Alright, logging in for once. Happy Birthday to me. laughs. If you are to ask anyone it is Kim. I'm Florida not California. No matter how much I love Ralph Moore roses I'll never have the expertise of Kim. I've tried 200 plus Ralph Moores in Florida have over 200 left. Best BY FAR for Florida - read "for me" - Have been the climbers he grew. But, that applies for growing in sandy soil of Florida. Morcrest was great 1-72-1 I couldn't ask for more. Green Ice is great in Florida. It is all different for me. The climbing minis and bractea have been great for me. I'd pay $ to touch base with Burling - she is the best. Preserve his roses. She doesn't ship to Fl. So, to the person that said I was famous today, talk to her and Kim! I'm just a stupid zone pusher. One day I hope to find a way to introduce my crosses. Kim and Burling have life experiences I could never touch. I have some poems. I've never met the man . I just do not want to see his roses go extinct. Alister Clark is another. Florinda Norman Thompson is a rose I've called all over the world looking for - The only info found so far has been .... Flower large, full, globular, lasting, fragrant, delicate rose on lemon, deep at base, reflex edged 1/4inch with shell-pink on lemon, borne on stiff stem. Foliage leathery, glossy. Growth vigorous; profuse bloomer.The grandson of this great plant hunter is looking for a rose from Dickson's (1920s) named for his grandmother:'Florinda Norman Thompson' and would appreciate any information, photo, etc. Please dig deep ladies and gentlemen . =) I appreciate your time, and would love to find this rose. How to Grow Roses Successfully Frank Mason 1983 P 2.50 Roses For New Zealand Conditions 2nd ed Frank Mason 1958 P 2.00 Here's the entry for 'Nancy Elizabeth' in "New Roses of the World (1950): 'Nancy Elizabeth' Hybrid Tea. (Frank Mason, 1947). 'Korovo' x 'Florinda Norman Thompson'. Large, long pointed bud. Large, high-centered, double bloom borne several together. Cream. Moderate fragrance... http://www.helpmefind.com/rose/ezine.php?i=B522&tab=1 Also a listing for Pat Mason comes up same year. Married ? 200 hundred roses in garden , only 10 or so listed in helpmefind under Pat Mason. Frank Mason & Son Ltd. Sandon Road P.O. Box 155 Feilding, New Zealand 06-323-5226 I have found several pictures of Florinda Norman Thompson in her family geneology records, but no rose yet. http://www.helpmefind.com/rose/l.php?i=U156&tab=8 Alex Sutton's info on Florinda Norman Thompson How to Grow Roses Successfully Frank Mason 1983 Roses For New Zealand Conditions 2nd ed Frank Mason 1958 May help. Found at http://touchwoodbooks.co.nz/2h/tsecroses.html Frank Mason also grew Little John. He is the only person who I have found that has owned the plant. If anyone can help I'd love to help someone else with a cutting. Thank You. Regards, Andrew Grover St. Pete Fl

I find a lot of things happen by year five. It took at least 5 years for Thereses' to rebloom (not a lot)... and about 7 years to get a ripe hip ... only 1 out of 5 or 6 examples I have of that rose - and it was hybridized here - awesome rose though. It also took that long to get a repeat from soupert et notting and Mrs Baker. If this rose actually repeats I betting it will be a long time for it to happen to mine because of the short season I assume but the easy setting of hips is real. Henry more on yours ... I take it as you say, never sets hips and is huge ... that is interesting but then I have not seen many examples (labeled other than mine) and they are still young ... but mind you one has at least a 4 to 5 foot cane - however the easy setting of hips is real. As to source ... I would not state mine as 100% reliable ... they labeled "Austrian Copper" as rosa "rugosa" austrian copper and it ended up being "I assume" R. foetida ... the yellow single.

I'm through with David Austins, except for Evelyn, which is tough and a good bloomer. A nurseryman I know put it best: in this area, Austins get twice as big and bloom half as much as they are predicted to do. The Jackson-Perkins roses rapidly die of homesickness for the Pacific northwest, so I don't buy those any more. I live ten minutes away from the Antique Rose Emporium, but it seems like they're always out of whatever it is I'm after. Leonidas is on the counting-down to shovel time list. I sure like Weeks roses for this area, though. I don't know where they're grown, but that is probably a big factor.

@gargamel -- a while ago, they would simply say "I want it to look like 'Somethings Gotta Give'". Actually, so many people teardown the overhead hanging cabinets before really thinking through where the stuff is going to go. The multi-layer floorplans of the MTM apartment bring to mind that blog in another thread, that advocates the use of multiple levels in an open space.