Pinstripe and Rainbows End are very good roses. Both are must haves in my garden. Pinstripe is always in bloom. Both have a nice bush shape as well. I've heard that Irresistible can get quite tall for a mini, but I don't grow it so can't verify that. So where is your Nor' East and Bridges wish list (LOL).

Maryl, I said help me *narrow* my choices. Not throw me to the wolves! LOL.

Suz

The ones that should do very well in your area are; Irresistable, Rainbows End, Fancy Pants, Mothers Love, Ruby Ruby, Fall Festival, Candy Sunblaze(yes, all the Sunblaze series mini roses make great garden roses). Also, three minis that are must have are Pierrine, Sweet Melody and Incognito. And if you have room for one more, get Odessa. This way you have a good color spread with some great minis.

Irresistable and Incognito are nice minis, but will get taller than 24". Trickster and Herbie have stayed small for me, but it could just be their locations.

Irresistible is the only one we grow. {{gwi:1201276}} (thumbnails, click to see full photo) is my favorite mini and one of the best roses I've ever grown. {{gwi:1201195}} starts the year 6 inches tall after pruning in April and is over 3 feet tall by the end of July. I can only imagine how tall it would get if it started the season taller....

Thanks, Dave, if I get Irresistible, I'll have to let you know how big she gets with my nearly 12 month growing season.

Suz

Suz, I got to thinking about our Irresistible. It shoots up to 3 feet tall and then then doesn't get much taller. It dawned on me a couple days ago.... my brain housing group wasn't engaged. Dee Bennett's daughter, Sue OBrien, is a good friend. Duh! Why not ask her how tall Irresistible gets? Sue says that Irresistible won't get much over 3 feet tall even in warm zones. Some of her pics look like the bush is bigger in diameter than it is tall though. The mother plant at Tiny Petals is pretty impressive even after being cut back.

Thank you, Dave. That'll help me plant it wisely.

Suz

My Irresistable hasn't gotten taller than 3 ft and it's been in the ground for about 4 years.

Suz, have you actually ordered any minis yet? I've got a shipment of 72 due in this week which we're selling at the Home & Garden Show. Coming in from Nor'East (which is now in the Southwest). Dunno what they're shipping since it's cheaper to leave the choice to them. Always good stuff and I'm just about positive there will be at least one Cupcake in there. Hopefully, they know I meant the rose and not some iced little piece of crumbly stuff.

About half my yard is miniatures, lol. They're addictive and sneaky. When you're not looking, they jump into your bag, cart, or hands and go home with you.

I should have listened to Sue back in 2001 when we got Irresistible and given it a little more elbow room. I just figured it was a mini and I could plant it between some of our established roses. We have 2 more coming in spring and they will have more room.

For folks that remember Sue OBrien. A couple months ago, Sue moved to Silver Springs, NV where Tiny Petals relocated a couple years ago. She just married the pastor of the local church and they are gallivanting around on their honeymoon. That San Diego gal is still trying to adjust to living where it snows and I'm having a great time teasing her about it :) Says she isn't going to have any roses at her new home..... yeah, sure.

Not sure about the other Mini Rose companies but I know from past experience that Nor'East offers a quantity discount....I believe 10% off if you order 10 or more.

My fav Nor'East varieties are:
Behold
Absolutely
Fireworks
Childs Play

Haven't ordered this one yet as it is new for 2005 but it sure looks beautiful:

Harm Saville.

Best of luck

I know this doesn't help, but you definitely need Michel Cholet, Irresistible, Jean Kenneally, Autumn Splendor, Incognito, Denver's Dream, Cupcake, Dee Bennett & Soropomist International. Oh, I forgot Raspberry Punch. I think you should get all the ones on your list and let us know how you like them.