To tell the truth my healthiest roses have come from Palatine but I've gotten wonderful roses from northland rosarium , Reagan's. roses unlimited, high country roses, all great.

Depending on where you live I would say try to support your local nursery.

if you are from the SanFrancisco Bay Area (EAST BAY) I would say there are two.

1) Sunol (Calaveras) (Best for rare Plant)

2) Fremont (Regan’s) (Best for Roses)

I'm from NJ

i Would suggest to look at 2 sites that I know

1) Weeks Roses (CA Based)

2) David Austin Roses (TX Based)

Looking for any specific color ?

If you want to deal with maidens (newly budded on R. multiflora), then Wisconsin Roses. They will start out small, but mature in 3 years. You can try Regan and Witherspoon, both sell high-quality bareroots, most of their plants are grafted on Dr. Huey. I would stay away from own root HTs in NJ, they just don't seem to thrive.

How about ones that start out big and mature fast; I'm almost 80!

Wow bayarea_girl :) what a beauty. I am very jealous you can go in person to awesome places and get something like this.

Diane, I feel blessed that I live in a driving distance from Regan, too. Helen

Unfortunately, the local nurseries in NJ don't overwinter roses, and probably don't have any left now. The West Jersey Rose Society has a rose sale every year, they get their plants from a local (NJ) canner, very high quality. They will make arrangement for pick up of the plants for those not nearby (they have someone from Virginia who orders from them every year). Contact them, they will have their list available in February, delivery in April.