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odyssey3

Would you be happy with this order from Rogue Valley Roses?

3 years ago

I just opened this order from RVR and I know they are bands, but I was not expecting such small, leafless things. Would you be ok with this order? Would you ask for replacements? I feel very disappointed in them. I thought I would at least get leaves! These are not bareroot.


Comments (91)

  • 3 years ago

    Most of the roses I get come defoliated, regardless of who I buy from. With Heirloom usually the leaves have begun sprouting again, but I've had a lot where it takes a few days. See how they do after a few days and contact them if something's wrong.

  • 3 years ago

    I don't buy many roses these days, but when I do, I expect them to arrive leafless. If they have any old foliage left on them, I strip it off. Why? It helps suppress any fungal pathogens present on the old foliage. Removing the foliage helps the customer have a clean start with their new plants, and so they are doing the buyer a favor.

    The only reason all mail order rose nurseries don't do it is because there would be many customers complaining loudly about the practice.

  • 3 years ago

    Thank you Erasmus for your kind note. Grey pallor does not sound good at all. Did that vendor replace the rose for you? Hope so. I planted mine up into one gallon pots yesterday and have them under my tree with my orchids until they acclimate a bit. I will be watching them carefully. I have grown both these before at other houses and both were favorites. Dames de Chenonceau was a beautiful, beautiful shrub that I lost to Rose Rosette. I was gutted. I realize I seem to have a period of morning for roses lost to RRD such that it takes me a while to replace the exact variety. Maybe it take a bit for me to stop associating it with sadness. I have reached that point especially because I am in a different location. Coral Dawn is a delight. I actually stumbled upon that shrub at a nursery and bought it on a lark. It grew to be a favorite. I had grown Awakening at another house and while it was beautiful, but I prefer the color and form of Coral Dawn. When I moved to FL I brought a lot of my roses with me in pots, but Coral Dawn was just too big to dig up and fit. I will be very happy to have it in my garden again. Surprisingly few vendors stock it. I was surprised it was not more common. Interesting to hear that yours started smaller.

    Today I ordered Fragrant Blush and Pioneer Spirit from ARE, to meet my desire for leafed out roses. They'll ship the first week in January. The heart wants what the heart wants.


  • 3 years ago

    I've got them potted up and will be watching and will let you know Aaron. Thanks. Humid and a good bit of rain today-that should help.

  • 3 years ago

    I think the plants are ok. That is what their roses typically look like. I've gotten smaller plants from Freedom Gardens. Some made it and some didn't...

  • 3 years ago

    They should be okay!
    Defoliation is common due to ag requirements or, as this appears, shipping stress.
    Water them. Love them. Pot them up if you wish.
    I live on the wild side and put my bands from RVR directly into the ground here in my Z5b. I've never lost a band from RVR yet, and though they take time to mature, they'll get there!

    Steven

  • 3 years ago
    last modified: 3 years ago

    P.S. I was hoping to perhaps learn something of the offensive word mentioned by Mischievous, but couldn't find it and can't for life of me guess what it would be. Oops. I must truly live innocent and naively to not know! Thank goodness.

    Oh, and as far as mislabels from RVR go, my only one so far was a Reveil Dijonnais labelled 'Goldbusch'. Yet, you know what? Reveil Dijonnais was on my list of subs, so in a way it worked out for that. Rose for rose, I have had more mislabels from David Austin Roses USA than anywhere else. Hortico is currently second- their Crimson Glory is not. At least what I got wasn't!

    Steven

  • 3 years ago

    Steven, Magpie called me out on the use of the word gyped as it is a derogatory slang of Gypsy.

  • 3 years ago
    last modified: 3 years ago

    I just ordered from RVR 2 months ago, got same one cane little things. Their plants tend to survive despite the look. I have received perfect big plants with all the leaves but went down slope ever since and eventually died. Don't worry.

  • 3 years ago

    Thanks all and Merry Christmas. I am surprised (and pleased) that the smaller shrub, DdC, is starting to leaf out while the climber, CD, is in suspended animation. Fits what Magpie was saying upthread that even though CD is a big climber, its growth rate may be slower. I'll update again...

  • 3 years ago
    last modified: 3 years ago

    Yes, I usually have no issues with there Rose's. I got one, one year, I did ask about. It was when I first started ordering. I posted a picture of it, though the picture, looked better than the plant. The cane was yellowish. Anyway, they told me to pot it up, and it should shoot up a new cane to replace that baby cane with and it would be fine. It's now 51/2' by 4', so what really counts is roots, and Almost all Rose's received from RVR is well rooted, I honestly can't think of ever receiving one that's not.

