Well, here we have the second seedling. Exotica x Lady Jane. Not really an improvement on either of the parents, sort of looks like a single Lady Jane. There are 3 flowers, the first two came out simultaneously and the 3 is much smaller copying Lady Jane's habit of displaying 2 flowers at a time. the scape is 9" so she takes after her father in all respects including the shorter scape. Oh, and as you can see, I was wrong, she wasn't a double. I'd rather a single than a partial double anyway so I really wasn't disappointed too much..I guess these two flowers were too similar to each other to come up with anything astounding but, maybe one of the other seedlings will look better. Not much difference regardless of what light I take her in, flash or no flash.. Donna

Your question is a good one, but the answers could fill a book. A favorite of mine is "Showing Good Roses," by Robert B. Martin, Jr. which has comprehensive advice for growing and exhibiting in the U.S. You really need to get a description of the categories in which you may enter roses. Even in a county fair you will probably need to know the names of the varieties you bring to enter. Most people posting here are involved in American Rose Society accredited shows/competitions, which are quite different from the rose section in a county fair. In ARS shows only home-grown roses are entered, we label each with the variety's officially registered name, there are specific rules and procedures for judging and there are many different "classes" (what we call the categories) and prizes. I know in our county fair you must bring your own vases -- thrift stores usually have a selection of glass vases for sale at low prices. (In our shows, the hosting rose society provides vases in the preparation area that exhibitors may borrow, so we don't need to bring our own except for certain challenge classes and rose arrangements.) I'd guess the fair would have a prize for best "exhibition form" bloom (half to three-quarters open but with center petals still in a tight spiral) in an ARS show it would be entered in a clear bud vase with a long stem and lots of foliage showing. Your fair may also have prizes for fully-opened blooms, bouquets and such, but you really need more information from the fair ahead of time. Most serious rose exhibitors are also very serious about how they transport their roses to shows. There are many workable methods that protect the blooms from damage and stop the blooms from opening too much before the show. A milk crate full of decapitated clean milk cartons with your bud vases inside is one way to transport each cut rose separately so they don't knock into each other or get torn foliage. I prefer to cut the roses the morning of the show, so they are nice and fresh. No matter how careful you are, they will open more before you get to the show, so cut them substantially tighter than you want them to be later. Whatever the weather you'll want to crank up the air conditioning in the car to keep the roses cold (bring a jacket or sweater for yourself). Below is a link to some advanced suggestions from one of the top exhibitors I know: Here is a link that might be useful: Rose transporting article

Thanks Diane, Inga, and Krista :) I bet it is Hansa that is the highly fragrent rose in your garden park. When I was uprooting Ballerina this past week, all I could smell was the 3 Hansa bushes planted next to it! Wonderful scent! Tammy

Thanks everyone, I've been working really hard on the garden this year and it's nice to see the roses so happy. The rain has been an issue and the blackspot is creeping in. I hppe I can keep it under control. Carol and Sharlene you are totally right, I have Rock & Roll not Rock n Roll. So confusing to me, all of these & or 'n' roses lol. My St. Patrick came from a local nursery and when I saw it he was covered in huge green buds. I had to take him home and he has become one of my favorite impulse buy roses. I do get to the ground die back in winter but so far he keeps coming back. Sara-Ann yeah I don't see pink freedom very often but I also enjoy the blooms very much. Believe it or not that was a scrawny body bag rose from 2012! Most of my roses have bloomed atleast once this year but I am still waiting on probably 10 or so new ones planted this year for their first blooms. I'd say 75% have been in the ground since 2012 or 2013. Thanks for the feedback and conpliments! I love to share my roses with you all and hear your input! Andrea