Hi Crow, years ago I ordered my first Twilight Zone (the first year it was available) from Edmunds, and I was very pleased. It's been a great rose that I still grow. Right after I'd gotten TZ, Edmunds was not allowed to ship to Idaho, and neither could Jackson & Perkins. But that has changed, and they are now able to ship their roses here. I would definitely order a rose from Edmunds now, and probably J & P, which sells Double Easy Orange, a rose I have wanted. Why don't you make a trip to Boise and buy some 5 gallon roses from Edwards this spring? Check their rose list on Edwards' website. Diane

Kristine, thanks so much, I appreciate your input and experience. When I first wanted to make a rose garden, I had no experience whatever and no idea of how to amend heavy clay soil, I just dug a hole and in they went. I am amazed that any of them survived my ignorance. Then we had a decades long battle with thistle. We finally won that battle and last year was the best year ever with our roses which valiantly bloomed all summer long and we were thrilled. I am now addicted and cannot stop buying roses and every time I read about an outstanding rose on this forum, I MUST have it! I am forever lost to the beauty and romance of the rose and I love learning from all of you here.

Diane, I love your suggestion of making a trip to Boise! I need no rose buying trip excuse because my daughter and granddaughters and greats live in the Boise area - adding a rose buying excursion would be frosting on that cake! I would buy you lunch at a place of your choosing and would pick your brain on your rose growing secrets, what fun we would have! The only bad part of that would be that now I have ordered so many roses online that I would have no place at all to plant more! We are so old and decrepit that hubby is sick of my asking him to make new beds for roses. Oh my, what to do? I keep him constantly running with the trailer to bring more horse manure compost and all other things related, I feel guilty. He is sweet about it all but I know his heart is not quite as "into it" as mine is. Five gallon roses from Edwards is a dream. I am SO tempted!!! Crow

Crow, I noticed that you just ordered Apricot Candy, and Edwards has that in 5 gallon for $40. They also have Moonlight Romantica, which I love, but don't need or have the room for a yellow rose. There are many others they have that I want--sigh. No space. I can't believe that you are that old! I'm 77 and still dig holes, and sling compost. And you have great grandkids. Wow. Just grands for me currently. Diane

Crow, based on my recent experience with Edmunds, I'm not a fan, but several folks here have had good recent results, so go with it and make up your own mind. You don't know unless you try yourself! I was a long-time regular customer back when the family owned it, but didn't order after Jung's bought it. After a break of many years, I ordered 5 in 2020, and 8 in 2021. My hypothesis is that Edmunds chooses their worst roses for the folks who get them first (like So. Calif.) b/c the rest of the customers' roses need to sit in storage longer. My 2020 order had one mis-labeled. My 2021 order had one that died and one that was close to death and is still in the ICU. Many had canes that were beat to s**t; none were what I'd call good #1 bare roots. All of them took at least a year to be what my normal bare roots usually are in year one. But most are doing fine or okay now. Personally, I'd probably only order from them if I really needed a rose only they carried, which was what originally brought me back to them, b/c I wanted another Tineke and Maria Shriver, which only they carry.

I had a good experience with Edmunds last year. They accidentally sent me two of one variety, so I got an extra bush for free, and all of the roses looked good. However most of my choices were newer varieties; I ordered from Edmunds because they were the only ones that still had them in stock. So I wonder if the growers had a lot of good sized grade 1s.

Wow!!! I've just read this thread for the first time. What FABULOUS roses!!! Purple and yellow beauties...amazing!

Diane, I'm right there with you in age and constantly in disbelief that it happened so quickly! How can it be? The last time I was at Edwards was years ago and they had a beautiful stand of Joe Pye Weed that I loved. I bought plants and had my own stand for a few years but it eventually died out from lack of water, I think. How I wish I could buy Apricot Candy for $40 from Edwards as well as Moonlight Romantica! I have 16 roses on order from Edmunds - I am hoping they will be good healthy ones. When I do come to Boise again, possibly this summer, perhaps we could go to Edwards together and have lunch. What a fun day that would be!

Susan, thanks so much for your assessment of Edmunds, I appreciate reviews based on experience. My trouble is that I jump in impulsively before I know what I will be getting! I want fast results and don't want to wait 3 or 4 years to see good results which is probably not very realistic but I am addicted to instant gratification! Yikes. All I can do now is hope for the best and learn by doing. I love the area you live in, we vacationed there a few years ago. I also am in love with Carmel by the Sea! Everywhere I looked were beautiful roses and gorgeous landscaping and the most charming "Fairytale Houses!"

