Bringing this up to date, on that second order I subsequently received five more roses: Mrs. Lovell Swisher, Fifi, S.E.A. of Love, Sweet Dreams, and Victoriana. Those came more than a week ago, and since then -- nothing. So it looks as though the roses on my second list were even more popular than the ones on the first. I received only 15 out of 40.
Today, however, I ordered another 42, so we'll see what happens with the third order. He still has about 4,000 roses left, but I'm obviously choosing ones that other rose lovers also wanted.
I know I had said I'd never try to grow another Victoriana after buying three bands, nursing them along for years, and watching them ultimately die without ever growing much at all, but Cliff's roses aren't bands. I expect this one to thrive. It has at least 7 or 8 canes instead of being a tiny one-cane wonder.
This really is the most fun I've had in years. Doesn't that make my life sound pathetic?
