My town DID get in some body-bags & peat-pot planted roses.

Lowes--very few so far, Some potted Knock-outs, Chrysler Imperial & maybe 2-3 others.

Home Depot--had Sombreuil, Souvenir del la Malmaison & some old HTs like Joseph's Coat. Picked up the 2 ogrs. They were in long body bags but the roots were no more than 6". Canes look very good & healthy--about 3 each, bit more than pencil-width. Distributed by Mea Nursey.

H.E.B.--Some old HTs--Bluegirl, John F. Kennedy, Queen Elizabeth, Tropicana, Double Delight, Angel Face. A few OGS marked as "Earthkind"--Duchesse de Brabant, Cl. Pinkie, Caldwell Pink, Belinda's Dream, Mrs. Dudley Cross, Spice, Mutabilis
Distributed by Lone Star Nursery.

I picked up a peat-pot DD, AF & Cl. Peace. Heavy canes, waxed, thick roots, healthy-looking tho. chopped (Dr Huey?). Picked up Mrs. Dudley. Looked at Pinkie & put it back. Came back & it was gone--it was a dang fine looking plant--must have had 20 good canes. The ogrs aren't waxed. The store puts out only 8-10 every few days & they change. First day had only 2-4 varieties, few days later Mrs. Dudley was out. Guess it's good marketing--keeps me checking.

Last year I planted a Spice & Duchesse from them--the plants sulked but are looking very well this spring. The ogrs are higher--$10 compared to $8 for the old HTs.

I've had fair results from the bargain roses when I pick them up as soon as they appear, give them a good soak before planting & plant them in a great, well-amended hole.

Don't know what WM has, I HATE to trade with them, have gotten lousy, mis-marked plants when I used to. Years back, I picked up 3 different Katherine T. Marshals from 3 different WMs as I was traveling early one spring, for a friend who loved that old HT. Not ONE was labelled correctly & all died. Cured me.

The locally owned nursery has several splendid Mutabilis in 10 gallon cans, no other roses. Last year they stocked good potted Knock-outs later on.

Have mixed feelings about buying these plants. I DO occasionally because: they are older plants hard to find at local nurseries (I suppose that may be cause & effect--nurseries don't find it worth stocking older plants when the big box stores offer them as body-bags at cost) & the plants are worth a shot because they are priced cheaper than bands & are considerably larger.

Anyway, that's my spring haul