Ryan, thank you and glad that you had a good experience with Edmunds. I am hoping for the best, fingers crossed. I need to hire several full time gardeners just to get all the roses I have on order planted - my eyes are much bigger than my abilities!!! Thank goodness for pots and the resilience of roses!

Crow, I'll write more later, but was happy to see your comment about Carmel, which I first visited as a child, and continued to visit until recent years. My favorite aunt and uncle, plus one son, lived there. How I loved that place. I guess the first fairy tale home was built by a man to house his wife's Rose O'Neill Kewpie collection. My mom collected those for years, so I got a kick out of knowing that. My aunt gave me a wonderful illustrated book about Carmel. Now, I've got to go look at it again. Did you just visit there? I'm so jealous. I don't travel anymore for a variety of reasons, so I haven't been back in a long time. Diane

Diane, we visited Carmel five years ago and we were utterly enchanted! My mother (Mam) spoke about it so often, she had worked there while my dad was in basic training before shipping overseas during WWII. I found a lovely book as a gift for her showcasing the Story Book houses of Carmel and I just had to go there. We loved it so much. We lunched at Clint Eastwood's "Hog's Breath Inn", hubby had a "Dirty Harry Burger!" We roamed the streets photographing the awesome houses, visited Carmel Mission and drove along Pebble Beach Golf Course, visited antiques shops, played on the beaches, adored Monterey Aquarium, took thousands of photos and had an absolutely wonderful time. I would love to go back again. The town has a very peaceful vibe and it is fantastically gorgeous. Then we went to Big Sur and on to visit Hearst Castle. It was a perfect vacation and a bit different from the National Parks we had been visiting as I was engaged in landscape photography at the time. Fun memories! Crow

Crow, speaking of impulsive... After my unsatisfactory experience with Edmunds in 2020, I vowed not to order from them again. But I still wanted a new Maria Shriver (which was the mis-labeled one), and they had a few other roses I really wanted. In Jan 2021, I got a shot in my ongoing bad hip that helped a lot, and two days later, I ordered 8 roses from Edmunds. Definitely an impulsive purchase... I blame the shot :-D

Susan, I so understand! It's always so disappointing to receive less than expected when ordering online. I'm glad the shot in your hip helped you feel so much better! Did the roses you ordered from Edmunds in 2021 do well? I'm a bit worried because I have 16 on order from them. The worst part of ordering so many and then having to wait years for them to mature is that I am OLD now and don't have time to wait around!!! HaHa! I once babied a climbing red rose for 5 solid years and then reached out to Pat at RU who told me that she would never baby a rose that long. She then told me which rose would be a "good" rose to replace it with and wow, was she ever right. I have Amadeus at her suggestion over the arbor going into our back yard and it took off from the beginning and has been a stellar plant. Here's a photo:

It blooms all summer long in gigantic clusters, one of which makes a huge bouquet which lasts for many many days in the house. Experience is our best teacher but it sure helps to talk to people who already have that experience, saving us rookies many years of grief!

I agree Crow, I am running out of years so I want pretty quick gratification. I am brutal with the shovel. Just show me something. Show me that you are trying or you are . Desmond tutu is on his last chance. He may have to be back in a pot to free up his prime spot.

My biggest project will be changing out potted Munstead and Darcy and getting them in to fresh soil. So not looking forward to that job but it is past time.

Kristine, that is so funny! I have Desmond Tutu and have been thinking of taking him out but hubby loves him. He has been a prolific bloomer but like yours, he is taking prime real estate space and there are others I would rather have there. Since hubby loves Tutu and since he has been a great performer, i.e., healthy and never out of bloom, I will leave him. If more space is needed, we have acres of lawn from which to make new beds although hubby might be getting sick and tired of making new beds for me!

My Desmond got moved last year and I dont think that I have even seen a bloom since

So because he got moved he gets a break but he is on thin ice.

Kristine, he must be sulking now. I had some Bonica roses who did the same after I pruned them. I had read somewhere that Bonica really does not appreciate pruning but I pruned her anyway and she totally rebelled, hated it. Only after a couple of years did she begin to bloom again. I think they have minds of their own! Since I have begun talking to and praising my roses, they are all competing now to be the the very best! Flattery, you know. Crow

eThe pic with Amadeus is maginificent. What is the huge red bush in the backround?

Vaporvac, thank you so much. The red rose in the background is a Flower Carpet Red, believe it or not. I put it in long ago and have thoroughly neglected it - I prune it every couple of years with my hedge trimmer which leaves it ragged, I almost never feed or water it and it absolutely thrives! Poor thing, I feel guilty because it pours its heart out in blooms all summer long for me. I'm almost afraid to start giving it some good care, it might be so shocked it would croak! Crow

Crow, I have found that placement of the shovel where the rose is bound to see it also works

I will try sweet talk and see which method works.