    I know we are lucky to have them, despite their mix ups, I continue to order. And the few times I have seen one, they have always attempted to make it right. These nurseries are treasures. They are mom and pop places, not making much money as big box corporations and sharing their love and wealth of Rose's. RVR boosts the biggest collection available, I imagine it is hard to keep up with. I know the Antique Rose Emporium and Rose's Unlimited both ship bigger plants, but they do not nearly have so many Rose's, Although they both have a very nice collection. I think RU boosts the bigger variety, though I haven't really sat down to compare.

    I am glad your Rose's have begun leafing out. I can't wait to see pictures.

    Don't know why I woke in the middle of the night and decided to write a book, lol, but back to bed I go, have a Merry Christmas everyone!

  • 3 years ago

    When they sent me my badly- grown one last year that died, they refused to replace it, despite their "guarantee". Terrible customer service.
    $40 down the drain.

  • 3 years ago

    I have never had one of their plants die. So sorry, sautesmom.

  • 3 years ago

    odyssey3, I also received leafless roses from Rogue Valley Roses a few weeks ago in mid December. Having experienced winter shipping before, the leafless state did not at all alarm me. I immediately potted them up, and all are now leafing out in my warm zone 9 (warmer than usual this year) just as expected.


    Yes, I have had some mislabeled roses from Rogue Valley in the past, but I have also received mislabeled roses from at least 4 other well respected rose nurseries. I will admit that Rogue Valley seems to have a higher percentage of mislabeled roses, but they also sell roses no one else does. As roseseek has pointed out, it is indeed a bit of a gamble with Rogue Valley, but it is one I am willing to take.


    I do hope that you receive leafed out roses from ARE in January, but for future reference you might remember that ARE is in zone 8. It has been warmer than usual this fall and winter here in Texas, so ARE's roses might still have leaves. But in a more usual winter, their roses would quite likely ship with fewer leaves in January.

  • 3 years ago

    Sorry you had a bad experience, sautesmom. I have to say, I have had very good experiences with Rogue. Yes, I've gotten mislabled roses (the one that hurt the most was Umbra, I wanted that rose so much!) But they've always been completely honorable, refunding my $ without question. I think they are a small operation, doing what they do out of love, and I think they might be a little overwhelmed, but they really are a treasure for us rose-lovers in that they carry so many rare varieties. I put in an order with them a few weeks ago, including Amadis, a rose I've been wanting for years that was never in stock - here's hoping it'll actually turn out to BE Amadis when I get it this spring! I should also add that, the few times I've lost a RVR plant, it's been due to my own mistakes or carelessness. Well, and I don't order mystery roses from them because I've gotten ones that are not hardy here (duh! How dumb could I be to not think about this?) But if I take proper care of them, all my RVR roses go on to thrive. Happy Holidays, everybody!

  • 3 years ago

    I visited RVR once. It is on a hill in an area which is all single family homes. The land the nursery is on is basically a very large lot on the top of the hill, with one home on it. Very large for a home lot, but very small for a nursery. When I was there they had roses growing in 2-3 separate gardens, which were overgrown but gorgeous. I had pre-arranged to pick up a rose (Perle d'Or) , as I was visiting relatives who live in Ashland, OR, and it is very close. When I got there, they had no record of my order, but ran around and found one for me. Two weeks after I got home, another Perle d'Or arrived from them. I called them, but they said to keep it, and they never charged me except for one. I had originally wanted Perle d'Or for a friend of mine, so I ended up with an extra one, which of course is still growing in my garden.


    Merry Christmas to everyone! It has been raining here non-stop for 8 days now, and no one is complaining at all!


    Jackie

  • 3 years ago

    Kathy, what a lovely picture, and what a thoughtful young man! So sweet and sensitive of him to get you what you truly wanted. I hope your Deuil de Dr. Reynaud thrives - that's one I will (hopefully) be receiving this spring.

  • 3 years ago

    I do admire Janet Inada at RVRs for hanging in there in her 80s. Not many could do that.

  • 3 years ago

    "I do admire Janet Inada at RVRs for hanging in there in her 80s. Not many could do that."


