So I notice... that's a terrible shame... I wonder if it has anything to do with Brexit?... although I imagine it must take a lot of work to keep all that going. Perhaps it's just time to take things easier for them.

This is a tragedy!

They had the most luscious assortment of roses, especially teas, many not seen here, and this is really bad news for the old rose world.

o, great...as if the depressing heat and drought weren't enough...

This ruins my fantasy of finding a winning lottery ticket on the sidewalk, and so being able to afford importing dozens of Tea Roses from RdD... including 'Hugo Roller'.

Perhaps someone will be able to take over the nursery, and keep things going, but probably that scenario also belongs to Fantasy Land.

Sigh... I need some more iced coffee.

Virginia

Anybody got a ballpark estimate of the asking price?

We all have to retire somewhere, and if ten rose growers were to decide where to go with great food, roses and no Rose Rosette.........

Ann, if you're interested, or just curious to know what their plans are for the nursery, why not give Becky Hook a call? She's quite easy to reach by phone. Their number's on their website, of course.

I'm not the person to organize this, but a friend from Boulder Colorado had friends who went together and bought a small farm in the Cotswolds in England. They then divided it into six units and sold them as modified timeshares to friends. Not open market, but priced according to seasonal desirability.

If something like that could be done with Roserie..........

And terrorism becoming more and more frequent---lets just volunteer to fly over and dig everything up?

Update:

I wrote to Becky Hook for information about the sale of the nursery, asking their permission to share here what she told me. She says they hope to get a buyer who will carry on the nursery, though aren't certain this will happen. They're giving up the nursery because they're moving to the U.S. to be with their children, who are settled there. She mentions that the Italian nursery S'Orrosa has a lot of RdD's varieties, ordered through the years by its owner Sergio Scudu. I've never ordered from S'Orrosa, but have heard good things about it from gardeners who have. I went investigating the site and found it not quite as informative as I would have liked as to international shipping, information in English, and prices (I seem to recall prices are competitive). The roses are grafted.

So, at least RdD's roses will be around whether or not the nursery itself will be, and even if international shipping could be an adventure. I'll mention another Italian nursery that I know nothing about except that it has a large selection of old roses, with warm climate roses well represented. I think it's quite new. This is L'Ippocastano (the Horse Chestnut), close to Modena. I've spoken briefly with the owner at a garden show and have looked at their site, but know nothing beyond what I found out there.

Doing international business with Italian, French and, to some degree, German nurseries has always been problematic. It seems many of them have no concept of the international customer and quite a few have still not caught up with the internet and e-commerce.. The opposite is true with UK and Dutch nurseries. The demise of RdD will certainly strike a blow to the availabity of warm climate roses in Europe.

I hope someone will continue their business. I didn't realize they sent to the US or I would have ordered from them. I have been trying to find a nursery in Europe who will ship here. Are they still selling? Does anyone know other nurseries that ship to the United States, specifically California. I found that Petrovic roses was willing but when I applied for an import permit through the US Dept of Agriculture it was denied because of where they are, Serbia. My desire to get roses from Europe is for comparison purposes mostly. I am curious about some roses not matching the old descriptions.

Roseraie du Desert is selling this fall; they have a list (a long list) of available varieties.

Anne, are you familiar with the quarantine process required for imports? If you are hoping to import some RdD varieties; some may not survive the shipping/quarantine, but I wonder if you could do a "rose CSA" type of thing where folks sign up for a particular rose, and pay a certain deposit which would go towards purchase of the rose eventually, if it survives the importation process. Or perhaps the deposits would apply to whichever roses do make it.

With a CSA (community-supported agriculture), people prepay farmers for their produce for a season, and may get a bargain if there is a good season, but may not get so much with crop failures...

I would be interested in participating in such a cooperative venture if you think it might work out for you.

Virginia

Yes, I am familiar with the whole process, I've read the govenment pages over and over. I have also read threads on here since I wrote I would like to import and it sounds like a costly mess, especially with the restriction on the size of the canes. I just thought it would be interesting but I'm not willing to spend that much for "interest". Your CSA idea sounds like the way to go, I'd be ready to hear more details. Have you ever imported roses, Virginia?

