LolaTasmania said:
I have learned to love the choices I have rather than go lusting after things that are unavailable. That doesn't mean I don't have a wish list but I am not on a mission to find unicorns when a pretty white horse will do. 
Lola,
You are stating something quite interesting at least to me...
When is enough,
really enough?
I guess the answer first is very personal and unique...just like life.
With roses, it all depends what I'm searching for. Sometimes it can be a break-through in breeding for a trait that I'm looking to have here and someone in the other end of the world has found it. In that case all efforts are justified. There's always the trade-off of gain versus cost ( hassle, plus quarantine, plus down right prohibitions, plus expense etc.) Is it worth it?. The answer is personal. Sometimes one is called to impossible missions. Then one should pursue them!
However, on the contrary one should be very honest with oneself and avoid falling into self-deceit. Following a lustful path leads to easily self-deception. The awareness between the two may even be just subtle. I guess this degree of understanding is the type of deep spiritual wisdom that arises after decades of rose growing. I'm a long way from achieving that....
: my roses are teaching me patiently on a daily basis.
As years go by and watch others tending their gardens, I feel blessed to be part of the rose growers community: silently roses are doing their teaching, while we tend to believe, otherwise the contrary. Living with my roses as part of a much wider journey has only added nuances, gracefulness and joy!
Arturo
PS. I just rolled through your pictures of your very many DA's. Very few are available here, whilst some of mine are unavailable there. I've yet to study if there's a pattern to what was introduced where, and also when. In any case it tells about DA UK and also the way they "see" the world. Extant varieties also show which still are being grown locally. It is also a good description of local market values. DA is very much influenced by contemporary market thinking ( for the better or the worse). I tend to disagree with that view, since restricted offer is conditioning demand. But fixing that, yes ,
would become a unicorn searching mission
, Penny
I can't understand it. I even went back again if by chance I had misread but no, there they are listed. BTW your AlexandraRose pic is particularly striking. Is it from your yard?
