The Kordes roses I bought last September and received this April from Palatine have thrived in the extreme heat this summer. I'll order more again this September, but I think this time around I'll ask for them for fall planting. This is based on the scientific conclusion that since we didn't have a winter last year, we'll never have winter again.
Heirloom offered the big beautiful Bourbon Auguste Renoir, so I have that coming. I lost my first one to Rose Rosette, but it put up a valiant fight. A. Renoir balls like crazy in wet weather, but it's never going to rain here, so I think it's perfect for my yard. It's one of the best cutting roses I've ever seen.
I would like to find Clair Renaissance since it's another that gets huge and holds up well in heat. I saw it somewhere and missed out.
I am hoping to shop some Cincinnati nurseries this weekend. If I find anything good, I'll just prune it back a bit, bare root it, and stuff it in my checked bag. Get it used to the rough life it's going to have in Kansas.
I didn't order from Vintage because I want what I want. Sounds like customers have to stay pretty flexible on what they get and they do have a long list of great roses, but I roll with uncertainties all the time and I'm at the point now where this is MY thing, I'm not getting paid for it, there's no deadline, so I can do it the way I want.
I hope Gregg sends you some great roses, Steve, since he couldn't send you the ones you really wanted. Daylily sellers send a more expensive plant if they have to substitute, so it seems reasonable to expect a larger rose as a sub.