I was rereading the USDA site and am a little confused by something from November: http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=b5e0789f8b4a7ae6df123ca63bdce17b&mc=true&node=se7.5.319_137_67&rgn=div8 

Does this mean that roses imported from Australia, Bulgaria, Canada, Italy, and New Zealand are exempt from the quarantine process?

Anne, I haven't imported any plants; it seems like a tremendously convoluted process, and reading things like the link you posted leaves me a little dazed.

The CSA idea was one I just threw out there; spur of the moment, but it does seem that if someone is willing to import roses not available in this country that others might be interested in sharing the related costs, risks and- of course- roses. Some sort of cooperative venture might be worth consideration.

Even if the CSA approach doesn't seem feasible, it might still be worth speaking with Angel Gardens in FL about their experience with importing roses from RdD; perhaps they'd be interested in ordering more roses, and willing to share the costs and the roses?

The Hooks themselves might have some suggestions about which roses to import, and how best to go about it...

It would be cool if someone were able to rescue some roses that are not available Stateside; others might be interested in supporting such a venture (adventure?).

Virginia

You know -- I sort of trust the Hooks . . . Now that I have caught my breath, and thought about it.

I'm thinking, after all they did to build it, they are going to do the best they can to find a viable path for their nursery -- and for that magnificent collection of roses.

First of all, a hearty, warm thanks to Melissa for taking action and contacting Becky Hook,AND for providing the names of these two Italian nurseries (both seem VERY INTERESTING,though I do agree with Nik that several nurseries really could improve their communication with international customers).

I hope that someone worthy will take over their nursery, and keep it going on the same level of quality that Becky and John Hook have established. When I ordered from them, Becky always bent over backwards in helping me to decide on varieties, sending info and even pictures-way more helpful and beyond the call of mere duty. I also consider them to be THE most reliable when it comes to correct id's, etc. Sadly, own-roots proved a bit of a problem for my harsh conditions. If planted directly out-and, yes, their plants were big enough, with big enough root systems, to be planted out directly in the garden-I found that , being own-root, big as they were, they DID tend to need more frequent watering than grafted roses in their first year. This would be no big deal for a person with a "normal" garden, but mine has no running water, and is far from my home. The obvious solution-to start them out in pots-failed miserably , because the exposure at our old house was awful for baby roses: only a very little filtered sun during most of the day because of the giant plane tree in the piazzetta in front,and then late in the afternoon some frying hot sun,so keeping them in pots for their first season just weakened the originally vigorous plants! Now, at our new house, I am seeing that our large terrace has GREAT exposure for potted roses-full morning sun and afternoon shade. So I am truly bummed to hear this news.I am planning to order from them this fall, if possible.I guess try to get as many of the varieties as possible that only the Hooks carry...but at the same time I don't want to swamp myself...well, it's a bummer, but you can't blame them for wanting to be near their kids,and I am glad that the decision to close was made for this happy reason. Thank you once again, Melissa!

You're welcome, Bart. If you're interested in making an order this fall, contact Becky Hook for a list of their currently available varieties. I share your difficulties in growing on plants in pots, though in my case it may be simple incompetence with this form of cultivation.

Bart, I hope you can snag some good roses for that large-terrace-that-needs-some-potted-roses.

I wish the Hooks all the best, and hope they are able to find a buyer who can keep things going. It sometimes seems like half the U.S. will be wanting to emigrate after the presidential elections, no matter who wins; the South of France seems like a good place to exile oneself.

Regardless of what happens over there, it would still be nice if some of their rarities could be imported over here.

Wistfully,

Virginia

Anne, As I understand it (my info is a few years old now, but I've not heard of changes in the direction of loosening things up): Canada -- you are correct. No quarantine; just simple inspection on entry. But Australia, New Zealand, Italy -- no quarantine because elsewhere in the law, roses from those countries are utterly forbidden, due to their carrying "Rose Wilt" virus disease -- a disease most people other than the USDA believe to be fictitious. As for Bulgaria, I don't know what's going on there.

Thank you for the clarification, Malcolm. Bulgaria also apparently has "rose wilt" too.

