I'm getting strategic about this order. In the past I've always ordered 8 or 9 roses just to make the flat-rate postage worthwhile, but it's only $27.95 for 3-9 roses, so it's not exactly out of line even for 3 roses, especially in comparison with the whopping shipping fees charged by Roses Unlimited, ARE, Chamblee's, and many other nurseries right here in the United States..

I've decided to order just 5 roses at the start. Two years ago I placed a large order, but I only wanted four of the roses desperately. All four of those sold out early and I had to choose substitutes. I would rather have canceled the order, but Rachel informed me of the sold-out roses after the deposit for my order had already been charged to my card, so I would have lost the deposit.

This time I desperately want three roses (Earth Angel, Crazy Love, and Quick Silver). I'll order just two others that aren't new (Sunset Dreams and Garden Delight). If all three of my top choices are sold out and only the two others are available, Palatine won't be quick to charge the deposit because three is the minimum order. They'll have to ask me to choose at least one substitute, and I'll just cancel the order instead.

If they don't sell out of my favorites right away, I can always add a few other roses on to my original order of five.

Sounds like a good plan.

Today was my day to take inventory and decide which plants get booted out to make room for the potential new roses from Palatine. I have too many HTs that do nothing. Amazingly, the OGRs grow vigorously here. I'm going to eliminate several hundred daylilies in order to make room for more iris and the new roses.
Everything sure perked up from all that rain and the sunshine today. We're supposed to get more rain on Tuesday, so I think I'll pour the Milorganite and fish emulsion on the beds to see if that speeds up the fall flush.
I've warned a few roses that if they don't perform well on the fall flush, they'll be leaving to make room for the new-and-hopefully-better roses I'll be getting in November.

I've given some of my roses the same warning, Cindi. Who needs temperamental plants when they can be replaced by easy-care roses from Palatine?

Check the website again before you place your order. They're still making changes. They just added Picasso.

Can I put them in my cart tonight? Anyone know if it will stay until the morning?

Is the cart operable? I don't think there's any way to put anything in your cart until tomorrow.

Ahhhhh, you are right. I saw the "basket is empty" at the top, but didn't note there was no way to add to cart.

Aaargh! The waiting!
I'm still trying to decide between Ascot and Malicorne, and then here's a new one! Thanks for the heads up, Zuzu.

The site crashed at 9:01.

And again at 9:06.

But I finally placed the order for my five roses at 9:14. It was only 6:14 here, of course. I had to set the alarm for 5:30 so I could scan the site one more time before placing the order. Now it's back to bed for me.

It ate my shopping cart three times. I had to keep adding and adding, and finally I gave up and placed an order when I had 3, and somehow got through with that much.
I then went back and tried to add the others, very frustrating.
I did get confirmation on the first three, and they were able to confirm the credit card deposit. Surely they will merge my 2 orders later, and I won't pay double shipping. Although I have not received confirmation of the 2nd order, so I may not even have a 2nd.

I was outside weeding when I remembered! I ran in and reloaded my picks. Of course, it is 8:45...so I'm hoping that I get them. Thankfully, the site wasn't having trouble.

I put 6 into my shopping cart, then sanity returned as I looked at the plants and bulbs i still have to get in this fall (plant swap was this past Saturday!)... but since I was able to shop in person in June and brought 15 plants plus 3 for friends back across the border, I'm not hurting. But I'm still having fun reading about what everybody else is ordering!

Roses (other than knockouts) are a new thing for me... I can't give hybrid teas the fussing they need, but I bought 3 little English shrub roses a couple of years ago (from Chamblees, through MamaJack)... When they survived and started to flourish, I decided my garden needed more fragrant roses! Joyanna (now 7) and I had fun shopping with our noses.

Jill ... if you get the right rose for your climate, even hybrid teas, they are like weeds. They don't need as much care and attention as they are reputed to need. Most of that hype was stuff recommended by exhibitors going for ribbons, not regular gardeners.

Enjoy your roses.

Lyn, thanks for the encouraging word on hybrid teas! a little research always pays off...

Eva did convince me to try 'Buxom Beauty' hybrid tea rose, said it's one of the toughest of any type, and I have 'Stephen's Big Purple' and 'Beverly' on my wish list. :-)

Just FYI, the ones we picked this summer are all fragrant, and they're all growing well. Other that Palatine Muscosa (a 1-time bloomer) and Scentimental (budding again now), they have all bloomed and re-bloomed for me this summer, so I can recommend any of these for the mid-Atlantic!

Outta the Blue (shrub)
Cinderella Fairy Tale (arching shrub)
Ebb Tide (shrub)
Lichtenkonig Lucia (shrub)
Zaide (shrub)

Radox Bouquet (floribunda)
Scentimental (floribunda)
The 1812 Rose (aka Red Riding Hood Fairy Tale) (floribunda)
Pink Martini (floribunda)

Jasmine (climber)
Stormy Weather (climber, planted it with Julia Childs)
Laguna (climber, Eva has a spectacular one by their front door)

Buxom Beauty (hybrid tea)
Toscana Vigorosa (landscape rose)
Palatina Muscosa (shrub/moss rose, will take some shade)

edited to add photo... This is what the back of the car looked like on the way home. I packed our vacation gear as tightly as I could, stuffing laundry into corners, etc. We could have fit 6 more! Just as well my phyto was only set for 18.

What a beautiful car, Jill. So colorful. I can't believe Joyanna is already 7. I remember the very beginning of that part of your life.

This time Palatine processed my deposit literally 5 minutes after I received my order confirmation. They used to wait a few days before charging my card. I hope that means I'll be getting all of my choices.

I know, time has flown by! The car smelled sooooo wonderful

Jill, I've gotta say, you are bringing that girl up right!! What a fun trip! Flowers are always the best momentos, and hopefully, every time she smells those roses, she'll remember that trip.

My two Palatine orders were merged, and Rachel sent me an email to confirm, so yippee, happy day!

Yippeee, Cindi!