I've already been digging this winter. I've been shovel pruning poor performing roses and replacing them with other roses I wanted to try. I've heard lots of raving about brown velvet, a chocolate red rose. You can see a picture of it here: http://www.rdrop.com/~paul/modern/brownvelvet.html I think that's one nice looking rose! =) Of course, I've always liked the unique and different. ---------- Other roses that I've added this year are: ---------- Star of the Nile (the best rose I have ever laid nose too!): http://www.rdrop.com/~paul/modern/starofthenile.html ---------- Tantarra (Another one of those coffee colored roses (roses with brown in them)) http://www.rdrop.com/~paul/modern/tantarra.html ---------- Victorinana (nice unusual colors) http://www.rdrop.com/~paul/modern/victoriana.html ---------- Joyce Barden (loverly, just loverly) http://www.rdrop.com/~paul/modern/joycebarden.html ---------- Lyda (Simplistic Beauty, and we can't grow apples here) http://www.rdrop.com/~paul/modern/lyda.html ---------- Secret Garden Climber Musk (eeeeewwww la la, very hydrangea looking) http://www.rdrop.com/~paul/musks/secretgarden.html ---------- Geoff Hamiliton (a lovely pink) http://www.rdrop.com/~paul/austins/geoffhamilton.html ---------- Pink Poodle (It looks just like this too! Mine came in bloom -- One of the pertiest little miniatures I've ever seen. Stole my heart yes it did! http://www.rdrop.com/~paul/minis/pinkpoodle.html ---------- Then, no top of that, there are roses I planted at the beginning of this year that have stole my heart completely: Baby Austin (An Austin rose look in a miniature) http://www.rdrop.com/~paul/minis/babyaustin.html ---------- Baron Girod de I'Ain (Looks like it was dipped in white icing) http://www.gardenerscorner.com/BaronGiroddeIAin.html ---------- Brigadoon (One of the loveliest bi-color roses I've ever seen next to Love and Peace) http://www.gardenerscorner.com/Brigadoon.html ---------- Calico (another lovely tri-color rose, shipped to me by a friend in Florida) http://www.gardenerscorner.com/Calico.html ---------- Centennial Star (very nice bi-color rose, but I haven't got a good picture yet. I'm working on that!) http://www.gardenerscorner.com/CentennialStar.html ---------- Christine (aka Orange Altissimo -- Quickly becoming one of my favorite oranges roses, still doesn't beat Pat Austin though!) http://www.gardenerscorner.com/OrangeAltissimo.html ---------- French Perfume (Incredible fragrance and beauty too!) http://www.gardenerscorner.com/FrenchPerfume.html ---------- International Herald Tribune (One of my favorite floribunda's!) http://www.gardenerscorner.com/InternationalHeraldTribune.html ---------- Just Joey (I waited a long time to get this one...it was worth it!) http://www.gardenerscorner.com/JustJoey.html ---------- Lavender Lassie (Grows like a WEED! Be still my heart!) http://www.gardenerscorner.com/LavenderLassie.html ---------- Love & Peace (Always A Vase of Roses -- When isn't it in bloom???) http://www.gardenerscorner.com/LoveAndPeace.html ---------- Mme Isaac Pereire (Greets me outside the kitchen window, I'm eternally thankful) http://www.gardenerscorner.com/MmeIsaacPereireMG.html ---------- Mozart (The fragrance in the garden makes me pause every time. I'd almost swear I was in heaven) http://www.gardenerscorner.com/Mozart.html ---------- Summer Fashion (Stop the press!!!) http://www.gardenerscorner.com/SummerFashion.html ---------- Sunsprite (I now have a full hedge of this, all the way around the entire front yard...the fragrance makes passersby stop...to smell the roses) http://www.gardenerscorner.com/Sunsprite.html ---------- Ok...I'll stop before you get too bored, but gosh, it sure does pay to listen to and network with other rosarians. My selection in roses has been three times better since I joined our local rose society. If you love roses, and haven't joined one yet....do! It helps a lot. The first year I ever started buying roses, I bought because I liked the picture on the brochure. Folks, you cannot go by that, you must research and network. Look in your local rose gardens...see how the roses look there. Most of the roses I purchased that very first year have been shovel pruned now. They are all gone except one -- OK, just one more picture....common! One of my first roses purchased that has been awesome from day one: Brides Dream http://www.gardenerscorner.com/BridesDream.html -- ----- Chat with you later... ----- Alan Chandler, Arizona Sunset Zone: 13 *** Lots of new Gardeners Garden Pics on the "My Friends Gardens Pages...check it out!!!. *** http://www.GardenersCorner.com ----- Bah, Humbug! Don't post 'til next year." - Moderator Christmas greeting