I emailed Becky Hook this morning and she said they are not shipping to the US this fall. She did say they were moving back to the US (as previously reported) and they will open their nursery here. Yay!

That is very good news indeed, Anne! Do you know if they'll be able to import at least some of their rarities?

Virginia

I am now fantasizing of moving to the Southof France to grow roses. I volunteer as tribute! On a more serious note I'd be very interested in partnering to import roses.

They have many gorgeous roses I'd love, but I have to confess: 'Hugo Roller', 'Mme Julie Lesseu' and 'Mme François Pittet' head what could be a lonnnng want list (had I cash enough and time). I'm also rather curious about whether they might- just might- have 'Isabella Gray' (under Chromatella (U.S). That's a rose from my hometown, so I'd have to give it serious consideration...

Which roses are you eyeing?

Virginia

Does anyone know what part of the US the Hooks will be residing, and, we hope, selling roses, in? A lot of their current inventory would be very difficult in the colder states.

They are moving to California.

Becky grew up in San Luis Obispo. Would be great (for me) if they moved back there.

Is there any news on the RdD front?

Always curious,

Virginia

We have a few of their Teas in the rose sale at the HRF conference in two weeks.

I wish I could attend, but am still recovering from surgery, and the doctors may have other plans for treating me (assuming the Senate doesn't pass the House bill repealing the ACA- if they do, I guess I may be done).

The timing of this makes me sad, since VA is not so very far, compared to many HRF conference locales, and I've never visited Fredericksburg or Charlottesville, even though I lived in Richmond for a year, many moons ago. I do hope to tour the Leonie Bell Noisette garden one of these days. I know I'd love it.

I hope y'all have great attendance, great weather and a wonderful time.

Even though I can't be there, I'd love to know which roses you'll have for sale, and I'm sure others would also, if you have a plant list handy.

Best regards,

Virginia

That is so too bad that you can't go, Virginia. We have to get clarity and safety back on the medical front. This is too scary which we all know is not theraputic at all. The House has never been a brain trust I'm afraid.

We will miss you, Virginia, but your health is the most important thing! I'm working on the plant list now, and I will post it soon.

I've never imported from Italy, although I've considered buying from La Campanella but I've had no trouble importing from Germany and France. Martin Weingart was almost too considerate, even calling me at work to ask if I understood that I would have to cover some of my new roses in winter.

Thanks very much for the update. I know many of us are looking forward to seeing which new (to us in the U.S.) goodies will be available after the quarantine ends.

Best wishes with the sale and your move,

Virginia

Panting with anticipation... lol. Thank for the update, Becky.

Lovely video, by the way. Just not long enough! lol.

John

Étoile de Portugal its Rose bush created by french botanist Henri Cayeux, then responsible for the Royal Palace Botanic Garden of Lisbon.

His meticulous work resulted in five rose bushes: “Belle Portugaise” and “Étoile de Portugal” in 1903; Amateur Lopes, Lusitania and Palmira Feijao in 1905. Unfortunately, with the exception of Belle Portugaise, they all disappeared in Portugal. Could you please tell me if you are aware of any roseries that sell to Étoile du Portugal to bring this plant back to my country? I thank you infinitely. Miguel d’Jorge

According to La Roseraie Du Desert's nursery page on Help Me Find-Roses, they ship to Portugal. Now, if they have the rose propagated and ready to ship, you should be able to reintroduce it there. Here is a link to their nursery page there.

Tank You roseseek

So is RdD no longer relocating to the States?

Per Becky Hook, coming back home to the States depended upon selling the nursery and property. As far as I can determine, that hasn't happened yet.

Does anyone have any further updates about the status of this?

Jackie

June 10, 2021 Becky posted to Facebook, " The move has been made. Goodbye to La Roseraie du Desert! Hello to a new life... " The last we messaged, the sale wasn't sufficient to allow them to return here to retire so they are still living in France.

<SIGH>

roseseek - Thank you so much for the info, even though it means we will not have a new nursery of theirs in the US (SIGH indeed!). I met Becky once, and I still remember her telling me about her husband riding around old roads in Southern France on his bicycle, collecting old mystery roses still surviving from the days France was a hotbed of producing what we now call "old tea roses" in the 19th century.

Jackie