Hey Jeri,

Thanks for the beautiful bloom image of Prospero! You have convinced, "enabled", me to want, want, want a plant of this rose over many years,. Though I think you agree, it is better grafted, especially for we Northerners. I tried to get a grafted plant from Palatine Roses this spring and was too late in ordering. So: :"No Prospero for you Rick!"

I did however get a plant of Tradescant, for which Prospero is the seed parent. It is doing extremely well for me here in the South Okanagan and reminds me very much of Propspero in bloom form, colour and size. So, I must go out and take an image or two of Tradescant and post them seperately so we can compare Prospero and Offspring.

Bottom line, I do not have Prospero yet, but Tradescant is a worthy alternative.

Cheers, Rick

Oh, Jeri - that must have been so disappointing. Dr. Huey - ugh! A rusty mess...

I wish Prospero was offered grafted more readily...

Oh, man ... SO DO I!

Rick's right. It's a poor thing on its own roots. And I love it so much.

Methinks Rick needs to learn to bud graft his own roses!

Good luck with that. I've only been able to encourage two, perhaps three people to take that plunge in YEARS. They do love doing it, though! It's so EASY! FAR easier than rooting many of these damned things.

You know, Kim ... I think part of it is not being particularly interested in growing the rootstock plants.

You already do...Fortuniana and Gloire des Rosomanes. Many others also grow roses which are useful for stocks. Most ramblers, including Mel's Heritage, should easily work. How many grow Veilchenblau, De la Grifferaie, Russelliana? "Stock" doesn't have to mean "Huey".

Well, you are right. I do.

But I don't know that either of them is virus-free (I suspect my Ragged Robin is, but have no proof). Still, I also don't know that my Prospero is, either (though it came from Canada, very early) since I know for sure that plants directly from Austin, UK, were virused (such as 'The Dark Lady').

I guess what I meant was that I'm not up for growing MORE rootstock plants!

OH, and De la Grifferaie already died here in Alkaline-land. Not trying again with Veilchenblau or Russelliana!