    Ain't that the truth. Better to be grateful that such an entity as Rogue Valley Roses exists at all, in this era.

  • 3 years ago

    @Kristine ah, indeed I see. Thank you for explaining. I suppose I have heard that term before, but it has been ages! I feel like I imagined it as "gipped" that soft, jelly 'g'. I suppose it goes with many things- like the "rigging" something. To be honest- I was on Google trying to look up curse words with the letter "g" but I didn't get anywhere meaningful! 

    Count me in as someone very thankful for Rogue Valley Roses as well. God bless Janet!

    Merry Christmas guys!

    Steven

  • 3 years ago

    Me as well!🥰 May we always have them :)

  • 3 years ago

    thank uyou @User, I am looking forward to comparing notes with you! =)

  • 3 years ago


    Just thought I'd chime in as someone in a zone 10 climate -- I've had one gallon plants shipped to me from Heirloom Roses, and they DO strip all the leaves for shipping, whether it's in December or June. And I *have* got one gallon pots from them in the middle of the summer, and they sprout new leaves immediately. Heirloom explains why they strip the leaves -- and it's mainly about not stressing the plant during shipping. I got a tiny little band from Burling Leong over the summer - it was so tiny she didn't even charge me full price. It's a Mel's Heritage. I've repotted it twice, going from the tiny band to a one-gallon, to a 3-gallon pot. My Mel's from RVR died on me, but they did refund the money. The one from Burling looked like it was barely past the cutting stage, but it's going strong! Anyway -- the bands you have pictured look much like other bands I've received. I personally don't like buying the bands because I have no patience. But I've learned that for the rare and antique roses, I have to suffer through the long wait...


    Thanks for the history of the word, "gyped", @Kristine LeGault 8a pnw. I learned that a few years ago, and have since learned there are other words I've used all my life and never thought about...like in high school when we wanted to avoid swearing we came up with Zoinks! (from Scooby Doo) and Gadzooks! Years and years later I learned that Gadzooks was old English and was God's Hooks, which was swearing on the nails that crucified Christ! And here we were trying to AVOID that kind of thing. That's also when I learned why "bloody" was considered swearing in old England... Anyway -- thanks for the good reminder. You might like a book by Marilyn McEntyre called "Caring for Words in a Culture of Lies."


    Happy New Year, all!


  • 3 years ago

    Deborah, there are probably a ton of insulting and derogatory terms

    Magpie was the one who brought the meaning of the g word to my attention .

    I have spent more time in my life pulling my foot out of my mouth than is normal.

    I was a tour guide for 18 years and one tour group of Chinese visitors got my classic " chop chop " and I wanted to melt into the carpet never to be seen again

    Geeze, what a major blunder

    You can bet that I never said that again


  • 3 years ago

    My RVR are thankfully leafing out and I do not feel worried about them. Apologies that I took the picture in the grass and contrast is not good. Hope you can see the leaves.



    However, I just got my ARE order and oh my goodness the best packing I have ever seen. Not only protective, but so easy to open because there was no tape. The individual boxes just unfolded.



    And then here they are, big and absolutely beautiful with multiple canes. No twigs here. Fragrant Blush and Pioneer Spirit.



    The kicker is that RVR roses were more expensive--24.95 vs. 22.95 even before shipping. So, I know people here like RVR but I much prefer other vendors that send a bigger rose for less money.

  • 3 years ago

    Curious. Seems to me one of those plants is pretty much leafless, just like the ones you got from RVR!

  • 3 years ago
    last modified: 3 years ago

    Your roses look great! Glad to hear they are doing well. Can't wait to see them bloom! I'd love to see some pictures when they do.

  • 3 years ago

    I would not say that Paul--there look to be more leaves than the one from RVR. And 10 times the size, so I am quite happy. Thank you Mara! Will post back of course on all.

  • 3 years ago

    ARE and RVRs are both good nurseries, odyssey. We need both.

  • 3 years ago

    ARE won't ship to me in Oregon so I'm especially thankful that RVR is here with so many unique roses and OGRs.

  • 3 years ago

    @librarian_gardner_8b_pnw ARE will ship to Oregon, but you have to call your order in and do it in the month of January

  • 3 years ago

    Thanks, @Brandon Garner. That part certainly wasn't clear on their website.

  • 3 years ago

    Do call librarian, Brandon is right, you are right on the verge of getting an order in with ARE. I have done it and the ARE roses arrived bare rooted and did well. They come in pots to other states like when I was in Alaska.

