I grow Rosa gallica(Red Rose of Lancaster), Alba semi-plena,(White rose of York), Rosa Mundi, Harison's Yellow, Madame Hardy, Felicite Parmentier, Quatre Saison Damask,(loses canes to the ground, but being repeat blooming, comes back) Chloris, Alba maxima, Madame Plantier, Leda, Celsiana, rosa centifolia. Therese Bugnet, a common pink moss, Hansa, and rosa xanthina, for my toughest ones. I don't believe in grafted roses for our climate, which is what they seem to sell at Hortico and Pickering. But if you plant the graft 4 inches deep the rose will make it and sometimes start throwing suckers and grow off it's rootstock. Expect a lot of cane loss, except for Harison's Yellow, Therese Bugnet, rosa gallica, and rosa xanthina. I've got more but I wouldn't recommend them to a newbie.

Those of you interested in exchanging roses between the U.S. and Canada will find the process straightforward. I send at least two shipments a year south and receive at least two a year in return. No import permit is required for either direction. Canadians need to obtain a Phytosanitary Certificate from their local CFIA Office by appearing there with completely clean (no dirt or debris) bare root plants to be inspected. An application form for inspection can be obtained on-line and faxed/emailed to the local CFIA and an appointment made for the inspection. In Alberta I pay a total of $12.50. The roses are then boxed and mailed via Canada Post and get to wherever in the U.S. in approximately 10 to 12 days. Don't forget to put the Phytosanitary Certificate in an envelope and tape it to the outside of the box. Postage for a box approx. 8" x 10" x 22" is around $40.00. The reverse process is carried out by those in the U.S. shipping to Canada. Hopes this helps. Email me direct if you'd like more detail.

I would stay right where I am here in Nova Scotia. I have the ocean right in front of me, the woods behind me and only one neighbor that can see my house without binoculars. I love that I can go for long walks in the woods and not be afraid of anything more than a big black bear. I love that I can jump in the car with the neighbor kids or grandsons and be at the beach swimming at a nice sandy beach within 15 minutes. I can walk down my lane and go to the beach to collect rocks or shells. When summer vacation time comes I always want to drive around Nova Scotia, sometimes up to Sussex, New Brunswick to go to Corn Hill Nursery, but for the most part I want to stay here. I love the trips to the Annapolis Valley and south shore, so much to see/sea. I have driven across this grand country twice by car, a long, long journey both times. Been right to Jasper in Alberta and out to Grand Cashe, beautiful area, but no ocean, gotta be near the water, it is the pisces in me I think.. Never been to the Rock, Newfoundland, but have intentions of going there someday. Flew out to Calgary last summer and was enchanted with the city, I hate cities for the most part but this place really caught my eye. My son lives there so I can see going out there again, it was a beautiful trip. If I had to change anything it would be the weather right now, bitter cold, I don't care for that. Otherwise home is where I hang my hat, I hope to be hanging my hat here for many, many more years. Just a humble little bungalow but it is my piece of heaven and my sancturary. Valerie

vaporvac: My Radio Times is A WIDE & HUGE bush, needs room. HMF has a few bush-shots of Zaide, much healthier than Radio Times, but Radio Times beat Zaide in perfection of bloom & fantastic damask scent. Both are thorny. Below is the list of top 115 most healthy roses compiled by New York Botanical Garden. Zaide and Viking Queen are on the list, same with Buck Quietness and Heritage: http://www.nybg.org/gardens/rose-garden-top-performers-2010.php Question for everyone: I'm getting tired of thorns, it's actually the dense-prickles that get to me. I don't mind widely-spaced thorns like Sonia Rykiel, Frederic Mistral, or Crown Princess Mag ... it's the dense-prickles that I mind. Which one of your roses have the least thorns or widely spaced thorns? Thanks. Also what are your best-bush-beauty roses? My vote go to Marie Pavie & Daly as best-bush beauty, same with Perle'd Or & Clouide Soupert & Pat Austin & Tchaikosky & Bolero & Evelyn and anything with glossy & shiny foliage and continuous blooms.