And just to keep this topic on track, I love Twilight Zone.

HaHa! Shovel placement is crucial, for sure. I am so excited to have 3 Twilight Zone plants on order. Is anyone else out there EAGER for spring and rose gardening?

Crow - GASP!!!! That picture is heavenly!!! Your Amadeus is utterly stunning and it frames the equally fabulous rose bush behind it!! I'm in love with your roses!!! I'm still waiting for rose lists to come up...so I'm laser-focused on that right now. Once the new lists come up, and I've ordered more roses...then I'll be EAGER for spring. :) :)

Thank you so much, rosecanadian (Carol?). What a very sweet compliment, it means a lot to me. Which rose lists are you waiting for? I will share my rose plants with you!!! I have so many on order there is no way humanly possible for me to get them all planted. I am much too impulsive and get myself into trouble. At least it's "good trouble!"

I was at the Grange yesterday and they have their bare root roses out. I was looking for Sheila's Perfume which they didn't have but they did have Twilight Zone and Ebbtide

I may go back and grab a Twilight Zone.

Crow - both are from Canadian vendors who don't ship to the states...but they're Wildwood and Phoenix Perennials. :):) I just ordered Gabriel Oak, Eustacia Vie and Harlow Carr from Phoenis...but more roses are going to be added in February...but I'm looking daily for the Wildwood one. :) :) You have too many roses...that sounds familiar to most of us here. :) :)

Kristine - yes!! Get a Twilight Zone. :) :)

rosecanadian, I hope you find those you are looking for! I have Gabriel Oak (2) and Eustacia Vie (7) on order from DA Roses. I plan to use Eustacia in groups of 3 with one to spare, sure hope she doesn't outgrow our farm!

Kristine - yes!! Get a Twilight Zone. :) :)

What a bunch of enablers

@Kristine LeGault 8a pnw is right...what a bunch of enablers. My partner and I split our garden so that I get the front and he gets the back. I wonder what he'd do if my rose collection started to flow into his agave and cactus collection? It's the only thing I can do after reading about these tremendous roses and seeing Diane's sumptuous pics.

Robert, thanks, and I'd like to see photos of your partner's cactus and agave. Way, way back when I was first starting a little flower gardening, I had the cheeriest collection of little cacti growing in my kitchen window. They were quite happy there where they grew for several years. But, I lost them due to repeated moving, and I still miss those little guys. Wouldn't your partner like some mysterious dark purple roses flowing into his collection. I'd think purples would look good with cactus and agave. Diane

A few succulents in a bowl, 2022. That's as far as I got, inching toward cactus-ha. I have the bowl above overwintering in the garage. No watering. So far so good, but the next couple of months will be crucial.

Those succulent pots look terrific @Diane Brakefield!! And in total transparency, I did convince him last summer to bring in a few roses (altissimo, all my loving, and about face)--so that's a good start. It would be much more difficult for you to grow these because most would not be hardy--and it's an absolute nightmare lugging them in and out every year.

Here are some images from the backyard--a mixture of cactus, agave, succulents, and tropicals.

Absolutely amazing and beautiful, Robert. I want to comment more later, But I'm so impressed. I'm moving to Portland! Diane

Robert, whether roses or succulents, everything that you guys do is perfection.. Everything is so well thought out and interesting.

Im still drooling over your green house and wondering where I can sneak one in.

Awww thank you so much @Diane Brakefield and @Kristine LeGault 8a pnw

Hello all! I’ve been reading and loving this thread for awhile now. I finally have land of my own to fill with gardens and fruit trees! I have some roses on order from DA—Lady of Shalott, Roald Dahl, Gabriel Oak, Golden Celebration, and Boscobel.

I’m a little concerned that I made the wrong choice with GO after reading a few other threads—I suspect I could still change the order since i just placed it. My concen is that GO doesn’t seem to grow well for many people and the color seems to be more of an unexciting pink than the hot, deep deep, two-tone pink and magenta its advertised as. Can anyone weigh in on this variety? Thank you!

Jena-upstate NY-6b

Jena, GO is definitely the deep deep, two-tone pink and magenta it's advertised as in my garden. The coloring is not boring in the least!

Two photos from my garden (not great photos, sorry):

(the ones in the center are Gabriel Oak... Life of the Party is behind it)

@User Thank you so much for the immediate and super helpful reply!