  • 3 years ago
    last modified: 3 years ago

    Librarian, have you also looked at Rose Petals Nursery? They are my favorite for old roses and they do ship to OR. https://www.rosepetalsnursery.com/about-us Of course I cannot say enough good things about ARE too.

  • 3 years ago
    last modified: 3 years ago

    They are both good nurseries, and Sheila is right, we need them both. ARE doesn't have near as many roses as RVR. And they are both treasured. I love Rose petals nursery as well. I am extremely thankful for all nurseries we have. The more people realize these are mom and pop places, that are just sharing their love of Rose's, the better. These are not enterprises, or big companies, they do not make alot of money sharing their love of roses. Most of what they make, I believe goes back into it to keep it going. Think of vintage, that's why they closed. There is also a clematis nursery that just closed as well. I know shipping is high, but that's not the business fault. Like right now for example, I have a ARE cart, that I cannot place the order on right now because shipping is $78 dollars. I have to wait. But I'm going to order it and pray that everything is still in stock when I order. So be thankful, you will miss them when they are gone.

  • 3 years ago

    @Alana8aSC you said it well! I, too am grateful for the specialty rose nurseries that we have. @odyssey3 I've heard great things about Rose Petals Nursery and I've considered ordering from them...we'll see if I try them out next year. I'm running out of room!


  • 3 years ago

    librarian_gardner_8b_pnw I hear lawns are completely out of fashion....how narrow of walkway could you get away with??? Think of all the roses you could fit in then.

  • 3 years ago

    "How narrow of walkway could you get away with?" Is the unofficial theme of my garden.

  • 3 years ago

    🤣 sounds like something I'll need to consider in future years.

  • 3 years ago

    I wish that I could get rid of my husbands ugly lawn lol. But, I guess we need a place for kids and dogs to play. I picture winding paths and secret gardens. But that is not to be


  • 3 years ago
    last modified: 3 years ago

    I was just reading about mowing nice walking paths (straight or meandering) through a lawn, and leaving the edges to grow long with wildflowers sown in. To make a meadow area that is very low maintenance while still enjoying a mown path/area. Might your husband go for that?

  • 3 years ago
    last modified: 3 years ago

    Doesnt seem worth it to besmirch a grower over a $2 difference. IMO disputes with small nurseries/growers should be hashed out privately between buyer and seller unless something egregious happens

    And so dismaying to read over and over in these threads about husbands and their lawns and what they will let you plant. Get divorced and build the garden of your dreams! I tease but really its disheartening to read about in 2022. I say it with love and empathy bc Ive had my share of these conversations. My policy is buy first explain later. If he fusses I tell him we are teaching our kids how terrible lawns are.


    ✌️ ❤️

  • 3 years ago

    My Pomponella from RVR. Leafed but so, so tiny! I was disappointed at first, but she grew and bloomed so well over summer.


  • 3 years ago
    last modified: 3 years ago

    RVR is one of my favorite nurseries from which I order roses. i visited a few years ago. Janet was most hospitable and let us wander freely to observe the gardens and greenhouses. (Even though it was Monday, their shipping day.) It really is a very small ’mom and pop’ type of business. The packing is extremely protective of the rose bands. I’ve had great success with the bands received. And intend to order more, if I find more room. (Why do I say if…) RVR has so many roses that are no longer available elsewhere. This is where I found the Barden roses I had been looking for: Beautiful Anne and Dakota Redwing, They are doing well.

  • 3 years ago

    Clavdia, its all about compromise and allowing husband and wife to each have input in to our shared space. He shouldn't have to give up what he likes for my preferences . That is how marrage works. He is a good sport about the never ending rose deliveries


  • 3 years ago

    @Kristine LeGault 8a pnw What a good sport you are about such an... interesting? Assumption.

  • 3 years ago

    Mine is too Kristine. So this year I am going to have to plant them alittle closer together until he let's me get some more space. But you are so right. Marriage is about compromise. Been with mine for 23 years next month. He does need room to.

  • 3 years ago
    last modified: 3 years ago

    I agree Alana , its all about compromise and fairness.

    My husband gave up the area that he wanted for a firepit so that I could have a pretty massive planting bed. So, if he loves his lawn, that is fine with me.

    Always wanting my way regardless of the year is just selfish

  • 3 years ago

    I agree. 🥰