Mike, I remember while working in the campus greenhouse in college that cut Carnations sometimes had a little growth tip coming off the main stem, and we would root them easily. That may be a good way to get some of those going in your garden. I see those little sprouts more often on miniature carnations, and I've noticed those are more often fragrant than the larger ones too.
Most of the cut Roses sold in this country do come from Ecuador these days, and a lot of other cut flowers too. I prefer working with the Roses grown in California though (for weddings)- they have a garden rose quality that I like.
I LOVE Crocosmia! As in Chelle's pics, I think the foliage is a gorgeous structural accent even when they're not blooming. I only have 'Lucifer' now, but those yellow ones and some of the others I've seen in catalogs have me wanting more.
