Beth, I'm glad to see the picture of Robert Clements, as I received it a few weeks ago, along with Imagine and Well-Being. My very, very favorite from Heirloom is PEACH SILK, but I don't have a good picture of it. A close second is LADY OF THE MIST. Here are two pictures of it. And, right up there with the above two, is THE IMPRESSIONIST. But, all of the above are climbers, at least here in Texas. So, my favorite hybrid tea from Heirloom is HIGH SHERIFF. I don't have any more room, so I am not ordering any more! I am trying not to look at Braveheart. But - just for information, does anybody have Generosity or New Orleans or Scarlet Velvet or Wonderstripe??? Not that I would be tempted to get them, of course!

Don't fret, Lilyfinch, I'm sure your roses will be fine! There's no use worrying about whether they'll survive the winter, worrying won't help anything. You already placed the order and they are probably on their way, so all that's left to do is be happy that your little roses are coming!! I guess I'm in the same boat as you because my Heirloom rose arrived today! And I'm in zone 5! I was beginning to regret my decision to order such a small rose this late in the season soon after I ordered, but now that it's here I am nothing but optimistic that it will survive. It's so cute and looks healthy. We need to get them acclimated to the outdoors quickly (shouldn't be hard with so many nice warm weeks of summer left), and with a pile of leaves to insulate them over the winter I think we will be enjoying our roses come spring :)

It was a gallon pot. I have to say I've had the best roses from Roses Unlimited but it's such a pain to order from them when everyone else is buying and you can't get through on the telephone. I know you can email them too. I wish they would upgrade their website and so one can pay online with PayPal and the like.