Rogue Valley Roses -
http://www.roguevalleyroses.co... - has one of the more interesting and extensive catalogues, IMO, and is an exclusive source for Paul Barden Roses. I find that it is possible to spend many hours browsing there because of their practice of stocking old and hard to find classics. Emily Gray springs to mind.
One example that was on my order is Chic, a Boerner floribunda that was once out of commerce and of which Botanica's Roses wrote over a decade ago "some rose experts consider it extinct." Boerner's Diamond Jubilee I ordered, too. Also on the order was the perfectly formed deep apricot hybrid tea rose Belle Epoque. RVR carries a nice line of Kordes roses including the remarkable red and white climbers Sympathie and Else Krohn Superior. And I could not resist the promise of abundant fragrance associated with Secret Garden Musk.
I was delighted to be able to order Desiree Parmentier, a gallica with mid pink blossoms that are deeply cupped and possess a kind of formal perfection. And I look forward to seeing Crested Damask and SIren's Keep growing in the same field of view behind a patch of lavender.
I will freely admit that some of their roses seem a little less developed than the bands that I got from Vintage Gardens; but then the VG roses were mostly ready to ship late fall and I asked for a delay of nearly half a year. These, however, I ordered just weeks ago. I must also say that on rare occasion, I have received what I consider to be rooted cuttings from VG, and all of the roses from RVR struck me as being materially beyond that stage.
Included in the order was a number of freebies. And I was surprised with how big that number actually was. I got 3 split stem roses: Duet, Mme Alfred Carriere, Mme Isaac Perreire, and 3 mystery roses.
My garden is beginning to bulge at the seams. Not sure how I will spend rose-ordering season next year. Maybe travelling. LOL.