I’m also curious—has anyone grown ET in 6b? DA’s site says 6b is too cold for ET, but other nursery pages list the rose as hardy to 4. I’m on a slope above one of the finger lakes in upstate NY. I suspect it’s a microclimate and actually closer to 7 (Cornell has an orchard just below me and there used to be a vineyard on my property). But if anyone else has experience trying to grow either of these in a cooler climate, I’d love to hear about it!

Jena, up until 2012, Boise was a 6B. Now we are a precarious zone 7 in the desert hills ourside Boise, Idaho. I've grown two Ebb Tides since 2006 the year ET was first introduced, and a third ET for about 10 years. All three plants are quite cold hardy and grafted. I'd go ahead and try ET in your climate. I have also grown two Twilight Zone plants since their introduction. They are a little darker than ET, but not much. I like TZ a little better as a purple, but both roses are excellent. Diane

Ebb Tide

Twilight Zone

Only one? That’s tough, but I’d definitely go with Twilight Tide.

Oh Ben…. 😂😂😂

Why not both? That's supposed to be a joke, guys. They are both wonderful roses. And if you want some fun you can grow The Clown Prince, Wild Blue Yonder. Love those great Carruth roses. Diane

Wild Blue Yonder

Don't go with that nutty clown above. Come with me, my sweet little chickadee says TZ.

Thanks, Diane! I’ll try them both.

I grow both, too and don't know which one to recommend over the other. Ben's suggestion of Twilight Tide is a good one 😅

I did pick up a Twilight Zone from a local nursery. Had one a few years ago that was so heavy with blooms that when a wind storm came it split right in two. But, I really live the color so got another one .

Diane - oooh la la!!! Your TZ is a serious player! lol Smooch!!

Ben - Twilight Tide...love your wit!

Diane

Can you compare and contrast the fragrance of the two?

Carla

I have both, like TZ much better!

ET

TZ

Am I slow on the uptake? I just got the Twilight Tide joke a minute ago, Ben. But then, I'm older that dirt, so what can you expect?

Carla, I'm awful on scents, so please someone else answer your question. Ebb Tide has the stronger scent, to me a lovely sweet one, that is quite unusual. But, as I said, please don't take my word for it.

Elena, lovely pair of roses. I like TZ a little better, too. It's larger and has a nicer plant shape, and the blooms are a little bigger than ETs. And it's a little darker than ET. Lots of little reasons, I guess. Diane

Carla

I’d say Ebb Tide is definitely the stronger fragrance, an old rose /lemon scent. Twilight Zone might have a bit of a clove note to it, but otherwise similar, but lighter scent.

Diane

Overall, I prefer Twilight Zone too, the larger plant with the larger bloom, but it’s a tough choice, ergo Twilight Tide. I like them both better than Celestial Night, which is probably the strongest and most disease resistant of the three , but the least purple and least fragrant.

Elena

That’s an especially nice pic of TZ framed by the Hosta, not two plants you’d think could grow so great next to each other.

I ended up shovel pruning a grafted TWILIGHT ZONE (Grandiflora, Tom Carruth, U.S., 2009) because it never gave me the deep purple seen in photos. I waited three years but in my garden the color was burgundy. I did like the vigorous growth habit, nearly thornless canes, Old Garden Rose flower form, and strong fragrance.

I almost purchased EBB TIDE (Floribunda, Tom Carruth, U.S., 2001) at the garden center some years back. The bloom on the potted plant was a true tyrian purple. My husband insisted I not get it as he found the color "weird" and described it like a bad bruise. If I ever see it again, I am taking it home. My husband can just deal with it.

I tried growing MIDNIGHT BLUE (Floribunda, Tom Carruth, U.S., 2001) but the poor own root band could not handle my clay soil and refused to grow. Another disappointing rose that languished for 3-years before I performed a mercy killing. Didn't even need a hand spade to dig it out. A firm grip and a good yank was all it took.

WILD BLUE YONDER (Grandiflora, Tom Carruth, U.S., 2003) was yet again disappointing. I was hoping for an upgrade on the always problematic Angel Face (which it resembles in photos) but the color was more red/magenta and not the rich mauve as advertised. Another one of Carruth's "purple" roses that ended up in a date with La Madame de Shovel.

As you can see, I have a weakness for mauve roses.

Midnight Blue has been great for me. It has a strong fragrance, reblooms a lot and is a medium sized , branchy plant.

Some burgundy tones

I'm curious about Twilight Zone . Some say it's not a good plant but plainly it is for some people. I had an Ebb Tide a long time ago that was puny and didn't make it.

Erasmus - Oh my!!! Your first and last pictures are to die for!!!!