Oh, I think I feel a new collection coming on! LOL.
Any special growing tips?

They thrive in low humidity and with infrequent watering. You sort of let them tell you when to water. Be especially careful in the winter/cool weather since they are So. African natives ... they like it hot and dry.

One thing that's a bit tricky ... when they are getting ready to shed the old leaves, split, and make new ones, they look like they are shriveling up and dying. The new leaves absorb the moisture in the old leaves to spur them on to growth. They sort of absorb the old leaves, I guess you could say. I think that's when people tend to start watering them too much and killing them with kindness.

Thanks so much, Tee!
They sound very fascinating.
Maybe I better start with only a couple to figure them out.....

That's a wise idea. They are sometimes finicky little things.

Chelle, did your roses arrive from Brushwood?

No, they didn't, but I had noted in the "special instructions" box not to send until Spring if they weren't fully dormant - glad to see that they're honoring that request.

Which ones did you order?

Just 3 of one kind - I only allowed myself to shop from the "discount rack" this time. I've other roses ordered elsewhere, so I'm pretty much at my personal limit for new roses for the year.

Polka Climbing Rose is what I have coming from Brushwood. Scented. Yum!

How beautiful, Chelle! Love it and scented, too!

It's somewhat similar to the Pink Grootendorst that isn't scented, that's on the way...I'm kicking around the idea of planting them together....just a mass of pink crinkles with a (hopefully) lovely scent. Oooh, wait! I have White Grootendorst coming too...which ones do you all think would be the best en masse? All of those three?
Maybe mirror plantings of them? Well, as mirrored as possible considering that there will be three of each?

I've massed a few different varieties of Climbers that just arrived.
I'll let 'em duke it out for "best rose". LOL.

That's my new 2011 rose philosophy too, Janice. After gazing at photos of others' rose gardens I have definitely decided I don't care so much for the one rose here, one rose there, type of planting. I'm endeavoring to change that scenario now....a bit at a time.

Wow, that is a gorgeous rose, Chelle. I've never heard of Brushwood before, do you often order from them?

Just since this Spring. Love, love how they package and ship their really nice-sized plants! Plus, no matter the order size, shipping is extremely reasonable.

One vine I ordered form them and planted in like, June(???) is already nearly a full-sized plant! Nice and full too, not just a single long runner..... and full of buds. I'm really happy with them, and their plants!

Clematis 'Crystal Fountains', a new plant I received from them this summer....it must have had a dozen blooms on it this Fall, even after the shock and stress of planting it at the beginning of our dry season.

Gorgeous!

nice clems celle.

Thanks so much!

I waited four years (I think, might have been longer) to order this one....been slavering over it ever since I first saw it, so I'm overjoyed that it's doing well.

******

Has anyone here grown Cineraria? I'm reading that it blooms in winter(??)? Does that mean everyone other than those in the extreme southern states are out of luck (for blooms)?